When you’re looking to remodel your home, there are certain materials you’ll gravitate toward for your countertops. Certain materials have stood the test of time and remain popular choices. There’s no denying that brand new granite, marble, quartzite or quartz countertops can add elegance and charm to your home. While these materials are both attractive and functional, it can be difficult to decide which one is perfect for your interior.
But when you find yourself overwhelmed with options for every countertop, floor, and other surface. Everywhere you go, you’ll see the home’s gorgeous kitchen and bathrooms with custom counters, cabinets and floors. You may find yourself wondering which stone your countertops are made of, or which stone is best for your kitchen.
We can help. We have a wide range of materials to choose from in our newly refurbished showroom and have a friendly team of experts who can help you choose the ideal material for your home. Below is a breakdown of the differences and differences between marble and granite for your consideration. This will help you narrow down your options.
If you are interested in articles about the comparison between stone materials, please refer to our previous articles:
1. Comparison of 6 Stone Countertop Materials for the Kitchen
2. Comparison of 6 Stone Countertop Materials for Bathrooms
3. Laminate vs Quartz Countertops: 5 Reasons Why You Should Choose Quartz Countertops
4. Marble vs Granite Countertops: How to Choose in Design?
5. Marble vs Granite: What Is the Difference between Granite and Marble?
Through hundreds of years of heat and pressure, marble is naturally produced. Other mineral hues will show up in the stone as veins or swirls that vary in depth and size and lack repetitive or symmetrical patterns. Additionally, marble has some translucency, which frequently enables you to see a few millimeters beyond the surface and gives the substance greater depth.
The reason marble is so popular with artists and architects is that it is relatively soft and easy to cut and carve. The surest way to tell if marble is genuine is to test its hardness by cutting it with something sharp, such as a knife. Genuine marble countertops can develop scratches and etching over time. If you scratch the top of the marble with a knife (scratching only the underside of the marble slab) and see no damage, the surface is probably granite or engineered stone.
A metamorphic rock, marble originates from limestone and takes millions of years to form. It is most often associated with Italy, and most of the world’s supply is mined in the Carrara region around northern Tuscany.
When it comes to building materials, marble is unquestionably a classic and timeless option. Natural stone has been utilized to build anything from the most famous statues in the world to countertops for kitchens and bathrooms, serving as proof of this. Although there are many lovely countertop materials available, many homeowners simply don’t believe that marble can be matched in beauty.
Marble can range in color from black to pure white. Marble is often available in a variety of colours, styles and ornate textures.
Many of them have elegant grains, and the beauty of marble countertops is undoubtedly incomparable. If the marble is free of any impurities, it will be pristine pure white. However, most marble contains other minerals that can give it a blue, gray, pink, yellow or black color.
However, the colors will not be very vibrant. Any other bright and vibrant color could indicate that the marble is man-made, or a natural stone mixed with other materials.
It’s cool and soft to the touch, especially compared to other materials like granite. But it’s porous, making it sensitive to acidic liquids like wine or certain cleaners. Marble can be prone to etching or staining if left unprotected – however, these problems can be easily fixed with a sealed marble countertop and an extra layer of protection. You have to reseal your marble countertops several times a year.
While much of marble’s appeal lies in its looks, the material is also relatively durable and has a timeless appeal to homeowners.
1. Timeless appeal, available in a variety of colors and styles.
2. Durable.
3. Luxuriously, marble is considered the material of choice for luxury apartment and residential buildings. It’s beautiful, and a proper marble countertop is a real star in any kitchen.
4. Real marble also has an unrivaled luster. This is often replicated in synthetic stone by adding small amounts of glass and other materials, but it doesn’t have the same long-lasting luster as marble.
1. Price: Per square foot, marble is one of the most expensive countertop materials you can buy. It is much more expensive than butcher block, even more expensive than quartz or granite. Get a quote before you fall in love with marble—it might not fit your remodeling budget.
2. Protection: Unlike granite and quartz, marble countertops are not scratch-resistant. You need to use a cutting board and take extra care to protect your countertops from accidental damage.
3. Stains: Marble absorbs liquids more readily than other stone countertops. This can be bad news for your kitchen, as it means you need to be vigilant about spills and cutting boards. Acids and harsh cleaning agents can cause damage.
Granite is an igneous rock that forms deep in the earth. It is made from a variety of minerals, including feldspar, plagioclase, quartz, and more. Granite remains one of the oldest and most durable natural materials in existence. Granite is a phenotypic rock, which means it contains crystals and chunks of minerals large enough to be discerned with the naked eye. When you look at a piece of granite, you see a speckled pattern of various fragments that come together to form the stone.
Granite forms when magma below the surface crystallizes, solidifies into a crystalline form, absorbing everything in the process. This explains why granite comes in different colors and why it has different patterns.
If you look closely, the color patches on some granites are more gritty and fuzzy than they are clearly defined streaks, giving them a more textured appearance that is reminiscent of marble. Granite is fully opaque, as opposed to marble, so only the topmost layers of the surface are visible.
Also, testing the hardness of granite by cutting it with a knife is another way to determine if what you are looking at is granite or marble. However, it takes a sharper eye to tell the difference between granite and quartz, as neither will scratch.
Granite comes in a variety of shades such as blue-gray, peach, gold, brown, white, and more. Countertops made of granite are among the strongest and most beautiful surfaces on the planet. Choose from an endless rainbow of colors including tan, gray, gold, brown, peach, blue, white and more.
Granite countertops are one of the most beautiful and tough surfaces you can find. When it comes to this stunning natural stone, you’ll have a seemingly endless variety of colors and styles to choose from.
Because granite contains many different minerals such as feldspar, quartz, and mica, it can come in a variety of colors, but the most common are white, gray, red, and brown.
1. Durable: Granite is a tough material that can withstand accidental cuts, cuts and impacts.
2. Heat Resistant: Granite is highly heat resistant, which means you can place hot pans or trays on its surface without permanent damage.
3. Unique: No two pieces of granite are exactly alike, which means your kitchen granite slab will be truly unique. It can be the perfect choice for gorgeous and low-maintenance countertops, although it sometimes needs a sealer to ensure its shine.
1. Not invulnerable: Just because a granite countertop is strong doesn’t mean it won’t chip or crack. Plus, granite absorbs liquids, which means it can easily stain if not sealed. Needing to apply sealer to countertops about once a year is not a major inconvenience.
2. Maintenance Needed: Your granite countertops need to be resealed periodically to prevent stains and other forms of damage.
3. Weight: Like other stone countertops, granite slabs are very heavy. If your cabinet cannot support its weight, it may need to be replaced or reinforced prior to installation.
Most people often ask what is the difference between marble and granite? Marble is almost always white in contrast to the iridescent colors of granite. However, when other minerals are present in the stone, it may appear streaked (also called veined), or appear black, yellow, pink, blue, or gray. Marble is also more lustrous than granite. There are now synthetic variants on the market, including marble, glass, and other materials that make marble stronger, but it’s still not as resilient as granite.
The cost of the countertop you choose may take precedence over other factors. Cost is the first factor most people consider when picking something for their home. Let’s take a look at the average cost of these two stones.
– Marble: $40 to $300 per square foot.
– Granite: $30 to $100 per square foot.
If you compare the cost of marble versus granite, lower-end marble costs more per square foot than higher-end granite. The average cost per square foot of granite is $75. Meanwhile, the average cost of marble countertops starts at $100/sqft and can actually go as high as $200/sqft! Generally speaking, installation costs are higher, and the larger the kitchen, the higher the cost will increase if you choose marble.
Durability is key. We mean scratch resistance as well as longevity.
– Marble: Marble countertops can get scratched and scratched because at some point it is not easy to use a kitchen countertop without being rough. These countertops are a luxury, but not a practical one.
– Granite: Granite is a durable material that won’t scratch. You want to reseal your granite countertops every few years. If you use them regularly, they will need to be resealed annually.
We wouldn’t count water resistance as durability. Canning is water resistant, and it doesn’t affect how easily your countertops get scratched and damaged.
– Marble: Due to the porous surface, marble can absorb any liquid that is splashed on it. You’ll need to be careful not to splash on it, and use a waterproof cover to seal the countertop.
– Granite: Seal your granite countertops. If the granite countertop is not sealed, water will absorb into the pores. When water is absorbed, it can damage the countertop over time. If it is sealed, the liquid will hardly be a problem.
Sustainability deserves a mention. The term sustainability means “the ability to maintain a certain rate or level”. If the material is not readily available, then it is not sustainable.
– Marble: Marble is sustainable. It is not as durable as quartz. Quartz is more sustainable than marble, but marble is still sustainable.
– Granite: Granite is just as sustainable as quartz because it is composed of quartz. Most companies mine it without disrupting the ecosystem.
Heat resistance is also different from durability. In the kitchen, heat resistance is an issue, but each countertop can only withstand a certain amount of heat.
– Marble: Marble is heat resistant. It was about twice as hot as quartz before it cracked.
– Granite: Granite is heat resistant. It can withstand temperatures over 500 degrees before it begins to crack. Nothing gets that hot in the kitchen other than a roast chicken.
The difference in stone installation lies in the cutting. Sink openings and smooth edges vary. Let’s take a closer look at the installation of each type of stone countertop.
– Marble: Marble is easier to cut than quartz because it is more compact, but heavier. There’s less dust and it’s ready to use when you’re halfway through. Wet cut like quartz, take your time.
– Granite: You should wet cut with a diamond blade. Cutting granite is like cutting quartz. Granite is much heavier than marble and is very difficult to move.
Versatility is important for those who want to get creative and make a statement. If creativity is your priority, here’s what you need to know about the versatility of each type of countertop.
– Marble: Natural marble comes in a variety of colors, including pink, red, brown, white, cream, and green.
– Granite: Granite has the most natural color options because granite is a mixture of stones. You can get granite in any color.
Want to see for yourself which of these materials is best for you? Come and see us in our newly renovated showroom today! For all additional questions and information, or to purchase Marble and Granite, please contact Marble George today!
Granite is a great choice if you want stone countertops in a variety of colors and patterns that are low maintenance and extremely durable. If you want a countertop that may require more maintenance but looks incredible in any light, marble might be for you.
No matter which stone you choose, you’re going to get one of the best options for using in your home that you’ll love showing off to friends and family. By evaluating the different factors listed and explained above, you can know which material is best for your home. If you have any ideas, please feel free to contact us!
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