If you are selecting countertops for your new kitchen, you are likely wondering what the differences are between quartz and granite countertops. Here is the key information that you need to know to make a more informed purchasing decision.
Granite
What makes granite so special is that it is a natural material, so each slab of granite has a very unique pattern. This means that your countertops will not be something that a neighbor, friend, or family member can replicate exactly, making your kitchen one of a kind. If you have a chip in your granite, it is possible to repair the material so that you do not see the flaw. This cannot be said of other countertop materials that can be easily damaged.
However, keep in mind that granite comes in slabs that are set sizes. If your square footage of countertops means that you need 1 ½ slabs of granite, then you'll actually be paying for two slabs of granite. Granite is also a porous material, so it will require regular maintenance to seal the surface so that liquids cannot be absorbed into the surface. Thankfully, it's as simple as applying a sealant to a sponge and wiping down the surface.
Quartz
Quartz is a manmade material, with the majority of the stone being crushed-up quartz. Plastics and binding materials are also used to bind the quartz together and make it form the shape necessary for your countertops. The end result is that the material is not porous, so you don't have to worry about sealing the surface or worry about liquids staining the material.
When it comes to purchasing quartz, you should know that the slabs typically come in much smaller sizes. While this will help save you money because you can buy the exact size that you need, it also means that you can't have a large countertop made with one continuous piece of quartz. This means that there will be a seam somewhere in the countertop surface to join multiple slabs together.
Another thing to be aware of with quartz is that it is more sensitive to heat. While you can put a hot pot directly on a granite countertop surface, you should not do this with quartz. It is possible to crack a quartz countertop if you do not put anything beneath your hot pots and pans when you take them off the stove.
