Granite countertops are very popular, but if you want your kitchen countertops and island surface to look modern or unique, you may be looking for a material that is better than granite. The best answer to this question is quartz countertops, porcelain slabs, and quartzite countertops. Let’s learn more about them and other options that are considered better when compared with granite.
3 Countertops That Are Better Than Granite Countertops
1. Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are engineered stone countertops made of crushed quartz crystals fused with resin and polymer. They are durable and scratch-resistant and can also increase your home’s value.
Why Are Quartz Countertops Better Than Granite?
Scratch-Resistance
Quartz is slightly harder than granite, so it’s even better in scratch-resistance than granite countertops.
Non-Porous And Stain-Resistant
Engineered quartz is completely non-porous, so it doesn’t absorb water that can lead to ugly stains and hygiene concerns. This is a big benefit of quartz countertops over granite, which is naturally porous.
No Sealing Required And Low Maintenance
As granite slabs are porous, they must be sealed periodically (once a year or two) to ensure the surface lasts longer and to avoid stains. On the other hand, quartz is non-porous, so once you have it installed, you never need to worry about sealing the surface. This makes quartz low maintenance. The smooth surface allows you to wipe any spills very easily.
Wide Color And Design Variety
Quartz countertops are made in plants and the method allows manufacturers to create a huge variety of colors, designs, and patterns of quartz slabs. On the other hand, granite countertops have a decent variety as well but it’s still not as massive as quartz’s.
Moreover, many granite colors and designs appear traditional, while quartz design variety can make them perfect for traditional, transitional, contemporary, or any other style.
Cost
The cost of both quartz and granite is similar and depends on the quality. However, quartz’s prices are more uniform even for many attractive colors and designs, while granite’s prices can fluctuate more depending on the colors, patterns, availability, etc.
When Quartz Countertops Aren’t Better Than Granite?
In some areas, quartz countertops lose to granite countertops, such as heat resistance and UV-resistance
Heat-Resistance
Quartz countertops are poor in heat resistance. A hot pan placed directly on the surface can stain it, while granite countertops are highly heat resistant. But note that granite countertops require sealing, and sealants fare poorly against heat.
UV-Resistance
Direct sunlight and UV rays can discolor or damage quartz countertops due to the resin and polymer mixed in them, whereas granite countertops can withstand the sunlight and UV rays far better than quartz.
2. Quartzite Countertops
If you want something better than granite but want the alternative to be a natural stone as well, then choose quartzite countertops. They are more durable and attractive than granite and being a natural stone, they share many of the benefits and drawbacks of granite (heat-resistance, scratch-resistance, staining, porosity, etc.), but they are costlier.
Note: Quartz and quartzite are two different materials. Quartz is an engineered stone while quartzite is a natural stone.
When Are Quartzite Countertops Better Than Granite?
Harder Than Granite
Quartzite is denser than granite so it’s harder and more scratch-resistant than granite.
Heat-Resistant
Like granite, quartzite is also a natural stone and is very heat-resistant.
Appearance
Quartzite has many luxury-looking white, cream, and soft-colored tones. They often look very similar to marble, though marble is not as durable as quartzite. People favor quartzite when they want a high-end appeal coupled with excellent strength and durability.
Moreover, some quartzite variations can be translucent and can be backlit for a stunning effect.
When Quartzite Countertops Aren’t Better Than Granite?
They Are Costlier
Quartzite countertops are durable and look high-end, so they are naturally costlier than granite and many other countertop options. Granite is widely available, easily sourced, and offers affordable prices.
Difficult To Install
Quartzite is heavier than granite and cutting and fabricating the stone can be very difficult. So, you must hire an installer for the process. On the flip side, granite is much easier to cut and fabricate, though hiring a granite contractor Potomac for granite countertop installation is still a better option.
Less Variety
Even though quartzite offers premium- and marble-looking veining and color tones, the variety is still limited compared to the wide selection of colors and patterns you can choose when buying granite countertops.
3. Porcelain Slab Countertops
Porcelain is mainly made of clay and also feldspar and quartz sand that is first immensely pressurized and printed, and then heated at very high temperatures to form solid slabs.
You can also find porcelain tiles but they have some limitations, so porcelain slabs are widely preferred as they are durable, non-porous, scratch-resistant, and have a wide variety. However, if chipped, they can look off-putting.
When Are Porcelain Slab Countertops Better Than Granite?
Non-Porous
A big benefit of porcelain countertops is that they are non-porous, so unlike granite, you don’t need to seal them every year or so. Plus, you can wipe or clean them with warm water and any mild detergent.
Scratch-Resistant
Porcelain is harder than granite and very scratch-resistant. However, like granite, it’s also not recommended to chop food directly on it.
Porcelain slabs also resists scratches from harsh cleaning tools, whereas granite can get scratched. Even if granite stays unscathed, its sealant will get damaged and you will need to reseal the stone.
Heat-Resistant
A quality that is not common in manufactured countertop materials is heat resistance. So, it’s a big deal that porcelain countertops are very heat-resistant. They can perform better in heat resistance better than granite because granite can be vulnerable to thermal shocks.
Variety
Any kind of pattern, color, and veining can be printed on porcelain slabs during the manufacturing process. You can even have porcelain countertops that look like granite, marble, concrete, or wood countertops.
When Porcelain Countertop Aren’t Better Than Granite?
Cost
Porcelain and granite material cost is similar (barring high level, exotic granites), but the installation cost of porcelain countertops is usually higher. However, you can save money in the long run as you won’t need to reseal and polish the surface every year.
Scratches Or Chips Can Look Ugly
Even though porcelain is very hard and durable, it can still get chipped at the edges. Chips or scratches will look worse on porcelain countertops than granite because they can expose the plain color underneath the printed top layer.
Difficult To Repair
Porcelain countertops are difficult to repair because the pattern is only on the top layer. If there is a scratch or chip that is deep enough, it will expose the plain porcelain body. However, there are still some methods to fix chips, but the countertop may not appear 100% perfect.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for countertop options that are better than granite, you should take a look at quartz, quartzite, and porcelain countertops. They have their goods and bads so contact a quartz countertops dealer Rockville for samples, quotes, and more details.
