Granite vs. Marble Countertops

COMPARING MARBLE AND GRANITE HEAD TO HEAD IN IMPORTANT CATEGORIES WILL ASSIST YOU IN DECIDING WHICH STONE TO USE IN YOUR BUILDING OR RENOVATION PROJECT.

Appearance: These are both beautiful options for countertops. Granite shows the grains we mentioned. They appear as specks that are varied in color, so a granite slab might contain a variety of hues – blue, green, orange, pink, red, etc., typically in medium to dark shades. The “pattern” is larger in marble. The color tends to be fairly consistent with veins running through it that concentrate the color. A gray-blue slab of marble might have darker blue veins; a gray-pink slab might contain veins that are quite rosy-red in color. Granite Countertop Gold Vein

EXOTIC GOLD VEIGNED GRANITE COUNTERTOP

Beauty is subjective, of course. Get your eyes on a large number of both marble and granite slabs to make the determination of which material you find to be more attractive. Hardness and Durability: Granite is harder than marble, so it is more resistant to chips and scratches. Both materials are heat resistant, though caution should be used with hot pots and pans in the kitchen or hot hair tools in the bathroom. Both marble and granite countertops are quite durable, but ONLY if they are properly sealed every one or two years. Granite and marble are porous, so without a seal, liquids will penetrate and stain. When the seal fades and is not replaced, these stones can be easily marred by oil, wine, juice and anything acidic. Marble is especially vulnerable to acidic foods and liquids, so be very careful to keep them off the marble or to clean up immediately after contact.

Countertop Maintenance: Most experts agree that granite requires moderate maintenance when compared with solid surface, quartz, laminate, glass or ceramic tile.

Marble is moderate to high maintenance. The care involved is keeping it sealed, avoiding acidic materials and wiping up spills quickly.