Quartz is actually a harder material, because of it being Man Made, while Granite is more durable. Quartz is nearly indestructible due to being non-porous unlike granite, it’s easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. Quartz can be easily damaged (depending on color and manufacturing) by excessive heat, so please always use heating pads at all times.
Granite is an igneous rock that is formed by magma (hot liquid rock) that has cooled under pressure deep within the earth. Granite is extremely hard and heat resistant and is therefore the first choice in countertop material. Granite has a glass-like surface and is virtually non-porous which makes it stain resistant. Granite is composed of quartz, feldspars, mica, hornblende, and a small amount of other minerals. Granite can be found in nearly every color and depending on how the stone was cooled within the earth, can have various patterning from a very uniform “static” look, to a random, wavy pattern which we refer to as having “movement”.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock. It is composed mostly of calcium carbonate and is formed in layers of sediment. Most limestone are composed of fossils from millions of years ago. Many of these “fossils” can be seen in the limestone slabs in our showroom. Limestone is generally white, but if it contains some iron oxide it can be brown, yellow, or red. If the limestone contains some carbon, it can be gray, black and even blue. Limestone is an excellent choice for bathrooms because it is “water-friendly”. Limestone is a soft stone and is almost always available in a matte finish however there are a few limestone that are available with a polished finish.
Marble is a metamorphic rock. Metamorphic means that heat and pressure deep in the earth has changed one type of rock (limestone) into a new, stronger stone called marble. Marble is available in many different colors and patterns. It is beautiful and versatile. Some marble, particularly the green and white marbles can even be used as kitchen counter tops as they are extremely hard, and less porous than other marbles making them less likely to stain.
Well, it depends on the stone. Natural stone countertops will not scratch under normal use, but keep in mind that stone surfaces are scratch resistant, not scratch proof. It’s best to consult a professional stone supplier or fabricator to determine what kind of stone is best for your lifestyle and application.
It can with heavy abuse. Small chips can occur around the sink or near an edge and can be easily repaired. A colored epoxy with small pieces of stone aggregate is used to fill in small areas. If you get a larger chip, save the piece so it can be used to repair the damaged area.
Both are quarried from the earth, but granite and marble (and marble’s relatives: limestone, onyx, and travertine) are different from each other. The greatest difference lies in the porosity, which affects the softness and durability of marble when compared to granite.
We offer a wide selection of standard, premium and exclusive granite edge choices. Just like each stone has a unique look, from casual to formal or sophisticated to “hip”, edges should be chosen in relation to the overall visual result intended. Some edges lend themselves more to casual styles, others are more formal or more contemporary. You can find our example edges to the left.
