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Both marble and quartz are very popular for countertops and worktops.

They are aesthetically pleasing and functional materials, and often people are unsure whether to choose one or the other as they have a number of similarities.

In this article we shall be discussing some key differences between quartz and marble to help you distinguish them from each other and make a well informed choice depending on your needs and preferences.

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Table of Contents

1. Key Differences Between Quartz & Marble
2. Origin
3. Appearance
4. Imperfections
5. Durability
6. Stain Resistance
7. Mark & Scratch Resistance
8. Maintenance & Care
9. Heat Resistance
10. Longevity
11. Water Resistance
12. Design
13. Installation
14. Cost
15. Conclusion

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Key Differences Between Quartz & Marble

Marble is a timeless classic.

This natural stone has been used as a building material for centuries.

From statues to countertops, there is no denying that marble is beautiful, stylish and elegant.

The fact that it comes in numerous different colours and patterns, which all occur naturally is a distinctive aspect of this material.

Marble is also considerably durable.

Quartz on the other hand is engineered, due to the fact that it comprises natural quartz added to polyresin.

It is still very strong and durable, and comes in countless colours and patterns.

You will even find quartz that mimics the look of marble and granite for instance.

When it comes to styles and patterns, quartz offers more options than marble, however one will need to keep in mind that it is not completely natural.

Other key differences between marble and quartz include their porosity and their maintenance.

Let us delve a bit deeper into the various differences hereunder.

Origin

Marble is a natural stone that is created when limestone is subjected to heat and pressure in a process called metamorphism.

Marble mines and quarries are located in areas where marble occurs naturally.

This includes the USA, Greece, Turkey and Southern Italy.

Quartz, on the other hand, is a manufactured material since it comprises around 90% natural quartz combined with around 10% of polymer resin.

It has not been in use as much as marble, since it was not until the 1960s that this manufacturing process was used to create a slab.

An Italian inventor, Marcello Toncelli, came up with this idea and established Breton, and since then quartz has become highly popular for worktops.

Appearance

Both quartz and marble are very beautiful, and they will add value to any home.

Both of them have their unique colour variations, but needless to say since quartz is not completely natural, it offers more specific variations when it comes to appearance.

Marble is a natural stone, and so you cannot change the way it looks.

Quartz has around 10% polymer resin and as a result it has a unique pigmentation.

Therefore the colours and patterns it is manufactured with can be altered and made according to specific preferences.

On the other hand, with marble you can expect to have natural grains, flecks and veins, which make it look far less uniform in appearance than quartz.

Imperfections

Marble is available in a wide range of colours.

However, since it is a natural stone, there may be imperfections which result in variations in the patterns and colours of the slabs.

While this is something that some people do not really care about because they consider it as a key part of marble’s natural beauty, it might be undesirable for others who prefer a more consistent look.

Durability

Both quartz and marble are durable and strong materials.

However, if you were to compare them to one another, quartz ranks as more durable than marble.

This is because marble is more prone to chipping or cracking upon impact.

Marble is more suitable for low traffic areas such as window sills and bathrooms, rather than for kitchen countertops.

Quartz effectively ranks among the hardest minerals.

If you want a truly durable material that is highly resistant to chipping, staining or scratching, then there is no doubt that quartz is far better than marble.

It does not require any sealing or treatments either.

Stain Resistance

As touched upon previously, quartz is far better when it comes to stain resistance than marble.

Marble will easily get stained if juice, oil, coffee or wine is spilled for instance, and hence it is not such a good choice as a kitchen countertop.

Should marble be used for a kitchen countertop, it is a must to protect it with a high-grade sealant to protect it from spills involving acids or chemicals.

Quartz on the other hand is a non-porous material, and consequently it can resist staining very well.

Mark & Scratch Resistance

Just as with stains, marble does not fare as well as quartz.

Due to its soft-core, marble is more prone to scratching, especially if it is rubbed with an acidic medium.

Quartz is much more resistant to marks and scratches.

That is why quartz should be your choice if it is going to be installed in a kitchen or in a high traffic area.

Maintenance & Care

Quartz is undeniably a better choice if you do not want to worry about care and maintenance.

This is due to the fact that there is no need to seal quartz and it is super easy to clean.

Simply wipe with a soft cloth dabbed in mild soapy water, and that’s it!

No need for specialised cleaners or complicated regular maintenance.

Conversely, marble countertops would require sealing in order to prevent staining.

Re-sealing on a regular basis is also highly recommended.

It is also important to invest in specialised marble cleaning products to maintain marble in good condition over time.

Heat Resistance

Quartz is durable, but you need to be careful when it comes to high heat.

Excessive heat could end up scorching the surface of a quartz countertop as it would melt the resin within.

Permanent burn marks could result on the surface, and so you would need to exercise caution and not place hot pots or pans directly onto a quartz worktop.

Longevity

There is no denying that both marble and quartz do well in terms of their longevity as long as they are well taken care of.

They are both strong and durable.

However, in the case of quartz caution needs to be exercised to avoid exposing it to excessive heat as it is not that heat resistant.

On the other hand, in the case of marble it is important to re-seal it to avoid staining, and make sure that it is not scratched.

With quartz you will typically also get a warranty, often ranging from 10 to 20 years.

Some brands even offer a lifetime warranty.

Water Resistance

Since marble is quite porous it will need to be sealed, and re-sealed on a regular basis.

Otherwise it will not fare well in terms of water resistance over the longer term.

On the other hand, quartz is a non-porous material.

Hence its water resistance is one of its biggest advantages.

There is thus no need to seal quartz countertops.

This is also advantageous since it will not harbour any bacteria and there is no need to worry about stains either.

Design

Quartz and marble are undeniably beautiful options.

They are stylish and elegant, and will add value wherever they are installed.

One of the most striking aspects of marble is that as it is a natural material the designs are unique and unmatched.

This may be appealing to some, while for others it could feel as a problem.

In the case of the latter type of customers, quartz may be a better option because the consistency in quartz slabs’ colours and patterns can make things easier.

Over the years, many advancements were made in the manufacturing of quartz in order to come up with original designs that can cater for customers’ diverse preferences.

As a result, new designs are introduced regularly.

Installation

The installation process of quartz or marble is a job that will need to be left in the hands of professionals.

Since the slabs are very heavy it is not a simple task to install them.

Moreover, cutting will need to be carried out precisely, and thus specialised tools will be required.

It is of utmost importance to ensure that the installation is carried out carefully as any incorrect measurements, cuts or fixings will lead to a waste of money as both marble and quartz are rather costly.

Cost

Considering the style and value offered by marble and quartz, it goes without saying that the cost involved is quite high.

Engineered stone such as quartz does not come cheap.

To give you an idea, you can expect to pay between £50 to £100 pounds per square foot, depending on material and finish.

Marble is also costly but it is often slightly cheaper than quartz.

In fact you can look at a price tag between £30 to £75 pounds per square foot.

Having said that you would need to factor in the ongoing costs.

As noted earlier, marble requires much more maintenance than quartz.

It needs to be re-sealed and re-polished on a regular basis.

This is ideally done by professionals and so the costs are not that low, and if the area is large, it will be even higher.

Therefore you may wish to take into account these costs as well, rather than only the costs of purchasing and installing.

Conclusion

There are various considerations that one would need to take into account when deciding whether to invest in a quartz or a marble countertop.

Both of them have several advantages, and there is no denying that they are both great options which will add value and beauty to your home.

The differences we highlighted above will allow you to have a clearer idea about what to look out for in terms of resistance, maintenance needs and appearance considerations.

Ultimately they are all great materials which are unique and beautiful in their own way.

Both quartz and granite are top options when it comes to kitchen worktops.

Many people in fact are unsure whether to choose one or the other.

First off, the differences between them are somewhat minimal.

Additionally, most people will not be that knowledgeable about why one might be better than the other in certain aspects.

In this guide we shall discuss both of these materials in more detail so as to allow you to make a better-informed decision.

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Table of Contents

1. Key Differences Between Quartz & Granite
2. Origin
3. Appearance
4. Imperfections
5. Durability
6. Stain Resistance
7. Mark & Scratch Resistance
8. Maintenance & Care
9. Heat Resistance
10. Strength
11. Longevity
12. Water Resistance
13. Design
14. Installation
15. Cost
16. Conclusion

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Key Differences Between Quartz & Granite

The primary difference between quartz and granite is that quartz is manmade whilst granite is a naturally occurring organic material.

Hence every piece of granite is unique and distinct from any other.

On the other hand, quartz is more artificial in its formation since it is formed from a mixture of naturally occurring quartz, polyester resin, and pigments.

Another difference is that quartz is slightly harder than granite.

Quartz has a rating of 7 on the Mohs hardness scale whereas granite has a rating of 6.

Quartz is available in practically any colour you desire and is also customisable since it is a manmade material.

Granite is also available in several colours and patterns but you cannot customise it as it is a natural material.

Origin

Granite is mined and it is a 100% natural pure stone.

It is quarried from the earth in large boulders and then gets divided into individual slabs and polished.

Granite occurs in a natural way; formed by the cooling of deep volcanic magma.

Hence each slab will be unique and distinct.

Quartz may look natural but in reality, it is not.

Quartz is crushed and then mixed with polymer resins which act as a binding agent along with colour pigments.

Following this mixture, quartz is extremely hard and strong.

The formulation is typically 93% quartz and 7% resin.

While there are countless patterns and colours to choose from unlike granite these are completely artificial not natural.

Appearance

Needless to say, both granite and quartz are very aesthetically pleasing.

They make the kitchen look more elegant and sophisticated.

They come in various colours and tones but as mentioned earlier granite has a natural pattern and colour whereas the pattern of quartz is manmade and customisable.

Granite is a natural beauty with various tones ranging from earthly ones to greener ones.

They blend beautifully with kitchen interiors.

Having said that, imperfections might be present in granite slabs since they are not manufactured artificially.

If you are looking for uniqueness then any imperfections will probably be insignificant for you.

On the other hand, quartz is a manufactured material and consequently, the designs are man-made albeit still appealing.

You will find more colours to choose from and quartz is generally a bit more glossy than granite.

It is important to bear in mind that quartz worktops should not be exposed to direct sunlight as they may start to discolour after prolonged exposure.

Imperfections

As previously mentioned since granite is a natural material it is bound to have certain imperfections.

However, such imperfections are welcomed as they offer a certain uniqueness to granite worktops.

Quartz on the other hand is more consistent and uniform.

Hence if you do not wish to have any kind of imperfections you should opt for quartz.

Durability

Both granite and quartz are very strong and extremely durable materials.

Granite is a very hard substance and scratches are not a problem.

It is also worth noting that granite will never depreciate in value and hence if you invest in such a worktop you can expect it to boost the value of the property.

Quartz is also extremely durable and one can say that it has the same thickness as granite.

It will not crack or chip.

However one may wish to note that despite this quartz worktops do not come with a lifetime guarantee.

If we were to say whether one of them is more durable than the other then quartz would be the answer as it is less prone to chipping than granite.

Stain Resistance

Granite is a porous stone.

However, stains are absolutely not a problem when it comes to granite worktops because granite will not absorb liquids as it will have been sealed.

Quartz is non-porous and hence it is virtually stain proof.

There are no capillary channels between the minerals.

Hence there is no risk that any spills will stain it.

Quartz is relatively better when it comes to stain resistance as granite will need sealing in order to be stain resistant as otherwise it would absorb any spills and stain.

Mark & Scratch Resistance

Both granite and quartz are very strong and durable.

You do not need to worry about marks and scratches ruining your countertops as both quartz and granite are highly scratch-resistant materials.

If you were to compare them to each other granite is more scratch and mark resistant than quartz.

Obviously, one will need to exercise caution as much as possible when cleaning and placing any utensils directly onto the worktops.

But chipping, scratching, and similar damages are not common with either granite or quartz.

Maintenance & Care