Granite is 100% natural
When putting in a new countertop for the kitchen or bathroom, quartz (engineered stone) and granite (natural stone) tend to be the two most popular choices for installation. It’s a 50-50 choice.
With Quartz and granite both being natural stones which are very hard the differences (to those who don't work with the materials) can seem minor
Below are a few of these differences:
Granite is 100% natural
Natural – Some like it as natural as possible, like foods and furniture. Nobody wants a rip-off copy of the product. Both are almost the same, but the difference is granite is 100% natural, while quartz is between 93-97% natural and the rest coming from colouring and resins.
Maintenance
With regards Maintenance a small edge might be given to Quartz. As years pass it ca be beneficial to reseal both your Quartz countertop or granite countertop but quartz you might have to reseal a little less.
Granite being 100% natural is slightly more absorbent.
Durablity
Both quartz worktops and granite worktops are highly durable, but again, there would be a slight difference between the two.
Quartz has its weaknesses but these are corrected before retailing through the use of resins. Resins are like preservatives to keep the stone intact.
Granite as it is kept 100% Natural can have some imperfections (which of course lends to its beauty) Some people love this but it can make it 'slightly' more prone to a stain or a crack.
However, something extremely hard or heavy would need to be dropped on it for this to occur.
Things to Consider
Other Facts –Granite is a unique stone and not a copycat of other granite stones.
Quartz countertops can discolour over time when exposed to direct sunlight which is why they are not highly recommended for outside use. However, Quartz are very stain resistant, even to certain colourings such as red wine or cola.
As with everything in life it all depends on the buyer and the individual tastes of the person and what vision they have for their best countertop for their home.
There are pros and cons to both quartz and granite, and everything should be considered. What is priority number one: strength, colouring, cost, or natural?
With many variety in both stones; in theory, there is no fault with either choice.
Interested in a Quartz Countertop or Granite Countertop?
Get in touch with us here at McMonagle Marble & Granite, Donegal
(Spoiler Alert: Consumer Reports had quartz over granite by a couple of points overall. It may not even matter, but if it carries any weight, then consider granite.)