Natural (Granite) Stone vs. Engineered (Quartz) Stone
November 19, 2008
Where do they come from?
Unlike Engineered Stone, Natural Stone (Granite) actually comes from the earth. It is mined and cut into slabs and normally all the slabstaken from a certain area look very similar. On the other hand, Engineered Stoneis man-made and contains approximately 91%-97% Quartz. In order to reach the large range of colors that Engineered Stone comes in, there are binders, resins, and other ingredients that are added.
Producers
There are many producers of Engineered Stone including Cambria, Silestone, Hanstone, Caesarstone, Zodiaq, and many others.
Price
When it comes to price, both Natural and Engineered Stone are normally pretty similar. The colors of Natural Stone can cause the price to be higher than Engineered Stone, otherwise there is not a significant difference in price.
Durability
Although Natural Stone is strong and, if maintained well, normally lasts several years, it is not as durable as Engineered Stone. Natural Stone can potentially crack in certain areas while Engineered Stone is much stronger and cracking is unlikely to happen.
Natural Stone is porous and has to be maintained and sealed, while Engineered Stone does not. The trouble with a porous countertop is sometimes bacteria and viruses can penetrate into your countertop if not sealed correctly and not maintained well. However, with a nonporous countertop, you do not have this problem.
Natural Stone can sometimes be repaired, unlike Engineered Stone, if it is chipped or scratched by filling in the blemish or by surface polishing the granite. Normally the repair is not noticeable.
Drawbacks of Engineered Stone
If Engineered Stone were to be scratched or cracked, it is very difficult to repair and it is likely the countertop would have to be replaced. Also, it lacks the natural and unique colors and patterns of the Natural Stone. Additionally, if you decide to cut on Engineered Stone, it will dull your knives, so it is recommended that you use cutting boards.
Drawbacks of Natural Stone
Natural Stone countertops must be maintained in order to keep their beauty and value. They need to be periodically sealed to prevent bacteria or viruses from seeping into the countertop. Natural Stone could possibly crack from thermoshock if a hot item is placed on a natural fissure in the granite. Additionally, it is difficult to add on to the countertop over time because the Natural Stone’s color changes slightly darker or lighter. Therefore, finding a match could be very difficult.
Conclusion
Both Engineered Stone and Natural Stone are beautiful and will add value to your home. It just depends on what is important to you and your home. We recommend that you come up with a list of questions to ask yourself to make the right decision between Natural and Engineered Stone. For example: How much use will my countertops get? Do you want to maintain your countertops every year? Will I want to add on or make any changes to my kitchen in the future?
Also, please Request a Quote from us and one of our countertop specialists will be happy to walk you through all the differences between natural and engineered stone.
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