Quartz Worktops Vs Granite Worktops
Rejuvenating your kitchen will generally only happen once every 10 years or more and can be a big expense.
Therefore it is essential to make the choices that are right for you.
A common question that is asked with regards to new kitchen worktops is which is better, quartz or granite? The question is asked so often because it does not have a straightforward answer.
Both have pro's and both have con's.
Eventually it will come down to personal choice, but having an informed idea of what both can offer will only be an advantage.
Cost Starting the comparison with price, it is true that both quartz and granite are top of the range for worktops and therefore command the higher end of the price scale.
However, quartz worktops are usually pound for pound, slightly more expensive than its granite counterpart.
What are they? Granite is a natural stone that is taken directly from the ground.
It is taken in large slabs and distributed to manufacturers, who have the capabilities of breaking it into smaller slabs and polishing them up.
Because it is natural, no two slabs will be the same.
Each one will be unique and patterns can change within an individual slab (there will be no consistent pattern).
Quartz again is a raw material taken from the ground.
However, it is then mixed with a resin, generally at a ratio of 9:1 (quartz to resin).
This works to smooth out the "pores" that exist in natural stone to make the finished product less susceptible to stains and to strengthen the material.
Another effect of this mix is the fact that the colour and pattern of the quartz can be modified to give a consistent finish and more choice over the final colour.
Practical differences Both are at the top end of the kitchen world because they both have properties that make them ideal for this application.
Both are tough materials which have high heat resistance and scratch resistance.
One main difference is that because granite is in its natural form, the natural pores in its surface allow for staining and can harbour bacteria.
To counter this, it is important to re-seal the granite periodically (normally once a year).
Although this is not a difficult or particularly time consuming task (usually up to an hour), disregarding it will leave your worktops susceptible to staining.
Quartz worktops do not have this problem and require no maintenance.
Other considerations A general rule of thumb with a kitchen worktop is, you get what you pay for.
Granite surfaces can be found relatively cheap in comparison to quartz worktops.
However, the cheaper variants will usually come in much thinner slabs.
This will make them more likely to chip or scratch.
A lot of the time the choice will come down to aesthetics, some will prefer the completely natural patterns of granite, whereas others will prefer the idea of being able to choose between designs and knowing exactly what they will be getting.
Therefore it is essential to make the choices that are right for you.
A common question that is asked with regards to new kitchen worktops is which is better, quartz or granite? The question is asked so often because it does not have a straightforward answer.
Both have pro's and both have con's.
Eventually it will come down to personal choice, but having an informed idea of what both can offer will only be an advantage.
Cost Starting the comparison with price, it is true that both quartz and granite are top of the range for worktops and therefore command the higher end of the price scale.
However, quartz worktops are usually pound for pound, slightly more expensive than its granite counterpart.
What are they? Granite is a natural stone that is taken directly from the ground.
It is taken in large slabs and distributed to manufacturers, who have the capabilities of breaking it into smaller slabs and polishing them up.
Because it is natural, no two slabs will be the same.
Each one will be unique and patterns can change within an individual slab (there will be no consistent pattern).
Quartz again is a raw material taken from the ground.
However, it is then mixed with a resin, generally at a ratio of 9:1 (quartz to resin).
This works to smooth out the "pores" that exist in natural stone to make the finished product less susceptible to stains and to strengthen the material.
Another effect of this mix is the fact that the colour and pattern of the quartz can be modified to give a consistent finish and more choice over the final colour.
Practical differences Both are at the top end of the kitchen world because they both have properties that make them ideal for this application.
Both are tough materials which have high heat resistance and scratch resistance.
One main difference is that because granite is in its natural form, the natural pores in its surface allow for staining and can harbour bacteria.
To counter this, it is important to re-seal the granite periodically (normally once a year).
Although this is not a difficult or particularly time consuming task (usually up to an hour), disregarding it will leave your worktops susceptible to staining.
Quartz worktops do not have this problem and require no maintenance.
Other considerations A general rule of thumb with a kitchen worktop is, you get what you pay for.
Granite surfaces can be found relatively cheap in comparison to quartz worktops.
However, the cheaper variants will usually come in much thinner slabs.
This will make them more likely to chip or scratch.
A lot of the time the choice will come down to aesthetics, some will prefer the completely natural patterns of granite, whereas others will prefer the idea of being able to choose between designs and knowing exactly what they will be getting.
