Quartz vs Granite Worktops: Which is Best for Your Kitchen?

Granite Worktops

Granite is quarried directly from the earth in large blocks, sliced into slabs and polished. Because it is a natural product, the colours, veining and mineral speckles are entirely dictated by nature. No two granite worktops are ever exactly alike.

Quartz Worktops

Quartz worktops are an engineered product. They are manufactured using around 90% to 93% crushed natural quartz crystals, bound together with polymer resins and colour pigments. This manufacturing process creates a surface that is incredibly strong, consistent and capable of mimicking other luxury stones like Italian marble.

The Granite Look

Granite appeals to homeowners who want a genuinely unique piece of nature in their home. It often features deep, complex speckles, shimmering minerals and earthy tones. However, this unpredictability means the slab installed in your kitchen might look slightly different from the small sample you saw in the showroom.

The Quartz Look

Quartz offers total design control. If you fall in love with a specific sample of Carrara or Calacatta quartz, your final worktop will look exactly like that sample. Furthermore, quartz is available in pure, solid colours like absolute white or matte black, which is physically impossible to find in natural granite.

Stain Resistance and Porosity

Granite is a naturally porous rock. If a spill from red wine, lemon juice or cooking oil is left on the surface, it can seep into the stone and cause a permanent stain. To prevent this, granite worktops must be treated with a chemical sealer at least once a year.

Quartz is entirely non-porous. The resin binds the minerals together so tightly that liquids simply cannot penetrate the surface. Quartz never requires sealing, waxing or special treatments. It is naturally hygienic and highly stain-resistant.

Heat and Scratch Resistance

Both materials are incredibly hard and will resist daily scratching from knives or utensils. However, granite handles extreme heat slightly better than quartz. Placing a boiling pan directly onto a quartz worktop can cause thermal shock to the resin, leaving a scorch mark. We always advise using a trivet or chopping board for hot pans, regardless of which stone you choose.