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Are you thinking of renovating your kitchen countertops? Stone finish countertops are often the first choice of our Pinterest galleries. But sooner or later we realize that kitchen designs and their material finishes play a daunting role. After all, we have to look after its cost, maintenance and of course, the lifespan of the countertop—all of which without burning a hole in the pockets. For a refined finish, it usually comes down to two materials- granite or quartz. So here is a quick read for you to decide which could be a better material for your kitchen countertop – granite or quartz.
Granite Vs. Quartz
Granite is a hard stone that is a hundred percent natural. They are simply cut down to a handy size and then polished to a fine finish. Quartz on the other hand is not a hundred percent natural. They are usually manufactured with 95% ground natural quartz with the remaining 5% as polymer resins.
Transportation Cost
Since Granite is sourced out from the ground, it needs to be transported from longer distances which may slightly increase your budget. With the factory making of Quartz, they can be sourced locally, leading to lesser transportation costs.
Aesthetics & Color Options
Granite is widely available in different patterns and colors. When you are looking for a soft neutral-toned kitchen with a standout countertop, granite can be an ideal pick. Always remember that granite is cooled and solidified molten material, hence no two granite countertops will look the same. This can give your kitchen a unique identity.
Quartz, on the other hand, comes in a broader range as compared to granite. This is one of the main reasons why it has gained so much popularity. Quartz can not only carry the look of a stone but also match the right shade of the designer’s decor since they’re available in more colors. In short, Quartz does not keep you restricted from picking your unique shade making the selection process much simpler. Although it does not display its natural beauty as it is engineered in the factory as per preference.
Textures and Finishes
The crystals present in Granite are slightly coarser, with an earthy texture giving it a pronounced color. If you are someone who would like to bring nature indoors with your kitchen countertops, then granite is an excellent choice for you.
Quartz is usually bound with resin, it does not have that crystalline finish as compared to granite. The more finely ground the quartz is, the glossier and more refined the overall polish would be.
Quality and Grades
Quality is one of the key points due to which they make it to the top while selecting a kitchen countertop material, You can now have a look at their respective pros and cons to understand it better.
Granite usually comes in 3 grades, Grade one is for the commercial kitchen, Grade 2, and Grade 3 plus. These grades are based on the complexity and color of the stone. Grade one being the lowest usually possesses poor quality as compared to the other grades. The higher the grades, the higher will be the quality of the stone for your kitchen top.
Quartz on the other hand also comes in three quality levels. The first one is a properly graded engineered stone, that has a smooth finish with minimal veins. The second one comes the commercial grade quarts which are of less quality. It is a great value for money. The last grade is the lowest one which supplies low durability as compared to the remaining two granites.
Which Is More Prone To Accidents?
Minute kitchen accidents are quite common in our day-to-day lives. Granite is a tough and rugged stone. Hence there would be less appearance of cuts if a knife slips down your countertop. Further accidents such as dishes falling off the cabinets, or dropping a pot at the edge of your granite countertop can lead to chipping. These countertop scars can easily be fixed all by yourself.
Contrastingly, Quartz is held together by resin, making it more prone to scratches. Also, if your hot pots and pans are kept on the top of your counter table, the resin present on your kitchen countertop can damage the pots and pans, leading to discoloration.
Maintenance and Hygiene Factors
Granite countertops can easily be cleaned with some soap and water or a household cleanser. Though they are not that great with stains and can easily get damaged hence utmost care needs to be taken care of them. To maintain longevity consider resealing your countertops at least once a year. Granite is an absorbent material, hence when not sealed properly it may hold onto unnecessary bacteria and oils.
Quartz, on the other hand, needs less maintenance since it is a solid surface that does not need resealing. They do not hold onto any bacteria or dirt to a deeper level, making them more hygienic.
Durability
Granite is a durable material that is resistant to heat and many other kitchen elements. Spilling liquids can be damaging if they receive a high liquid flow.
Quartz is much more durable and harder than granite and is nearly indestructible because of its non-porous nature. It can cause a fair amount of damage due to excessive so ensure to install heating pads at all times.
Environmental Factors
Both Quartz and Granite have their sustainability aspects. The extraction process of Granite does not produce any carbon footprint leading it to be an eco-friendly process. However, Quartz finish countertops are a result of manufactured stones. Therefore, if you are someone who thinks about sustainable construction then granite your stone.
Health & More…
You may be familiar with the concept of radon gas and its emission from countertops. Radon is colorless and a radioactive gas produced due to the breaking down of uranium. In this case, Quartz gives off less radon as compared to Granite. Although radon is usually generated from natural stones with time, they are not that harmful to the human body unless you are sensitive to it.
Outdoor Kitchen Usage
If you are in the middle of setting up your beautiful outdoor kitchen and you’re wondering ‘What countertop shall I use for my project? Will it be the same as my indoor kitchen countertop?’ then we got you covered. Of course, there will be spilling, placement of hot pots on the countertops while cooking and even maintenance which would be required for your outdoor countertop, but the weather conditions are also considered in this scenario. Hence between – Granite and Quartz for the same, keep in mind that quartz is not suitable for harsh outdoor weather. Granite, on the other hand, does not fade away when exposed to sunlight or harsh weather conditions.
The DIY Factor
If you wish to customize your countertop then neither of the materials is ideal for a DIY experiment. Both weigh around 8.6 kilos per square foot which is nearly equal to the weight of two refrigerators. Hence to avoid accidents and cuts, it is better to avoid handmade customizations.
Coming Down To The Cost
The average cost of a Granite is usually priced at Rs. 60 to Rs. 450 per sq ft. Whereas Quartz is rated Rs. 150 to Rs. 4,000 per sq. ft. Hence, Quartz might burn a hole in your pocket as compared to Granite.
Final Note
Both granite and quartz add beauty and dimension to your kitchen room. Now that you have gone through all the factors above, you already know that both these materials have their advantages and disadvantages which need to be noted. Both these materials are luxurious fittings that provide a wider range for you to play with your kitchen design. If you want your countertop to look unique you can surely go for Granite. Else if you wish to keep your design uniform without any budget restraints then you pick Quartz. Your final decision should be based on the one who ticks all the above boxes. After all, it comes down to your personal choice.
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