What is Better Granite or Quartz
When performing a kitchen or bathroom remodel in Mission Viejo, Irvine, Lake Forest, Rancho Santa Margarita, and other South Orange County California communities, clients are always asking “What is better granite or quartz?”
When it comes to countertops, stain resistance, durability, and maintenance over aesthetics are by far the most important client requirements. The clear winner continues to be engineered stone or Quartz. Granite was popular for many years. However, many clients who have granite experienced its limitations. It’s weak, stains easily, and requires yearly sealing. Because is porous, it’s susceptible to mold, mildew, bacteria and E.coli. It’s not the most maintenance or environmentally friendly product.
Quartz on the other hand is nearly indestructible, impervious to mold, mildew, bacteria and E.coli. Quartz has a completely non-porous surface. Therefore, liquids and stains won’t penetrate the surface. Quartz is much harder than granite. It has another advantage in that it won’t crack. It’s also very resistant to heat, so a hot pan won’t leave a scorch mark (excessive heat can damage quartz). As for scheduled maintenance, there isn’t any for quartz countertops! Unlike natural stone, quartz does not need sealing or waxing to protect it from stains and mildew, even on a white quartz countertop. Quartz is an extremely durable material. To clean, simply use a mild soap, such as dishwashing liquid, along with a damp sponge or soft dishcloth. Wipe and rinse.
Here is a summary between the two:
Granite for your Kitchen or Bathroom
- Strength – Very hard stone, 100% natural, mined from quarries all around the world and cut down to a manageable size. It’s then polished to a fine finish.
- Style – No two slabs are the same, giving you an almost limitless selection of styles and colors to choose from. This variety may force you into a time-consuming search for the right piece that matches your color scheme.
- Price – Except for a few high-end products, the difference between similar colors and styles of granite and quartz is negligible. Today, there is no to very little difference between the two. Your decision won’t be based on price.
- Environment – Granite is typically shipped from far away places such as Italy, Brazil (the largest source of granite), India, and China. The processes involved in mining
granite at the quarry uses a lot of energy. From blasting, heavy machinery, water to cut the slabs, polishing, and the transportation from far off countries leave a sizable carbon footprint. When cutting the slabs from the huge mined granite blocks, it takes about an hour to cut 12 inches of slab. So, that 10’x5’ slab you purchased took 10 hours to cut (think of the amount of water and energy used!).
Durability, maintenance, and warranty are important countertop considerations
- Durability – Granite is durable; however, it has a porous surface and will stain. Kitchen chemicals can also stain and discolor granite. Granite is natural stone made by the crystallization of magma and other minerals below Earth’s surface. This, along with its natural veining makes it susceptible to breaking, chipping, and cracking when large or heavy objects impact its surfaces.
- Maintenance – Granite must be professionally cleaned and sealed at least yearly, more often if used regularly. For daily cleaning, a simple solution of soap and water is all you need.
- Warranty – None whatsoever. Remember, granite is all natural. Mother nature determines how it’s made – and the processes vary greatly!
Quartz for your Kitchen or Bathroom
- Strength – Much harder and durable than granite. Manufactured using 95% ground natural quartz and 5% polymer resins.
- Style – One of the main reason’s quartz has exploded in popularity is due to its appearance. Quartz has the look of stone and allows clients to customize their design. The selection process is much easier with quartz. There is a lot of quartz today that looks almost identical to granite.
- Price – The difference between similar colors and styles of granite and quartz is negligible. Today, there is no to very little difference between the two. Your decision won’t be based on price.
Quartz is the best countertop for kitchens and bathrooms
Environment – Quartz is the clear winner when it comes to the environment. Quartz is the same no matter the brand (Silestone, Cambria, One Quartz, Caesarstone, etc.). The technology and processes were developed more than 50 years ago in Italy by the Breton Company. Today, more than 50 manufactures license the technology from Breton. Although the technology is the same for all manufacturers, the differences in quality between the various manufacturers are all due to the quality of the base (quartz) and resins used along with their own distinct manufacturing processes. - The 90-95 percent of stone-like materials that form the base of quartz countertops are all waste by-products of other quarrying or manufacturing processes. No natural stone is quarried solely for use in quartz countertops. This alone makes quartz a much “greener” and environmentally friendlier product than granite. Even the resins that comprise the remaining 5-10 percent of a quartz countertop have become more natural and less synthetic, now using a combination of artificial and organic resins, the latter derived from non-food vegetable oils. Most of the quartz sold in the United States is sourced and made throughout the United States and Canada. Therefore, the energy used in the manufacturing and transportation of quartz is much lower than granite.
When considering what is better granite or quartz for your countertops, quartz has outstanding durability, almost zero maintenance, and a great warranty
- Durability – Quartz is nearly indestructible! It’s significantly harder than granite and is not porous. Because it’s not porous, it’s impervious to bacteria, mold, mildew, and E.coli. Be careful with cooking pans though: Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat, so use heating pads at all times.
- Maintenance – The solid surface of Quartz means that it never needs to be sealed – a big savings! It should be cleaned daily to ensure surface contaminants are removed. For daily cleaning, a simple solution of soap and water is all you need.
- Warranty – Quartz comes with a warranty from leading manufacturers. These generally vary from 15 years to lifetime. Why such a difference? Remember, although all quartz uses the same manufacturing processes, the base, resins, and the manufacturing processes themselves vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Typically, the better made quartz will have a longer warranty.
Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Bathroom and Kitchen
Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction. We are experts in bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling. We remodel and manage projects in an efficient manner. DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders. Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements.
Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract. We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you. If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.
How Can I Receive More Information on Remodeling my Bathroom and Kitchen?
If you would like more information on enjoying the best bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free in home consultation. DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California. This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Aliso Viejo.
