I can’t see the difference, can you see the difference?
Ok, enough taglines from old commercials…or is it?
Many people ask me what the difference is between Quartz and Granite counter tops. And the answer is this: Granite is natural and mined from the earth. Quartz counter tops are man made in that quartz is ground up in to a powder, resins and binders added and processed so it’s like a rock. Granite is porous, which allows for liquids and germs to penetrate the surface, and thusly, requires sealing every few years. Quartz on the other hand is non porous and does not need to be sealed, ever.
Spills on granite should be wiped up right away and with quartz, it’s ok if you leave it there for a few hours or a couple of days before you clean it, it wouldn’t stain as easily as granite can (I've left red wine on a white quartz and was able to clean it off). Simply clean it with soap and water or a light abrasive cleaner…It’s that easy. Quartz counter tops really takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Less time cleaning and worrying about your counter top means you have time to do more.
So why do people still want to get a piece of the rock a.k.a. granite? Because up till now, quartz tended to look too uniform and too, well, man made. While some people love the uniform look of CaesarStone’s Concrete, Silestone's Grey Expo or Hanstone’s Blanco Canvas, there are still people looking for that unique granite look. Every piece of granite is unique, you can almost see a moment of earth’s history in a slab of granite, what created that red spot in the stone, or that green swirl? Many different minerals make up a slab of granite and how delicate or strong a particular piece of granite is depends on these minerals. So care for the granite becomes paramount in maintaining the beauty of the stone.
Is it possible to combine the look of granite without the maintenance? As you can see from the above pictures, the answer is a resounding “yes”. Finally, through research and the miracles of science, CaesarStone, Silestone and HanStone are rolling out their uniquely patterned quartz surfaces made to look like granite and are durable like quartz. It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature, but if it means you don’t have to worry about your counter top, then may be it’s worth it. Quartz durability with the look of granite makes it hard not to love it for life.
(Can you spot the taglines? Put your answers in the comment box)