Quartz or granite for your kitchen?

When it comes to choosing countertops, most homeowners prefer the look of stone. Quartz and granite are the two heavy-hitters in this arena and the marketplace offers a nearly endless array of unique colors and patterns to choose from. Your countertops are put through a lot. Scratches, stains and the stresses of everyday life. So the question is, what will meet both the needs of your lifestyle and the demands of your personal style.

There are a number of things to consider when making the decision of quartz versus granite. Appearance, durability, maintenance, and environmental impact are among the most debated. FLOFORM Countertops, based in Winnipeg, exclusively offers Cambria brand quartz. Cambria creates unique surfaces with the true elegance natural stone with the hard-working performance everyday life requires.

As with any countertop material, the visual differences between quartz and granite is a matter of personal taste and opinion. For some people, the natural look of granite is a non-negotiable. Others prefer the larger variety of patterns and designs offered with quartz. Cambria offers over 125 different quartz designs for customers to select, with new designs being released every year. The designs are categorized into distinct collections that each have their own sense of style. For example, the newly released ‘Oceanic Collection’ includes designs that feature rolling waves and linear flow, the ‘Quarry Collection’ offers a selection of designs that mimic the look of granite, while the ‘Marble Collection’ contains designs that pays tribute to the beauty of marble.

Granite is often promoted as the most durable natural countertop material available, but quartz is actually among the hardest minerals available on earth. Cambria quartz surfaces are 93% pure quartz. Granite typically only contains 40–60% quartz, along with more porous, weaker minerals. And as a result, granite tends to be more susceptible to damage. The durability of quartz also means you can be more creative with it. Exciting edge profiling, wider overhangs and distinctive shapes are all options you have to make a kitchen truly your own.

Today’s consumers are trying to make sustainable and environmentally conscious choices when remodeling their homes. While quartz in general tends to leave a smaller carbon footprint than granite does, Cambria’s product in particular is mined in North America, meaning lower transportation requirements than other quartz surfacing products produced internationally. Moreover, 100 percent of the water used in Cambria’s processing plant and fabrication facilities is recycled through a series of advanced settling and filtering techniques. By contrast, granite needs to be quarried from the ground and then shipped across the world to the manufacturing site.

And when it comes to maintenance, quartz really wins out. With regular chemical re-sealing, granite is resistant to stains, but quartz, as a naturally nonporous material, repels all stains. Fruit juice, coffee and even red wine are not able to penetrate it’s surface, no sealing required. This attribute also makes quartz an ideal choice for those who love to cook. Because it’s nonporous and nonabsorbent, it won’t draw in moisture from raw or leftover food, which can harbor harmful bacteria. There is no safer stone surface for food preparation, period. Just use warm water and mild soap to clean. There’s no cost of upkeep for quartz once it’s installed.

So which one should you choose? As you can see there are any number of variables to consider. In the end, the debate comes down to what is the right countertop material for your specific needs, your lifestyle, and your design? Consider all factors and decide what is most important to you.

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