Kitchen Countertop Options: Granite Versus Quartz

At Granite Encounters, we have a variety of kitchen countertop materials available to suit your needs: not only do we offer granite, but we also have a wide assortment of internationally-known quartz brands to choose from. Below you will find some more information on the unique advantages of the different kitchen countertop options we offer:

Granite Kitchen Countertops

Granite is typically available in slabs, which have been cut from large blocks of stone mined out of the earth. If you line up several granite slabs cut from the same block, you will see that each one looks similar to the one that was cut before and after it.

When selecting granite countertops, you get a wide choice of natural colours and patterns, and since each batch of granite is unique, you will never have the exact same countertop as anyone else. Granite offers other advantages such as resistance to heat and metal abrasions. If you do end up scratching or chipping the surface, it is often possible to repair and polish the surface so you can't see the damage.

Do keep in mind that granite is porous, so you do have to ensure proper care for your granite countertop, which includes sealing it once a year.

In summary, granite will add value to your home, as it is a highly desirable, long-lasting and beautiful countertop solution, and it has more of a natural look to it than some of the engineered stone options that are currently available for countertops.

Quartz Kitchen Countertops

Quartz is actually an engineered (man-made) stone; if you look at a quartz countertop, 91 to 97 per cent of it is quartz crystals, and the rest of it is a combination of other ingredients and materials such as binders, resins and colours.

The advantages of quartz are many: it is non-porous, so it does not need to be sealed, and it is able to resist damage from heat, scratching, stains, chemicals, molds and bacteria. It is made to look like natural stone, but you will find that the pattern and colour are more consistent from one slab to the next, so your countertop will look closer to the sample you picked out at the showroom. Quartz is typically much stronger than granite, but it is also easier to shape.

However, with quartz you will not get the same natural and unique colour and pattern variations as you would see in granite countertops. In addition, although quartz is very resistant to scratches, if you do manage to somehow damage the quartz countertop surface, it would be very difficult – almost impossible – to repair.

Overall, quartz countertops are an excellent investment that will add beauty, colour and an upscale look to your kitchen, while increasing your home's resale value. At Granite Encounters, we carry the following quartz brands: