04/12/2023
Granite, Quartz or Marble? Tips for Choosing the Best Countertops for Your Kitchen & Bath
Granite, Quartz or Marble?  Tips for Choosing the Best Countertops for Your Kitchen & Bath

Countertops are an integral part of a custom home design aesthetic and functionality. We often have buyers asking for advice on the material to use in certain spaces. During the selections process we help narrow down the options to the right type of material for the space that is not only beautiful, but also fits their family’s needs and lifestyle. From aesthetics to durability, each material has pros and cons, depending on the space and how it will be used day-to-day.

What is the difference?

Granite
Granite countertops are a naturally quarried product and come in a wide array of colors and interesting patterns. No two pieces are exactly alike. Granite is a durable but porous material.

Quartz
Quartz countertops are an engineered product produced from a combination of roughly ground natural quartz, coloring, and polyresin. Quartz is non-porous.

Cultured Marble
Cultured Marble countertops are made from a natural stone known for its unique veining, or “marbling.” Marble is a very porous stone.

The kitchen is typically the busiest room in a house, calling for durable and beautiful kitchen counters that can stand up to kitchen grease, hot pots and pans, spills, and other messes. Hagood Homes offers granite and quartz as countertops for the kitchen. See the list of pros and cons for both below:

Granite
Pros

  • Beautiful patterns and colors to choose
  • Stain-resistant
  • Heat-resistant to hot pots and pans
  • Scratch-resistant from knives and abrasives

Cons

  • Requires yearly sealing to reduce staining
  • Edges and corners can chip

Quartz
Pros

  • Beautiful patterns and colors to choose
  • Doesn’t need to be sealed
  • Stain-resistant
  • Doesn’t harbor bacteria and viruses
  • Scratch-resistant from knives and abrasives

Cons

  • Edges and corners can chip
  • Not as resistant to heat as granite
  • Can be more expensive than granite

 

Bathroom Countertops 

Just like in the kitchen, granite and quartz are as equally beautiful as bathroom countertops. We also offer cultured marble in the bathrooms. But since the use of bathroom countertops differs from the kitchen, there are specific factors to consider when selecting a bathroom countertop.

Granite
Pros

  • Waterproof when sealed
  • Scratch-resistant from daily wear and tear
  • Resists stains from mail polish, lipstick, cosmetics and other commons spills
  • Heat resistant to hot hair styling tools

Cons

  • Must be sealed, or it will retain moisture
  • Edges and corners can chip

Quartz
Pros

  • Doesn’t need to be sealed
  • Resists cracking, chipping, etching and scratching
  • Inhibits bacterial or viral growth
  • Easily cleans with soap and water

Cons

  • Not as resistant to heat from hot styling tools
  • Edges and corners can chip

Cultured Marble
Pros

  • Resistant to heat from hair styling tools
  • Harder to crack or damage
  • Less expensive than granite or quartz

Cons

  • Prone to staining from hair dyes and makeup
  • Susceptible to damage from acidic cleaners
  • Periodic sealing needed

 

Our Included Countertops

When it comes to design and style, granite and cultured marble countertops are more traditional in their colors and patterns, where quartz countertop designs tend to be more contemporary. All of the countertops we offer—granite, quartz, and cultured marble—are durable and beautiful. Choosing which ones to add to your new home comes down to what will work best for your family’s lifestyle.

Included Granite Countertops 

Included Quartz Countertops 

Level 1 (1.6 cm)

Level 1 (3 cm)

 

Looking for custom home designs in coastal North Carolina? Let’s Chat!

We know what today’s buyers want, and we can help bring your vision to life. We’ve been building custom home designs in Wilmington, NC And throughout the Carolinas for more than 20 years. Our proven process and numerous customer testimonials are testaments to what buyers can expect in a custom Hagood home. If you’d like to learn more about our custom home building services or want to discuss modifying an existing plan, we’d love to connect! Please contact us, and one of our sales managers will be in touch soon.

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