Justin Mark
Choosing the right type of countertop always comes down to deciding between either a granite or quartz countertop.
Here is a head-on comparison of the two, to clear much of the blurred area out for to so that you can make your decision about buying the right one.
What Is It Made Of?
Granite is a naturally occurring stone that is carved into thin slabs in purity to make spotless and appealing countertops. It is quarried from the ground, and due to the natural composition of patterns, it has a wide variety of colors, patterns, and designs to choose from.
Quartz, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring stone found in the ground as well, but the countertop slabs are nowhere near in purity to that of granite countertops. Made from a heavy percentage of quartz, it does include several other additive minerals. The production process of the quartz countertops does not involve quarrying at all but is more like a mixture of ground-up by-products pressure fixed together.
How Aesthetically Appealing Is It?
Since the naturally occurring nature of granite and it is cut out into thin slabs just out of its natural patterns of purity, it gives a wide range of patterns. Many homeowners prefer a granite countertop solely because of the uniqueness it offers in every slab. It said truly about granite countertop that no two granite countertops are ever the same.
Quartz countertops can still offer a plethora of different sizes, colors, and patterns, but they sure do have quite a certain degree of repetitiveness. Since it is not naturally occurring and is produced artificially to be in the shape of pure stone, it is more detailed in custom designs and looks that you can choose to blend your kitchen setting and background with.
The selection of a countertop based on the appearance and aesthetic appeal is a solely personal decision to make. Some people may like to have the uniqueness of a granite countertop to be a part of the kitchen, while others may find the still designs of quartz countertops to be far better looking than the naturally occurring stone.
How Expensive Is It?
Thinking about installing either of the two countertops while you are on a tight budget is something that is never going to work out well. Quartz and Granite are both high-end and premium materials for countertop and are quite expensive to buy and have them installed on a tight budget.
The basic costs of installing a granite countertop depend highly on the uniqueness of style you choose to buy, and also the type of treatments and edge-cutting you wish to have for it. it can range anywhere from $90 per square foot $180 per square foot. The quartz countertops, on the contrary, are observing a rising trend in the market for more designer styles and a variety of colors for a more expensive buy. This has made certain standard designs and styles of quartz to witness a downfall in the prices. A quartz countertop price varies between $70 per square foot to $140 square foot.
The reason why both of these countertops are such highly-priced is that local production is scarce for either one of them. The total price includes shipping and taxation, which depends highly on the area you are in and the price of petroleum and fuel to move as well.
What Are The Maintenance Requirements?
A very important factor that most homeowners should consider before choosing a countertop type for their kitchen knows their regular us of it. Does it include how rigorous the use would? How much pressure would there be exerted on the countertop on an average day? The regularity of use and the frequency of spill?
When it comes to the strength and maintenance of the countertops, quartz has a major advantage over the granite countertops. Because of the porous nature of the naturally occurring rock and uneven packing in the slab, it is prone to develop cracks easily under pressure and can be stained very easily. The quartz countertops are more resistant to stains or cracks because of the tightly packing of the material with raisins, which gives it an even texture throughout.
Another major difference over here is that the raisins in the quartz countertops give it an even texture throughout, so it doesn’t need a sealant as a granite countertop would. The granite countertop needs to re-sealed every year or so to protect it from developing bacteria due to stains and cracks.
