Quartz vs. Granite Countertops: A Comparision: What is the Difference?

Quartz vs. Granite

When creating a new design or furnishing your kitchen, choosing the perfect countertop can be difficult and time-consuming. The massive range of materials can be tricky to find a countertop that suits your lifestyle and space. In your ideal kitchen, your countertop should have a unique style, durability, and low maintenance. With these three vital elements in mind, you can narrow your search to the two primary materials of which countertops are quartz and granite. Both materials provide an excellent countertop solution that you won’t regret.

When deciding what material to use for your kitchen countertop, you can’t go wrong with quartz or granite. Not only will these materials bring liveliness to your home, but they each provide their benefits. Quartz countertops will give you the ease of use, while granite requires more maintenance. Neither quartz nor granite will disappoint in terms of overall look and style.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz vs. Granite

Quartz countertops are from natural quartz, one of the hardest minerals found on Earth, and add small amounts of glass or metal to create an exciting design. Another advantage of quartz is that it is not a porous material. Its structure prevents bacteria from spreading and resists the appearance of stains, protecting the whole family and giving the extra kitchen cleanliness.

In addition to the strength that quartz stone provides, this material looks genuinely majestic, and its wide variety of colors offers a choice of countertops for every taste. The color options are almost endless, ranging from classic whites, blacks, and browns to rich, vibrant tones. You can choose a countertop made of artificial stone of any size, design and bring the most daring ideas to life.

Granite Countertops

Quartz vs. Granite

Another of the most commonly used countertop materials is granite. Compared to quartz, this material is very elastic. Granite is a natural stone that is cut in its natural state and then polished for daily use. Maintenance after each use is encouraged. To clean granite, use warm water, a special detergent, and a soft sponge to help keep it shiny and clean.

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Such a rigid material is complex to scratch and tolerates temperature changes very well. Granite does not have a large selection of colors, so the kitchen’s design is often planned in the color of the countertop.

Composition

Granite is a natural stone that comes directly from quarries and then is cut into thin slabs, polished, and made into countertops.

Quartz countertops are made by combining quartz crushed stone with polymer resin and pigments to control its color. The elements are placed under intense vibration, vacuum, and pressure to produce a thick, non-porous slab. These slabs are then cured and prepared for precise thickness and polished.

Appearance

One advantage that granite has an engineered stone is that each granite slab is in a mineral pattern and color, which means that your countertop will be slightly different. As an engineered product, Quartz countertops are more uniform in appearance, although there are many colors and unique patterns. Available, including shapes that do not resemble granite at all.

The choice here is a matter of personal preference. If you want the look of natural stone, then opt for a truly natural product – granite. But many people find that quartz countertops offer looks that are different and better than natural stone.

Price

There’s no doubt about it: quartz and granite are premium, high-end countertop materials. If you’re on a budget, these aren’t the countertop materials for you.

Prices for both types of countertops vary because both are shipped overseas. All of these container products are shipped across the oceans, and this depends on oil prices. Tariffs and other factors may also affect pricing.

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Maintenance and Durability

There is a definite advantage here for quartz over granite, although both materials are very durable. Granite is a relatively porous stone that requires sealing after installation and then a period of compaction permanently. And granite slabs can have intrinsic defects that make them prone to cracking. On the other hand, quartz slabs do not require sealing, thanks to the resins used in the manufacture of the slabs; and the material is uniform throughout, which means it rarely cracks.

The resins in quartz countertops make them significantly more resistant to staining than granite. According to some reports, quartz is also less susceptible to harboring bacteria, thanks to resins that make surfaces less porous.

Environmental Considerations

Both countertop materials are made from natural materials. Still, granite countertops come out ahead as they are 100 percent stone. In contrast, quartz countertops are about 93% natural materials, with the remainder of color pigments and polymer resins, which materials are combined. And the manufacturing process for natural granite produces fewer carbon emissions than quartz.

On the other hand, granite countertops require mining from the ground, while, effectively, quartz countertops are made from leftover stone by-products from quarries.

Health Problems

Bacterial Resistance

Since granite is only slightly porous and quartz is non-porous, both surfaces are relatively hygienic countertops resistant to bacteria, mildew, and mildew. However, the porosity of granite can mean more bacteria in it. Over time than quartz – especially in the case of Silestone, the surface of which contains an antibacterial agent. At least one study has shown that granite is highly resistant to bacteria, but further long-term studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions. Regular disinfection is recommended regardless of the type of surface.

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Radon Effusions

Because granite can contain traces of naturally occurring radioactive elements, some have raised concerns about the natural stone and whether it releases the toxic gas radon, which can cause lung cancer. Quartz is less of a public problem, although it may contain the same radioactive elements.

The Environmental Protection Agency says granite is extremely unlikely to cause harm and that radon emissions – if they did occur – would be minimal compared to those that might come from other naturally occurring radioactive sources. It made similar conclusions regarding the safety of quartz. The American Marble Institute maintains an archive of misinformed claims about the safety of granite.

Silica Hazards

Quartz is a type of silicate mineral. When it is crushed and then cut, crystalline silica dust is thrown into the air, as in the manufacture and sizing of artificial quartz surfaces. Although this dust is present when working with granite surfaces (because they also contain quartz), its concentration is much higher when working with artificial quartz. It can be very dangerous for workers, especially if proper safety measures are not taken.

Inhalation of crystalline silica dust can lead to silicosis, an occupational lung disease in other industries such as mining. [3] Silicosis makes a person more susceptible to tuberculosis and increases the risk of lung cancer. 

Conclusion

Granite and quartz (engineered stone) are premium countertop materials that add property value to a home. Granite appeals to people who love all-natural materials, while quartz offers easier maintenance and slightly better durability.

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