In the world of kitchen countertops there are many materials from which to choose. Two of the foremost options are natural granite and engineered quartz. These materials, though very different, have some similarities between them. And those similarities and differences may surprise you.
Quartz vs Granite
When performing a head-to-head match up between materials, it helps to take a look at various aspects of the materials. So that is what we are going to do in this comparison. We will consider properties of each of the two materials individually. Then we will explore what they have in common as well as their differences.
Engineered Quartz Material
As the name implies, engineered quartz material is a type of surface that is produced using the mineral quartz. The material is hard and is available in a number of color options. In fact, various patterns are available as well.
Hard Facts About Quartz
The fact of the matter regarding engineered quartz is that this material is very hard. That characteristic makes quartz surfaces scratch resistant in normal household environments. That is not to say that engineered quartz is scratch-proof. It can be scratched, but it resists scratching very well.
Non-porous & Needs No Sealing
One of the other traits that engineered quartz offers is that it is non-porous. In other words, it does not absorb liquids that meet with its surface. Any liquids that get on a quartz slab will simply stay on the surface of the material. We are not saying that engineered quartz does not stain. Rather, we are simply saying that stains remain on the surface of the slab. Substances can mark up, dry on, or react with the material and leave marks. But because the stain is on the surface, it is easier to get to and treat.
Natural Granite Surfaces
Unlike engineered quartz, granite surfaces are made from 100% stone that is quarried from mountains and sliced into slabs. This material forms in a variety of colors and patterns. The mineral content affects the color of the resulting stone.
Granite Is a Hard Stone
Natural granite is a stone that lives on the hard end of the Mohs scale. Depending on the stone it can be anywhere from a 5 to a 7 hardness. The upper end of the scale starts at 5, so granite is considered a hard material.
Granite’s Porosity
Just as the hardness of granite varies from one stone to another, so it is with its porosity. One stone may be very porous and another one may be dense and not be very porous at all. It just depends on the formation of the stone.
Granite & Quartz Similarities
Now that we have considered each fo the materials we are considering individually, we can begin comparing them with one another. You may have already picked up on some of the similarities between these materials. But we will explicitly mention them in this portion of the article.
Similar Hardness
The first similarity between engineered quartz and natural granite is that both of these materials are scratch resistant. The hardness of the materials is what gives them this benefit. THese materials are so close in their hardness that often times you will find that blades are marketed as diamond blades for granite and quartz. This is because blades that work on one of these materials generally work on the other one as well.
Color Selection Quartz vs Granite
Another similarity between granite and quartz is the color selection. You might think that since quartz is engineered, it is available in a lot more colors. However, granite forms in a wide variety of colors. So, in the area of color selection, both quartz and granite excel.
Both Require Care and Maintenance
Our third similarity between natural granite and engineered quartz is that both of these materials must be be cared for regularly. And while quartz needs only to be cleaned regularly using an appropriate engineered quartz cleaner. You can also get engineered quartz spray on sealer that works to make maintaining quartz surfaces easier.
Differences Between Granite & Quartz
For all the similarities between our two materials, there are differences as well. And we will take a brief look at these here.
Granite Pores Say, “Pour Some Sealer On Me!”
As we mentioned earlier in their respective summaries, quartz is non-porous and granite has varying porosity. Additionally, we just mentioned that there are sealers that can be optionally applied to quartz. When it comes to granite, sealing is required. The frequency of application won’t be the same with every stone. But absorption tests can be performed to determine when sealer needs to be applied. When the stone absorbs water, a sealer application will protect it from water based and oil based.
Differences In Patterns
Another difference between these materials the patterns in which they are available. As we mentioned a moment ago, the production of engineered quartz is controlled and a variety of patterns can be made. In fact, many manufacturers make copies of natural stone patterns. On the other hand, granite naturally forms in a variety of patterns that are endless.
As we have seen in this article, depending on how we pit quartz vs granite, you can compare the similarities or the differences. It just depends on which you prefer to focus. No matter which material is used for a project, it will serve its purpose for many years.