Selecting Countertop Material For Your Home

Choosing granite for your home is a very personal decision, much like selecting wallpaper or artwork. You have many options when it comes to stone countertops for your home; natural or manufactured. While there is a complete spectrum of stone colors and grades to consider, some are better suited than others for particular uses in and around your home. This guide can help you explore your options and offer guidance on choosing the best granite or quartz countertop for your home project.

Factors to Consider in Selecting Granite or Quartz

Color

  • Granite and quartz are available in a beautiful spectrum of colors.
    • Colors can range from soft beige and pinks to classic black-and-whites. They are also available in rich corals, greens, and multi-colors.
    • Granite traditionally features swirls and “veins” of colors, or has a flecked or pebbled appearance.
    • Quartz countertops are man-made, and typically offer more minimalist patterns, although, more colors and styles are produced every year.


Finishes

    • Granite and quartz can be polished, honed, as well as other distinct texture finishes:
    • A polished finish has a glossy surface that reflects light, is smooth to the touch, and emphasizes the color and marking of the stone.
    • A honed finish is a satin-smooth surface with relatively little light reflection. It is generally preferred for floors, stair treads, thresholds, and other areas where heavy traffic will wear off a polished finish


Granite and Quartz Hardness

  • One measure of a natural stone’s strength it its Measurement of Hardness (MOH) rating, of which 1 is the softest and 10 is the hardest.
    • The harder the stone, the more it resists abrasion.
    • On the MOH scale, most marbles rate “3” and quartz-based surfaces rate “7.”
    • Granite is harder to put on this scale; the material that makes up most of the granite is usually a 7-9 on the MOH scale, however, some granite has other minerals embedded in it that may only be rated at a 5.
    •  Using a softer stone requires gentler cleansers and more frequent dusting to prevent scratching (see our page on Granite Care).