Although quartz countertops will have less to zero radon, it does not preclude granite as a “less safe” choice in kitchen countertops. Given the radiation naturally encountered through flying, walking around a city, and living your everyday life, it is not significant enough to discourage granite in the household.
Quartz is Easier to Maintain than Granite
This countertop achieves a high level of durability without any sealant. As opposed to Granite, which requires re-sealing each year to maintain a less superior guard against the common hot pan, spilled wine, and dirty hands. An easy to clean countertop is the new kitchen dream.
Do you want it to last without spending a lot of time on countertop maintenance? Quartz is a great material but has its drawbacks, including being difficult to install, expensive, vulnerable to heat and having visible seams. Evaluate its pros and cons to make an informed purchase.
It's bacteria-free, non-porous, very resilient, and non-porous. Consequently, it will need less maintenance and upkeep than granite. However, the look of quartz is uniform and although it imitates natural stones, it comes in well-established colors and designs.
If granite becomes damaged or the sealant wears off, spills may seep into the surface, resulting in stains since the stone is naturally porous. This makes quartz a prime option for busy kitchens or homes with children thanks to its resistance to staining, cracks, and discoloration.
You Can't Set Hot Pans on Them
Although quartz countertops are extremely durable and considered heat-resistant, putting a hot pan right on the surface can damage the material. As with most other countertops, you'll need to use a trivet or stove mitt to protect it, as heat can cause discoloration and/or cracking.
One of the main reasons quartz has exploded in popularity is due to appearance. Quartz has the look of stone while also allowing homeowners to customize the design. While granite offers many options in terms of appearance, you may have to search for the right piece that matches your color scheme.
Quartz countertops are the easiest natural stone to take care of. They are engineered using ground stone and resin, so they don't require regular sealing they way most granite and marble countertops do. This stone is non-porous, so it does not easily stain or etch.
Durability
The following are specific examples of how granite is more durable than quartz: – Granite is much more heat resistant than quartz. – Granite scratches less easily than quartz. – Chips to granite are easier to repair than chips to quartz.
Taking the time to care for your granite will help maintain the natural beauty of your countertops. Quartz, on the other hand, is much easier to clean and maintain. Because quartz is a manufactured product, it is non-porous and more resistant to staining. Quartz is also well known for being GERM-FREE.
Sunlight. Because quartz is made using polyester resin, over time you may start to notice some discolouration - particularly in lighter coloured countertops. On average, it takes less than a year of daily sunlight for a quartz worktop to fade.
Too much sun exposure can damage your quartz countertops over time, leading to issues like fading, warping, and voiding of your warranty. Additionally, the UV lights can cause the colors in your countertops to fade—and even begin to have a yellow hue!
Most Popular Quartz Countertop Colors
Some of the top quartz countertop colors for 2023 include: Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold – Its striking white color, golden hues and gray veins make this the most popular quartz color. Silestone Miami Vena – Another white color, but this option has a marble effect.
Although quartz countertops will have less to zero radon, it does not preclude granite as a “less safe” choice in kitchen countertops.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz is one of the strongest materials you can use, making it one of the best-value countertops available. Both scratch- and stain-resistant, quartz countertops can look brand new for years even after withstanding heavy usage.
Granite is porous. This means that unsealed or poorly sealed counters can absorb wine, juice or oil, producing a stain that might be impossible to remove. A poorly-sealed countertop can also harbor bacteria in its pores.
When choosing a natural stone option, granite is widely considered to be the best stone slab for kitchen countertops. It has a reputation as a premium stone material that will elevate your kitchen design. One of the most appealing features of granite countertops are their beauty.
Quartz counters do not need sealing due to their lack of porosity. Liquids and stains cannot penetrate non-porous materials because they have a built-in seal. Natural stone countertops, such as polished marbles or granite, have pores and small splinters that require sealing on a regular basis.
Granite is naturally heat resistant, and heat damage would occur only if the granite was heated unevenly. So briefly putting a hot pan down on your granite countertop isn't going to cause long-term damage. That said, we don't recommend putting hot pans on granite countertops — not for the granite's sake but for yours.
As a countertop material, stainless steel is as low-maintenance as it gets. No sealing or refinishing is ever required, and cleaning is easy with mild soap products. These countertops work very well in the kitchen or bath since they won't be stained by food, juice, facial cleansers, etc.
Man-made materials like laminate or stainless steel countertops rank among the easiest countertops to maintain in the short term, as they may simply require wiping down with mild dish soap and warm water. In the long run, however, laminate countertops aren't nearly as durable as those with natural stone components.
Hardness: Granite is sturdy and the most durable of the natural stone surfaces. But compared to quartz, surfaces are a touch less resistant to chips, cracks, and scratches. Use caution when handling heavy or sharp objects near your granite countertops.
If other homes sold in your area have quartz countertops and sold at or under your home's value, granite doesn't make sense. In this case, quartz adds the most value. Buyers will pay extra for upgrades but not if they can purchase a home similar to yours for a lower price without them.
Granite with natural colors tends to be more easily available and costs less; however, rare colors like Blue Bahia can be up to $120 per square foot. Quartz is manufactured, but its design may increase the price. For instance, quartz countertops with gold flecks will be more expensive.
That being said, granite is typically found in earthy colors like black, brown, tan, khaki, and white. On the other hand, quartz is bound in resin, which means it doesn't have the same crystalline structure or fissures found in granite. This gives quartz a much smoother texture.