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Three Ways That Granite And Quartz Countertops Are Different

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One key decision you'll need to make when remodeling a kitchen is the countertop material since it needs to resist all of the wear and tear your kitchen sees on a regular basis. If you have narrowed down your selection to granite or quartz material, you may be wondering how these two are different to pick one over the other. While they are quite similar in how they look, there are key distinctions to know between the two materials. 

Composition 

Granite countertops are made out of natural stone that is sourced from the earth. It's cut into thin slabs that are polished and formed into countertop material. The material is made out of a combination of feldspar, quartz, and biotite to make up the granite composition. Meanwhile, quartz is an engineered material, meaning that it is man-made rather than found in the ground. The vast majority of the material is made out of crushed quartz and then bound together with a resin.

Appearance

What makes granite unique is that the material is natural, so you'll never find two pieces of granite that are identical. This can make it difficult to find replacement granite in the future if your material does crack or break somehow, even though it is very durable. You'll also have trouble finding granite that looks a certain way, which could be without any patterns or swirls in the material. Quartz is the opposite of this, where it can have a consistent look due to the added pigments. You'll be more likely to find more plain colored countertop material, and have no trouble sourcing replacement granite that has a similar look if necessary.

One key area where this can make a difference is joint visibility. It's possible that the seams between slabs of quartz will blend in much better than they would with granite because there are fewer variations in the material where a seam isn't obvious. 

Porousness 

Each material is different in terms of how porous the material is. Granite is a natural stone that has tiny holes in it, which means that liquids can seep into the material over time. It requires that you cover the surface with a sealant, which fills in those holes and gives the granite a protective layer. Since quartz is manmade, the resins used to bind the material together act as a permanent sealant. Liquids will not absorb into the material, which prevents staining from happening. 

Contact a quartz countertop fabrication company to learn more. 


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