If you are considering a kitchen remodeling project, you are likely wondering whether granite or quartz is best for your countertops.  The addition of new countertops and cabinets during kitchen remodeling is important as you only get one chance to make this important home addition. Choose the wrong material for your countertops and you will be stuck with it for the ensuing decade or even longer. Let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of granite and quartz countertops to help you determine which material is best for your kitchen remodeling project in Fairfax, VA. 

The Benefits of Granite

Granite is revered for its beauty and natural quality. This 100% natural stone formed below the surface of the planet.  The material is cut into slabs for addition during kitchen renovation and kitchen remodeling projects. Granite is also favored as it offers more variety in terms of aesthetics. Granite has a comparably earthy texture that attracts the attention of everyone who steps into the room.  

Granite’s mineral crystals sometimes contain microscopic fissures that feature a pronounced color with diminutive raised lines providing a coarse texture, especially when juxtaposed with the aesthetic of quartz.  In short, if you want your kitchen remodeling project to have a natural look and feel, Granite is a perfect choice.

However, it must be noted the surface of granite is porous, meaning it will absorb spills from food. Granite countertops can be stained unless finished with a sealer that repels oil and water. It is also recommended that granite counters are subsequently resealed in each year that follows.

It is worth noting that certain granite kitchen counters are dyed.  Be sure to ask the seller if the granite you are considering is dyed. In general, black granite countertops are the most likely to be dyed.  The problem with a dyed granite counter is the color gradually fades, especially in sections that are laden with moisture at a comparably high frequency.  

The Inside Scoop on Quartz Countertops 

Quartz doesn’t have as many natural variations as granite.  Quartz has more flecking that creates a visually uniform countertop when compared to that granite.  Homeowners looking to remodel their kitchen with complex textures and patterns will find the minimalism of quartz provides much-needed visual balance.  

Though quartz does not have the same level of natural beauty as granite, it is still worthy of your consideration.  Quartz is one of the planet’s most abundant materials.  Take a look at the quartz countertop options and you will find a litany of patterns and colors that bring out the best in your kitchen, bathroom, or other space in your home during a renovation or remodel.  

These unique countertops consist of crushed quartz combined with resin.  All in all, quartz countertops are slightly more than 90% quartz material and nearly 10% resin binder along with color additives. Sort through the many different quartz colors and patterns and you are sure to find a hue and texture with your preferred level of aesthetic variation.

Quartz countertops are bound with resin, meaning they do not have any sort of natural fissures or crystalline structure as found in granite.  However, this idiosyncrasy can be construed as a positive as it gives quartz that much smoother of a texture.  Choose quartz countertops that are ground especially fine and you’ll find the resulting appearance is that much more polished and glossy.

Quartz is favored by some as it is that much more resistant to stains and moisture.  However, both granite and quartz prove resistant to scratches, heat, and forceful impact.  Perhaps the most important feature of quartz in the context of kitchen renovations is the fact that it is resistant to water and non-porous, meaning it won’t require sealant.  In other words, your new quartz countertops will be nearly completely stain-proof.