There are lots of differences between granite and quartz: look, colors, durability, price, etc. When I am designing a kitchen, the main reason for picking one over the other would be dependent upon type of home. Personally, I usually lean towards granite in Traditional and Mediterranean homes and quartz in Contemporary and Craftsman style homes. Below is an example of a more traditional kitchen where granite was used because the colors match this style more and it gives a warmer feel to the kitchen. The granite used was called golden beach and is an upgraded granite. Granite for the most part is less expensive per sqft than quartz but an upgraded granite like this is more comparable in price to quartz.
Below is an example of a more contemporary kitchen where quartz was used. The quartz in this kitchen is called Aleutian White. I prefer quartz in white kitchens because you can get it in any color and I find granite just doesn’t go with a white kitchen unless you can find one in black or with grey undertones. However, I do think granite goes nicely when the kitchen is a creamy white rather than a stark white kitchen like this one.
Other than look which is one of the most important things to consider. There are a number of other factors.
1. If you are building a new home, your builder will most likely provide a standard budget for granite which means if you want to do quartz in your home this will be considered an upgrade and will cost extra. Quartz is usually in the same price range as a group D granite and most builders usually provide an allowance for a group A or B granite. So if you would like quartz, it is a good idea to let them know so they can give you an ample allowance within your contract for it.
2. Granite is variable meaning if you select granite, you will want to make sure your builder will allow you to reserve your slab so you will know exactly what it will look like before hand. You might see a sample of your granite but the sample may end up being a completely different color than the actual slab that will go in your home. Good builders have great relationships with their vendors and selecting your own slab should be accommodated easily into your design process. Because quartz is man made, you do not need to select your own slab since the sample will most likely be an exact replica of the slab, but you still can.
3. Durability, a lot of people think that granite is more durable but it is not. Granite is a natural stone and is more porous. Granite can still soak up stains and this is why it is a good idea to seal your granite, this will help to prevent future stains. A standard kitchen will usually cost approximately $500 to seal. Quartz countertops do not need to be sealed and because they are less porous they are also more resistant to bacteria.
4. Colors: Where quartz is available in almost every color and you can get solid colors as well, this is not an option with granite. Granite will have more intricate designs and this is one of the features that makes it so beautiful. This feature, is not available is most quartz products.
*Tip: When select your granite provider, use a fabrication company instead of a stone company. Fabrication companies can buy their granite from anywhere and will typically know which stone companies in town have the best pricing. They will also usually provide the sinks for you as well, template the granite, cut the granite, and install the granite for a single sqft price.
Because I prefer a more contemporary kitchen to a traditional kitchen, I selected quartz for my home but if you are building a traditional home, granite is definitely the way to go and will be a great feature to help warm up any kitchen!
