Stone Countertops: The Difference Between Marble, Granite and Quartz

Are you looking to enhance your home’s appearance and functionality with new countertops, but struggling to understand the options available to you?

Stone countertops are crafted from a plethora of options such as marble, granite, quartz, soapstone, onyx and much more. Unfortunately, a lack of familiarity with the various stone options often causes homeowners to place the unique attributes of different stones under the umbrella of just one.For instance, you may think marble countertops are right for you, when really the style you’re in love with actually belongs to a quartz or granite stone. So, to provide clarity on the countertop options available to you, this post will explore the unique characteristics of the three most popular countertop materials: marble, granite and quartz. Each stone has its own unique finish that can’t be replicated amongst the others.

Marble

First up is marble. Marble has long been the countertop material of choice with its stunning appearance. The stone is recognized for the veins that course through it in unique patterns, adding character and beauty to the end product. Marble countertops are also comprised entirely of natural stone, which means your home will be receiving the beauty only nature offers.

Granite

Following up marble is granite. Similar to marble, granite is another natural stone option commonly utilized on countertops and backsplashes. Granite is available in a variety of naturally occurring colours such as white, black, brown, beige, blue and gray.

In terms of longevity and maintenance, granite is a very dense and durable countertop material. This stone is heat and scratch resistant; however, it’s also porous and oils spilled on its surface should be cleaned immediately to avoid dark spots or reduced shine.

Quartz

The third stone material that has become a popular choice amongst homeowners is quartz. Unlike marble and granite, quartz countertops aren’t made entirely from quartz stone. Although 90-95 percent of quartz countertops consist of ground natural quartz, the other 5-10 percent come from polymer resins.

A defining characteristic of quartz is that it’s extremely durable in its strength and resistance towards other substances. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on Moh’s scale, compared to marble, which offers a hardness of 3 to 4.

This countertop option is also coloured artificially and these non-natural elements allow for unique colourations such as violet, opaque, rose, smoky yellow, cedar red and uniform pure white.

At Delsur Marble, we specialize in working with you to understand the look you’re striving to achieve in your home and producing the superior quality stone countertops and backsplashes that will enhance your space. To see the quality of our craftsmanship, check out our work!