Differences Between Granite and Quartz Countertops | Choose the Best Countertops For Your Kitchen

If you are looking at doing a kitchen renovation you’ve probably wondered - which is better quartz countertops or granite countertops? In this video we put quartz vs granite to the test to determine the best stone countertops for your kitchen! I go through the major pros and cons of granite and quartz and we also discuss why you should not put marble in your kitchen even if, like me, you love it so much. We also touch on butcher block countertops as well!

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[craiglevy]

We wanted quartz but went with granite as the cost difference was significant and we needed to cut costs where we could so changing the countertop to a less expensive option made the most sense. We splurged and went with marble in the bathrooms for maximum impact in those smaller spaces. The marble, by the way, was more expensive per measure than the granite. I agree that marble countertops in the kitchen don't make sense and when I heard close friends were going to use it in their's I figuratively rolled my eyes. That changed when I saw them. They were custom carpenters and artists and had built their own cabinetry that was painted an untraditional color and also painted an unusual design on the drawer fronts. They had plain, low budget ceramic tile - mustard yellow! - for a number of years while they were saving their money and when they were ready to replace them with stone ones they pulled the trigger and went big with their dream marble. I was astonished when I first saw it and immediately regretted what I had thought about marble before and was a little envious of their choice. They selected a non-veined marble that was a warm off white (almost blending to a yellow/white) that seemed more akin to onyx than it did marble yet it retained marble's unique crystalline structure. The afternoon sun made their stone come alive in a way that I had not experienced before. The effect with their cabinetry was dazzling, unique, and totally them. Unforgettable.

[myNarrator]

As someone that worked in this industry, I would completely agree with everything Nick has said in this video. The one point I would add is the consistency of quartz. It's rare, but sometimes additions are made to existing kitchens, or someone really loves the way the kitchen looks and wants to duplicate the finishes in a washroom (or other area). With quartz, as long as the style (model) of quartz is still available, matching the countertops is pretty much a guarantee. Granite being a natural stone can vary immensely. Often two slabs of the same name can look completely different, which won't allow you to achieve the exact look (or match) you're going for.

[MrsC]

We went with quartz when re-doing our kitchen. Absolutely love the durability and low maintenance.

[juliepuhr]

I am very traditional... antiques etc. not into modern stuff really. But what I LOVE ABOUT YOUR reviews is your pure honesty and ability to present alternatives without being judgmental. Thank you . You made my day during this turbulent decade

[mattnoonan]

Wholesaler here. Your advise is spot on regarding each stone. I have marble in my kitchen, and love it. My wife loves it more than the Cambria Quartz we had in our previous home that she picked out. With our marble, which is a hard marble, we can see the stains from the previous home owner, and there are some chips, that I may have caused. BUT, all that being said, it’s beautiful.

What I usually ask clients when they’re looking at marble, like Shadow storm or any Calacatta, is “are you the type of person that wants it to look the same on day 1 as day 999? Or are you okay with patina, character, and possible stains?” That usually puts it into perspective for them.
The other thing I mention is that I’ve had a little old lady who was adamant about marble in her kitchen, and I asked if she understood the care differences between marble and other stones. She said “there are bistros in Italy that have had marble for 300 years, I think I’ll be okay...” Made sense to me.

[doskawisniewska]

I think my guardian angel pushed me to find your channel. I am in a process of early stage of building my house. You are a life saver. Thank you for all your videos - short, right to the point, very informative and professionally done - love it ❤.

[martincurrie]

As someone who works for a kitchen company, there are other important differences. Granite is a natural product, it can very greatly throughout the original stone. So the sample piece in the showroom may end up looking quite different even though they came from same piece of rock. Also if you have joins the two pieces will not look identical and is especially important if there pattern in the rock. It is all cut the same direction and so two corner pieces are going to have mismatched ' grains'.

If consistency of colour and pattern is more important to you choose quartz.

[jamesu]

Quartz Silestone brand at Home Depot hands down the best. No Sealing, can put hot pans on it, and I could go on. Very durable, looks good with many design options. just my two cents

[selenalemiec]

I'm so glad I found this video. I'm having quartz put into my kitchen, and I've been reading a lot of negative things about it. It was making me nervous all these people saying to go with granite because it's much better. I like a solid, clean look. The movement and color in granite is not what I wanted. Good to know some people do prefer quartz.

[thekirksiffs]

As someone who grew up with Formica type countertops and had this in my adult homes until the last 11 years, I am so used to putting down a trivet or hot pad before setting any hot pan onto a counter. I have had quartz for the last 11 years, and love how it looks and performs. One thing that appealed to me over the quartz is that I could get a homogenous look to my surface, instead of the streaking so common in granite. Just my personal aesthetic. love your channel!

[karentappert]

So glad to hear some positive things about granite as many designers seem very disenchanted with using this material. Great content - balanced and insightful. Thank you!

[roxannebernard]

We are in the midst of a kitchen renovation right now. I love my granite so much, we paid a good bit to have it lifted and will reuse it with the new cabinetry. It is actually sitting on a robotic dolly right behind my head as I write! Traditional describes my style perfectly, and I love the idea granite has a history and is something that comes from the earth.

[LadyLJOII]

Well, I like Soapstone. If I ever own my own home and have the funds, Soapstone it is. Just love the look. And those lovely flagstones on the floor with the varied tones in them.

[rosheenlaurence]

We built our first home last year (in Queensland, Australia), we opted for caeserstone bench tops in our kitchen and bathroom. It’s a manufactured stone that’s heat and stain resistant. So many colour options too! We love it.
My father in law has marble in his bathrooms in his gorgeous house but he regrets it so much! It damages so easily, even the soap dispenser has marked it 😭

Love your videos Nick

[mariac.]

Thank you for your input and advice. I had pre-sealed granite installed in 2010 in the kitchen and have never had to re-seal it. I love it, it is so durable, I no stains or any issues at all and would do it again.

[Bonnev-jthl]

We redid a minor remodel 2 years ago & chose quartz. Love it! Still looks brand new.
Another advantage of quartz is there is a very wide color & veining/graining range, since it is a manufactured product.

[bellexc]

Nick I appreciate how you approach your content. I like that you don't jump on the internet bandwagon, you form your own opinions without fear. That's probably why enjoy listening to you. Thanks Tina

[julianetexas]

I have to say, we didn’t know we had to seal our granite when we built our first home, by the time we learned it was too late. That made us hate granite, you can see stain spots on it related to regular use, not much because of cooking though. For me stain resistance is more important that heat resistance since I’m not used to put hot pans in the counter directly anyways. Nice video, thanks for sharing!

[Elle-gibo]

I've had a light color granite island for around 20 years; it's used extensively for cooking, baking, prep work, etc. with no staining and no burn marks (I DO use trivets ...mostly, but have been known to put a hot pot or dish from the oven right on the granite!) & still love it after all this time! I must say I'm not very good at sealing it on a regular basis either lol. I have a darker granite where I have my cabinets & have never had a problem with them either. I'm going to be renovating part of my kitchen & I'll stick with the Granite 😉 Thanks for the video!

[geizelfernandes]

When he spoke about Marble, it felt like he was directly talking to me.😂