“Happiness is a small house with a big kitchen,” Alfred Hitchcock.
While we consider our kitchen renovation, the countertop is your kitchen’s most visible and prominent component. One cannot make a mistake with their kitchen countertop because nothing can hide on that open surface. A kitchen counter must be made up of a durable natural countertop material with an attractive look.
Throughout the world, kitchen countertops are built out of four reliable materials. Solid surface countertops, laminate countertops, quartz countertops, and granite countertops are the most used and preferred countertops worldwide. The real dispute is granite vs. quartz countertops. Both of them are strong and durable stones with impressive strength and resistance.
Quartz and granite are made equally strong and durable and just as beautiful and vibrant, but some points and properties make quartz the winner. Detailed properties of both the stone countertops have been discussed.
Award-winning qualities of quartz
Most houses in the world have quartz countertops due to their versatile properties and diverse grades. Typically, quartz is available in three grades, and each grade is differentiated from the others based on its look and durability. At the end of this journey, you will be able to distinguish the best quartz countertop.
Regardless of the grade, some common properties among all the grades make them durable natural countertop materials.
Strength
Quartz is no doubt an incredibly strong stone for your countertop. No matter how many weighty and heavy woks and pots you put on it, it will always endure daily stressors and fail to give up under pressure. Using quartz as your countertop material will produce a sense of strength and authority in your kitchen. Since it is extremely hard and strong, it is resistant to scratches, and it will stay evergreen without any scratches and stains on the surface of your best quartz countertop. It is often said and heard, “may the quartz be with you,” to empower someone with strength and resistance.
Durability
If you want to look up to someone for their durability, quartz is your hero. Quartz is often used as an alternative to granite. For your strong stone countertops, quartz is a viable choice. Its hardiness and toughness will never decrease. The best of the countertops are made out of quartz to serve the purpose of a foundation and base. The kitchen countertop has to be durable and tough to stand the test. It can endure endless pressure and stress and provide you smooth and strong surface to work on.
Resistance
Quartz is a very durable man-made material. This magnificent stone is nonporous. Due to this amazing quality, it is extremely resistant to mold and bacteria contamination. Both the microorganisms need moisture to survive. Quartz’s nonporous nature makes it hydrophilic, and water doesn’t absorb into it. Thus, these notorious microbes can’t spread their legs on a quartz countertop.
Besides being repellent to living microbes, quartz is proficiently heat resistant too, and it combats heat and damage like a pro. You can install an electric stove on your quartz countertop without fretting about the damage because not only heat, quartz is also immune to stains and dents.
Versatile look
Quartz comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. This stone is engraved with networks of veins which gives it a very unique and attractive look. Since there is no specific pattern of these veins, there are endless possibilities in the versatile look of quartz. The eccentric meshwork of veins makes quartz countertops God-giftedly beautiful and catchy.
The best Quartz countertops come in many colors, and there is a wide and large variety of shades and patterns you can choose from.
Quartz comes in three grades.
Buying quartz countertops can be a little heavy on your pockets. Best stone countertops are either made of marble, granite, or quartz, depending on their quality. It is proven that the best out of all three materials is quartz. It can be a little more expensive than the other two. However, you do not have to go for the most expensive item on the list. Quartz itself comes in three different grades based upon its look and durability.
First choice
Quartz itself is the best durable countertop material, but if you look the best out of all quartz types and are ready to drop the cash, then First Choice Quartz must be your first choice. This material speaks for its name, and it is used for the best quartz countertop because of its premium qualities.
The first choice, quartz, comes in all solid and vibrant colors with great shine and luster. It has a very smooth look and touches; hence, it is often mistaken as a marble. However, the distinguishing property is that it is not as soft as marble. First choice quartz does not easily break or crack, which proves its best durability and strength.
Commercial grade
It is the most-bought quartz, and it is the mediocre level of quartz and is mostly used in hotels and restaurants worldwide. Indeed, commercial-grade quartz is not as lustrous and vibrant as the first choice quartz; however, it maintains sufficient beauty while being equally sturdy and dependable.
Being used mostly throughout industries, it has a great and considerable commercial value. Its fair qualities, look, and durability makes it affordable for most. However, often has it been observed that commercial-grade quartz is not used in kitchen countertops at homes. Because although it is affordable and commercial, a long exposure can affect its look and strength. Open kitchens with great exposure to sunlight should refrain from commercial-grade quartz countertops because they will easily give up under strong sunlight exposure.
Second choice
In the granite vs. quartz countertops squabble, this grade might let the quartz down. It is also called the builder’s grade material because of its good strength and durability but rough look. Second choice quartz can be your second option if you are not going after the look. It provides similar durability and strength as the first choice or commercial grade quartz, but it doesn’t have the looks. It has no intricate networks of veins and absolutely no luster to the surface.
The second choice, quartz, does not come in vibrant and attractive shades, and it is mostly available in plain white or beige. This choice of quartz can be best for your kitchen countertop and can combat any stain or stress. However, it fails to shine or glitter. So, if you are not a person to go after gold and glitter and want a plain white best quartz countertop, then the second-choice quartz can prove to be the best choice.
Outstanding qualities of granite
We are aware that the best option is quartz; however, the financial shortcomings of quartz can make us look at other options. Granite is another durable natural countertop material for your kitchen, and it passes both the tests of durability and look and has some other amazing qualities.
Strength and durability
If you are looking for something equal in strength to the quartz and equally lustrous but at a little cost, granite is your best option. It provides evergreen strength like the second-choice quartz but with the look and shine to it.
Granite countertops are crafted with strong natural stone. It is comprised of quartz, mica, and feldspar combined, which give it an unbeatable strength. Granite is an extremely durable stone to construct countertops and can last for a timeless period.
Smoothness
In the granite vs. quartz debate, granite can win more points in terms of smoothness. Granite stone countertops are extremely even and glossy. Due to their smoothness, granite countertops are mostly used in bakeries to roll the dough easily.
Hardness
Granite countertops are extremely hard, and it is the main reason they are the second-best and preferred over rather soft marble. Because of this hardness, granite countertops are not easily chipped and manage to remain strong and tough.
Most households prefer granite over marble because it won’t chip or break even after strong hits. So if you are renovating your kitchen and want a strong countertop that will sustain you through the renovation process, then granite can be on your list.
Resistance
Granite is not specifically quartz; however, it repels many obstacles. Granite countertops are resistant to stains and scratches. If you drag a big black cauldron over it, the granite might show a little frown; however, all the stains and scratches can be easily cleaned, and they won’t stay permanently on the surface.
Along with being stain resistant to stains, granite is also a heat and chemical repellant. Granite countertops can tolerate extreme heat and will fail to crash, and they won’t react with acids as marble countertops would. So, you don’t need to worry if that notorious drop of lemon juice will vanish the polish of your granite countertop.
Variety
Granite stones come in a wide variety of vibrant and dull colors. The color of the stone depends upon the region it belongs to.
The regions affect not only the color but also the look of the granite stone. There are many types of granites differentiated upon the basis of colors. The quality does not vary much; however, the look changes so much you might think that it is a different stone.
Along with being black, white, or brown, there are also some kinds of ornamental granite stones. These granites come in vibrant and attractive shades of blue or mahogany and are often highly priced.
Versatile look
Unlike quartz, granite does not compromise on its look. Like quartz comes in different grades depending upon the look and luster, granite does not do that. All granite stones have their versatile look and color, where quality remains the same. No matter from which region the granite belongs, it will have the same quality.
Granite stones are not engraved with networks of veins. They have different designs and patterns, which vary from waves to mosaic. The pattern is never specific on a granite stone and might surprise you with its versatility every time.
Based on the look, granite is used in different places. Where black and brown are preferred in households, the ornamental granites are used in hotels and restaurants.
What makes quartz better than granite?
There are shortcomings in the granite that make it lose the granite vs. quartz war. In comparison to quartz, granite is cheaper and commercial with no compromise on look and durability. Still, granite lacks some of the attributes in its character.
Porous surface
Unlike quartz, granite has a porous surface, and this liability makes it unable to resist water and microbes. Due to larger pores, granite countertops absorb more water and become soft with time. They are also prone to bacterial and fungal growth because of the retained water content.
Hence, having granite countertops for many years in your kitchen can prove to be liable and unhygienic.
Radiations
The composition of granite has been proven to have radon particles in it. Where radon is radiated from underground over many decades, old granite countertops also emit radon. These radiations are cancerous and extremely hazardous to one’s health.
Maintenance
Granite countertops do not require minimal maintenance like quartz. They need to be cleaned and disinfected frequently to maintain the shine and to keep away the microbes.
Conclusion
Only two dimensions matter in a countertop; look and durability. The stone countertops only work well in a kitchen if they stay timelessly strong and lustrous. The best quartz countertops have all the qualities needed for a kitchen, from look to durability.
