At Capitol Granite, we know that when considering countertop materials, it’s important to not only think about the look you want but also the kind of durability and maintenance that will best suit your lifestyle. Granite and quartz are both sensible and stylish options for a kitchen or bathroom that’s going to get daily use, so choosing between the two can be a tough decision.
Which is the best countertop material for you? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of quartz and granite when it comes to these 3 important factors:
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Durability
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Stain Resistance
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Appearance
Having trouble picturing your kitchen transformation? Check out our Kitchen Visualizer to try out different combinations of kitchen counters, cabinets, backsplashes, and much more!
Durability
Quartz and granite differ in their durability due to what they are made of. Quartz countertops (sometimes called engineered stone countertops) are comprised of a combination of 93 percent ground natural quartz and 7 percent polymer resins. Granite, on the other hand, is natural stone that is mined, cut down to a workable size, and polished.
Quartz Durability
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Pro: Quartz is harder (and therefore more durable) than granite and is less likely to chip than granite.
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Con: If you do manage to damage your quartz countertop, it’s a lot harder to repair or “camouflage” than granite (especially if your countertop has no rock patterns to mask imperfections).
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Con: Because of its composition, quartz is susceptible to damage when touched by really hot objects. Always use a trivet or hot pad, rather than placing a hot pan or dish directly onto quartz.
Granite Durability
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Pro: Granite is heat-resistant, unlike quartz (but using hot pads or trivets is recommended to keep your countertop in the best shape possible).
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Pro: If your granite countertop chips, you can use a granite repair kit to patch it up.
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Con: Granite is not as hard as quartz and may chip if struck hard enough. However, it is still reasonably durable and is a comparatively harder and stronger countertop option than marble.
Stain Resistance
Stain resistance ties into how much maintenance a countertop is likely to require. These are both important factors to consider for those who can get a little messy in the kitchen.
Consumer Reports conducted a rigorous stain-resistance test to see if there would be a clear winner between quartz and granite. “Half-inch splotches” of various kitchen items–including hot coffee, hot vegetable oil, grape juice, beet juice, and food coloring–were applied to both granite and quartz and left to sit for 20 hours.
CR’s countertop testers concluded that quartz outperformed granite by 2.3 points out of 100. While it’s no landslide victory, if stain resistance is highly important to you, quartz might be your preferred option.
Quartz Stain Resistance
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Pro: Quartz countertops are comprised of non-porous material. This makes them highly resistant to stains.
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Pro: Quartz’s non-porous nature also makes it less prone to accumulating bacteria.
Granite Stain Resistance
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Con: Because granite is porous, it is susceptible to staining if not periodically resealed (once a year is recommended).
Appearance
There is no shortage of design possibilities with quartz and granite. They are both highly versatile, come in a variety of patterns and colors, and can easily adapt to both modern and traditional décor and everything in between.
Quartz Appearance
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Pro: Quartz is one of the most versatile countertop materials. For a simple, clean look, you can opt for a pure white quartz countertop. If you like quartz’s durability and stain-resistance but love the look of a less life-proof material such as marble, there is quartz available that mimics marble’s classic, veined look.
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Pro: Because quartz is manufactured, it’s able to be created with consistency. This means that there’s less guesswork involved when it comes to imagining how that quartz sample is going to look when it’s covering your entire counter.
Granite Appearance
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Pro: Granite is made from natural stone mined from the earth, so that means that each piece is truly unique. The right slab of granite in your home can serve as an art piece in its own right, particularly if it’s given a place to be shown off such as the kitchen island.
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Con: Because each slab of granite is unique, that means you’ll need to do some searching for a piece that’s going to fit well both aesthetically and size-wise in your desired location for it. Some people might not see this as a “con,” but is something to keep in mind.
Wondering how much it would cost to upgrade your countertops to granite or quartz? It could be lower than you think! Contact Capitol Granite today or use our QuickQuote Visualizer tool.
