Marble vs. Granite vs. Quartz: Which Stone is Best for Your Home?
Designing a beautiful home requires a series of processes, and when it comes to selecting a perfect countertop, marble, granite, and quartz are the top three choices. All three can be used for the same purposes, but which among them is the best for your home? Which of them will seamlessly serve the purpose that you are looking for?
Well! To choose one, you must go through the following advantages and major drawbacks of these natural stones. Understanding the differences between marble, granite, and quartz will make it easier to select and measure them based on different factors that require consideration.
Marble: Timeless Elegance
Mable is a natural metamorphic limestone that is composed of the mineral calcite and is formed due to heat, pressure, and aqueous solutions. These stones are polished and mainly used for interior decorations, table tops, buildings, monuments, and statuary. The beauty of the marble remains intact for a long time, and it hardly loses its shine, which makes it timeless beauty and an elegant addition to homes and residences.
Pros
- It makes an excellent choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways because of its durability and long-lasting properties.
- It gives the countertops and slabs a luxurious, classic, and elegant finish.
- Marble is a naturally cool element with heat-resistant properties, i.e., ideal for cooking and baking.
- These are available in multiple color variants, patterns, and designs, so each is unique and one-of-a-kind.
- Perfect for contemporary and traditional interiors and aesthetics of your home.
- Spills and dust can be easily removed with a wet, clean cloth, making it shine as always.
- They are natural stones and thus are a very eco-friendly choice for your home.
Cons
- Marble is more expensive and heavier than other stone countertops.
- Acidic substances can leave stains and dull the shine of the marbles in the long run.
- Cleaning actions need to be performed very often.
- It has high porosity and allows air and liquid to pass through it quickly.
- Marbles can get scratched if you use them as cutting boards or clean them with scouring cleaners.
Best For
Marbles offer a luxurious and elegant touch to your kitchen, bathroom, and other parts of the house. It can be ideal if you don’t mind regular cleaning and prioritize aesthetics. However, you must go with Dolomitic marble rather than the classic one because they are more durable and suit different functionalities.
Granite: Durability And Variety
Granite is an igneous rock that is composed of minerals such as quartz, mica, and feldspar formed due to the crystallization of magma. The main properties of this stone are its durability and variety which makes it a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom tops. They are usually 9 to 10 feet long with a width of 5 to 6 feet and have a thick base that makes them long-lasting. However, the length of graphite may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer as it is available in various designs and colors.
Pros
- It is one of the best choices for kitchens because granite is scratch-proof.
- It is easy to clean and maintain the beauty of the stone.
- It does not allow the bacteria or dust to accumulate and settle.
- You can seal the tops or slabs once ot twice a year.
- Granites have long-lasting durability and need replacement once in a decade.
- You can place hot pans or utensils on the countertop without getting cracked or scorched.
- Small chips in the stone can be covered with matching putty.
Cons
- Granites with rare or exotic varieties may be expensive.
- The countertops can be etched with acidic substances and get dull.
- In winter, the stone may be icy to touch.
- The perfect patterns and color hues are difficult to achieve while installing them.
- Replacing or removing the slab without breaking or damaging it is possible.
- Placement of a lot of weight or falling of heavy objects can cause cracks on the slab.
Best For
Granite is perfect for your busy kitchen as you need something durable, can withstand heat, and is easy to maintain without spending much time on it. Premium granite is best for your kitchen, whether it is commercial or residential, as you can enjoy its benefits for decades before they wear out.
Quartz: Engineered With Natual Versatility
Quartz a crystal-like mineral that is formed naturally due to the chemical combination of oxygen and silicon on the earth’s surface. You will be surprised to know that glasses, watches, clocks, computers, GPS, toothpaste, concrete, paint, adhesives, etc., that are used in daily life are made from quartz. It is also one of the best choices for kitchen or bathroom countertops because of the versatility that it offers. It is a naturally engineered masterpiece stone that serves multiple purposes while giving a luxurious vibe.
Pros
- Quartz countertops are best known for their explicit beauty.
- It is impossible to get scratches, chips, cracks, stains, etc., on the slabs.
- These countertops can stay for a long time as they have higher durability.
- These stones are nonporous and thus are easy to maintain.
- You don’t need to seal them frequently.
- Quartz has anti-microbial properties and is best for kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, etc.
- The design, pattern, and color easily match when installed, creating a visual of a continuous piece.
Cons
- These stones are heavy and can only be installed by professionals.
- They are not available in a variety of designs and thus may not be as appealing as others.
- Quartz can only serve the functionalities of indoor purposes.
- They have non-heat resistance properties and thus can be damaged by hot pans and kitchenware.
- The resin seam that binds two pieces together can be easily visible.
- The countertop can get dull if exposed to sunlight and lose its shine.
Best For
Quartz countertops are the best for households or places where the kitchens, bathrooms, or other surfaces are always busy. Since it is easy to clean and maintain the slabs, it’s perfect if you prioritize hygiene at your workstations.
Conclusion
Choosing the best natural stone for your home is complex and challenging, as all three of them serve their purposes in different ways. Several factors, such as aesthetics, durability, maintenance, lifestyle, personal preference, and budget, can affect your pick. However, Quartz is the best option among the three because, considering all factors, it is more reliable and functional than the others and can serve the purpose for years.
Your choice may depend on your taste, and with the correct information on marble, granite, and quartz, you can determine which will suit your household. Each stone has its charm and gives a luxurious, classic, and elegant ambiance while enhancing the beauty of the residences.