Marble or granite countertops, which one to choose?
The fastest way to dress up a kitchen and give it that wow factor that everyone wants to see is by adding dramatic countertops. Today, many people put marble or granite countertops because they look great and add a lot of bang for the buck. They will also provide a solid return on investment as long as the property is sold.
Marble and granite have clear similarities and very big differences that you should consider when determining which is best for your kitchen.
Keep in mind that marble will be one of the most expensive materials to have as a countertop. The tradeoff for this cost is that marble is also one of the most durable materials for a countertop, so its cost per year will be less than almost anything else you might use. In fact, with proper care, if manufactured and installed correctly, marble could last for over a hundred years and still look as good as the day it was installed.
The color of marble depends on the area from which the stone originated. Each area has a different texture and color, so no two pieces will ever be the same.
Marble is also quite resistant to heat and will not burn or catch fire. However, if hot items are placed directly on the marble, they can damage the surface. It may not damage the core of the marble, but if something hot is placed directly on it without using a hot pad to insulate it, a permanent color change in the marble could occur.
Granite is the hardest known building stone available, making it ideal for a kitchen countertop. It is highly resistant to air and water variables and comes in many more colors than marble. It is also a stone found almost everywhere in the world, so it is easily found in most regions of the world.
Granite has the distinction of allowing you to polish it to a high shine or leave it looking quite rough and still do a great job of being an effective stone for your needs. In addition to being resistant to heat and water, granite countertops are also highly resistant to bacteria, so they do a good job of keeping your kitchen healthy as well.
The biggest drawback to granite is that it is excessively expensive and will not be an inexpensive upgrade to your project. You’ll also need to occasionally seal your granite countertop to ensure it holds up over time.
The patterns between marble and granite are a bit different and you will have to decide what works best for you and then choose the slab you will use because as mentioned, no two will ever be the same.
