Here is a great article on countertop material Granite vs Quartz by Bryan Sebring. Interesting read. SRB Signature Kitchens and Baths is a full-service, one-stop shopping design center.  We have over 25+ years’ experience in this industry.  We have general contractors on staff and all of our subcontractors are fully licensed and insured. Servicing Lunenburg, Fitchburg, Leominster, Westminster, Ashby, Ashburnham, Lancaster, Harvard, Ayer, Acton, Shirley, Townsend, Groton, Pepperell, Bolton. Enjoy the article.

About the Author: Bryan Sebring

You want to remodel your kitchen, but you only have enough saved to renew your countertops. After much contemplation, you’ve narrowed it down to either granite or quartz countertops. But you’re having trouble deciding which one you really want and need. There are plenty of delusions and assumptions floating around out there about granite and quartz. This blog will tell you exactly what you can expect and sort out the pros and cons of quartz vs. granite countertops.

Quartz Pros

• Quartz is a mineral and one of the most abundant on our planet.
• These countertops are human-made.
• Quartz has a wide variety of colors and patterns that show up are 100% synthetic.
• Quartz countertops are made up of crushed quartz mixed with resin in a ratio of 93% quartz material to 7% resin binder and color additives.
• They are manufactured in a variety of different patterns and colors.  This gives you a lot more options for both monotone textures or colors that have more variation.
• Quartz may look like they’re straight from Mother Nature—and that’s the idea—yet, quartz is crushed and customarily blended with resin or some other kind of binding agent. The finished stone appears to be rich.
• Many people are encouraged by the fact that quartz countertops don’t require any maintenance. One of the biggest benefits that quartz has is it doesn’t need to be sealed and it’s stainless. Quartz countertops can handle oil, tomato, wine, coffee, juice and many other stainable products. Plus, quartz doesn’t hold viruses or bacteria, so you know that your countertops will be clean when you wipe it down.
• It may be hard to believe, but quartz is heftier than granite—and that’s saying a lot! When you’re looking at which one chips easier, quartz is a bit more flexible so it’s the stronger of the two.

Quartz Cons

• Like granite, quartz seams are still obvious. If you select darker quartz for your countertops it’s a good possibility that the seams won’t show at all which gives you a great contemporary, clean look. If the chosen quartz has many patterns or colors, it could be a bit trickier to hide the seams.
• Quartz has less natural beauty compared to granite.  Many of the quartz manufacturers are trying desperately to come up with colors that look more like the natural look of granite, but many fail miserably.  Right now, Cambria, does the best job at looking like natural stone.
• But how expensive is a quartz countertop? Compared to granite, quartz is generally going to cost you a bit more because it’s man-made and the price in controlled by the manufacturer (as opposed to buying raw material).

GRANITE COUNTERTOPS PROS & CONS

Granite Pros

• Each slab of granite is totally unique. Why? Granite is mined as single, large slabs that are 100% natural stone and no two sheets are alike.
• Some colors of Granite can come in jumbo slab sizes for use on large island cabinetry.  This is a benefit because you don’t need to put an unsightly seam in the center of your kitchen.  If you have a large island or spacious kitchen, granite may be the answer to avoid seams.
• There are hundreds of shades/colors of granite slabs to choose from and they’re beautiful and impressive to look at; many people consider the imperfections to be what makes granite so distinctive. It can even become the focal point of your kitchen which will blend well with your floor, walls, and cabinets.
• In general, granite stands up to normal use quite well although it can dull your knife blades (although we never recommend using granite countertops as a cutting board).
• Granite can be used outdoors. Because it a natural mineral granite is built to withstand the elements. It won’t weather or fade because of exposure to the sun.
• When granite is correctly sealed by a professional, your granite countertops won’t soak up liquids and is stain-resistant.
• Granite has a wide range of pricing. While your most inexpensive, low-end granite will run you about $55 per square foot, you must be careful of hidden fees. However, if you’re considering exotic, high-quality granite, you could shell out as much as $150 per square foot!

Granite Cons

• If you’re going to replace a large countertop, you’ll need a few different slabs to finish the job and it’ll be impossible to make the joining seams invisible. A professional will be able to make inconspicuous cuts and make the seam color correspond to the granite; yet, if you’re searching for the seams, they’ll be very evident.
• Granite, by nature, is absorbent. If your granite countertops aren’t properly sealed or left unsealed, it could end up absorbing oil, wine and juice which will create a stain that you won’t get rid of. In addition, improperly sealed granite will hold bacteria. You should plan to reseal your granite countertops once a year; if you don’t the countertops will quickly begin to show evidence of staining.
• Granite countertops are tough and long-lasting but, while it’s uncommon, if a heavy item like a frying pan is dropped on the countertop’s corner the granite could chip or crack.
• Granite tends to have a lot of variation in the tone and texture.  Depending on your taste, you may not like this variation.  In the past five years, monotone colors have become more popular which limits the use of granite in contemporary kitchens.