What is the difference between countertops

Granite can be cold to the touch but will also make it ideal to prepare baking goods on. Both Granite and Marble are made of genuine natural stone which means each slab is unique and beautiful. Granite and marble comes in a large variety of colors and the options and patterns are endless. Marble is more porous and should have a quality sealer to reduce staining.

Because the minerals that compose marble are sensitive to certain chemical agents, it is important to wipe spills away quickly.

Anything acidic will leave an etch mark if left on the stone for too long. Marble needs to be cared for in the same manner a fine piece of wood is cared for. Corian is man-made and created by combining minerals and acrylics. Corian offers more accessories such as integrated sinks and coved backsplashes. Both come in a wide variety of colors.

Corian is easier to get in specific colors than granite. Small nicks and scratches can be polished out, but marble chips easily and needs to be resealed periodically.

On sealed marble most stains wiped away with water. Hot pots, serrated knives, abrasive pads, and most stains were no match for quartz. Large shards create a bold look; finely ground glass looks subtle. Resistant to heat, cuts, and scratches, but chips and stains can be a problem.

Find everything you need to know for your remodeling project plus the best materials and appliances for a new kitchen in our Kitchen Remodeling Guide.

This article also appeared in the August issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Get Ratings on the go and compare while you shop. Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Durability: There are a few factors to consider when discussing the durability of a kitchen countertop: heat resistance, scratch resistance, and chemical resistance.

How a surface is impacted by these factors will determine how it will perform in your kitchen. Consider how your kitchen will be used. Will you be cooking regularly? Do you envision your kitchen as a gathering place or are you looking for a work surface? Again, testing it's hardness by cutting it with a knife is another way to determine whether you are looking at granite or marble. However, telling the difference between granite and quartz takes a bit more of a keen eye since neither will scratch.

While quartz occurs naturally, a quartz countertop is human-made. To make a quartz countertop, manufacturers must use a mix of ground quartz stone about 90 percent and resins and polymers about 10 percent. These are more accurately called engineered stone. Quartz countertops come in a seemingly endless variety of colors and patterns. To tell if you are looking at real stone or a manufactured countertop, look carefully at the pattern on the counter.

Every slab of granite or marble is unique; if it is natural stone, no two areas of the stone will look exactly alike. Because quartz slabs are manufactured, they tend to have a fairly uniform color and consistency throughout with little variation in the patterns and textures.

However, as new methods of engineering quartz slabs emerge, the possibilities of what can be done with the material are expanding all the time, making it difficult to pin down.

All three of these countertop materials have their pros and cons, and all three will add value to your home. In the end, it is a matter of personal preference. Which countertop material is the most popular with homeowners today, particularly in the kitchen? Read Granite vs.