1. Jessica Robbins
Panda Kitchen and Bath Expo
July 8th
2015
10 Minute Presentation: Granite vs. Quartz.
Granite: Quick facts
 Granite is mined in sheets and is 100% natural.
 No two slabs of granite are exactly the same.
 This is appealing to the person who wants a truly unique interesting product.
Quartz: Quick facts
 Quartz countertops are manufactured.
 They might look natural, but the truth is that quartz is crushed and traditionally mixed with resin
or another binding agent.
 The patterns and colors that appear in quartz countertops are 100% artificial.
 The quartz itself is real, of course, but everything else was designed by a human being (as opposed
to Mother Nature).
Pros and Cons of Granite:
 Imperfect-Because granite is mined in large, natural chunks, and because it is not
treated by manufacturing, granite slabs are imperfect. They are stunning to the eye,
but some people find it hard to find a slab that has enough consistency to fit in
their homes. For others, however, this is granite’s strongest asset. The
imperfections make it unique.
 Seam-ly-Unless you are using granite for a small square countertop; you will
need several different pieces to complete your project. Where these pieces join,
the seams are impossible to hide. A professional installer can usually match the
seam color to the granite, as well as make the cuts in the most unobtrusive manner,
but the seams will still be quite noticeable if you’re looking for them.
 Durable but not unbreakable-Granite is unusually strong, but it has a tendency
to chip if it suffers a severe blow from a dropped pan. If you own granite for long
enough, and use it regularly (in the kitchen), you will probably suffer a few very
small (dime sized) chips. But it’s not uncommon for granite countertops to last for
50 years without a scratch. It all depends on how well they are maintained.
 Maintenance-Best practices for maintaining granite countertops require you to
seal them every one to three years, depending on use. The sealant keeps the
countertop from collecting liquid and staining. Granite is not naturally stain-

2. resistant. It is extremely porous and only a strong seal will keep it from staining
under heavy use.
Pros and Cons of Quartz:
 Stainless-Certainly one big advantage quartz has over granite is that it is stainless
and never needs to be sealed. The quartz countertop requires zero maintenance,
which is a significant incentive for a lot of people.
 But not quite stainless-And yet, while no Earthly products may stain quartz,
over-exposure to sunlight can cause it to discolor. If your countertops are in front
of large windows, you might think twice before spending thousands of dollars on
a quartz countertop.
 Strength vs. Weight- Quartz and granite are relative equals when it comes to
which one chips easier, but quartz tends to be considered stronger because it is
more flexible. Granite that is not installed properly or that received tremendous
weight strain is more liable to crack than quartz. On the other hand, quartz is even
heavier than granite, and that’s saying something. Both granite and quartz need to
be professionally installed, they’re simply too heavy and unwieldy for the average
amateur.
 No Seams- Yes, the seams are still there and yes, they are still barely visible, but
darker quartzes do not show their seams, which makes for a very clean, modern
look. Quartz that has multiple colors or patterns can be more difficult to hide, but
almost nothing would be as conspicuous as granite.
Which is more expensive?
Quartz: Let’s talk installation costs so that we can get a realistic, final price. Quartz has
historically been more expensive than granite, but times have changed, technology has
improved and now the discussion is not so cut-and-dry. Quartz generally runs from about
$65-$100 per square foot installed. So your average quartz countertop of, say, 40 square
feet will run from $2,600-$4,000.
Granite: Granite comes in a much wider variety of pricing. Your cheapest, lowest
quality granite can be installed for $30 per square foot, but high end, rare or exotic
granite can run upward of $150 per square foot, though it should be noted that the
average cost of installed granite is around $60 per square foot, making it slightly less
expensive than quartz.