Granite vs Marble Countertops
by Premium Kitchens Premium KitchensMarble and
granite countertops are more similar in nature as compared to other materials.
They are both beautiful and both serve the kitchen's outlook well visually.
However, they also both require a significant amount of attention when it comes
to taking care of them.
Before we get into details of
comparing both the countertops, it is important to understand them.
Marble and granite are both
naturally occurring stone materials. They are also both porous stones. Marble
is a metamorphic rock formed due to intense pressure on limestone. On the other
hand, granite is an igneous rock made up of a mixture of compressed quartz,
feldspar, mica, and similar materials. Due to this specific quality of granite
stones, they are harder in nature as compared to marble.
Granite and marble countertops can
be compared in a number of ways:
Appearance
They are both visually pleasing.
Since granite is made up of grains of a number of materials, the granite slabs
contain a number of pigments. The patterns on the granite are formed more
closely together and it usually comes in darker hues, such as brown, blue,
black, red, etc.
Marble, on the other hand, contains
larger patterns. The patterns are usually such that it looks like there are
colored veins running throughout the marble slab. Other than the veins
contributing somewhat of color contrast to the slab, marble slabs are usually
uniform in color.
However, both these countertops look
great in the kitchen.
Hardness and durability
So, we discussed earlier, granite is
a harder stone than marble. Therefore it is more resistant to scratches than
marble is. This may be the only difference between marble and granite. On the
other hand, both the countertops are heat resistant and durable. However, it is
only if they are properly sealed and used cautiously. Since they are porous
rocks, the liquids will find a way to seep in and stain the counters.
However, both marble and granite
vary a lot when it comes to durability and hardness. Durability is mostly
determined by how the stone is made. Marbles made up of calcite are very soft,
therefore less durable. On the other hand, marbles made up of other materials
such as serpentine, are highly durable. Similarly, most dark colored granite is
hard and durable. But not all granite stones are the same. Granite that is
lighter in color is not igneous rocks but metamorphic rocks. This makes it easy
to stain.
Countertop Maintenance
Both the marble and granite
countertops require a moderate amount of maintenance. It is very important to
seal them both to prevent staining. This is probably the only area requiring
high maintenance in both marble and granite.
Marble and granite prices and
resale values
The prices of both the countertops
differ slightly. The granite countertops are comparatively cheaper than the
marble countertops.
On their own, both marble and
granite might not affect the resale values that much. Both of these materials
help make the kitchen look more beautiful and visually appealing. Therefore
they also help in selling the property more quickly due to its beautification
capabilities.
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Created on Jul 1st 2019 06:51. Viewed 626 times.