If you want to enhance the overall look of your space, including the kitchen or bathroom, then granite and quartz are the most popular and classy options. Due to the durability and elegance of these two materials, they are the luxurious choice among homeowners and builders. When you are considering renovating your house or building a new one, the most important factor to understand is which material is suitable for your space and can offer the elegance as per your style preference. Let’s understand both materials that can differ in composition and maintenance. Here is a brief. Which one is better? Granite vs quartz countertops.
Understanding the difference between Granite and Quartz
Granite: Beautiful natural stone
Granite is a natural stone or rock that is formed from the crystallization of magma under the surface of the Earth. This natural stone is quarried in large blocks and sliced into slabs with polishing to use in the homes. With its unique color, veining, and texture, Granite is a natural stone that offers beauty to the space and can add an elegant look to your kitchen or bathroom.
Quartz
Quartz is a mineral available in different colors, patterns, and textures. This natural mineral is known for its durability, stain resistance, and elegant appearance. Quartz is the ideal choice for countertops and is composed of ground natural quartz crystals, resin, and pigment. Quartz offers a uniform look in comparison with granite.
Appearance of granite and quartz
Granite offers natural beauty with its unique patterns and variations in natural colors. This beautiful stone comes in different colors, including white, blue, green, black, and gray. Granite is one of the best choices for spaces such as kitchen and bathroom countertops. With its dramatic veining and natural imperfections, this natural stone is the perfect choice for homeowners who want an organic look in their space. It has a coarse-grained texture, due to the magma cooling slowly underground, that allows the larger crystals to form. Granite has finishes such as honed and flamed, which offer a unique appearance to the granite.
Quartz is a mineral that is known for its diverse range of appearances that can be found in a variety of colors, including bright whites, cool grays, creams, and blacks. This offers a consistent color to the textures that mimic granite and marble. With finer granules, it creates a consistent look that results in a speckled appearance.
Durability and Strength
Granite comes with durability and strength that make it a popular choice for residential and commercial projects. Granite is an extremely hard natural stone that is resistant to scratches and heat and making it a choice for the kitchen countertops and bathrooms. If not installed properly, then it can lead to cracking. If subjected to excessive pressure, it can lead to a crack or damage. This is a slightly porous natural stone that can stain if it is not properly sealed or not maintained regularly.
Quartz is known for its durability and longevity and is resistant to scratches and cracks, which makes it a choice for the surfaces and countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. The quartz is non-porous, which offers resistance to stains and won’t absorb spills, such as liquids, making it easy to clean and maintain. Its non-porous surface makes it a hygienic and ideal choice for kitchens and bathrooms.
Maintenance
Granite is a stone that requires proper sealing upon installation and needs to be resealed periodically (every 1-2 years). This granite needs to be cleaned with pH-balanced cleaners or granite-specific cleansers that can not cause damage to the polished surface of the stone. Need to wipe the spills, such as liquids, quickly to avoid staining caused by this. Need to polish the granite periodically to restore the shine of the surface. The process of polishing the surface of granite can help the granite look smoother and attractive.
Quartz requires no sealing and requires low maintenance. With low maintenance, quartz is a better choice for projects, including countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. This material is more resistant to mold and bacteria due to its non-porous surface. It can be easily cleaned with mild soap and water with low maintenance.
Environmental Impact
Granite needs to be quarried and transported from the quarries, which can contribute to its carbon footprint. It is a natural stone, so its processing is minimal, but it’s not renewable. The locally sourced granite helps reduce the environmental impact. The process of extracting granite involves the removal of vegetation that can lead to habitat loss for wildlife and can disturb the ecosystem. Due to its durability, the granite can last for decades, which can reduce the need for frequent replacements. Granite is a material that requires minimal maintenance and reduces the need for the chemical cleaning process.
Quartz is made up of one of the most abundant minerals, and it contains resins and polymers, which are derived from non-renewable resources. In comparison to other countertop materials (granite or marble), the quartz countertops have lower environmental impacts. Due to the production process, it is a sustainable choice, and it is made with materials that can be recycled and require less energy that offering a longer lifespan with reduced replacements.
Comparison of the features of Granite and quartz
| Features | Granite | Quatrz |
| Material | Natural stone | Engineered Stone |
| Appearance | Unique appearance | Uniform look |
| Durability | A durable material with heat resistance | A durable material without heat resistance |
| Porosity | Porous material with a requirement for sealing | Non-porous material, no sealing required |
| Maintenace | Requires moderate maintenance | Needs low maintenance |
| Stain resistance | Offers moderate stain resistance | Comes with high stain resistance |
| Scratch resistance | Offers high scratch resistance | Offers high scratch resistance |
| Customization | Limited to natural patterns | Highly customizable |
| Eco-friendliness | Natural material but mined | Engineered stone with some eco brands available. |
Here are some installation considerations for granite and quartz
- These two materials are heavy and require to be installed by professionals.
- Granite requires careful matching of slab patterns where whereas the quartz, being uniform in appearance, makes easy alignment.
- It is easier to transport and install a quartz than granite due to its light weight.
- With easy installation, quartz reduces the installation costs.
- Granite slabs are heavy and require careful handling during installation.
- Sealing of granite is important during installation to prevent it from staining and bacterial growth.
Which one of these materials should you choose?
When both materials come with an excellent and wide variety of benefits, then it is a difficult task to find the right material for your project. Both granite and quartz are suitable choices for kitchens and bathroom countertops. The choice for the material selection depends upon design, maintenance, and budget.
Choose granite in the following conditions:
- If you want to offer your space a unique and natural look, then choose granite that comes with different variety of colors and patterns.
- Granite offers more heat resistance than quartz, so if you prefer better heat resistance, choose granite for your kitchen and bathroom countertops.
- It requires periodic maintenance and sealing during installation. If you are willing to seal it periodically, choose granite.
Choose Quartz in the following situations:
- Quartz offers a uniform and contemporary appearance, you can choose quartz as your excellent choice for your kitchen and bathroom countertops.
- With low maintenance, it is an ideal choice for your project.
- This material offers high-stain resistance in comparison to granite.
- If you prefer a more hygienic and non-porous surface, then quartz is the perfect and suitable choice.
In conclusion, both materials offer a long-lasting and elegant look to your space. You can choose any one of these two to elevate your look, and whichever you choose, the beauty of the materials offers a solid investment.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Do you offer granite that can enhance the longevity of my space?
Ans. Yes, at Nakul International, we offer granite of variety of granite colors and textures. Along with different colors and textures, the granite is durable and can offer long-lasting performance and enhance the longevity of your space.
Q. Do you offer both granite and quartz materials?
Ans. We, at Nakul International, offer a wide range of quartz and granite that are highly durable and offer longevity to your space. The range of granite and quartz at Nakul International is wide, including quartz and granite in the form of blocks, slabs, North Indian Granite, and South Indian Granite.
Q. How to contact Nakul International for quartz?
Ans. You can contact us for quartz by placing your order by calling us on +91 9731143244 or +91 8618284386, or can mailing us at info@nakulinternational.com.
Q. Do you have Thunder Black Granite at Nakul International?
Ans. Yes, we offer thunder black granite with premium quality and at affordable prices. This beautiful natural stone can enhance the appearance of your space and is available in the form of slabs, tiles, or blocks.
