There has long been a debate among builders, homeowners, and designers about white granite vs white quartz countertops. People want to know if there are specific material characteristics that put white granite countertops over white quartz countertops or vice versa or, is it purely aesthetics?
We have broken down the differences between white granite countertops and white quartz countertops into a few simple categories. But before we tackle those lets talk about the basics.
White granite countertops are 100 percent natural! White granite countertops are mined directly from quarries and shipped to distributors so there is no manufacturing.
White quartz countertops do go through a manufacturing process and are made up of 95% quartz and 5% polymer resin.
White Granite vs White Quartz Countertops: Appearance
Granite: White granite countertops are available in a wide range of shades and patterns. The appearance of white granite countertops can very subtle with minimal patterns and color highlights or much more dramatic with unique mineral inclusions.
Quartz: Unlike white granite countertops it is often easier to find the color scheme that you are looking for in quartz because it is manufactured.
Price
Granite: White granite countertops can be a bit more pricey than quartz. On average, you can expect to pay between $3000 and $6000 for an average size slab and installation. That being said, here at Granite Liquidators we offer wholesale pricing (stones direct from the quarry) to the public, paired with discounted install rates with our preferred fabricator program. Our slab + install price will run closer to $2,000-$4,000! There is really no prep work that you can do yourself to reduce installation charges because white granite countertops require a skilled fabricator to do that.
Quartz: Since there is a spectrum for the quality of quartz there is some price variation. A white quartz countertop will likely cost anywhere from $1000 to $5000 from start to finish. With proper knowledge there is also room do some of the preliminary work when it comes to quartz.
Environmentally Friendly
Granite: Because granite is naturally occurring it is quarried around the world and shipped across seas. This takes the use of a lot of energy and transportation.
Quartz: Quartz on the other hand can be manufactured and purchased locally contrary to white granite countertops. This reduces man power and transportation costs.
Maintenance of White Granite vs White Quartz Countertops
When it comes to basic maintenance there are really no major differences between white granite countertops and white quartz countertops. Both white granite countertops and white quartz countertops only require a daily wipe down with soap and water at a minimum to keep them clean.
White granite countertops and white quartz countertops also only require an initial seal to be applied and depending on use only periodic ones after that.
Durability
Granite: White granite countertops are some of the durable countertops you will find. White granite countertops are resistant to heat and other kitchen exposures. White granite countertops are porous, so you need to quickly wipe up spills.
Quartz: White quartz countertops are actually even harder than white granite countertops. If fact, white quartz countertops are not porous, so they are completely stain resistant making them almost indestructible.
Because the differences are very minor it can be confusing on whether a white granite countertop or a white quartz countertop is better. Since this doubles your options making a choice may take longer but will ensure that you are making a sound investment when choosing between a white granite vs white quartz countertop.