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Things You Didn’t Know About Quartz vs Granite

If you are thinking about upgrading your countertop, then consider both quartz and granite. These two are totally different countertop surfaces. The granite countertops are made from the natural stone, while the quartz countertops are made from the engineered stone. They have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is good to understand the pros and cons of the either materials and then make the apt choice according to needs and requirements of your kitchen or bathroom.

A brief rundown of quartz and granite

Granite countertops are made from the big chunks of the rocks. After leaving the quarry, granite is cut, polished and shaped. The natural stone is processed to make it suitable for the domestic purposes. The granite has in-build quality of withstanding against moisture, heat and load. You just have to pay attention over granite sealing.

On the other hand, Quartz countertops are made from the combination of resin and crushed quartz. They can be manufactured in variety of textures and colors. They are not cut from the slabs, so quartz countertops are known as the manmade countertop surfaces.

In-depth look at the pros and cons of quartz

Engineered Quartz countertops are as strong as granite countertops, plus they are more flexible. This makes their installation process a lot easier, as compared to granite. However, they should be professionally installed.

Quartz is a non-porous material. Unlike granite, it does not require sealing ever. This material actually provides you a no-maintenance countertop surface.

Quartz countertops are quite durable. They can easily bear the load of heavy kitchen utensils and heat. However, you should not consider them as indestructible.

Quartz is a stain-resistant material as well. You can even clean the wine stains from it without going through a lot of fuzz.

In-depth look at the pros and cons of granite

The appearance of the granite is not uniform. Two granite slabs can be totally different from one another. This can be considered as benefit as well as drawback.

Granite countertops are quite expensive. Also, in order to find the quality countertop, you need to find the reputable granite contractor nc.

Granite slabs are quite heavy. You need to hire the professional for installation and the fitting of the countertop surface.

Choosing The Granite Countertops

Granite is the top choice of the homeowners for kitchen countertop material. Selecting countertops usually involves a combination of inputs including the price of the countertop, look and feel of the material and kitchen décor. Every homeowner wants their kitchen to look clean and beautiful. This is the reason why granite is the most preferred kitchen countertop material.

Know granite slabs

There are many types of granite countertops available on the market. Not all granite surfaces offer the durability, finish and scratch and stain resistance capacity that a good quality granite slab offer. If you want to enjoy all the features of granite countertop, you will have to select the granite slab wisely.

Tips for choosing the best granite countertops

If you are planning to invest on granite for your kitchen the below mentioned tips might help you out:

Choose the slabs that will go in your kitchen: Do not rely on small sample slabs of stones choosing the appropriate granite for your kitchen. These samples are useful only for understanding the predominant color and pattern of the given granite but they do not tell the whole picture. Thus, you should have clear idea that how particular granite countertop pattern is going to look in your kitchen.

Don’t choose stone slabs in bright sunlight: Never ever examine granite slab in open. It is difficult to identify the actual textures and colors of the granite in bright sunshine. The same slab will look different indoors. At outdoors the colors can tend to get washed out.

Compare the price: Price of granite countertop varies. The price varies from vendor to vendor. Since purchasing granite countertop is a big investment, you should compare the price of countertops. It is possible to find price variance in same quality of granite. So, do some research before actually purchasing the granite.

Pay attention over the size of single slab: If possible, measure the size a kitchen counter to know about the availability of slab sizes in the patterns of granite you want.

Know about granite sealing: Since granite countertops demand regular sealing, you should consult this matter with the granite contractor.

Benefits of Sealing Granite Countertops

Granite is beautiful and durable countertop material, which makes it the first choice for kitchen countertops. Granite countertops have many advantages and this is the reason behind their popularity. One of the major benefits of granite is they do not lose value with time. In fact, granite countertops can increase the value of your home. This material provides natural, unique, luminous surface.

Know about granite countertops

When it comes to hygiene, granite is better than other countertop materials. This material does not get affected by the bacteria contamination. And it can be easily cleaned using warm water and cloth. However, granite is not completely resistant to the abrasion caused by daily kitchen use. Thus, granite countertops require sealing to resist dirt and spills.

Sealing granite countertops

Granite sealing will cause liquids to drop on the surface. Thus, stone does not absorb the stains. This is especially helpful if you have light-colored countertops. Cleaning the spills from the sealed granite countertop is easier than unsealed granite countertops. Sealed surfaces are smooth and you don’t harm the granite when you clean the countertop surface.

Sealing will reduce harm caused by acidic substances and cleaning agents to the countertop. It is not easy to remove the stains of acidic substances from the unsealed granite countertop, but if you have sealing, stain removal becomes easy.

Sealing substance can make cleaning the countertop surface much faster. Dirt and fingerprints can be easily wiped up. Since liquids will spread on surface and will not be absorbed into the granite, it will be much easier to clean without any scrubbing. This reduces the cleaning effort and cleaning cost to a great extent.

The biggest advantage of getting granite countertop sealed is that sealant will help you to preserve the natural beauty of granite. It means your granite will never look lifeless or dull. If you ever feel like your granite countertop is losing its shine, you can reapply the sealing. However, you should hire a reputable and trustworthy granite contractor for sealing the countertop. They will use good quality sealant and know how to apply sealant adequately on the granite surface.

Common Myths About Granite Countertops

The longer something is popular, the faster myths grow about it. This is definitely true for granite. As granite strongly stands to the test of time as the finest kitchen countertop material, a lot of myths about granite are spread in the market. Granite is the first choice of homeowners for kitchen and bathroom countertops. It is because granite possesses the all the qualities that homeowners want.

A Look at the Most Common Myths About Granite

Granite is a durable, beautiful and long-lasting material. This material can enhance the beauty of place where it is installed. Many homeowners avoid granite, because they have heard rumors about granite. Countertop installation is a big and expensive decision. In order to choose the best kitchen countertop material, it is important that you take an informed decision.

Myths About Granite

Myth #1: Granite Will Stain

This is one of the more enduring myths about granite. The truth is granite is a stain resistant material. It does not get stained easily. This material has the ability to withstand nature’s elements and maintain its original beauty.

Myth #2: Granite must be sealed regularly

This is the most popular myth about granite countertops. Well, the truth is annual sealing is enough to keep granite in the good condition. However, sealing will restore the shine of granite and your countertop will look as good as new.

Myth #3: Granite will lose its shine

Well, this might be true for marble, but not for granite! Granite is very dense material. Normal kitchen or bathroom activities simply do not introduce sufficient wear and tear to the granite surface to dull it. Rest assured that your granite countertops will maintain their shine for a good number of years to come.

Myth #4: Granite is difficult to maintain

Granite is an extremely low-maintenance material. You don’t even have to worry about its cleaning, soap and water is all you need.

Myth #5: Heat will crack granite

Granite is a heat resistant material. If you purchase granite countertop from a reputable granite contractor, you will get best of granite. It means you need not have to worry about putting hot pans or pots on your granite surface.

Your ultimate guide to Granite Countertops

Granite counters deliver amazing aesthetics in bathrooms and kitchens. The granite kitchen countertops are made by nature and designed by man. These countertops are cost-effective, durable and beautiful for kitchens and baths. Granite is an eye-catching material that adds color and warmth. It is really very hard material that does not get scratch, blisters or cracks. The hardness of granite is compared with the hardness of diamonds. Actually, diamonds are used to polish and cut granite.

Know about Granite Countertops

Over the last 15 years, granite has been dominating the kitchen countertop market. It is the first choice of homeowners and interior designers for decades. Granite countertops are available in plenty of colors, from different shades of browns to whites, greens, reds, blues, and blacks. The most popular granite colors are beige and brown.

Granite also possesses the heat bearing capacity. This material does not get affected by hot pans, pots etc. Also, it is quite easy to clean the oil and grease from the granite surface. Granite has an elegant polished surface that makes it superb for rolling out dough. The polished finish of granite countertop does not wear off easily.

The granite countertops are unique because no two slabs of granite are similar; therefore granite creates an interesting design element. This countertop material brings richness and texture to your kitchen. Granite countertops provide elegance and brilliance. Granite adds up character to kitchen that is matchless. Granite kitchen countertops have a natural beauty that can complement any style of cabinets or shade of wood.

Granite Countertop installation

It doesn’t matter if you are remodeling your existing kitchen or constructing a new home, granite can surely add value to your home. Granite counters have been trending since a long time and they are going to trend more. Granite countertops are one of those assets that always increase the value of place where they are installed.

You can find many types of granite on the market, from the best quality granite to low quality granite. In order to enjoy all the benefits that granite offers, you should buy your countertop from the best granite contractor.

How to Select the Right Granite Countertop Color for Your Kitchen

Kitchen trends come and go, but no other material can beat the popularity of granite when it comes to kitchen countertops. Despite its cost, granite is hard-wearing, easy to maintain and most importantly, fine-looking countertop material. This material comes in many different colors, making it an ideal complement to any kitchen style.

Choosing the right granite countertop color

Granite countertop installation is a decision that provides great value. Since granite slabs are available in many different colors on the market, it is indeed not easy to select the one color. Choosing the granite countertop shade is a personal and eventually long-lasting decision.

Colors For Granite Kitchen Countertops

White Granite

White Granite countertops make kitchen looks bigger. This shade provides a clean-lined look to the kitchen. White granite slabs always come with different colors of veins or flecks that can add character to a kitchen. You can choose from many shades of white granite to match with your kitchen décor.

Beige Granite

Beige Granite offers more decorating options than white granite. This color provides a royal look to the kitchen. Unlike white, beige has more of gray, brown and gray colors mixed in. The color combination provides you more scope to decorate around.

Brown Granite

Brown Granite is for creating rustic and warm look. Since brown granite countertops are darker than beige countertops, they have some limitations in matching cabinet colors. However, lighter contrast shades may look good. Thus, if you are searching for a timeless piece of countertop for your kitchen, brown granite is a safe bet.

Black Granite

Black Granite countertops sparkle. Black granite countertops are actual striations of granite. These countertops are really very easy to look after. The surfaces of black granite countertops are solid black. Nevertheless, when you look closer, you can find small silver specks all over the surfaces.

Conclusion

Granite countertops are the ultimate addition to any kitchen. This countertop material has the capacity of enhancing the appearance of any kitchen as well as bathroom. They are easy to install and can be customized. However, you should always prefer a reputable granite contractor for making purchases.

What factors affect the price of Granite Countertops?

Granite is a durable stone, which make it ideal bathroom and kitchen countertop material. This stone looks extremely stylish and enhances the value of home. Granite countertops come as polished slabs which are specifically cut to fit into the countertop layout of kitchens and bathrooms. However, before you invest in a granite countertop, you should understand that there are many types of granite countertops available on the market.

The quality and price difference in the granite countertops

Not all granite countertops are same. Some granite costs more while some less. This difference exists in the price of granite countertops because of several factors. Although granite is a natural stone, it shows variance in quality. This variance fluctuate the price of granite countertops.

Here are the factors which make difference in the price and quality of granite countertops:

Size of Granite slabs

The size of granite slab affects the cost of granite countertop. If a granite countertop is made up of fewer and larger pieces of granite, it will cost more. It is because such countertops provide seamless finishing. Although it is not easy to determine the joints in the countertop, you should thoroughly observe the countertop before purchasing.

Color of Granite countertop

Granite countertops come in a variety of colors. The rarer color you choose, the more money you will have to pay for it. Actually, granite is mined in several parts of the world. If you choose granite color which is mined in your state, you can get it at cheaper rate. On the other hand, if granite contractor has to import the countertop on your demand, you will have to pay more.

Grades of Granite

Granite is further divided in several grades. These grades define the durability, appearance and strength of granite. The better grade you choose the superior feature you get and higher money you will have to pay. Thus, whenever you purchase granite countertop, do remember to discuss about granite grades.

So, these are some factors which affect the price of the granite countertops. In order to purchase the right granite at the right price, you should prefer reputable granite company. A good company will provide you reliable product at reasonable price.