Let's break down the two most controversial countertop materials: Granite & Quartz.
When choosing finishes for a home, this question comes up time and time again. Our clients are always wondering which is better, granite or quartz. And like many things we compare, it depends on what you're looking for, what your priorities are. Check out this article below by Ryan Reed as he lays out the differences between the two materials.
There are few design elements that spark heated debate and divide homeowners as much as granite and quartz. Don’t believe me? Tune into any episode of House Hunters and you’ll likely hear the prospective buyer/renter wax poetic about their preferred countertop material and shun the other vehemently. But is one really better than the other or is it merely a matter of aesthetics?
To help break down the granite vs. quartz quandary, we came up with five categories to help show the differences between the two. At the end of this article, you can vote for which one you prefer. Before we get into all of that though, what exactly is granite and quartz?
Granite is a very hard stone and 100 percent natural. It’s mined from quarries all around the world, cut down to a manageable size, and then polished to a fine finish.
Quartz is slightly different in that it is not 100 percent natural. Instead, countertops are manufactured using 95 percent ground natural quartz and 5 percent polymer resins.
Now that you know the basics, let's see how they compare against each other.
1: Appearance
Granite
Granite comes in many different colors and patterns due to the way it’s formed (cooling and solidifying of molten materials). Whether you’re looking for a subtle complement to your kitchen or a standout slab with unique mineral inclusions, there is an almost limitless selection to choose from and no two granite countertops are the same.
Quartz
One of the main reasons quartz has exploded in popularity is due to appearance. Quartz has the look of stone while also allowing homeowners to customize the design. While granite offers many options in terms of appearance, you may have to search for the right piece that matches your color scheme. With quartz, the selection process is much easier.