Have you ever noticed how knowledgeable the Home Ownership Counselors at our Home Planning Centers are? It’s true! And for good reason. Together, our Home Ownerships Counselors help hundreds of people design their dream home each year. In fact, they are so passionate about building dream homes that many of them are Adair Homes customers as well! That means that our team members know exactly how you feel when you design and build your custom home for the very first time.
But there’s another reason that our Home Ownership Counselors are so knowledgable. That’s because as a custom home builder Adair Homes is committed to continuous improvement and training. Construction and design trends are constantly changing, and we believe that investing in training for our team members is the best way to deliver the best experience and most trustworthy advice for our customers.
Recently Chad Bulger from Wall to Wall Countertops did a training with our team members about the latest trends in granite countertops versus quartz, and how to help our customers decide which is right for their own custom home kitchen design.
Here’s what to know:
Granite vs. Quartz: How It’s Made
Choosing the right surface for your custom home kitchen or bath counters starts with how each material is sourced. This can make a big impact on the look of your home.
Granite is 100% natural. Slab granite counters are slices from quarries, cut to size, and honed down until they are smooth. Since granite is natural, each slab has its own unique characteristics.
Quartz is 97% natural. Quartz is 93% natural quartz aggregates that are mixed with 7% color pigments and polymer resins. The resins bind the particles together. Since quartz is not 100% natural, the result is a more consistent look and feel than granite. Quartz is the second hardest surface (diamonds are the first).
Each one can give you a beautiful look for your home for years to come, but there are a few more things to consider before choosing which one is best for you.
Granite vs. Quartz: Common Myths
The most common myth about granite is that it is not resistant to difficult stains such as a glass of red wine that has been left too long. Although this was true of granite in the past when granite was simply polished down, advancements have made granite much more resilient. Many high-end fabricators (like the ones we partner with at Adair Homes) use Breton technology. Breton technology was developed in Italy more than a decade but only became widely available in the last five years. Using a vacuum impregnation process through Breton technology each slab of granite is impregnated with resin three times and polished between each stage before it is delivered to a fabricator. At Adair Homes, our fabricators then seal the granite three more times to ensure that our customers have the highest quality countertops installed - and let the red wine spill where it may.
Granite vs. Quartz: Maintenance & Care
Both quartz and granite require very little maintenance which make either one a fantastic choice for busy families.
For quartz, use a non-abrasive cleaner like Dupont Revitalizer once a year to keep your counters gleaming. Non-abrasive cleaners will not cause harm if you prefer more frequent maintenance, but once per year is typically adequate. For minor daily or weekly maintenance keep a magic eraser on hand (available at your local drugstore for a couple of dollars).
For granite, refinish your counters once per year or more often if desired. More frequent cleaning will not build up a filmy residue or erode the finish of your counters, but once per year is typically sufficient.
One thing to keep in mind when designing your custom home kitchen is direct light. Quartz will hold up longer to direct exposure to UV light without fading. Granite may fade over time if exposed to direct UV light, but fading is likely to be very slight.
Granite vs. Quartz: Design Trends
So if there is virtually no difference between the maintenance, care, durability, and resistance to stain between granite and quartz, how do you know which one is right for you?
It all comes down to your own personal style.
The consistent look and feel of quartz makes it a popular choice for homeowners who enjoy a more modern, contemporary feel. Because quartz is made in 200 slab runs, you can feel confident that a sample you see in one of our Design Centers is how it will look in your home.
Granite is typically preferred by homeowners that want a rich, classic look. As a 100% natural surface, granite has “motion movement” which means each slab contains unique characteristics. Although the color and style that you choose from a sample in our Design Center will be the same color and style in your home, the larger slab in your kitchen or bath will include color and pattern variations.
Granite vs. Quartz: Which is Right for You?
So now that you’re a bona fide expert in comparing granite counters to quartz, which one is right for you? Visit one of our Sales Centers to touch and feel and compare samples for yourself. A Home Ownership Counselor will be on hand to answer any questions and help you with all of the design decisions for your new Adair home.
Can’t wait to get started? (We don’t blame you!) Download your free Design Guide to start planning your dream home or Live Chat with Dara for more information.
A special thanks to Chad Bulger from Wall to Wall for sharing his expertise during our training session!
