These key comparisons can help you choose the one that best suits your style, budget, and needs.
This is one of the most common questions every homeowner asks before remodeling their kitchen. Both materials are sleek and high-end. Homeowners favor them for their rugged durability and timeless elegance. So which option is right for you?
With more than 50 years of experience in the kitchen remodeling industry, AAA Remodeling Company can help you decide which option is right for you. The following key comparisons can help you choose the one that best suits your style, budget, and needs.
Facts about Granite
Granite is 100% natural. It is a stone composed of minerals such as quartz, mica, and feldspar, which formed deep below the earth’s surface over millions of years. Granite is extracted from quarries as large chunks of rock and cut into slabs for home design applications, such as kitchen countertops.
Granite has coarser, earthier textures, giving countertops natural swirls and striations that vary in shapes, sizes, and color from one point on the slab to another. Some other facts to consider about granite countertops include:
- Cost – Granite is typically more expensive than quartz. Granite’s price range is $60 to $270 per square foot installed. For an average-sized kitchen with 30 sq. feet of countertop area, granite will cost between $2,100 and $8,000. The cost difference is due to the time it takes to locate and quarry the granite and transportation costs because most granite is mined in Brazil, India, and Russia.
- Maintenance – Granite is porous. Therefore, granite countertops require a sealant to prevent staining from wine, tomato sauce, cooking oil, grease, and other spills. You can do it yourself, and it is relatively easy to apply. Once the sealant is applied, you must be careful of the cleaning products you use as certain cleaners, like bleach and Windex, can weaken the sealant.
- Durability – Granite is a strong substance resistant to heat and many other kitchen elements. It is not susceptible to scratches. It will dull knife blades if you cut directly on it because it is one of the hardest substances in the world.
Facts about Quartz
Quartz is a natural substance. However, quartz countertops are made from engineered stone containing 90% to 94% naturally occurring ground quartz and another 6% to 10% polymer resins and pigments. Ground quartz is mined from the earth but must be bound with artificial resins to form quartz slabs.
Like granite, quartz countertops come in a variety of patterns and hues. However, quartz doesn’t naturally contain the variations that granite does. Quartz generally maintains a consistent design across the slab without much variation. Some other facts to consider about quartz countertops include:
- Cost – Quartz generally costs less than granite. It is approximately $70 to $100 per square foot installed. For an average size kitchen with 30 square feet of countertop space, a quartz countertop will cost between $2,000 to $3,000 to install.
- Maintenance – Quartz is very easy to maintain. It never needs sealing or waxing to protect it from mildew or stains. This is even true of white quartz. It can easily be cleaned with a mild detergent, water, and a soft cloth or paper towel.
- Durability – Quartz has the same durability as granite but is much more forgiving. It won’t chip or crack as easily. Quartz is non-porous, so it resists staining much better.
Making the Choice
It really comes down to what look you want and how much you want to spend. Both are great options for countertops. Neither material is DIY friendly. They are exceptionally heavy and require expert installation services.
If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen, contact AAA Remodeling today! The essential competitive advantage is our people – a team of the most talented people who simply care more about their customers and each other than our competitors care about theirs.