What’s the Best Kitchen Counter-top Material: Granite, Quartz, or Corian?
To find the ideal kitchen countertops for your new kitchen it’s probably easiest to list off the pros and cons of each. With that being said here is a list of what makes Granite, Quartz and Corian counter tops great and not so great. We’ll talk about durability, design, cost and maintenance of each. And then you can decide which one works for you depending on your budget and needs. So let’s get into it.
Kitchen Counter Comparison Chart
GRANITE
Pros:
Visually Appealing – Granite is unique and comes in many colors and patterns. Essentially because each slap is different, you’ll get a pattern or color in your home that won’t exist anywhere else. Granite comes in over 20 different shades and it compliments so many combinations of cabinets, floors and walls.
Very Durable – Granite is a very solid material that is not susceptible to scratches, although breaking is possible, it’s very unlikely due to its strong nature. Furthermore, granite adds instant upscale appeal and lasts a very long time to give your home lasting value.
Heat resistant – Because granite is a heat resisting material it makes for an ideal counter top where you may be cooking and placing hot objects without any damage or wear.
Stain Resistant – Granite is also great because it resists stains very well. When granite is properly sealed, it is non-absorbent, so make sure you work with a professional who knows what they are doing!
Cons:
Can be absorbent if not sealed properly – On the contrary, if granite is not sealed properly, the material can be absorbent. Meaning, if you spill some wine or juice on the countertop it could mean you’ll be left with a lasting stain, so keep that in mind.
Cracking can happen – Although, granite is super durable, chipping the stone is something that is still probable. It’s best to be cautious and not drop anything very heavy onto your granite, if so you may find yourself calling a specialist to come repair the damage.
They are cold if you lean on them – Something to consider is that granite is a cold material and instantly pulls heat away from the skin.
Can be pricey – In addition to the labor costs for installing granite, you’re likely looking at anywhere between $100 – 250 per square foot which makes it one of the more high-end materials for your counters. The thicker the slab the more costly it typically becomes.
QUARTZ
Pros:
Variety – Quartz kitchen counters come in a lot of sizes, colors and designs, more so than natural stone. In fact, many people find it difficult to distinguish high-quality quarts from granite or marble.
Low maintenance – Quartz is also very low maintenance, maybe a little more-so than granite. These factory made composites are non-absorbent, so you don’t have to worry about accidental spills causing too much of a problem.
Design – Designing with quartz is fairly simple because the sample tiles are true representations. What you see is what you get when looking at sample composites, whereas with granite, no two slabs are exactly the same.
Cons:
Heat resistance – These counters are not the best choice for outdoors. Long exposure to sunlight could cause damage because they are more susceptible to heat. You should also be careful if you plan on setting down hot pans on your kitchen counter with quartz for this same reason.
Size limitation – The standard slap of quartz is around 65 inches wide and 130 inches long and if you need anything bigger you’ll likely have a seam which is something to consider as well.
Price – Price per square foot of quartz ranges between $100-250+.
CORIAN
Pros:
Its beautiful – Corian is one of the more attractive and modern countertops on the market. Furthermore, seams are nearly invisible, it can be formed into any shape you want. And funny enough, it can actually charge your phone just by placing it on the kitchen counter. Repairing damaged corian is also fairly simple.
Non-Aborbent – Corain is a non-absorbent material so it’s not likely to get deep stains beneath the surface.
Easy Cleaning – Corian is another material that is very easy to clean. Just make sure you’re using safe cleaners to that discoloration doesn’t occur.
Cons:
Can be dented or scratched – Like many kitchen countertops, you’ll want to be careful not to drop anything too heavy on this material as it can be scratched and dented. Fortunately repairs are fairly simple.
Doesn’t handle heat well – This material, similar to Quarts does not retract heat very well so be careful with hot pans and probably not the best bet for outdoors.
Some cleaning products can cause discoloration – Certain chemical cleaners have been said to cause discoloration when cleaning, it’s best to ask the manufacture which products are safe to clean with.
Can be pricey – Corian can be one of the pricier kitchen counters opposed to the other two listed depending on a lot of factors. You may also find it to be cheaper however, it depends on your needs so shop around and find out which of the 3 works best for you.
Conclusion
All-in-all these 3 choices are great for any type of kitchen, really, they all provide exceptional visual appeal to any home and with the wide range of colors and patterns you’re likely to find one that pairs nicely with your cabinets, floors and walls. The main take-away here is that it depends on your lifestyle and budget. So what do you think? Have you come across any kitchen counter-tops that you really like or are you still looking for what will work best for you? Feel free to drop us a reply letting us know! Our team would be happy to stop in with you and make recommendations specifically to help you make the right choice.