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We live in a weird world where countertops define bathrooms and kitchens.
Pick the wrong type or color, and the value of your home can drop drastically.
Countertop trends change by the decade, but the two most popular options for homes right
now are granite and quartz.
In this video, we’re going to learn how they are made, how they perform and whether
one is better than the other.
We’re also going to discuss this insane TikTok trend that will destroy your countertops
and could lead to some serious health issues.
Let’s start with granite countertops.
Granite is an igneous rock.
It is formed from the slow crystallization of magma or molten lava below the Earth’s
surface.
It is composed of natural quartz or silica, feldspars or aluminosilicates, mica and other
organic minerals.
Most granite countertops come from quarries in Brazil, Italy, India and China.
The process of making a granite countertop starts with large chunks of stone.
Steel wires embedded with synthetic diamond dust cut through the stone.
The hardness of diamond makes it the most effective cutting material.
Large quarry saws, which look like giant chainsaws, are also coated with diamond dust.
Blocks of granite are transported to a factory where they are cut into thin slabs.
One side of the slab is polished to reveal a unique and colorful surface.
These slabs contain miniature cracks, microscopic holes and other defects.
Epoxy resin is used to fill these imperfections.
With the help of software, the exact dimensions of custom countertops are overlaid on granite
slabs.
Diamond coated blades or high pressure jets of water cut the outline with the help of
CNC machines.
Finally, the edges of the countertops are polished with another cnc machine or with
small hand-held stone routers.
These edges can be round, bevel, waterfall, ogee or bullnose.
Diamond wire technology, advances in machinery and automation has drastically lowered the
cost of granite countertops.
It’s now a quarter of the price it was in the 1960s and 1970s.
It is a very durable material and has a natural beauty that is tough to replicate.
Unfortunately, it is a very energy intensive product.
It can be mined in Brazil, shipped to Italy for cutting and polishing and then shipped
back to the States for final install.
It crosses the Atlantic twice before it reaches your home.
Another possible concern is its radon emissions.
Radon is a radioactive gas, found under the earth’s surface.
Exposure to high levels of radon for a prolonged period of time can cause lung cancer.
There is a very small likelihood that you could get radon poisoning from granite countertops.
Radon is more likely to seep in through cracks in your foundation.
In either case, I’d recommend getting an air quality sensor like this AirThings monitor.
I’ll link this model in the description below.
This allows you to monitor the carbon dioxide, humidity and radon levels in your home.
Now let’s discuss how quartz countertops are made.
Quartz or silicon dioxide is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s crust.
Pure quartz is colorless and translucent, but impurities create different colored quartz.
To make countertops white and clear quartz are ground into a fine powder.
This is mixed with plastic resins and colored pigments.
It can also contain recycled glass and metallic flecks.
The ingredients are mixed together to form a paste.
It is poured into a large mold and sometimes shaped by hand to make the designs look more
natural.
The mold is compressed under immense pressure to form 1” thick slabs.
It is then dried and baked to solidify the quartz.
This process is called sintering.
Any small pores and air pockets are sealed up in this stage.
Once it cools down, the slab is polished to reveal the grain and veins.
Some types of quartz edge profiles are Cascade, mitered, bryn, cornice, boulder, basin, piedmont
and seacliff
This is essentially an engineered, man-made stone.
It should not be confused with quartzite countertops which are natural stone and more expensive.
This is a fairly new product.
It was invented in the 1960s and has recently become very popular because of its lighter
color.
Quartz countertops can be less energy intensive if they are manufactured locally.
For example, Cambria is wholly manufactured in the US, and Caeserstone also has a manufacturing
facility in Georgia.
Now let’s discuss the appearance of each.
Granite is usually darker, busier and has more pattern and color, like Ubatuba, St Cecilia,
Blue Pearl and Black Galaxy.
Some lighter colored granite are Dallas White, White Ice, White Picasso and River White.
Granite is considered to be more traditional because of its patterns.
Quartz countertops are usually more minimalist, lighter in color and have uniform designs
like Calacatta Nuvo, White Attica, Gray Lagoon and Oceana.
Quartz is considered to be trendy and modern right now.
Granite is more porous.
Red wine, sauces and oils can stain this material.
It must be sealed regularly and cleaned often to prevent stains.
You should not use any chemicals or acidic cleaners on these countertops, only soap and
water.
Quartz countertops are supposed to be completely sealed.
They are resistant to staining and less susceptible to bacteria because there are no pores for
liquids to seep into.
That being said, I used to work at a company that had expensive white quartz countertops
in their breakroom.
They cost over $100 per square foot.
One month after installation, they had coffee stains everywhere, that would not come off.
Next up, their finishes.
Granite can be found in a variety of finishes like bush hammered, flamed, polished, shotblasted,
semi polished and honed.
Some quartz finishes are satin, matte and high gloss
Granite is heat resistant.
You can set a hot pan on this countertop and it will not scorch.
Certain quartz brands are not heat resistant, they will scorch and burn if you set a hot
pan on it.
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Let’s head back to the video and discuss their cost.
Now let’s discuss their cost.
The prices of granite can depend on petroleum prices and tariffs because they are shipped
from overseas.
Granite’s price range is $60 to over $200 per sq ft.
Quartz can be produced locally, and can cost $80 to $140 per sq ft.
It’s tough to compare the prices of these two, because it depends on the quality of
the material, the edge profile, the top finish, and the depth of the piece.
The standard depth of countertops is 25.5”.
If you need a deeper, custom size, it can be more expensive.
Also, the increased demand for quartz has caused the price of granite to come down.
Their density and weight are pretty similar.
Granite is a denser material, around 2.7 or 2.8 grams per cubic centimeter, while quartz
measures 2.65 grams per cubic centimeter.
Because of this difference in density, granite can be slightly heavier than quartz, although
not by much.
They are both obviously very heavy, and add significant weight to your cabinets and floor
slab.
Their hardness and scratch resistance are also similar.
This is measured by the Mohs Hardness Scale.
The lower the number, the softer the material is.
Granite sits at around 6, while Quartz is 7 but neither of these are scratch proof.
With either of these materials, it is recommended to use a cutting board for chopping.
Don’t cut things directly on the countertop since it could scratch.
Neither of these products are DIY friendly.
You need special tools to create the slabs and fabricate them.
They are also very heavy and can’t be installed by a single person.
As we discussed earlier, the manufacturing of granite countertops can be energy intensive.
Quartz can use recycled materials and can be manufactured locally, so it is considered
to be more “eco-friendly”.
Both of these products will last you a lifetime if you take care of them and don’t give
in to changing design trends and planned obsolescence.
Designers on TV shows and influencers on social media will tell you that your beautiful granite
countertops are dated and out of style.
You must get rid of them and replace them with white quartz countertops.
If you can’t afford new countertops, they tell you to paint your countertops with toxic,
harsh chemicals like epoxy.
Before and after videos of fake quartz countertops are widely shared and praised.
I fell for this trend and painted my old, chipped bathtubs with both liquid epoxy that
had to be rolled on and the version that comes in a spray can.
It was a nightmarish experience.
Painting the tubs was very labor-intensive and a waste of time.
It released strong, toxic fumes that lingered for several days.
The epoxy eventually yellowed and peeled off.
You must wear gloves and a respirator when handling epoxy.
You should only use it in a ventilated environment because the fumes can lead to inflammation
and irritation of your nose, lungs and throat.
Prolonged exposure to the fumes can lead to asthma.
It is also toxic to the environment.
In conclusion, both granite and quartz are excellent, durable countertop options.
Granite can require a little more care and maintenance but they are both long-lasting
materials that do not need to be updated in the lifetime of your house.
Let’s say no to all forms of planned obsolescence.
Let me know what you think about these products in the comments below and if you prefer one
over the other.
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