A relatively newcomer to the countertop industry, Quartz offers a very hard surface and consistent coloration.You may know of quartz from some of the brand names such as Silestone, Caesarstone, and Zodiaq.Quartz countertops are man-made; however they contain about 93% or more of the natural material quartz.Quartz is the 3rd hardest material known only behind diamond and sapphire.The Quartz counters are so non-porous that they have the NSF Certification for use in food prep areas such as cafeterias, as well as laboratory countertops.Not only is quartz harder than granite, but it is more consistent in color and graining.
Quartz countertops are very consistent in the overall look, so you can pick the color and style you want from a small sample chip.This would not be recommended for picking granite, as the color and veining patterns differs from area to area on a particular slab. It’s really a personal preference when comparing granite and quartz.Some people love the very consistent, clean look of quartz, while others like the variety of colors and veining that runs thru a slab of granite.Cost wise, it will depend which variety of granite you compare to whatever quartz you are considering, but generally quartz will cost from 10% to 30% more than granite, however the price varies somewhat from region to region.