Countertop Comparison

Not all counter tops are the same. If you know even the bare minimum about kitchens, you may be very aware of this. Types of counter tops range from economic options like laminate, to functionally stylish butcher block counter tops, to the avant-garde options like full islands made of intricately veined stone, like an art piece of its own. What we’re going to talk about today is a little more limited. We’re going to compare the differences between Granite, Quartz, and Quartzite; some of the most popular options in a modern and well-designed kitchen. Granite Granite is often the most referenced type of material used for counter tops. Granite is a natural stone made in the earth from igneous rock and extracted from the ground with special equipment. Though there are colors of the same name, each piece of granite is distinctly its own since it comes from the earth and isn’t manufactured. It is a standard strength counter top that is slightly porous, so it requires a little bit of maintenance because you have to seal it. Granite styles come in a large variety of colors as well; ranging from recognizable, venous marbling to intricate and unique exotics. Overall, it is a solid go-to material for any kitchen project. Quartz As opposed to being natural stone, Quartz is a material made of mostly ground stone artfully mixed with a strong resin and various pigments. There are a few benefits to this that generally make Quartz a more expensive type of counter top material. Namely, it’s maintenance-free in comparison to Granite or any sort of natural stone. Quartz is not porous at all, whereas natural stone is. This makes it easier to clean, and you don’t need to treat it at all to prevent discoloration. Compared to granite, it’s also a harder material, and isn’t quite so easy to damage. Though it is man-made and can be known for uniform colors and styles, quartz manufacturers have gotten quite good at imitating the real thing, and these days you can find dynamic, venous patterns and variety. Quartzite Out of the three that we are comparing in this article, Quartzite is the hardest and strongest counter top material featured. Quartzite is a natural stone material made of highly-pressurized sandstone. Despite having no resins or additives, it is much harder and more natural looking than Quartz. Like Granite, it features unique veins and can often show bright and vivid natural stone color. Another quality that it shares with Granite is it’s porous nature, which means that like granite, it requires some maintenance. Sealing it properly should do the trick quite well, and if you put in the needed TLC you’ll have a lovely counter top for years to come. So, when push comes to shove there is no counter top material that is “better” than the other, it’s all a matter of personal preference. To review; Quartzite and Granite are natural stone materials, with Quartzite being the stronger material. Both are porous and need to be sealed, unlike Quartz. Quartz is a man-made product that is maintenance-free and strong. All of them are good options, so long as you consider what you need out of your kitchen. We do all of these options and more at Luxurable Kitchen & Bath, so whatever you decide to go with, we can help you every step of the way.