Quartz vs Granite Countertops

It’s time to redesign your kitchen or bathroom and you’re stuck: Quartz vs granite countertops? There are so many options and people tend to have very strong opinions about these choices.
Each material offers a beautiful look and durability, but they have their advantages and disadvantages, from color selection to long-term maintenance. Here’s a quick guide to making your decision for quartz vs granite countertops.

Quartz countertops

Quartz countertops are a fabricated composite, made from ground natural quartz, as well as glass or metallic flecks, and about 5 percent of a binding material called polymer resins. Together, they create a nonporous, extremely hard surface that is resistant to bacteria and stains, and never needs to be sealed. Cleanup is quick and easy and you’re not likely to damage your quartz countertops with a spilled glass of red wine or a hot pan.
Quartz offers a wide variety of color choices, from natural stone colors, to bold, saturated choices, like a navy blue. The look is uniform, unlike granite, which offers natural pattern variation. Because this is manufactured stone, you can order it in exactly the size you need and it will be manufactured to your specifications.
The cost of quartz ranges from about $80 to $140 per square foot installed.

Granite countertops

Granite is a natural stone quarried from the earth, cut into slabs, and polished to a shine. This is a very hard stone that is resilient, but not as durable as quartz. You need to seal it at installation, and reseal it every year or so. It also is more susceptible staining than quartz, so be careful with your food and drink. But it is scratch and heat resistant, so no worries there.
One of the things people love about granite is its natural color striations, formed as the molten rock cools in the earth. No two slabs are the same, so your selection for your kitchen or bathroom will be one-of-a-kind. You’ll have dozens if not hundreds of slabs to choose from—just make sure the slab you fall in love with will work with your room’s design.
The cost of granite is about $80 to $175 per square foot installed.

Quartz vs granite countertops

So, how to decide? Both quartz and granite offer durability and strength, with granite needing slightly more maintenance. They cost roughly the same, unless you go with a very high-end granite, which is the most expensive. So it probably boils down to an aesthetic choice. What look do you prefer? Leave us a comment with your thoughts on quartz vs granite countertops!