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Quartz vs Granite: Which is a better kitchen countertop material?

  • Kitchen Design
Feb 16, 2022
Kitchen countertops for your home - Beautiful Homes

In a dilemma, which material to use as a kitchen countertop, Quartz or Granite? Here are tips to help you make that decision

If you are in the process of getting your home redesigned or renovated, or if you are an aspiring homeowner trying to purchase or buy the space of your dreams, then you’d attest to the fact that making decisions on which material to use for your kitchen countertop, can be an unnerving task. You have to be vigilant about so many aspects of a choice - how it fits in your budget, how much maintenance it requires, what is the durability of the material, what is the return on your investment, etc. The most peculiar one of these is the choice between granite and quartz for the kitchen countertop. Some materials are often used interchangeably in construction circles and hence it is natural to get confused while making a choice. We think making an informed choice is better than making a rash decision, and hence we have compiled everything here with respect to choosing between quartz and granite for your kitchen countertop.

 

Let’s Start with What these Two Materials Actually are Granite

Granite is an igneous rock that gets formed under the surface of the earth. Granite is a volcanic rock. It gets formed due to the crystallization of magma. It is light colored and has visible grains. Granite is actually composed of quartz and feldspar, and hence has a red, pink, gray or white color depending on the region it is from.

Quartz

Quartz is a natural mineral, but it can also be engineered. Engineered quartz is composed of 97% quartz crystals that are crushed and 3% resins. Quartz as a rock is available in a variety of colors, patterns and textures. It can also be combined with glass to achieve a sparkling and meteoric finish. Quartz is widely regarded as one of the hardest minerals on the planet. It is a sturdy rock, and hence is a very good choice in construction. 

 

Let’s compare these materials based on various aspects.

Quartz for your kitchen countertop material - Beautiful Homes
Granite for your kitchen counter top material - Beautiful Homes

Composition

Granite is a purely natural stone that is sourced directly from the stone quarries. It is then cut into thin slabs, polished and fabricated into countertops.

 

Quartz, on the other hand, can be natural or engineered. Engineered quartz is a stone that contains a large percentage of natural quartz, and a small percentage of other minerals. Quartz kitchen countertops are not slabs of quarried stone but are instead formed when natural quartz is crushed, ground up, and then mixed with other stone byproducts.

 

Appearance

Every granite slab looks slightly different in mineral pattern and color. This ensures that a countertop made of granite can be truly unique. Quartz kitchen countertops on the other hand, because they are engineered, are more coherent in their look and feel. There can be numerous patterns available & coloured quartz kitchen countertops, including colors and patterns that do not resemble granite or do.

 

Quartz countertops can be engineered to your preference and specifications. If you want the look of natural stone, you choose granite because it is a natural stone. Quartz, on the other hand, due to its ability to be molded into various patterns is the more preferred choice.

Price

There is little doubt that both granite and quartz are top-dollar, premium stuff. Although pricing for both of these materials are not invariable, because both of them are sourced from locations overseas. This is why container transportation costs, tariffs and factors like import duty can affect pricing. If you are on a budget, neither of these are suitable choices for your kitchen countertop.

 

For prices of countertops, Granite countertops cost around ₹60 to ₹450 per square feet. More premium versions cost around $80 to $175 per square foot, installed. The price also varies with the kind  of edging treatments required on the countertop. A Quartz countertop cost goes for around ₹50 to ₹4000 per square foot. More premium and imported variants go for $80 to $140 per square foot, installed.

 

As stated above, Granite vs Quartz being cheaper and more customisable, is the more popular choice, and it also affects your overall modular kitchen price.
 

Maintenance and Durability

In this area, it is quartz that shines. There is a significant advantage of using quartz as your kitchen countertop material as compared to granite for your kitchen design. Not to say that granite is not durable, as both are super durable stones. However, granite being a natural rock, is relatively more porous, and hence may require some sealing while being installed. Granite countertops as slabs may also be more prone to cracking. Quartz countertops do not require sealing and hence are easier to install and maintain. Quartz countertops also rarely crack due to the addition of resins in the stone engineering process. The resins in Quartz make it a tad bit more durable and more resistant to strain and shear forces than granite. 

Maintenance & durability of granite & quartz kitchen countertops - Beautiful Homes

According to some reports, because granite is a natural stone and can hold some moisture, it may also be susceptible to harboring bacteria. The color of dyed granite countertops (or colorful granite countertops) may fade after a while making that a maintenance concern.
 

Best materials for your kitchen counter tops - Beautiful Homes

Environmental Issues

Granite kitchen countertops (like white granite countertops) would require some quarrying of the earth. Whereas quartz countertops are effectively made out of stone byproducts that are left over, and hence do not require quarrying. However, both countertop materials are made up of natural materials. Granite is 100 percent natural and is a stone found naturally. While quartz includes color pigments, resins and natural materials. There used to be a theory that granite may emit radon which may be harmful, but that was rubbished after EPA conducted a study disproving the theory.

Granite also produces fewer carbon emissions in the production phase as compared to Quartz, and is hence considered the greener material. Neither of them, however, emit any amounts of organic compounds or any other harmful chemicals.


 

Final Verdict

If you are a person that prefers natural materials, granite would be a perfect choice for you, Its natural beauty and uniqueness are unparalleled. However, granite requires extra care and caution and can be a high maintenance installation. Frequent cleaning, not leaving wet dishes on the kitchen countertop, etc. may be the steps you can take to ensure durability. If you are a homeowner that is looking for something more carefree, and customisable, quartz countertops are the obvious choice for you. Quartz is a complete package with durability, low maintenance, and aesthetic appeal included. However, Quartz may fade in harsh weather conditions, and if you live in an extremely arid, humid, or snowy region, this may be a factor to consider. It totally depends on how and what you’d like, and how much are you willing to spend on that.


 

How can We Help you?

At Asian Paints Beautiful Homes, we understand how significant it is to build each corner of your home. You simply need to let us know about the sort of kitchen countertop design you are looking for, and we will assist you in transforming your vision into reality by fine-tuning your ideas by crafting the best kitchen countertop for you. Whether you want to create more aesthetic appeal or align your countertop with existing structures or play with the countertop’s color combinations - whether it is quartz vs. granite countertops - we will be able to meet your needs well.

 

Our approaches to modern countertop design come in a wide range. The designs are splendid yet functional enough to create an elegant environment and make your experience memorable.

 

From the right furnishings and materials in diverse colors to a variety of options and accessories for your countertop—find what you’re looking for, and get your house design just right. The experts at Asian Paints Beautiful Homes, we can help you make the right choice and solve the dilemma of quartz vs. granite countertops by keeping in mind your needs for lifestyle and aesthetics.

 

Our Beautiful Homes Service Advantage includes:

  1. Interior design experts
  2. Personalized service
  3. State-of-the-art 3D visualization
  4. End-to-end service
  5. Project management
  6. Signature walls
  7. Modern kitchen countertops

 

Our current stores are spread across Amritsar, Tumakuru, Raipur, Jaipur, New Delhi, Kochi, Karur, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, and Nashik. In addition, we are in the process of opening up state-of-the-art stores across several more cities in India.

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