In general, granite has a higher resale value than quartz. Granite can increase the value of your home by as much as 25 percent of the countertop's retail value, according to Robert Measer, of Hunt Real Estate.
Quartz and granite are both excellent choices for bathroom or kitchen countertops. Granite has a more natural look but is often more expensive, while quartz is more budget-friendly but looks a little more artificial.
Quartz. Recently quartz or manufactured stone beat out granite as the most popular kitchen countertop material. While on the surface, natural stone may seem to offer more resale value, that might be changing! As of right now, granite, marble, travertine, soapstone, and so on will typically give you bigger resale value.
But do quartz countertops increase home value? Yes! Here's why. With costs ranging from $60 to $100 per square foot and beyond, quartz offers tremendous value compared with other materials like marble ($75 to $250 per square foot), and marble – in particular – doesn't maintain its beauty for nearly as long.
Granite is the most popular countertop material among homebuyers, and it can boost your home's value while helping you recover some of the installation cost. Installing countertops made of granite or another type of natural stone can potentially increase your home's value by up to 25 percent of its retail value.
Upgrading the countertops is never a bad idea. It is a low cost that ups the value of your house and attracts buyers. Replacing old, dated countertops and updating kitchen countertops with new granite, quartz or stone pieces adds instant appeal and pizazz. You really cannot lose.
Granite countertops are harder and stronger and the long-term durability of the granite makes it that much more appealing to both the homeowner and the home builders. It has a longer shelf life than traditional laminate countertops so you won't see any scratches or rings.
Sometimes, granite will come out as the cheaper option. Other times, you may end up with a quartz countertop that costs less than granite. In a comparison of the per square foot price, quartz will usually cost more – averaging about 20 to 40 percent more.
Value on the Market
In general, granite has a higher resale value than quartz.
Today's quartz countertop style is surprisingly luxurious, with a range of colors and patterns to suit anyone's style. They can mimic finicky materials like marble and granite with realistic veining and speckles, and fit too well in even the highest-end homes.
The main downsides of quartz countertops are their price, appearance (if you desire the look of natural stone), and lack of resistance against heat damage.
No, you can't use disinfecting wipes on quartz countertops. Disinfecting wipes contain citric acid as their primary ingredient and are not diluted in any way. When you use these wipes to clean your countertop, they will weaken the seal on your countertop's surface leaving them vulnerable to discoloration.
Quartz is an engineered stone
Such high quartz percentage is the reason why quartz is highly resistant to scratching. Granite is, unlike quartz, a natural stone, which makes it less resistant to other impacts, like resistance to staining.
Quartz has less natural beauty compared to granite. Many of the quartz manufacturers are trying desperately to come up with colors that look more like the natural look of granite, but many fail miserably. Right now Cambria, does the best job at looking like natural stone.
Quartz can fit practically any style.
It also comes in a wide range of colors, unlike granite, which can be more limited due to the natural process from which it is made.
Clorox, whether it is Clorox wipes or the Multi-Purpose cleaning fluid, is not safe to use for cleaning and disinfecting your granite. The multi-purpose cleaner contains bleach, which is extremely harmful for granite and many other natural stones.
Cons for Granite Countertops
Granite countertops are strong and durable as long as it receives sealing each year. If homeowners are lax in their maintenance, the porous granite can suck up oils, juice, and wine, which will be impossible to remove. Bacteria can also harbor inside granite if not sealed properly.
Granite countertops should last you at least 10-15 years if maintained well. While you can take steps daily to prolong the life of your granite; some professional help is needed to restore and refinish in order to ensure your granite surfaces last as long as possible.
Will my cabinets support granite counters? The weight of the granite is spread over a large area and should pose no problem. Cabinets seldom need reinforcement to support granite counter tops.
Your Countertops Look Outdated
While you'll incur an additional expense you may not have budgeted for, it will save you time and can even make you money in the long run. In general, kitchen countertops should be replaced every 10-15 years, which is roughly the lifecycle of interior trends.
If you're old countertops are a neutral color and in decent condition, it may not make sense to replace them ahead of putting your home on the market. However, if the countertops look dated, are stained or are in poor general condition, they can be a deterrent to selling your home.
But like other countertop materials, stain resistant quartz countertops are not completely indestructible. A white countertop can be spectacular. But even a white quartz countertop is vulnerable to staining from products such as red wine, tea, coffee, tomato sauce, and more if it's not cleaned up right away.
Don't cut on quartz: Quartz is scratch resistant, one of the toughest countertop materials out there. The natural quartz stone in it is fortified with man-made polymers, making a tough material even tougher. That said, do not use your quartz as a cutting board. Sharp knives can scratch the surface.
Granite and other natural stone countertop sales are projected to grow into 2025, according to economists. Consumers and homeowners have fallen in love with granite over the last twenty years, and that's not ending anytime soon!