Quartz, granite or quartzite: how to choose your kitchen countertop

← All articles

You're renovating your kitchen and you want a stone countertop. Great: but which stone? Quartz, granite and quartzite are the three we install most often. They're all beautiful and durable, but they don't have the same personality. Here's how to tell them apart and choose the one that suits you, based on your style, the way you cook and the time you want to spend on care.

Granite: the classic natural stone

Granite is a rock cut from the quarry. Every slab has its own grain, flecks and highlights, and no two are identical. It's the stone for people who love what's real and one of a kind.

• Look: grainy or speckled patterns, sometimes veined, in a wide range of colours.
• Heat: very good resistance. A hot pot doesn't scare it, though a trivet is still a good habit.
• Stains: the stone has some porosity. A sealer applied from time to time protects it.
• Care: mild soap day to day, and resealing depending on the slab.

Learn more: our granite countertops.

Quartz: worry-free consistency

Quartz countertops are engineered stone: crushed quartz bound with resin and pigment. Because it's manufactured, its pattern is even and predictable.

• Look: solid, speckled or marble-style veined tones, very consistent from slab to slab.
• Heat: its weak spot. The resin handles direct heat less well: a trivet is a must.
• Stains: non-porous surface, so very stain resistant.
• Care: minimal. No sealer, just a soft cloth and mild soap.

Learn more: our quartz countertops.

Quartzite: the look of marble, with extra hardness

Quartzite is often confused with quartz, but it's a natural stone: sandstone transformed by heat and pressure. It often has soft veining reminiscent of marble, with far greater hardness.

• Look: flowing veins, light or deeper tones, every slab is unique.
• Heat: good resistance, like granite.
• Stains: depending on the slab, a sealer is recommended.
• Care: similar to granite.

Learn more: our quartzite countertops.

Five questions to make the right choice

Do you want a unique stone or an even pattern?

If you love the idea that your countertop is the only one in the world with that pattern, look at granite or quartzite. If you want to know exactly what your countertop will look like, quartz is more predictable.

Do you cook a lot?

In a kitchen where pots often go from the oven to the counter, natural stone is more forgiving. With quartz, keep a trivet within reach.

How much time do you want to spend on care?

Quartz is the simplest: no sealer. Granite and quartzite need a sealer from time to time; nothing complicated, but plan for it.

What style are you after?

The marble look is very popular. Quartzite offers it in natural stone; quartz imitates it with veined patterns. Granite gives a more classic or textured style.

What's your budget?

Price varies a lot with the colour and rarity of the slab, in all three families. Our article on what drives the cost of a countertop will help you see clearly.

Kitchen, island or bathroom?

You don't have to use the same stone everywhere. Some homeowners choose quartz for the main countertop, where they want easy care, and a more striking granite or quartzite for the island, which becomes the centrepiece of the room. In the bathroom, a vanity sees less heat but plenty of water, soap and cosmetics: all three stones work well there, as long as natural stone is sealed when needed. Think about how each surface is used, then choose the stone that fits that use and the look you want.

The best advice: see the stone

A photo never quite captures the depth of a stone. With natural stone especially, seeing the slab before it's cut lets you choose with confidence and decide where the veins will fall on your countertop. On our home page, the stone explorer already gives you a good feel for the differences.

We'll help you choose

At Comptoirs de granites DB, we measure, fabricate and install quartz, granite and quartzite countertops in the Eastern Townships, Centre-du-Québec, Montérégie and Chaudière-Appalaches. Still unsure? Tell us about your kitchen: we'll advise you and prepare a free quote.