Natural stone counters are beautiful, durable, and well worth the investment. Top realtors from across the country (but more importantly from right here in the Ottawa market) agree; the best way to maximize your R.O.I. on a kitchen renovation is to use stone countertops.
Once you have your mind made up and have decided on stone, the decision process gets a little trickier. What type of stone? Granite and quartz counters will satisfy the need for something that will look good and stand up to an array of knives, hot pans, and spills. But that’s about where the similarities end.
This article explores quartz and granite countertops, to find the one that’s right for you.
HOW IS A GRANITE COUNTER MADE?
To make granite, the first step is mining the raw materials from the earth. Quarries are located around the world, with some of the biggest mines in Italy, Brazil, India, and Canada. The raw granite is essentially blasted from the quarry.
At this stage the granite is in very rough form. A technician will use a milling machine in a workshop to start transforming the raw granite into slabs. These are usually about seven to nine feet long and are typically what you see when visiting a granite showroom such as our new bigger showroom on Sheffield Rd in Ottawa.
HOW ARE QUARTZ COUNTERS MADE?
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral on earth (after feldspar). Its most common forms include amethyst, ametrine, carnelian, jasper, onyx, rose and smokey quartz.
China, India, and Brazil are the top countries for mining quartz. After they are mined, the minerals are ground into an aggregate that will be fused with a resin, binding the rock under heat and intense pressure. This forms a gorgeous new slab of quartz. During the binding, pigments are added to give the countertop a uniquely beautiful aesthetic. Even with the additives, a quality quartz counter is still 92%-94% quartz.
GRANITE VS QUARTZ, THEIR APPEARANCES.
Granite is usually found in earth tones, but blue and rosey colours can also be found. There are more variations in the hue of the granite slab so colouring won’t be consistent from one end of the counter to the other. Sometimes that’s part of its charm.
Quartz, however, offers more consistency and colours. This is because of the pigments that can be added while producing the quartz.
GRANITE VS QUARTZ, THEIR STRENGTH.
Both stones can last 25-50 years if properly maintained.
While durable, granite needs to be sealed at installation and resealed regularly after. Granite is known for chipping a bit but will sometimes be sealed with a resin during manufacturing, which makes it stronger in the end. Granite is still not quite as strong as quartz, though.
Both stones can be stained but quartz is a little more prone to stains. Discolouration is also more possible with quartz. Extended exposure to sunlight can cause colours to fade over time.
GRANITE VS QUARTZ, SUSTAINABILITY.
Both stones are mined, but the manufacturing process differs. This is why natural granite countertops are a greener choice. They produce less carbon emissions during production than quartz.
GRANITE VS QUARTZ, COSTS.
Lower end versions of both stones start about $50 per square foot, however high-end granite can be more expensive, costing up to $200 per square foot. High-end quartz usually doesn’t exceed $150 per square foot.
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