Counter-tops are one of the most aesthetically important choices you will have to make when it comes to your home kitchen and bathroom. Whether you are remodeling, or building from scratch there are several options for counter-tops such as granite (the most popular choice), wood, marble, concrete, and the new chip on the block—quartz.
While relatively new, quartz is considered an engineered stone, and is gaining in popularity both aesthetically and durably. Yet, how does it compare to granite as the leading choice in counter-top surfaces? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of granite and quartz to see how they stack up!
Attractiveness
I’m going to start by saying, attractiveness is a personal preference. Therefore, it is very difficult to gauge if granite or quartz is more attractive. That being said, the question is a matter of timeless beauty vs. contemporary beauty.
Quartz, being a manufactured stone, has a greater variety of color, and richness, available than granite. Yet, at the same time, many people feel it has that “manufactured” look to it that drives the feel of an assembly line and dank production facility. While quartz counter-tops are each unique, the pattern of an engineered stone can often appear to be too similar to other counter-tops.
Granite, on the other hand, is a natural stone that guarantees a truly unique counter-top. No granite counter-top will look the same, and very often the pattern and colors are different even on the same slab. With granite you will only have about 20 colors to choose from, but granite also offers a richness that quartz may not achieve.
Preference is key to attractiveness, and the question it comes down to, is do you prefer Brigitte Bardot, or Taylor Swift. Timeless vs. Contemporary.
Usability
Usability is where you will begin seeing an edge between quartz and granite. Let’s first talk about the porous surface. Quartz has a non-porous surface, unlike many other types of counter-tops such as wood, marble, concrete, and yes, even granite. What this means is that quartz is less likely to stain if you were to spill wine or spaghetti sauce on it. It is also less likely to contain bacteria, or clean bacteria from the surface. For many people this is a great perk, as it is one more way to make sure their children stay safe.
While granite is a porous surface, it is highly recommended that granite counter-tops be professionally sealed. This, in some ways, eliminates the benefit quartz has as a non-porous surface. However, it is also important to reseal the granite surface. Overuse of the surface will wear the surface faster, and a worn sealed surface is obvious, and not generally considered attractive.
The benefit you do see is in how the surface can be used. Quartz is not as resistant to heat as granite is. This means that you need to take care not to put hot pans, or hair dryers directly on a quartz surface. Whereas granite is unaffected and can be used in a variety of ways from holding a hot pot, to a cutting board.
Durability
Granite and quartz have a similar durability. However, quartz has a slight benefit over cracking and chipping, while granite is more resistant to scratches. In making a decision based on durability you need to evaluate how you use your counter-tops. If you tend to use knives on a counter-top, slide cornered or sharp objects around then granite may be best. However, if you have kids who climb up on the counters or are prone to tossing hard, or heavy objects around then quartz may be more resistant to impact damage.
While damage to granite counter-tops is not common, buyers should be aware that heavy objects can cause damage, sometimes damage that requires you to replace the entire counter-top. Countered, the scratches in quartz can easily accumulate and cause a surface to look dirty, scratched, and unkempt.
Of the four criteria in deciding which counter-top is best for you, durability is the one which most figures into how your family may work around and use the counter-top.
Cost
While many decisions such as type of material are affected by cost, granite and quartz is not one of them. When it comes to cost, it is a wash. The quality determines the cost of both, and both price ranges are similar. While granite can be purchased for comparable quartz costs, rare granite can be costly. However, for most homeowners this is a non-issue.
