Which worktop is best for the kitchen, granite or quartz

To decide whether your kitchen would benefit most from a worktop of granite or quartz, you should understand the qualities of each stone. Granite is naturally mined and quartz is engineered, which is the root of most differences between these materials. Different kitchens require different qualities to be prioritised. So, can we conclude which worktop material is best for the kitchen, granite or quartz? 

About Granite

This natural stone is intrinsically hardwearing. Although it requires sealing when installed as a kitchen worktop, the stone itself is more naturally durable than other options. The seal removes porosity so that the surface is heat and stain-resistant. As a mined stone, the colour and appearance of granite vary. Similarly, price ranges depend on the availability and location of the stone.

About Quartz

This is an engineered stone which mixes a majority of natural quartz with polymer resin. As such, there is no sealing process requires for a kitchen worktop. With no porosity in the compacted surface, it is extremely durable and low maintenance. Quartz will withstand high temperatures and is low maintenance. The manufacturing process produces a uniform pattern on the surface and a wide range of colour schemes and price ranges.

Functionality

Both granite and quartz are high functioning kitchen worktop materials. Hot dishes from the oven won’t damage the worktop. A wipe down with mild dish soap will remove spillages, which will not stain. Quartz is so hard-wearing, in fact, that you should avoid chopping food directly on the kitchen worktop as the stone may damage the knife blade. Both granite and quartz enable your kitchen worktop to withstand heavy traffic and work well for future kitchen incarnations.

Aesthetics

Appearance and style are utterly subjective. Granite and quartz are both stunning stones in their own right. Both stones are available in a range of colours so will fit easily into colour based design schemes. As a naturally mined stone, granite features unique markings on each slab. This means that it’s often preferred for more traditional kitchen design concepts. Having said that, granite ranges with minimal graining are also popular for contemporary designs. Similarly, quartz is seen as the natural choice for modern, sleek kitchens. Its regular patterning and light reflection works fantastically with smooth lines and minimal features. However, matt quartz worktops can also sit beautifully within a country style kitchen design, so there are no limits here!

Maintenance

Daily maintenance is minimal for kitchen worktops in granite and quartz. Both worktops are low in porosity so wiping down with warm water is sufficient to maintain the hygiene of the surface. Granite requires moderately regular sealing to maintain its durability, every year or two depending on usage. So, if you want to avoid even minimal maintenance tasks, then quartz is probably for you. Polished surfaces can be prone to streaking, so you may prefer to dry your granite and quartz worktops to avoid this.

Cost

Both granite and quartz are thought of as being expensive options. However, because both materials encompass a wide range of products there is a solution for most budgets. Don’t forget the importance of value, too! You may plan to sell your home in the coming years or simply want to ensure a durable surface which will last and last. In both cases, the value that these stones offer is second to none.

Clearly, there is no superior stone between granite and quartz for a kitchen worktop. The right variety of either stone will be one which is unique to you and your kitchen design. So to help you find the right stone for you, be it granite or quartz, just get in touch with us at Zenstone!