Both materials are durable, attractive, and heat-resistant. If you’d like a large, seamless island, quartz is often the best product. The average slab of granite is about 114” long, while quartz slabs are available up to 132” long. Our team can review the size and layout of your countertops and other surfaces, and recommend the best material for you.

Both materials offer products across a range of prices, so price shouldn’t be your only consideration when shopping for countertops. Base prices for quartz are about 20% higher than base prices for granite, but an expensive quartz product may actually be more cost-effective than a high-end stone. The layout of your kitchen, bath or bar can make one material cheaper than another because of seam placement and waste. Our design team can help you determine what’s best for your project.

Compared to tile or wood, granite and other stone countertops are very low maintenance. It’s important to protect them with a sealant, and re-apply the sealant every 2-3 years. Cleaning is easy - just wipe them off with a gentle countertop cleaner and warm water.

A high quality, impregnating sealer  will typically last about three years if cared for. Be careful not to put hot pans on the stone countertop. Use a cleaner formulated for stone surfaces - acidic products like anti-bacterial wipes or glass cleaners will reduce the sealant’s effectiveness. Choose a ph-balanced countertop cleaner for every day; quickly wipe up spills with Granite wipes and shine up the surface with a quality cleaner & polish.

Stone is a porous material, so it can absorb stains and spills that aren’t wiped up quickly. Marble is the least stain resistant. Oil, coffee, and wine can soak into a stone top that isn’t sealed. Properly sealed granite, marble and quartzite will resist staining, as long as the sealant is re-applied regularly. Quartz is non-porous and very resistant to staining, so it doesn’t need to be sealed. However, nothing is 100% stain resistant. Solvents, perfumes, cosmetics and permanent markers can stain or damage even durable quartz, so be careful.

Granite can withstand very high temperatures - a hot pan probably won’t alter the stone’s color or structure. However, high heat can reduce the effectiveness of the stone sealant over time, so remember to place trivets under hot dishes.

Quartz can be affected by extreme heat, so manufacturers recommend using cutting boards and trivets while cooking. Sustained heating by hot appliances (like an electric griddle) should be avoided - place them on the stovetop instead.

Granite is a hard stone - only a diamond is harder, so a knife is unlikely to scratch it. Marble is softer and can be easily scratched, and other stones like onyx and quartzite may also show scuffs and scratches. Always use a cutting board - cutting directly on a stone countertop will quickly dull your knives.

Both stone and quartz can be repaired, but the success of the repair depends on the type of damage. Small chips or cracks that occur from accidental impacts can often be fixed. Larger damaged areas can be replaced - if this is necessary, it may be easier to match the color and pattern of a quartz material. 

The center for disease control has found no evidence that bacteria can grow on granite. Quartz surfaces are non-porous and do not promote the growth of bacteria.