Kitchen countertops must be strong, durable, resistant to thermal, mechanical, organic, and chemical damage because this is always the surface for heavy-duty works. The furniture industry offers several types of materials from which strong wear-resistant models are made with quartz and granite countertops being the most popular solutions.
Consumers often find it difficult to choose between both since these materials are distinguished by durability, appealing aesthetics and quality factor. However, differences between these building materials do exist. Let’s review quartz vs granite options.
Quartz
Quartz countertop is produced by pressing crushed quartz with the addition of resin and dyes. The material ready for the manufacture of countertops contains 93% natural quartz, while industrial processing gives this material a number of properties that significantly exceed the performance of granite.
Of the characteristic features that attract consumers, it should be noted that quartz stone is an environmentally friendly product, it does not contain substances harmful to health, and is also durable, wear-resistant, not susceptible to high temperatures.
The main advantages of the material are:
- Dense non-porous structure which prevents the penetration of liquids into the stone structure and color changes during operation.
- Quartz is resistant to ultraviolet radiation — the countertop can be installed on any side – it won’t be affected by sunlight.
- The technology of tinting allows you to create all kinds of colors and shades, thereby expanding the range of design incarnations.
- You can buy a white artificial stone to make a completely white countertop from quartz agglomerate, or combine different shades, which cannot be done using completely natural stone.
- When joining two plates, the seam is hardly noticeable since the material is well subjected to industrial processing, and the edges of the panels have a smooth and even structure.
Is quartz better than granite? It’s not devoid of disadvantages, for example:
- How much do quartz countertops cost? The material is expensive: one square foot costs from $70. Granite is 30-40% cheaper.
- The choice of colors and materials is not restricted, but some color options are more expensive than others.
- The production process is more damaging for the environment, and quartz countertops contain some polymer resin.
Granite
Granite is a mountain volcanic rock of natural origin that appeared after solidification of magma. Natural stone has unique shades, which can be considered as an advantage and at the same time as a disadvantage. If you decide to use a granite countertop for kitchen remodel, it will be very challenging to choose plates of an identical shade, since it is difficult to find a stone of the same color in large quantities in nature.
Granite countertops have the following peculiarities:
- It has a heterogeneous structure, which also complicates the selection of exactly the same plates, although some consumers do not regard it as a problem. Yet, every stone is unique – such pattern will not repeat in any other stone.
- Granite is cheaper than quartz countertops: the cost of one square foot starts from $30-40.
- Granite is made of pure stone, so it’s a more environmentally-friendly solution than quartz.
Among the main disadvantages of granite, we should note:
- Limited colors. Natural granite is found in pink, reddish, brown, bluish, black and gray shades, while quartz has no restrictions on the choice of color. Nevertheless, for lovers of natural stone, the advantages of granite, which are expressed in strength and durability, are decisive in the choice.
- The porous structure of granite material creates risks of discoloration due to detergents or organic substances, therefore granite worktops require regular surface treatment with a special protective sealant. To exclude the appearance of stains from products and other effects, processing is carried out at least once every three years.
- Whatever the quality of installation, it is harder to completely hide the seam that joins two plates.
When selecting what is better — quartz or granite countertops – think over your budget and aesthetic requirements. Both solutions are durable and long-lasting, while granite is cheaper but comes with a restricted choice of colors, and quarts is more expensive in this relation.
Turning to the Groysman Construction Remodeling Company, the experts will help you implement the best solutions.
