Granite or Quartz

[mikeandnancy1112]

What are the pros and cons for granite and quartz counter tops?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Granite - The natural beauty and graining can't be beat. Requires sealing periodically though there are many who feel it's not necessary.

Quartz - Available from a variety of manufacturers. Consistent look throughout. It's a true solid-surface so it doesn't require sealing. A bit less costly than granite.

We put quartz in our place in OH. We liked the no-muss, no-fuss concept of it - no sealing needed. But we liked the look of granite better.

Bill :)

[Sleeper]

If you are an active chef you may consider this factor:

"Quartz, the hardest semi-precious stone on the surface of the earth, is the only stone counter surface material that has the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International certification for safe food handling and preparation. Its surface is nonporous, so food and liquids cannot infiltrate it, which prevents the formation and growth of harmful bacteria. It is also very resistant to the growth of mildew and mold. Quartz emits no harmful gases or other noxious elements and has the Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certification, a guarantee of air safety given to products that have passed the Greenguard Environmental Institute’s testing procedures."

Really? Probably a minor point but....

[George Bieniaszek]

We also put Quartz in our kitchen in Connecticut for the same reasons that Bill pointed out, consistent patterns, no sealing, cheaper costs. We caught Lowes when they had a sale and took advantage of the lower prices. Their sun-contractor was excellent, clean and efficient.

[DEWRDW]

Quartz/Cambria - no sealing - just wash counter top with soap and water - I didn't find it much cheaper or any cheaper than Granite

[keithwand]

We have Quartz in our other home in Orlando which we built in 2004 and have had no problems.
We did Granite this time in TV.
No maintenance beyond cleaning.
All are very nice; we just prefer the look of granite.
It comes down to cost and your own personal decision.

[mikeandnancy1112]

Thanks Guys!

[Chazz]

Granite - The natural beauty and graining can't be beat. Requires sealing periodically though there are many who feel it's not necessary.

Quartz - Available from a variety of manufacturers. Consistent look throughout. It's a true solid-surface so it doesn't require sealing. A bit less costly than granite.

We put quartz in our place in OH. We liked the no-muss, no-fuss concept of it - no sealing needed. But we liked the look of granite better.

Bill :)

Agree with you on the appearance assessment. We went for the quartz, because it was nearly as good looking as the granite with functional advantages that others have mentioned here. Cost was not a factor and, in our case the quartz was more expensive than granite. That could be a factor of the different grades of each material, or timing.