Granite/marble/concrete/ or Quartz? To help you decide which option is suitable for your kitchen let’s compare the pros and cons of each. If we were to compare Granite and Marble together, it can be said that they are both natural stones and they are available in a wide range of colours, they can be customized to any shape and size and easy to blend with any type of home decor, making it versatile no matter what the style of your home is.
While marble and granite share similar characteristics to each other they differ in appearance and function. If marble and granite were to be defined it would include;
Positives: Granite
- Less expensive
- Lots of colours and styles
- Very durable
- Less maintenance
- Heat-resistance
Negatives: Granite
- Composition varies in different slabs
- Potential to stain
- Susceptible to scratches
The Good:
- Elegant vein patterns
- Lots of colours and styles
- Heat-resistant
The Bad:
- More expensive
- Not as durable
- Susceptible to staining and scratches
- Requires more maintenance
Cost:
- Granite - $75/square foot within Canadian market
- Marble - $70-$250/square foot within Canadian market
Both marble and granite are durable and must be sealed annually to ensure liquids do not gradually seep into the stone. Granite is a harder stone than marble and holds up better chips than marble.
Both are engineered respectively, Concrete countertop officially started off with a DIY project with the purpose of giving the kitchen an “industrial” look.
Concrete countertop Pros
- Concrete countertop can be easily customized to any shape and colour the designer or the owner pleases.
- Concrete counters are durable and will last quite a long time if properly sealed and maintained.
- Heat resistance.
- Appearance improves with age.
- Cheaper option
Concrete countertop Cons
- Requires more maintenance than granite and quartz.
- If not maintained well, concrete can stain and scratch. (with proper sealing solution can minimize or eliminate staining for some time. Avg. sealing should be done after 1-2 years
- Hot pots and pans can discolour concrete.
- Can scratch easily, coating for concrete is mixed with epoxy.
- Incorrect building and sealing can cause cracks on the countertop, including shrinkage and improper form when making the countertop.
Quartz is an engineered stone designed to help negate the appearance of seams to give it a more cleaner touch to the countertops. Quartz comes in many designs and colours, our favourite design of quartz is white with silver veins. Here's why you should give quartz countertops a try;
The good
- Engineered and durable.
- Cheaper than granite and marble.
- Can be in multiple colours and designs.
- Chips and cracks less than granite.
- Quartz is non-porous (impenetrable) and does not require any sealing.
- Stain resistant.
The bad
- Can discolour under heavy UV light (sunlight).
- More expensive than concrete.
- Limited sink options.
Cost:
- Quartz: $50-175/Square foot within Canadian market.
- Concrete $40-150/Square foot within Canadian market.
