If you’re one of the growing number of homeowners looking to enjoy the beauty of natural stone surfaces in your kitchen, you may well have narrowed down your choice to granite and quartz.
Clearly, this is a long-term decision, so you need to be sure you make the right one. It isn’t always easy, because there are great advantages to both granite and quartz, while the differences between them are not all that pronounced. Equally, they can even look pretty similar. What’s more, today the difference between the two in terms of price isn’t always that great.
Formation and appearance
While most quartz countertops are made with a resin to serve as a binding agent, granite is 100% natural quarried stone, so each slab is unique. With quartz, patterns and colours are artificial.
Quartz may offer a broader selection of colours, and a nice glossy finish, but it can discolour over time. That’s especially the case if it’s exposed to too much direct sunlight.
Durability
Both these stones are pretty durable. Granite is hardwearing and not easily scratched, and retains its value very well. Meanwhile, quartz is also robust and resists chipping and cracking. But note that quartz worktops don’t always come with a lifelong guarantee.
Staining
Sealed granite won’t absorb liquid, although it is porous, so sealing is vital. Quartz is naturally non-porous, and so it shrugs off stains well.
Heat resistance
Both of these materials can handle a fair amount of heat, with quartz perhaps less able to withstand a hot pan being placed directly on its surface. In any event, ideally use a heat pad, trivet or similar, whichever stone you choose.
Cleaning
Cleaning both quartz and granite is straightforward. For granite, use plain warm water or a pH-neutral detergent. Dry it with a soft cloth to get rid of any streaks so the stone remains shiny. With quartz, again avoid anything that’s too alkaline, and any aggressive cleaners. If the surface does come into contact with anything like that, clean it right away with pure water.
Seams
With granite, installation seams can appear more noticeable. In quartz worktops, they’re generally less visible, especially if you choose a darker-coloured piece of stone.
Each of these stones has slightly different qualities, and you will need to make a personal choice based on what you feel works best for your home.
We help with quartz and granite worktops
Royal Stone Care completes granite repair and quartz worktop repair on London area, to an extremely high standard. Talk to us about granite chip repair and anything else you may need to keep your stone looking its best.
