Granite and quartz are both popular materials for kitchen worktops and bathroom countertops. Their popularity is so because they are both beautiful and functional, offering a timeless appearance and unbeatable durability to boot.
In 2018, we have already seen the popularity of quartz soar on 2017, as homeowners look to create premium kitchens and bathrooms on a budget. Granite worktops, however, remain the product of choice for high-end installations.
Some of the trends we have seen this year include:
A shift towards neutral colours
- Sparkling colours have made a comeback
- Increased demand for matching splashbacks
- Increased demand for intricate edge profiles, such as ‘Waterfall’
- Increased demand for slimline worktops, down to just 1 ¼”
- Customers increasingly looking for a guarantee on their quartz (for example, Caesarstone offer an extensive 15-year guarantee).
Quartz
Quartz is the more popular material of the two overall. That’s because it has a lower entry price than granite and offers lower maintenance. Quartz worktops are an engineered product manufactured by a wide range of brands, such as Silestone. Quartz is manufactured by bonding quartz, minerals and resin together. Due to this process, quartz worktops can have patterns not found in nature.
Quartz worktops are beautiful. Most of the stone worktops you’ll see in showrooms are quartz. It is popular because it offers a similar appearance to granite for less. New build properties are prime candidates for quartz worktops as developers look to save on costs.
Granite
Granite is less in demand than quartz as a material for kitchen worktops and bathroom countertops, but it is more revered because it is a 100 per cent natural stone. It is quarried all over the world and is available in a wide range of colours to suit any application. We pick all the best slabs and expertly work them into beautiful worktops. We have partnered with International Stones to offer over 200 colours.
Because it is a natural product, granite commands a higher price than quartz. Usually, around 10 to 20 per cent more. We have found that granite is a more popular material than quartz in high-end installations, where price is not an issue.
