I’ve had both. Granite hides everything. In 20 years I never saw a mark at all. But they are generally a busy strong element. To me anyway. Quartz has been easy to live with. I do take more care and precautions with it Though. But just because I know if it gets marked up it’s going to show more because of the type I picked. I do notice that when bending over and looking in just the right light and angle I do see something happening around the stove area, from boiling water splashes I think. Plus water spots that so far I can’t get out. But again, only looking at a certain angle. Just walking in and looking at it, you wouldn’t notice.

Neither. Quartzite would be my first choice and was.

Quartz to me looks fake.

I have granite and it looks like new years later. I also have quartzite in a bathroom. Love it too. You shouldn't cut directly on any of those surfaces with a knife. always use a cutting board. It is really hard on the knives and can cause scratches. As for quartz not taking hot pots. That should not be done on natural stone either. There can be inclusions that can explode or crack when suddenly exposed to high temps. A hot pad should always be used. I think in the end, it is basically which look you prefer.

Don’t ask me- I have soapstone both in my new kitchen and my previous home.

Hot pots on quartz can void the warrantee. The heat damage to quartz cannot be undone. Quartz is bound together by a plastic resin. Cutting on anything but a cutting board is knife abuse. You will scratch quartz that way.

I'm pretty happy with my bog-standard quartz. CP is right that it looks artificial, but then so do my painted slab cabinet doors. I suspect I'm more "Jetson" than "craftsman!" Quartz is a tough, practical (though not bulletproof), easy maintenance surface.I think it's really a matter of what look you prefer.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Granite comes in prettier colors and patterns but is also a little more maintenance being that as it is a natural product it is porous you will need to be careful with spills and standing liquids. A good sealer will help the liquid bead on the top but if left for too long can penetrate the stone and leave "water marks" or discoloration.

Quartz will be a little more but is less work. Not that you should just leave your counters dirty, but it wont hurt the quartz like it will the granite. I like quartz but unless your spend a bit of $$ on them you get really bland colors for the price.

and as I tell everyone, they make cutting boards for a reason and no matter the material NEVER put hot pots or pans directly on the surface, use a pad or cork board to absorb heat. You can shock and crack the stone and with materials like Corian you can warp the material.

At the end of the day, no matter what you pick, if you take care of it it will last and if you love it, get it.

IMO real stone always wins over plastic. Quartz should not be near your stove I have clients with granite counters that are totally used by a family of 7 and the counters still look awesome 20+ yrs down the road and so do their Ikea cabinets BTW. They have a darker granite but never noticed any staining nad it was polishen and not sealed.

What kind of backsplash do you envision having? If you want a busy backsplash (multicolor) get a solid color quartz. If not, go with granite and keep looking. You’ll find a stone you like!

I’ve tried to like marble-look quartz but I just can’t. Solid color quartz isn’t trying to imitate something. Just don’t get a matte or concrete type quartz (Houzz users have reported many problems with those). Get polished quartz instead. If you want white quartz, consider Glacier White Corian.

I would not put a hot pot directly on any countertop.

Some granites are so dense they never need sealing (like Blue Pearl).

I disagree with Kyle Johnson's comment about stone needing a bit more maintenance and being porous. This is true about many stones, but many are not that way. We have 2 different stones in our house. One is Uba Tuba in a bathroom and the other is Titanium in the kitchen. We also have Fusion quartzite in another bathroom, also a natural stone. None of these are the least bit porous. They never had or need sealer on them and are the smoothest shiniest surfaces i have ever seen. No standing liquid ever penetrates them and there is no maintenance involved other than just wiping them off when they are dirty. I have had them all for years now and no change since the day they were installed.

Just do some tests on a scrap before you commit to choosing a stone. I hear people who got quartz often saying they got it because stone requires maintenance and I wonder if the quartz sellers are saying that to people, Not all quartz sellers, of course but it makes me wonder where this myth comes from.

I LOVE my quartz. We got our kitchen done 3 years ago (white quartz) and never had a stain or chip, it's super durable. Magic eraser takes out any stubborn stain. Family of 4, kitchen use daily to several times/day. Getting it again in my new house, not even considering anything else!

I don't understand how you couldn't find a granite slab you liked. When I went to the stone yards to look at slabs, there were so many options. And the maintenance of granite really depends on the specific granite as some are bullet proof and others require periodic sealing.

I took a look at lots of options when I was remodeling and I couldn't find a quartz or other manmade material I liked - at least in terms of complementing the specific feel I was going for in the kitchen. I think they have a machine age quality to them which makes them a good choice for a modern or MCM type of kitchen but (at least in my opinion) not so great in a traditional or transitional style.

Helen - I've never seen a slab of granite that I liked better than quartz. It's a personal preference.

Some granite companies (like Silestone) provide some very good sealers out of the factory, but rock is rock and most are porous. Sealers are good for keeping the stone looking vibrant over the years. I have Granite in my own home and I seal it every 6 months. Around the sinks on the vanities and the kitchen spots show-up every now and then in the kitchen are noticeable as they darken the white stone I have. (it usually just evaporates but if its is a color liquid it would defiantly stain the tops.

Quartz tops are technically man-made materials as the rocks are bonded with resin, which is what makes them non-porous.

Granite doesn't have a lot of maintenance but it, by manufacture instructions, does have "more" than quartz. I would also just always research the stone you choose. As stated above some granites' are denser than others.

Silestone is not a granite company. Silestone, Cambria, Caesarstone, munufafture countertops using quartz and plastic resin. Granite, marble and quartzite are stones, quarried from the ground.

I live in a smaller city so not too many options here. Might have to go with quartz, reluctantly. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

granite! i have a dense stone, so no porous issues! cleaning is a breeze, its just beautiful! you cannot get that beauty from man made materials.

i will say we do have corian in one bathroom and i would highly recommend for a bathroom!!

as stated above, it really depends on what aesthetic you trying to achieve.

Zalco/bring back Sophie! you're right, I meant Sesna. All part of the Consentio family

If you even put sealer on some dense granite, you will have a problem. It will just build up and make a mess. I still say, there are many stones out there that are maintenance free. I had no problem finding 3 different ones in a medium size city on the Canadian prairies. ,I could have chosen others that were maintenance free also.

Ultimately what you choose should be directed at what visual statement you are trying to make. Then gravitate towards the material that is gong to give you that. While maintenance may steer you one way or the other, it should n't be the end all decision maker. NOTHING is indestructible - yes quartz is non porous, yes some people go years without sealing their granite, yes people install marble in the kitchen - why? Because they love it - it completes the space.

If you didn't find one thing in the yard you were at then go to a bigger supply yard...find what speaks to you ..

Best of luck!

I like both but granite was too busy for my kitchen - at least all the ones I saw and liked. There are some black or smaller pattern ones that would have been ok with my oak cabinets, but I found a quartz that worked much better. I've had my countertops 3 years with no problems.

I think it just comes down to personal choice. I don't like the "spottiness" of granite, but I have seen a couple, online, that looked to be much less so. I do love the options of quartz, and have been very happy with my own quartz counters. I have sat a boiling pot of water on a remnant section of my own quartz, as I wanted to see how it would respond. I had no damage whatsoever. But, I always try to use a trivet. I have had no issues with my LG Viatera quartz - no heat issues, no staining, nothing. Still very pleased with it after nearly 2 years.

Quartzite, then granite, No manmade material.

It seems the more beautiful the natural stone are, the more they cost.

You have to shop at large, high end stone yards, such as Cactus Stone in Phoenix, they have slabs that are out of this world.

We carry all natural and man made slabs. All is perfect for kitchen countertops.

if you look white white background with grey and dramatic taupe, I suggest you quartz and porcelain slab.

if you look marble look-a-like color and pattern with vein in sandy tone or some thing exotic, Quartzite can be the best.

if you look spottiness and busy texture granite can be the best choice.

I was meh about granite after having a darker one in my previous home and not wanting white w/speckles. I love granite but have champagne tastes on a beer budget. I figured I'd end up settling for "that's fine".

While waiting in a showroom for some samples we stumbled on the "odds and ends/close out" slabs. I found a granite slab that I fell in love with and it even had a honed finish which is what I really wanted. It was also a screaming deal so yay for me! Are you sure you've seen all of the stone yards inventory? If we hadn't been waiting and wandering we would have never seen ours.

"Quartzite, then granite, No manmade material."

Oh, does that mean no resinated granite? You know they suck plastic into that stuff at the processing plants to make it suitable for countertops don't you? Geesh.

What to "Geesh" about? There are numerous number of gorgeous nature stone slabs, why use man made material, including resinated granite? Of course "Suitable" is in the eyes of the beholders,

"being that as it is a natural product it is porous you will need to be careful with spills and standing liquids. A good sealer will help the liquid bead on the top but if left for too long can penetrate the stone and leave "water marks" or discoloration."

This is incorrect, and the second sentence doesn't make any sense.

The majority of granites need sealing just once a year, and there are quite a few that never need sealing. As Silken1 mentioned, some granites are so dense that applying sealer will mar their appearance because it won't absorb and will sit on top and cause streaking. And there are a handful of granites, such as Imperial White comes to mind that behave more like marble and stain easily, but there aren't that many. It sounds like Kyle Johnson has something similar to Imperial White when he said "as they darken the white stone I have"; he should have done some research before installing as there is lots of information on this. He is painting all granites with the same brush as the white granite he chose, which is incorrect.

I've had two very dense granites in different kitchens that never once needed sealing for years and years, and always looked like the day they were installed. I spilled everything on them over the years - oil, tomato juice, soda, coffee, you name it. Splashed a ton of water around the sink. Never left any mark. I love granite counters.

Having said that, to me the choice of granite vs. manmade Quartz is all about the aesthetic. Do you want a uniform counter pattern? That is a very lovely look, and if that is the case, get Quartz. Do you want the irregularities of Mother Nature? Also beautiful, but many people find it too patterned. Once you go to a stoneyard and see what Mother Nature can create, it will make your decision.

Shannon_WI, my statement is not incorrect, I've seen it happen in the showrooms I've worked in along with the tops that were put in my house before I even got there, that have been sealed. I also mentioned to do what the fabricator recommends. I said MOST are porous, not all. what you had in YOUR kitchen is not what everyone else has. As I said before " Granite doesn't have a lot of maintenance but it, by manufacture instructions, does have "more" than quartz. I would also just always research the stone you choose. As stated above some granites' are denser than others."

"sprtphntc7a

granite! i have a dense stone, so no porous issues! cleaning is a breeze, its just beautiful!you cannot get that beauty from man made materials."

I've never seen a granite, in person, that I consider "beautiful". I've seen some online that looked tolerable.

Remember - it's all about personal preference. :-)

sales rep at a local kitchen showroom said they have not used granite in almost 7 years. apparently quartz and quartzite is all the rage now. i am replacing my granite to quartz because i wanted a white kitchen and couldn't find granite that peaked my interest. I took a sample of the quartz home and tested it out by putting hot pots directly on it and it held up fine. It did great with red wine, berry, hot oil, tomato sauce stains too.

About the "resinated granite" comment - I think Joseph's point was that many natural granite tops are in fact resinated to fill in flaws and protect the surface, so a lot of stone isn't quite as natural as you might think. In any case, what's wrong with man made? Kitchens are full of man made materials - plywood, MDF, stainless steel, ceramic, glass - and are the better for it. No need to get snobbish about natural over manmade - its a matter of aesthetic preference, nothing more.

HU:

Here's how beautiful natural granite performs in the Men's room at the Atlanta airport:

I'm surprised they went with granite, usually I see Corian or a similar product for commercial applications.

We had granite in our home in a lot of different colors- personally I didn’t like any of them, too busy. But they hold up well. We chose quartz for our remodel because the designs appealed more to us than granite, and quartz has all the low maintenance properties we were looking for. I personally don’t have an issue with “man made” products and I don’t see them as inferior, but as you have seen above there are different opinions on this. Go with what you prefer and you can’t go wrong.

"Here's how beautiful natural granite performs in the Men's room at the Atlanta airport",

Thank you for going out of your way to find a "before cleaning" photo of a granite counter top in a public bathroom to prove the point - manmade material is better than natural ones.

Unfortunately, it does not work, the first thought comes to mind after seeing this photo is, this surely is a heavy traffic area, imagine how it would look like, if the counter top is made of manmade material.

Where are the photos of old temples, palaces, museums, buildings, walkways, stairs all over the world, that are made of granite that have been sustaining thousand years of services and abuses yet still in great condition?

Enjoy man-made material - it is a good attitude that will make one to accept artificial body parts easier when one gets old.

Maybe look into what is more eco friendly? I would assume that would be man made quartz, but I am not so sure!

Any thoughts?

I understand the draw of a natural product, but quartz looked better in my kitchen. If one is going to choose natural over man-made, one might prefer stained cabinets over painted as painted cabinets are usually MDF or a combo of wood and MDF. Both quartz and MDF contain a large amount of natural substance - quartz in the case of quartz counters and wood pulp in the case of MDF.

The most eco friendly is to not throw out surfaces just because trends have changed. Donate to Restore when possible and avoid replacing surfaces just because they are no longer trendy.

Enjoy man-made material - it is a good attitude that will make one to accept artificial body parts easier when one gets old.

LOL. I had ZERO problems with that, and that was LONG before I replaced my LAMINATE counter with quartz. :-)

Here is more Information about manmade quartz vs natural stone:

https://usenaturalstone.org/is-quartz-natural-stone/

Camp granite here too. I bought a high end "exotic" level granite and it's amazing!

"Thank you for going out of your way to find a "before cleaning" photo of a granite counter top..."

The pictured top doesn't need cleaning, it needs the rust from the faucets poulticed from the stone. Corian would laugh at that rust.

I come from a small city (only 2 countertop fabricators in a 50 mile radius, and no stone yards). I found my fabricator first, and then went to a large city 2 hours away to select my slabs. I was convinced going in that I wanted Cambria (or similar quartz) because I didn't want the hassle of resealing every year. But once I got to the first stone yard that had a few quartz slabs, but mostly granite, I fell in love with the look of the natural stone. There were so many that I loved, but rejected because they did not work with our cabinet selection, but many more that I decided against because it was painful to think of cutting it into 2' wide strips for counters -they deserved to be showstoppers on an island.

All told, we went to about 4 different stone yards (and one Cambria showroom, just to be sure), before we found the exact slabs that we wanted. Leathered White Ice granite. It is so amazing to see and touch each day.

"Enjoy man-made material - it is a good attitude that will make one to accept artificial body parts easier when one gets old."

As it happens, I had a hip replacement six months ago, and am very much enjoying the new, man-made, artificial version. I'm able to move, walk, climb stairs, swim and generally enjoy a mobile and pain free life in a way my natural hip had given up on several years ago. So yes, I will indeed enjoy man-made material. And I will regard that particular line of "reasoning" as the nonsense it actually is.