https://leadstoneblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/24/quartz-vs-granite-vs-marble-which-type-of-kitchen-countertops-are-best/

Here would give you some point for consideration these three material. (quartz vs granite vs marble) They all have their own advantage and disadvantage. Hope it could help you make a decision.

if you have the demand of wholesale quartz slabs at factory price, welcome to make an inquiry and evaluate the sample from https://www.leadstoneusa.com

Same problem here. I know quartz is the rage for it's uniformity, but that 's exactly why I don't want it. It's also not that durable when it comes to heat. And as much as I thought I might like a marble look island at one time, I am over it. (that's a benefit of a S-L-O-W build, you have things go in and out of style IN YOUR HEAD and not in your kitchen... LOL)

I've had granite - it's been rock solid. (sorry, bad pun) Will probably do it again or quartzite. Mostly because I want something with a ton of movement.

I'd looked into a custom glass chip and epoxy counter that can be made with any color and design you want - but that dulls and discolors with heat. So I'll use some of that in the bathrooms to coordinate with a large format custom shower enclosure.

I personally feel that stone is timeless, but perhaps it is just because I am so comfortable with it.

Karin_mt is a geologist with several threads on this site. Look them up and read through.

Thanks J and CP. Seems granite is the gold standard but don't want to overlook anything either.

I am a fabricator. (I always note this because there is inevitably a bias favoring GOOD fabricators in my posts.)

A wide variety of natural stones ("granites") and the various brands of quartz will all give you a durable and beautiful surface. I fabricate both quartz "engineered stone" products and natural stone in my shop.

My usual advice is to tell the customer to pick the look they want as that is what you live with every day. If they like a material with problematic material properties like marble or travertine (both soft and porous and prone to etching in a kitchen) I make sure they understand this.

Most "granites" are extremely durable and only subject to staining if a staining agent is left in contact with the stone for an extended period. Quartz products are more stain resistant (not stain proof) but subject to heat damage much more readily than natural stone as the petrochemical based resin that is roughly 25% of the material can be scorched by hot pans.

A good fabricator will take the time with you to educate you based on your preferences. If they're "too busy" to spend a hour or two discussing the material options find someone else.

In my experience the people selling countertop materials in the big box stores are woefully deficient in product knowledge.

Thanks O, makes a lot of sense.

If I were choosing today it would be a quartzite. It can be harder than granite. This means it uses up fabricating bits and blades a little faster and fabricators would prefer, for their sake, you choose quartz or granite. Test any stone per Karins suggestions and good luck.

Thanks, it's between quartzite and granite.

If you have a big budget, take a look at glass countertops, they're gorgeous.

Thanks FJ and Sue !

How about soapstone? Limited palette, granted, but durable, natural and beautiful. I love quartzite too.

I don't have anything to add to the excellent advice already given. I just wanted to make a somewhat OT comment. Your mention of "2 islands" in your kitchen. Rarely does that work, though on occasion it does. But most of the time 2 islands creates a whole lot o' expensive cabinetry and also, a whole lot o' walking around them every time you do anything in the kitchen at all. Can you post your floor plan on a separate thread in the Kitchens Forum for the layout gurus to look at?

Actually the layout gurus created it! Great advice thanks.

Great! You're way ahead of me! Sorry if I was butting in, but I've seen some 2-island kitchens that you had to be navigating around a lot. It sounds like you have a great plan! Please post when all is finished.

oldryder, I have never read anywhere that engineered quartz is composed of 25 resins. The MOST I have seen anywhere is 10%, in this article and in fact the manufacturers put it at 7%. I have also read, in every comparison, that it is also just as heat resistant as granite. Most granite is darker and as such tends not to show heat damage marks, but they are said to be the same, as far as heat resistance. Where are you getting your information from?

Neither quartz or granite are heat resistant. Soapstone is the only heat resistant stone.

I love my Belvedere soapstone. It's a hard variety, and takes a lot of abuse. Like all soapstone, it's impervious to liquids, and absolutely does not stain or etch. To clean, just dish soap and water, is all that's needed. I dry the area with a microfiber cloth.

darbuka, they are both actually considered "heat resistant", meaning that they are resistant to but not whooly proof from the effects of fire or intense heat. Neither is heat PROOF.

Soapstone is considered a soft stone. It will scratch and chip pretty easily. But, it's also somewhat easy to repair if needed. It all depends on what is most important to you. I love soapstone - I think it's gorgeous. But I don't want a dark counter (I would want it oiled) and I don't want to have to deal with the scratching. If heat resistance is the most important for you, then soapstone is your best bet.

https://kitchen-counter-tops.net/soapstone/placing-hot-pans-on-soapstone-countertops.html

All that said, I have a sample of granite, and a Cambria quartz here. I just boiled two pots of water, and sat the pots directly on each sample. Left them for 10 minutes. Absolutely no marks, whatsoever, on either stone.

I think it also depends on what is important to you/how you use your counter tops.

I don't care at all how heat proof my counter top is. I use trivets (I have some gorgeous trivets) and never put hot pans/pots/trays directly on the counter.

My priority for my counter will be the 'wow' factor--with me as the designated viewer. In order to keep the 'wow', it has to be a maintainable surface--but it's a matter of what the star is.

So, in your kitchen, is it the cabinets? The counters? The backsplash?

I went for quartzite in my kitchen almost 8 years ago, never had any difficulties with it. We've moved and I'm doing a new kitchen, we will do quartzite again. I went looking recently, there are so many more quartzites now, we are truly spoiled for choice.

bethohio3, exactly. It's all in what your preferences are. My counters absolutely will be the star, but they must be functional for ME. I don't care for the granite patterns, and quartzite is too difficult to find in a color/pattern that I like (without getting something that is really marble!). The first sample counter that really knocked me for a loop, was made of quartz, and I found nothing I liked better, so that was it for me.