Granite is mined from the ground, cut into slabs, and polished to a beautiful luster. Quartz countertop is a man-made material that incorporates small pieces of natural quartz (and occasionally other natural materials like granite) with resin and then poured into a mold and pressed into slabs.
Granite provides a more natural appearance with many color choices and options that allow for a lot of movement and veining or more of a “speckled” look to complement your aesthetic. Because it is a natural stone, there is a level of maintenance that needs to be performed. Once a year it is advised to reseal the surface of your countertops. While this sounds intimidating and time consuming, all that is really required is for you to spray the sealer on your countertop, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe it off … it’s really that easy. The benefit of using a stone for your countertop, though, is that you can chop your vegetables on it, then take your hot pan off the stove and place it directly on your countertop.
Quartz is a man-made material which allows for consistency in color and movement meaning there is little to no variation within each slab or even between slabs. Quartz is easy to maintain and is stain resistant. Because of the resins used in the production of quartz, it is not advised to put hot pans directly on the countertop.
If you are considering installing granite, quartzite, or any other type of natural stone kitchen countertop or bathroom vanity, it is important to understand that pits and fissures are part of the stone’s natural structure and there may always be these tiny spaces in the deposits of mineral crystals that makes each slab unique … they are in no way a structural defect. Pitting is an intrinsic feature and part of the unique characteristics that make up each natural stone, and it bears repeating that their presence in no way impairs its durability or appearance. When any natural stone is polished, pitting and fissuring will inevitably occur. Most pitting and fissuring is so microscopic that people don’t even notice these irregularities. And for larger ones, they can be filled with an epoxy.
Carefully review the slabs that are available and understand that the natural pitting present on the surface is what distinguishes highly sought-after natural stone from man-made or manufactured material.
The very pretty shimmer and translucent areas in natural stone is caused by mica minerals. These areas can sometimes be snagged with a cloth or flake off but in no way compromise the countertop. These occur naturally and provide the unique beauty within each natural stone slab.
A popular surface for kitchen counter tops today is engineered stone. Engineered stone kitchen counter tops are extremely tough, easy to maintain, heat resistant and have a number of other beneficial properties. Engineered stone kitchen counter tops are made mainly from rock particles with a little resin and pigment added.
Engineered stone kitchen counter tops are becoming a very popular choice in today’s kitchen and provide many advantages. Firstly, they are very strong and durable which is often an important consideration in many kitchens. They are also easy to install and flexible. Engineered stone kitchen counter tops are resistant to scratches, heat and burns and are very easily maintained. You can also choose a color and style that best suits your kitchen from the more natural-looking engineered stone to pastel shades.
