Kitchen Countertops: Quartz vs. Granite

Granite vs. Quartz

The discussion of which countertop is better, granite or quartz is an arduous one. Granite has been around for a long time. It’s been a hallmark of wealth since the early 1980's. As mining and fabrication technology has evolved granite countertop prices have decreased. Now most pre-fabricated granite comes from China. The stones are mined all over the world and delivered to Chinese factories to be cut and polished into 24" x 9' long slabs. Mass production has provided the market with a good quality granite countertop at a price that doesn't break the bank!

Quartz countertops are made up of excavated slabs of the natural stone. The new engineered material is created through a manufacturing process that mixes approximately 95 percent ground natural quartz with 5 percent polymer resins. The result is a beautiful low-maintenance, and natural stone-look that come in array of colors for countertops.

Look, hardcore fans of Granite will lobby Granite and the hardcore fans of Quartz will lobby quartz. Ultimately, your use of the kitchen will demand which product is best suited to meet your conditions.

Let me give you an example:

At my gym some genius decided to install a granite countertop over the 6 sinks in the locker room. Well granite is pores and looks a bit darker when it’s wet. The granite is called blue pearl. A nice stone but this should not have been installed in a place that is perpetually wet. It just doesn't look good! Nice stone wrong place. Designers are guilty of this all the time...pretty materials wrong application!

The center piece of a kitchen is the stone laid onto a large kitchen island. It is a timeless beauty that offers utility of the space, your family's habits, and how it fits into the overall design of the room.