Consider the pros and cons of each type and follow the links to learn more about each type when making your own decision.

GRANITE:

For some time, granite has been the countertop material of choice when there are no other things to think about—such as money. Granite defines elegance in a kitchen. Even modest kitchens seem like luxury spaces when flavored by the beauty of granite countertops. Historically, granite has been an expensive material, but its cost has come down somewhat as supplies have increased and engineered stone has become more common.

Pros:

o Almost impervious to heat

o Nearly 3,000 different colors and types available

o Very strong and durable

o Adds real estate value to home

o Nearly maintenance-free when treated with newer sealers

Cons:

o Can crack if it is improperly installed

o Not suitable for DIY installation

o Slabs may have imperfections

o Stone is porous and requires sealing to avoid stains

Discover Granite & Marble invites all our customers to come right into our showroom and warehouse in Manassas and Charlottesville VA to select the perfect granite slab. You can see up close the dozens of granite colors available among the hundreds we have in stock.

QUARTZ:

The countertop material known as "quartz" is actually an engineered stone product that contains as much as 93 percent quartz particles and other minerals, shaped into slabs and bound with resins. These are not solid quartz slabs produced by quarrying.

Sold by companies such as DuPont Zodiaq®, LG Viatera®, Cambria, and Silestone®, quartz was created as a more adaptable and better-performing alternative to granite and marble. It is available in a larger range of colors than granite and has a nonporous surface that resists both scratching and staining. Some types are convincing copies of natural marble, with similar veining. Unlike natural stone, engineered quartz requires no annual sealing.

Similar technology is now being used in so-called glass countertops, which consist of particles of recycled glass blended with resins and shaped into countertop slabs. Consumers keen on being on the cutting edge may want to consider glass as well as quartz countertops.

Pros:

o Can be custom-fabricated in any size and shape

o More convincing, natural appearance than solid surface material

o Easy to maintain, no sealing required

o Resists stains and is impervious to heat and acid

o Slabs are uniform, with no imperfections

o DIY installation possible, though countertops are very heavy

Cons:

o Expensive

Discover Granite & Marble invites all our customers to come right into our showroom and warehouse in Manassas and Charlottesville VA to select the perfect quartz slab. You can see up close the dozens of quartz colors available among the hundreds we have in stock.

Discover Granite is the one stop destination providing quality material and a many of options regarding color and patterns of granite and quartz countertops. Its excellent services have made it the best granite and quartz countertops fabricator in Virginia over 40 years