Quartz Vs. Granite Countertops — A Geologist’s Perspective

You’ll be wondering about all of the pros and cons of quartz vs. granite countertops. Here I can be able to outline all of the geology of the materials granite and quartz, all of theirs sources, physical attributes, durability, and the environmental sustainability. In some ways, a natural stone countertop can fuel interest in geology. What makes up the various colors of granite? What makes a granite dark or light What causes all of the cracks on the stone? Why are some minerals small et al. big? Is quartz more durable than granite? All of those questions are going to be answered below and lead to interesting discussions on the formation of igneous rocks.

My home kitchen is airy, with a gas range, a stainless-steel island table within the center, and granite countertops. it’s extremely modest but there’s plenty of counter space, so you’ll slap down three or four cutting boards. Chef

What Is Granite And How Is It Formed?

Granite is a rock made from primarily quartz, feldspar, micas, amphiboles, and a mix of additional trace minerals. These minerals and their variation in abundance and alteration give granite the various colors and textures we see in granite countertops. Formally, granite may be a batholith that’s composed of between 10 to 50% quartz and 65 to 90% total feldspar.

Granite is an intrusive rock, which suggests it had been formed in situ during the cooling of molten rock. Gradually, the more slower the molten rock cooled, the larger its mineral crystals with K-Feldspar mega crystals forming in special circumstances greater than 5cm. During the formation of granite, it’s buried below kilometers of rock and sediment necessary to supply enough heat to melt rock. Of course, all of the granite we see today is near to the surface, and thus at some point was uplifted, causing overlying sediment to be shed via erosion. This transition from the high and low temperature to atmospheric temperature and pressure can cause the granite to expand and even crack. This, in addition to differences due to the season in temperature, can leave you with a weakened and fewer desirable granite to use for countertops.

What are Quartz And How Are Quartz Countertops Made?

You may be a touch confused therein there are granite countertops and quartz countertops. As discussed above, granite may be a sort of rock that’s partially composed of quartz, a mineral. Therefore, what exactly may be a quartz countertop? you’ll initially think that a quartz countertop would be composed of a quartz arenite, a rock made from a minimum of 90% quartz. this might remind you of a white sandy beach with a couple of brown and pink specs. The natural sorting of the quartz on all of the beaches is driven by the mineral strength and all of their differential weathering rates.

Comparison of Granite vs. Quartz Countertops

Here, I’ll just directly compare both granite countertops and the quartz countertops with physical, chemical, and all of the geologic parameters. Where noted, I exploit quartz arenite rather than the composite quartz countertop thanks to a lack of knowledge on the quartz composites. we provide the best of the best services: Best Granite Countertops St Peters MO

Pros & Cons of Granite Countertops

There are many factors to think about when choosing a kitchen countertop surface. If granite has made it to the highest of your list, read through the article below to work out if its advantages and drawbacks make it an honest choice for your kitchen.

Sustainability.

Did you recognize that one quarry site can provide stone for thousands of economic and residential projects over several centuries? Granite is additionally very near complete as a countertop material in its wild. Once quarried, minimal processing is required to organize it for your kitchen. as compared, engineered materials have a sophisticated production process that frequently includes toxic chemicals and harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Heat Resistance.

Granite countertops don’t melt or blister when are exposed to heat? they’re one of the foremost heat-resistant countertops on the market. Hot pans are often placed directly on the countertop surface from the oven with no harm. Experts do recommend the utilization of a trivet when using appliances that emit heat for long periods of your time.

Scratch Resistance.

Granite is great in mineral hardness. this suggests that only a few minerals can scratch it. While you’ll cut on granite, this isn’t recommended — doing so will dull your knives and may sometimes leave behind a metal residue which will be difficult to get rid of.

Seams.

during a typical kitchen, granite countertops will be got to have 2–3 seams. counting on the color of granite you select, the average slab size will vary. A typical expectation is often set at 9 feet x 5 feet. Large islands can typically be avoided seams. If you’ve got an L or U-shaped layout, expect seams where the countertops angle in a different direction. the great news is that a lot of fabricators will mix custom color epoxy to stick the seams together which does an excellent job at disguising them. Expect the seam to be around 1/8” thick.

Undermount Sinks.

Undermount sinks are common in granite countertop installations. this enables crumbs and spills to be wiped directly into the sink without being caught on the lip of a surface mount sink. you’ll think about using several sorts of sinks including forged iron, chrome steel, or solid surface. Fabricators will cut and polish the sinkhole to match the form of your chosen sink.

Backsplash Options.

Coved backsplashes that are common in laminate countertops aren’t available with granite. Typically, a separate 4” piece of the stone slab is going to have adhered on top of your countertop surface. Tile and full-height granite backsplashes also are used.

Repairs.

Granite countertops should be repaired by knowledgeable. it’s rare to urge a crack or contribute your countertops, but if you are doing, call the fabricator who installed your countertops to schedule a trip. Most of the time, a color-matched epoxy is often wont to fill the void and it’ll be virtually invisible.

Sealing.

Granite may be a porous material — but this is often not necessarily a nasty thing. If liquids are left on the surface for long periods of your time, they’re going to eventually absorb. But a bit like they absorb, they’re going to also evaporate. counting on what the substance is that must be removed, you’ll apply different poultices to hurry the method along. However, many will evaporate on their own without the utilization of chemicals or cleaning products. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they’re installed, which can protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly.