Quartz, granite and marble are three of the best and most popular countertop options on the market. Granite countertops have risen top popularity over the past few decades, while marble countertops have been a focal point of homes for years on end. And then there is quartz countertops, which have also risen in popularity in recent years as a viable alternative to both granite and marble options. But how do these three countertop materials compare to each other? That is the question that this guide will answer.
Granite Countertops: Characteristics
Granite countertops are some of the most beautiful and tough surfaces you can find. You will have a seemingly endless array of colors and styles to choose from when it comes to this amazing natural stone. Granite is very durable, which makes it an ideal countertop material for any home.
No matter where you install Granite Countertops, they will look amazing. The only downside to granite – if it can even be considered a ‘downside’ – is that you must make sure to keep up on sealing. That said, having to apply a sealer to your countertop roughly once per year is not any kind of major inconvenience.
Marble Countertops: Characteristics
Marble is truly a timeless classic when it comes to building materials. This is evidenced by the fact that natural stone has been used to build everything from some of the world’s most famous statues to kitchen and bathroom countertops. While there are a plethora of countertop materials that are beautiful, many homeowners simply feel that there is no material as beautiful as marble. With numerous colors and styles available, many of which include elegant veining, it is surely hard to match the beauty of marble countertops.
While much of marble’s appeal lies in its appearance, the material is also relatively durable. However, you must keep up on maintenance if you want to keep your Marble Vanity Tops in good shape. Because marble is more porous than granite, the stone countertops will require re-sealing more often. You will have to re-seal marble countertops about a few times per year.
Quartz Countertops: Characteristics
Artificial Quartz countertops are engineered surfaces that are made from a combination of roughly 90 percent ground natural quartz and about 10 percent polyresin. These specific percentages can slightly differ based on brands but will always be in the same area.
Although quartz countertops are engineered, the surfaces are incredibly attractive. Due to the fact that they are manufactured, quartz countertops have many different styles, including those that replicate natural stones like granite and marble. Another benefit that results from these surfaces being engineered is that they are non-porous, which separates them from both granite and marble. This means that quartz countertops do not require the sealing that granite and marble countertops do.
One thing you must watch out for is not exposing Artificial Quartz Countertop to excessive heat. High levels of heat can melt the resin and cause a permanent burn mark on the surface. Never set down hot pots or pans on a quartz countertop. Heat resistance is one of the only areas in which quartz does not match or surpass other countertop options.
Nano Glass is suitable for use as a countertop material, but it can also be used for walls, floors, windowsills, sinks and tabletops.
Much like ordinary glass, it is made of natural materials, and it is chemically inert. Additional features of nano-crystallized glass are as follows:
Scratch and stain-resistant
Heat resistant
Hard and durable
Nonporous
Recyclable
Nano-crystallized glass is much harder than ordinary glass or even standard crystallized glass. On the Mohs scale, it scores from 6.0 to 7.0, and it has a compression strength rating of 400 MPa, a flexural strength rating of 82 MPa and a rupture strength rating of 35 MPa.
Additionally, nano-crystallized glass has a water absorption rate of 0.004 percent to 0.02 percent, and it is totally radiation free. As expected, the material also has a DIN 4102 flammability rating of A1.
Consumers have stated that nano-crystallized glass is a preferred surfacing material because of its nearly pure white color, which is a natural byproduct of its manufacturing process. It is also quickly becoming known as an excellent substitute for white marble.