What are some pro’s and con’s of Granite Countertops?
Answer:
Granite is coming directly from the earth and is therefore going to be unique from slab to slab.
Some Granite is extremely rare and some is found all over the place. Often you will find that price
is affected by the rarity of the Granite.
It is tough to rely on smaller samples to accurately pick your countertop surface and therefore we
recommended that you view and tag your slabs to be sure that you are getting exactly what you are
wanting. The appearance is rarely uniform and this is often the appeal of choosing a natural stone.
Your countertops can be as unique as you! Slab galleries are found mostly on the mainland and we
can direct you where to go if you think this is a field trip you would like to take.
Granite needs to be sealed immediately after installation. Because natural stone is porous it is
susceptible to staining (especially by things like red wine so keep an eye on your glass!). Most
Granite will need to be resealed once or twice a year depending on the type of Granite you have
chosen. A good indicator that your Granite needs sealing is if your glass of water leaves a
condensation ring on your stone surface. This means water is getting into your Granite and so can
other more harmful liquids (red wine!!). Sealing is quick and easy so don’t let this be a huge
deterring factor when choosing your countertop surface. Don’t worry, we seal our Granite tops
during our installation.
Granite is UV stable and can be used in outdoor application as it will not fade from direct sunlight.
Granite seams will be visible! If your countetop project requires a seam, do not expect not to see it.
This is one of the main drawbacks of choosing Granite countertops as opposed to Quartz
countertops. Additionally Granite is often more fragile than Quartz and therefore requires a greater
number of seams in most cases. If you have a Ushaped kitchen, chances are you will have at least
one seam.
Granite is very strong and durable but it is not indestructible. We aren’t planning on going 4x4ing
with your countertops in the back of our installation van, but Granite can be fragile and accidents
happen. Chips and scratches can happen as well if subject to heavy abuse. Jumping up and down
on an overhanging eating bar is a No No, as is swinging cast iron pots against the edges of your
countertops. This isn’t “Rock”et surgery.
What are some pro’s and con’s of Quartz Countertops?
Answer:
Quartz is an engineered natural stone that is composed of approximately 93% natural quartz and
7% epoxy resin and binders. Quartz is the 4th hardest mineral in the world it is a natural choice for homeowners who
are looking for a maintenance free countertop. This stuff is tough and durable and we like to call it the super hero of the
countertop world.
Quartz countertops are as strong or stronger than Granite countertops but they have far greater
flexibility. This will often translate into longer countertop runs that require overall less seaming.
This material is also much less likely to get damaged during transportation and handling than
Granite.
Quartz is entirely nonporous and therefore does not require any sealing period. There is no
maintenance required with Quartz and cleaning it with warm soapy water is often more than
enough. We don’t recommend abrasive cleaners on any countertop surfaces as these can affect the
polish of the stone if used too vigorously.
Because of the small amount of binding agents used in Quartz countertops they are not considered
100% UV stable and can discolor over time. This is why we don’t recommend Quartz for outdoor
applications. Typically we don’t need to worry indoors but with certain colors that are constantly
exposed to sun rays, fading is possible. Don’t let that scare you off…it is rare but worth mentioning.
Quartz colors are much more consistent than natural Granite colors. We have found that samples
will very accurately depict what the final product will look like and therefore viewing a slab is not
really necessary. Some of the more veined colors might be an exception here but overall the
patterns and coloring does not vary much from slab to slab. Quartz slabs are made in dye lots so
there can be subtle inconsistencies between dye lots but not within. Overall Quartz offers a much
more predictable outcome. We recommend always seeing Quartz samples in your own
environment and light. We offer an amazing mobile showroom to help assist you in selecting the
perfect color for your space.
Quartz countertops seams are far less visible than Granite countertop seams. Because of the way
Quartz can be cut and machined the seams can be made extremely sharp allowing for near
invisible seams. Some colors will show seams more prominently than other colors however and
colors with slight flecking are often the best at camouflaging a seam. Our team can help you with
all these details so don’t stress about it now!
How much do Quartz Countertops Cost?
Answer:
The short answer is that prices will vary from one supplier to the next. Most companies will offer
one or a few lines of Quartz that they have stock in or have access to stock in. If there is a specific
color you are after and it isn’t one we typically have access to, in most cases we can get it, but
usually it will be at a greater cost because it is now a “special order”. We offer a fairly
comprehensive list of premium Quartz colors and can guide you through the selecting process. In
most cases we would recommend having a general budget of about $100 a square foot. No I did
not just provide you a quote but it is a good ballpark number to work with. Often it is much less
and sometimes you just have expensive taste!
Another thing to consider is that there are reputable Quartz manufacturers and then the other
guys… We work only with the reputable brands that follow a fabrication model called the Breton
line. Feel free to Google this for further information. Quartz countertops should be approximately
93% Quartz and should be food safe. If this information isn’t made available that isn’t a great sign.
There are tons of “knockoff” Quartz lines on the market these days that will be much cheaper than
the reputable ones. This is an “apples and oranges” situation and we as a rule will not touch these
lines. We definitely recommend that you shop your quotes around to different companies to get a
feel for pricing. At the end of the day it is the age old saying…if it seems to good to be true…
Are Quartz countertops a safe material?
Answer:
Yes! Reputable Quartz countertops are rated even more highly than stainless steel for food safe
and therefore Quartz is a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms. Because the material is non
porous bacteria cannot seep inside your countertop so regular cleaning with soap and water will do
the trick.
Don’t forget that Quartz is not indestructible and care should be taken to not expose them to
abrasive cleansers, bleach, direct and sustained heat and sharp knives or objects. This stuff is
extremely resistant to scratching, staining and denting but it can happen so it is better to be safe
than sorry. If you are cutting in the kitchen, grab a cutting board, that’s what they are for. Ladies,
as we know, diamonds are harder and better than pretty much anything out there so no dragging
your “bling” across your countertop with excessive force. This is why Quartz cutting tools and
machines use diamond tooling to create your beautiful countertops!
What is the best way to maintain my Quartz countertops?
Answer:
It doesn’t take much to care for your Quartz countertops. Simply use a mild detergent with water
and a soft paper towel or cloth. Please avoid using wiry scrubbing pads, abrasive cleansers and
products that contain bleach when cleaning your countertops. If there is a persistent, dried on mark
on the surface of your Quartz countertop try using a plastic knife to scrap it away. If there is a
mark that you just cannot seem to remove, call us! We are happy to assist you in choosing a safe
product that will do the trick.
Quartz countertops can be damaged by extreme heat (thermal shock), especially is exposed
repeatedly. If you are cooking, use a heating pad or trivet to protect your Quartz surface. Even
though Quartz is extremely resistant to staining, if you spill a bottle of red wine all over your
countertop it is probably best to wipe it up. This scenario is mostly upsetting because you just lost
an entire bottle of red wine! What a waste!