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Granite vs Quartz Kitchen Worktops – Which is Best?

Understanding the Key Differences Between These Two Popular Materials

When it comes to kitchen decisions, nothing quite divides homeowners than the final choice of kitchen countertop – will it be granite or quartz? Various claims and counter-arguments will fly back and forth about which is best, vehemently stating the other is inferior when in actual fact, both materials have their pros and cons.

So is the choice simply down to look or are there other factors at play? Firstly, let’s understand more about each surface and then take a look at the best and worst aspects of these two popular kitchen worktop surfaces and we’ll let you decide!

What is quartz?

A Typical Quartz Stone Pattern

Quartz is a man-made material, comprising of 95% ground natural quartz bonded together with polymer based resins. It is a very hard wearing surface that is waterproof and resists staining.

What is granite?

Typically Prepared Slabs of Granite. Image credit: Pinterest

Granite is a 100% natural material mined from quarries, cut down to manageable sizes and highly polished to a fine finish. It is a very hard wearing surface but it is not waterproof and does not resist staining without being treated and sealed first.

Quartz – Pros & Cons

  1. Strength – contrary to many beliefs, quartz is just as strong as granite but benefits from more flexibility which makes it easier to fit during the installation process.
  2. Water Resistance – quartz is a non-porous material unlike granite, so it never requires sealing or use of special cleaning fluids. So if a low maintenance surface is your preferred choice, quartz is a more suitable option.
  3. Durability – both quartz and granite are considered fairly durable but they are not indestructible. Quartz should be able to stand up to the rigours of normal everyday kitchen use and tends to be good as stain resistance. So spillages such as wine, sauces and food is fairly easy and quick to clean up but it can chip and break if abused.
  4. Discolouration – quartz can suffer from discolouration over time, mainly caused by excessive exposure to UV rays. So if parts of your counter are exposed to the sun for prolonged periods, you may see a change in colour over time. If this is a concern, a lighter coloured quartz might be a better option.
  5. Weight – quartz tends to weigh more than granite so will be harder to deal with during installation.
  6. Joins – if your counter space is fairly large, chances are your worktop will be formed of more than once piece. If so, the seams may be visible on lighter coloured surfaces. A solid coloured quartz is less likely to show the filler in the seams whilst a granite may show them up more if the natural veins and variations in colour in the slab are quite pronounced.

Granite – Pros & Cons

  1. Appearance – granite is a naturally formed material so the appearance will never be uniform. This is essentially a personal taste so some may prefer the consistent look of quartz whilst other may be drawn to the natural appeal of stone.
  2. Water Resistance – granite is a porous material so it will need to be sealed before use and repeatedly year-on-year to prevent damage from staining and spillages. Regular sealing should prevent any damage but once stained, it is almost impossible to rectify.
  3. Durability – granite is considered to be fairly durable but it is not indestructible. If put under constant pressure and abuse, it can chip and break under extreme circumstances. Under normal use however, it should last a lifetime.
  4. Weight – granite is very heavy so always have a qualified professional install it for you.
  5. Joins – granite is formed of natural patterns and veins so it is quite hard to hide the joins on certain slabs. If this bothers you, a darker granite is best as the sealants used in the joins tends to hide better.
  6. Consistency – you may receive a sample that you like but you will never get a slab of granite that exactly matches it. What you end up getting may be a pleasant or unwanted surprise as the veins and patterns are purely down to what mother nature created!
  7. Heat Resistance – although it is not advised to place extremely hot items such as pots or pans onto any countertop, granite will resist heat a little better than quartz. It’s never a good idea to place hot items directly onto the surfaces but chances are, an accidental placement of a hot frying pan on granite will not cause any damage for a short period whilst quartz will discolour.

At the end of the day, quartz and granite have many things on common. Both offer a very high end, polished look to a kitchen that will make it look a million dollars and both surfaces are hard, durable and should last many years.

Some people love the natural, organic patterns that get formed in granite whilst others prefer the consistent clean lines that quartz offers. It all comes down to aesthetic appeal but to call one surface inferior to the other is generally untrue. Both quartz and granite are excellent choices for a kitchen worktop, so whichever route you take, you should be very pleased with the final result.

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Inspiring Ideas for Single Walled Kitchens

How to make a narrow kitchen feel spacious and modern

If your kitchen is particularly narrow, it may feel constricted and lacking in space, especially if units run along both walls, creating a cramped galley effect.

Having a kitchen run along one wall instead, using every inch of space can be a great way to transform a kitchen and give it a more breathable feel and far more flexibility. If your home is a typical Victoria terrace or older home that features a long narrow kitchen space, here’s some inspiring ideas to make a signel-walled kitchen feel much bigger and more useable.

A Bench Can Double Up as a Dining & Preparation Space. Image credit: Blue Fruit Design

Add a Dining Table

Many older homes do not have a usable dining area yet by removing units along one wall in the kitchen, you can easily create the opportunity to add a spacious dining area making the heart of the home a more practical space.

With some ingenuity, the loss of units on one wall can be compensated by using floor to ceiling units on the single wall or by adding taller wall cabinets, giving you ample storage space.

If a table is simply too large or removes that all important preparation space, try installing a counter-height bench that can double up as a dining and food preparation area.

Never underestimate the importance of having somewhere to dine at home. Eating in front of the TV on your lap is never a great idea over the long term when a family dining table can bring everyone together and make the kitchen a place to cook, eat and socialise.

Using Full Height Units Can Make a Single Wall Kitchen Workable. Image credit: Spacekit

Use Every Inch of Wall Space

Run the units along the single wall and then add corner units at each end where possible. This “wrap-around” effect will make the single wall feel cohesive but also ensure there’s no wall space wasted. Do not be concerned about this feeling too enclosed as the opposite wall will create the airiness your room needs to allow for walkways, tables and chairs.

Adding Compact herb Planters Soften The Look & Add Colour. Image credit: Kitchen Interiors

Add Eye-Catching Features

If you’re concerned that a single walled kitchen may look a little lifeless then add some splashes of colour. A simple shelf with herbs and plants will soften the look with some natural greens and shrubbery. If a bold pop of colour is your thing, a unique backsplash or feature tiles can give your kitchen areas of added quirkiness and character.

A Kitchen Island on Casters Adds Flexibility & Additional Prep Areas. Image credit: Hayneedle

Mobile Kitchen Island

If the lack of utility space or worktop is a concern, why not include a small kitchen island on casters? These great little mobile islands are perfect for serving up food, preparing ingredients or as a simple utility area that can be easily pushed out of the way when not in use.

Deeper Counter Tops Free Up Space for Preparation Areas. Image credit: Fine House Studio

Deeper Counters

If a single walled kitchen feels like it lacks enough counter space, you can always install your kitchen units with a slight extra gap of an inch or two away from the walls to allow for a deeper counter top to be installed.

It may cost a few extra pennies more but the added depth won’t encroach too much into the room at all and will make a big difference to store jars, containers and utensils on the counter and still leave plenty of worktop space to prepare food and cook.

Using Handleless Kitchen Doors Looks Sleek & Modern. Image credit: True Handless Kitchens

Lose the Handles

If you’re concerned about handles getting caught or snagged as you walk past them in a narrow kitchen then opt for kitchen cupboard doors that have integrated handles instead. That way, your kitchen will look sleeker and slimmer and there’s no issues of you brushing past traditional handles that stick out and getting bruised hips or thighs.

An Integrated Refrigerator Will Make Your Kitchen Stay Spacious. Image credit: Samsung

Don’t Forget the Fridge

An integrated refrigerator set into dedicated wall cabinets is ideal as this will not only hide the fridge, it will make the whole kitchen feel cohesive and flow along a single wall.

If however there’s simply no room for the fridge on the same wall as all the kitchen units, don’t worry. Find a suitable corner on the opposite wall where it can be placed neatly and it will still feel perfectly spacious in your kitchen. As long as it doesn’t block the central walkways, you’re kitchen should still feel more roomy than before.

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8 Ways to Maximise Space in a Small Kitchen

How To Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger

The majority of homeowners in the UK know that space is at a premium in the kitchen. Whether an older Victorian terrace or a modern city apartment, square footage is squeezed to the max and invariably, the kitchen is the one area to suffer from a lack of space. However, with some clever use of hacks and space saving ideas, storage and worktop areas can be made to feel a great deal bigger.

Try just of few of these ingenious ideas and you’ll make your small kitchen feel instantly bigger and more practical:

Use Every Inch of Your Cabinets

Inside the backs of your cabinets doors is potential to hang many small items such as measuring cups, utensils or even pan lids. With some simple hooks and rails, items that usually cause clutter can suddenly become organised and easy to reach.

Backs of Kitchen Cupboard Doors are Ideal of Hanging Measuring Cups. Image credit: Infarrantly Creative

You could even convert decorative fixed drawer fronts into pulldown storage spaces, simply by adding hinges and pop latches.

Drawer Front Pull-Downs Offer Ingenious Storage for Sponges & Washing Up Brushes on Sink Units. Image credit: Nichole Heady

Use Every Inch of Wall Space

Every kitchen will have a section of wall that is either unused or seemingly dead space yet offers a quick and easy way to declutter other parts of the kitchen.

Racks and wall shelves are a simple, cost-effective way of adding more storage for awkward items that demand a lot of room. By placing pots, pans, cups, saucers and other items on the wall, they become easy to access and free up cupboards for food storage and other items that you wouldn’t normally have out on display.

Kitchen Wall Racks Makes Dead Space Useable. Image credit: Small House Interiors

Even simple hooks to hang your best stainless steel pots and frying pans is a great way to showcase your prized cooking items. Or shelves around windows spaces and ledges can make for a decorative look and free up room for other things in the cupboards.

Kitchen Window Shelves Look Beautiful When Tastefully Done. Image credit: Lushome

Magnets Work Wonders

Magnetic strips on walls, the sides of cabinets and even the fridge open up a load of space saving options. Instead of having a bulky knife rack taking up vital room on the counter, your knives could easily be stuck to a neat set of magnets, making for a cool looking display as well as being easy to reach for the chef in the house.

A Simple Stylish Magnetic Knife Rack. Image credit: IKEA

You could even create your own magnetic racks or spice jars by placing adhesive magnetic strips to the bottom of the plastic containers and then stick them to the side of the fridge for each access.

Just remember, if it’s metal, it can be stuck practically anywhere you like in the kitchen!

Hang Items from the Ceiling

Don’t forget to look up once in a while. A ceiling mounted rack or above head height shelf is very inexpensive and is a great way to store pots, pans and jars out of the way and be right there, easy to reach when you need them.

Hanging Pots & Pans Looks Great & Saves Space. Image credit: Home Depot

Use Every Inch of Every Corner

Corner units offer by far the biggest and most spacious storage areas in the kitchen, so make the most of them. For items than you want hidden away, there’s a number of great ways to make your corners functional. Lazy Susan carousel corners as well as pull-out shelves offer practical, space saving solutions.

Corner Unit Pull-Outs Look Great & Offer Practical Space Saving Solutions. Image credit: Creative Engine Room

Fold Away Your Dining Furniture

If you need a place to eat in the kitchen yet have little floorspace to do so, try installing a simple folding table and chairs. That way, they are only using the floorspace when you are seated for your meal and can be easily folded away when not in use.

A Fold Down Kitchen Table Can Save a Ton of Room. Image credit: (https://kitchen.ludovictory.com/fold-down-kitchen-table/fold-down-kitchen-table-queen/) The Kitchen Remodel

Opt for Smaller Appliances

Every kitchen needs appliances but all come in different shapes and sizes. Decide which appliances could be downsized to a slightly smaller model such as the refrigerator or oven and you could help create a few extra essential inches where they’re needed most.

Opt for Smaller Appliances Where Practical. Image credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Create a Moving Cart Island

A kitchen island on wheels is the best of both worlds as it serves as a extra storage and preparation area, yet can be rolled out of the way when not required. With a little extra overhanging worktop, it could even serve as a small dining or coffee table in the kitchen and be an invaluable multifunctional piece of furniture.

Portable Kitchens Island Offer Additional Storage That’s Moveable. Image credit: Blue Roof Cabin

 

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New Kitchen vs Kitchen Transformation – Which is Best?

Weigh Up the Pro & Cons of Both Kitchen Options

Everyone reaches a point when they realise their kitchen no longer works for them. In most cases, it’s outdated, tired looking or has simply become damaged through wear and tear over the years. The end conclusion tends to be – a new kitchen is needed.

The key consideration however is which route to take – a brand new fully fitted kitchen or a kitchen makeover? Here’s a few key points to consider before making that all important decision:

Existing Space

Unless you are building an extension or plan to take down some walls, the available square footage of your kitchen won’t change.

With a brand new kitchen you have the opportunity to strip out all of the old cabinets and look at the space with a fresh pair of eyes whilst with a kitchen makeover, the cabinets will most likely stay as is and be upgraded with better, newer doors, drawers, worktops, hardware and mechanisms.

At the end of the day, you need to decide if the existing kitchen layout still works and just needs some simple tweaks and improvements to make it look and work better. If not, you may have to consider a completely new design that adds space and improved usability to the kitchen as well as a brand new look.

Upgrades

Most modern kitchens now come with a whole range of cool features and space saving ideas. Whether its pull out larders, pull down wall cabinets, easy access corner units or built in appliances.

A completely new kitchen gives you endless options if making wholesale changes is your preferred route however, if you just need a few improvements to certain parts of the kitchen, you can always insert one or two new cabinets into the existing layout and leave the rest of the units in place.

Some features such as soft closing drawers and doors are readily available in kitchen makeovers so small improvements like this do not require a completely new kitchen fitted.

Cost

One of the most obvious comparisons between a brand new fully fitted kitchen and a kitchen makeover is the cost. Modern brand new kitchens are not cheap and you can easily expect to pay several thousand pounds alone just for the cabinets – that’s before you add worktops, hardware and fitting!

A kitchen makeover will cost the fraction of a new kitchen and give a look that is just as eye-catching and transform the entire space. New doors, drawers, hardware and worktop overlays will make any tired old kitchen look a million dollars without the high price tag.

Stress & Hassle

Ask anyone who’s had a brand new fully fitted kitchen installed and they’ll tell you it’s very stressful. Having a team of contractors dismantle the old kitchen involves noise, mess and disruption, not to mention having nowhere to cook or prepare food. You could easily go several days without a kitchen, possibly longer if there’s specialist electrical or plumbing work involved, plus the time it will take a company to template and supply a new worktop. Days can easily turn into weeks.

A kitchen transformation on the other hand can take a matter of days and in most cases, you won’t even need to empty to cupboards, meaning you can still have a fairly useable kitchen whilst the work is going on. There’s less mess, less stress and far less hassle that way.

Time & Speed

If you want your new kitchen quickly, a kitchen makeover has to be the route to take.

A brand new fully fitted kitchen involves going to showrooms to choose a new style, having a designer take measurements and then sit with you for several hours to decide the new layout and specification. Just this process alone can take days to complete. Then once you’ve finally settled on your new kitchen, you may have to wait several weeks for it to be made and delivered and hope that there’s a suitable date available to have it installed.

A kitchen makeover tends to happen far quicker. Only the doors order may take a little while as they are made-to-measure but once the materials are manufactured and ready, the process will be much quicker.

Mess

Having a new kitchen installed is messy. No matter how hard you try to prevent the build up of dirt and dust, contractors always find a way to make and leave a mess behind. And eventually that dirt and dust finds its way through the rest of the house!

A kitchen makeover is a far less destructive process so the likelihood of creating a mess is reduced for obvious reasons.

Conclusions

So ultimately the choice is yours. There’s obvious pros and cons for both routes and you need to decide what your priorities are before pressing ahead.

If budgets are tight, time is short and your needs are more cosmetic, a kitchen transformation is undoubtedly the best route to take.

If money is no object, you have the time, patience and willingness to create your dream kitchen then of course, go shopping and get the best possible brand new kitchen you can find.