Granite or Quartz Countertops Add Value to a Home

 

Countertops are very essential parts of kitchens and are the places where most of the preparatory work for preparation of meals takes place. This requires them to be strong, hard, easy to clean, and maintenance free. Granite and quartz countertops are alternatives that you will have to consider for this purpose, and both of them have their own strong points.

Granite is a natural stone, and the countertop will be made of a single piece cut out of a solid block of granite. Granite is an igneous stone that has been formed under great pressure and heat and this makes the composition of the stone very dense and strong. These are properties that are ideal for countertops as they can take a lot of abuse and will almost never stain or easily absorb liquids that are spilled on them. Granite is available in many different colors, but these are natural colors that you will have to choose from.

Quartz countertops are artificially made with a mixture of 7 percent of resin that binds together crushed quartz. They can be manufactured in a number of colors and patterns and this allows them to have very wide range for selection. Quartz is just as strong as granite, but as it is a manufactured item, there is more flexibility available and there is also ease of installation. The resin renders the quartz countertop a quality of being non-porous, which means that it will never require a sealer, like some granite countertops may need. Quartz countertops are heavier than granite and they require proper support. They are however prone to action by ultra violet rays. This means that if you have countertops near a window that lets in sunlight directly, the countertop may fade after long use. As it is only the part, which gets exposed that gets affected, this may make the countertop look patchy after a while.

Both granite and quartz countertops are expensive and this needs that you take a lot of care in deciding the right material before you layout your money. Granite is considered a status symbol, and adds real value to a kitchen and hence a home. Its natural stone appearance fits in well with most decors. Both these countertops have great advantages over the laminated surfaces that most kitchens opt for, and give a rich feeling to the home. Quartz leaves less of a carbon footprint, as unlike granite it does not have to use resources for mining, cutting and transporting of the material from long distances.