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What’s Best For You?
Are you indecisive between granite and quartz kitchen countertops for your home? Before you make a choice, it’s important to understand the difference between the two. We’ll help you compare these two kitchen countertops across seven different categories.
Granite VS Quartz
Substance
Granite is a natural stone that is mined in slabs. From visual design to durability, this substance has many natural properties that make it an ideal kitchen countertop surface.
Quartz, on the other hand, was first made by man in 1983. Since then it has slowly gained in popularity and is finally starting to overtake granite and marble as the countertop stone of choice.
Color
As you might image from a natural stone, granite’s colors are both naturally occurring and neutral. It varies from light gray to black, with a range of pinks, reds, and browns naturally occurring due to oxidation, minerals, and other sediments in the rock. Plus, the graining patterns in granite are irregular, although it is easy to seam together different pieces.
Given that Quartz is man-made, it is available in almost any color imaginable. This includes natural tones such as beige and gray, as well as more distinct colors, like reds, blues, and greens.
A True White Look
Lately, having a white kitchen has been the rage. Because granite is natural, it doesn’t really have that true “white” option. White quartz, however, is very popular, despite its inherent sensitivity to sunlight and stains.
Graining Patterns
When it comes to the individual stone surface itself, we commonly refer to it as the pattern and graining of the rock. Being natural, granite is typically irregular, uneven, and unpredictable. This provides the ‘natural beauty’ look of this stone, relatively similar to marble veining.
Quartz, in contrast, is predictably uniform.
Durability
Durability is rarely a deciding factor when it comes to choosing between these two popular varieties of kitchen countertops. Both granite and quartz are extremely durable. By the numbers, however, granite is stronger than quartz.
Hot and Cold Temperatures
When it comes to hot and cold durability, however, granite has a significantly better heat protection than quartz. Granite will typically absorb the heat from hot pans and open flames, while it is never a good idea with quartz. Worst of all, however, is the fracturing that can happen when quartz changes to quickly from hot to cold, or cold to hot. This heat shock, as it is known, can easily break even the thickest quartz surface.
Stains
When cooking, there’s going to be a mess. Whether by accident, or as a by product of prepping and mixing ingredients, it will happen eventually.
Unfortunately, even when properly sealed, no countertop is ever completely stain resistant. While it is true that granite is less stain resistant than quartz, especially to red sauces, red wines, and oils, quartz comes with its own set of challenges. Dark colors, however, are less likely to stain than white, while light colors, especially whites, fade quickly when overexposed to direct sunlight.
Popularity
Granite is typically more traditional and more popular than quartz. Only a short while ago, however, that’s begun to change. Quartz is slowly beginning to replace granite as the new standard.
Granite and Quartz Kitchen Countertops: A Matter of Preference
In the end, granite and quartz is a matter of personal preference. They are very similar materials with a few distinct exceptions, including color and natural graining patterns. No matter which one you decide to choose, you can trust Traditional Designs Ltd to provide you with your granite and quartz kitchen countertops!
Call us today at 713-463-5800 or contact us online to discuss your project. Apply online to get a free sink with the purchase of your granite kitchen countertop. We also have a showroom for you to see for yourself which countertop you’d prefer. Visit our showroom to find a design you’ll love in your home.
Granite vs Quartz Kitchen Countertops | Traditional Designs Ltd., Houston TX
