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Natural Stone Versus Quartz Countertops – What’s Best for My Project?

September 11, 2022 | Countertop, Granite Countertops, Kitchen Countertops, Quartz Countertops

Here’s How to Choose Between Natural Stone & Quartz Countertops

Quartz, marble, or granite countertops – which should you choose for your home projects? Though we all seemingly hear about the three main countertop types often, what we don’t typically hear is the best use-cases for each. Unless you are a designer, or have a strong familiarity with countertops, it’s hard to know which to choose for own projects – we’re here to help you with that.

Difference Between Natural Stone & Quartz Countertops

Marble and granite are both examples of natural stone countertops. The main way they differentiate from quartz is in the fact that granite and marble countertops are actual pieces from the natural stone itself. Natural stone is extracted from Quarries around the world, such as Brazil, Spain, India, Italy, Africa, and Turkey. From there, the stone is processed into countertops by first cutting the blocks of stone into 3 cm. slabs.

Next, resin is applied to the slabs to ensure any imperfections or minor holes are filled. Given they are natural stone, there are natural imperfections. The final step in the countertop processing of natural stone is to polish the countertops – leaving them with their beautiful shone we are accustomed to.

With quartz countertops, processing looks vastly different. Quartz is actually an engineered stone. The way that’s done is by grinding natural quartz into a powder, then adding resin and pigments for different color and pattern varieties.

quartz countertops
Which is Better – Quartz or Natural Stone?

There is no simple way to answer which is the better countertop material as it completely depends on how the countertops will be used. If you are looking for the perfect countertop installation for your outdoor kitchen, granite countertops are probably best as they aren’t sensitive to the sun like quartz is. That said, if you are doing a kitchen remodel, and you are looking for extremely durable kitchen countertops, quartz might be best as it is scratch resistant and stain-proof.

To ensure you are equipped with all of the insight you need to make the best countertop decision for your home build or home redesign, here is a simple breakdown of the pros and cons of natural stone versus quartz countertops:

granite countertops
Quartz Countertops

Pros :

  • » Durable material
  • » Scratch-resistant
  • » Heat-resistant
  • » Stain-proof
  • » Modernistic style

Cons :

  • » Not heat-proof
  • » Sensitive to UV rays
  • » Limited colour and pattern selection
Natural Stone Countertops

Pros :

  • » Heat-proof
  • » Abundant color and pattern choices
  • » Timeless style
  • » No UV sensitivity

Cons :

  • » Not stain-proof
  • » Sealers are required
  • » Chips and cracks with repeated use (which is fixable)

At the end of the day, there isn’t a clear answer to “which is the better countertop overall” as the answer is completely dependent on the use. Now that you are a self-taught expert in countertops, you can feel confident in your countertop choice. To learn more, or to browse beautiful Tampa Bay countertops, visit our website or our showroom. We’re happy to be your go-to countertop manufacturer resource!

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