granite or quartz counters

what are the pros/cons to granite or quartz counter tops

i seem to hear conflicting things

also, if you have any recommendations on where to buy it that would be great

we were currently quoted $69 per sq foot for 1 1/2in thick granite; not sure if thats a good price or not

Re: granite or quartz counters

My dad deals in quartz, so I really only hear the positives about quartz...I'm told quartz never needs to be sealed and resists staining. Also, quartz is very easy to clean and sanitize. I also know that it is generally easier to hide seams in a quartz countertop, and noticeable seams drive me nuts! I know some people prefer the "look" of granite more, but quartz seems to have a lot of new patterns that have a similar natural look. That said, I still can't afford to put it in my house, but some day I hope to!

Re: granite or quartz counters

Quartz is an engineered stone so you kinda get to pick what you get as opposed to the slap of stone, you may get a random pattern as you cut into the stone.

We went with quatz from where we got our cabinets. It was a heck of alot cheaper then typical as this came from China (like our cabinets) I paid a mere fraction of regular price ($69 sq ft) for a pretty similar counter top and get a whole lot more.

I can't tell the difference with the exception of what I saved. Because of this, we were able to get cabinets and countertop we wanted.

Re: granite or quartz counters

I have quartz for about 4 years now and love it.
Easy to maintain and keep clean. I clean it with dish soap and hot water, wipe down with vinegar-water in between.
Doesn't stain.
Doesn't scratch.
Loved the color and pattern choices.
I don't have seams, so can't comment on that.

I've dropped things on it and no chips or cracks. You can put a hot pot on it, no problems, although I am old school and still use a trivet.
The door saddle into my kitchen is also the same quartz as the counter tops.

I have Cambria quartz. Forgot what I paid for it.
Silestone is another manufacturer.

Re: granite or quartz counters

We are having Cambria quartz installed in our new home. The color we're getting is Bellingham, which is part of the Waterstone Collection. This line was designed to look more like granite, as far as the patterns go.

I agree with the pros PP mentioned above.

Re: granite or quartz counters

We got quartz because I just didn't want to deal with the sealing like we have to do with our granite in the bathroom.

We got a great sale from Lowes on their Allen and Roth brand

Re: granite or quartz counters

We have had quartz for about 7 years now. Love it. Nothing to do with it, no sealing, no worry! you can use pretty much anything to clean it. I put hot pots from the gas stove directly on to the counter. I have cut veggies or fruit on the counter using a sharp knife and not scratches, and it wont stain.

The ONLY negative is if you like the natural variations in granite. Quartz is man made and doesnt have those variations.

Re: granite or quartz counters

We have Cambria quartz. It has all of the benefits of quartz mentioned above, it's very eco-friendly, and made in the USA (which means less fossil fuel used for transporting it, unlike most granite). The latest Cambria styles have an appearance that looks just like granite, so you aren't stuck with that "man-made" look any more. You can get something that looks just as random as granite. In fact, I've seen some granite that looks more uniform than my quartz!

http://cambriausa.com/en/designs/photos-and-videos/

Message edited 12/31/2013 3:29:35 PM.