“Granite vs Quartz: What will be a good choice”– While working on the interior of the kitchen or bathroom people usually thinks about what stone should they choose for countertops? Basically, almost everybody goes for Granite or quartz as both are stones as well as suitable for their countertop as well as chosen by buyers for most of the time.
Still many of them don’t know much about what slab will be more reliable or perfect for their place. Well, this is a confusing debate as both stones have so many advantages which are not likely to be the same but still they are best at their own position.
Deciding between granite vs quartzite depends on personal taste. We’ll answer some of the questions which you’re thinking about.
.Is it important for the countertop to be more appealing?
.Will the price can affect the material?
.Is maintenance of them is difficult?
We’ll try to figure out the basic knowledge you should have while buying countertops for your kitchen or bathroom. Both granite and quartz have some differences which we’re going to elaborate on below.
So that next time when you have to choose between both of them it will be easy for you to select the right stone for your kitchen and bathroom.
Some basics of granite and quartz
As you all know both granite and quartz are stones but the interesting thing you don’t know about is that granite is purely natural stone that comes directly from stone quarries and after that, it cuts into thin slabs, polished and fabricated into countertops.
The term “granitic” refers to a group of intrusive igneous rocks with similar textures and slight variations in composition and origin. Granite always consists of the minerals quartz and feldspar, with or without a wide variety of other minerals (accessory minerals).
While quartz is man-made or engineered stone this is not totally natural. Quartz is made from crushed quartz mixed with resins and coloring. Quartz is not a natural stone made up of 97% quartz made from quarry waste. It is formed from stone by-products that are ground up and formed into slabs for countertops.
Appearance- Matter of fact!
While choosing the correct stone firstly you focus on their appearance or what it will look like after the finishing. Well selecting the stone according to appearance is totally depends upon person to person. These stones attract people because of their looks and designs.
Both stones look beautiful after polishing.
- Let’s start with granite, as it is natural stone granite with a flawless look it is always not the same in design and texture. It will be slightly different from one another as it occurs naturally with limited colors. People usually go with granite as the shine of this stone is more beautiful than quartz or any other stone for countertops. The texture of granite gives grace to the slab after installation.
- While quartz is sometimes fake in look as it is not a natural stone. It is of the same pattern and texture as it is machinery-created stone but it can be in various colors and patterns. People choose quartz if they wanted to try something new for their countertop. Due to variety, it gives out a different look every time. If you want to keep the countertop look natural then you can go with naturally occurring stone i.e. granite but if you want to keep your kitchen or bathroom different as well as unique in design and styles then you can prefer Quartz.
Durability and Maintenance
Kitchens are busy places that have food, liquids, and more. So, the maintenance that your countertop requires needs to be more alert.
When you focus on aesthetics you should also focus on durability and maintenance of the stone. This is a question for a long time as people do not change countertops for very long.
In the current lifestyle of people, everyone wants to buy stones that don’t need too much maintenance and can stay for the long run with constant shine. No one wants to spend much time cleaning and maintaining. Granite and quartz both are chip resistant as well as heat resistant materials.
Both stones are not likely the same in this matter:
- Granite is a beautiful natural stone but it needs more care and maintenance. It is durable if it is properly installed and sealed otherwise it will soak liquids and oil even get stained. It requires the installation and sealing from time to time.
- If we talk about Quartz it doesn’t require time to time installation or sealing. You only needed to fix it ones and can stay durable for a longer time. The resin in quartz countertops makes them more resistant than Granite which is a big advantage of Quartz.
You can clean your countertop with a dry cloth or soapy sponge after working in the kitchen. This will remove all the dirt from the slab and keep it crystal clear.
What will be the Price Range?
In both of the cases, prices are not much considered. If we talk about the price of both granite and quartz the difference in their prices is not too much. Naturally, the price largely depends on the quality of the material, styling, and color as well as on the type of edging treatments required.
When choosing between granite and quartz, it is also important to take into consideration the long-term costs of granite, which requires professional resealing in every period of time. Quartz has few if any expenses after its installation. Tariffs and other factors can also affect the pricing of stones.
Some pros and cons of Granite and Quartz
Here are some drawbacks and benefits for both of the stones. Both have many pros and cons to consider when you are choosing what material will work best in your kitchen and bathroom countertops. You can select your countertop after knowing them. Both are beautiful choice knowing every beautiful thing have some drawbacks too.
Some pros of Granite :-
- It is one of the most affordable stones as well as it is available everywhere. As it is a natural stone, it is not in limited quantity. This stone is preferred mostly for countertops.
- Granite provides more durability than marble. While granite is also a natural stone like marble but unlikely it is more durable at a cheaper price than marble.
- The main reason people prefer granite for countertops is that granite is scratch-resistant and stain-proof stone if it is properly installed.
- As long as it is properly sealed, it is a low-maintenance countertop.
Some cons of Granite
- Well, granite doesn’t show many cons as it is one of the best stones for countertops. The only drawback of this stone is that it needs higher maintenance and care in terms of installation and sealing. This countertop should mainly seal by professionals to reduce the chances of staining and scratches.
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- Just like marble, it has the shine and color of marble but it is more durable stone than marble and good enough for countertops.
- The main characteristic of quartz is that it is scratch-prone. It is not like other stones.
- Quartz is affordable as well as durable with various patterns and colors. So it is a great choice for countertops.
- Quartz does not require much maintenance like sealing or a long installation process.
Some cons of Quartz
- Quartz can lose its color over time when exposed directly to sunlight for a longer period.
- It is a little expensive than granite. The cost of Quartz is more as compared to granite.
- After the installation and finishing, the price may vary from stone to stone. It totally depends on the other factors also.
Conclusion- Making the decision
Both stones show the kind of same quality but you can choose any of them according to your suitability. If you want to go with natural stone, you can choose granite but according to us, you should go with quartz.
As it has a slightly better stain resistance as well as you never need to reseal it in the future. If you believe in saving the environment, it is a more environmentally friendly stone. It looks like more popular nowadays, it may give you an advantage when selling your house.
If you’re going with granite this is also a perfect decision. It also has its own advantages and benefits. But take care of your granite countertop and maintain it in a proper way.
Once you have decided to choose stone for the countertop, an interior designer can help you with color and pattern and design your kitchen with matching cabinets and colors.