Making Remodeling Mistakes

If you are about to remodel your kitchen, you may automatically assume you'll use granite counters. They're the best, right? Well, maybe not. Granite counters are awesome, and they are certainly a good choice, but there is another countertop material that you would be wise to consider as well: quartz. Here are a few ways in which quartz can actually out-compete granite as a counter material.

Better Pricing

When you mention granite counters, two things come to mind: quality and price. Granite is not cheap, and in fact, it can be very expensive. If you do not have a large budget, buying granite counters may make it tough to squeeze everything else into your kitchen remodel. Quartz counters are far more affordable. This is largely because quartz counters are made from pieces of stone joined together, and granite counters are made from solid slabs of stone. Obtaining solid slabs of stone and transporting them is difficult and costly. Using the scrap to make quartz counters is a lot cheaper. In spite of their lower price, quartz counters are nearly as durable, hard, and low-maintenance as granite counters.

More Earth-Friendly

Quartz counters are basically made from the waste products of other quarrying operations. The pieces of stone that are leftover after cutting granite counters, stone stairs, and other stone options would otherwise be tossed aside, but instead, they can be used to make quartz. No extra mining or quarrying needs to be done to obtain the stone used to make quartz, so you can feel good about that, too. Green building is becoming more and more popular, and if you have the goal of making green choices in your kitchen remodel, quartz can be a part of that.

More Color Choices

Granite only comes in natural colors. You can find lighter and darker shades, but there are limits. With quartz, you have a greater choice of colors, since the manufacturers can add dyes and chunks of more unique, colorful stones and minerals when making the quartz. If you want counters with specks of blue, purple, or red, then quartz is the counter material for you. Of course, you can find more subdued counters made to closely resemble granite, too.

Granite counters may, in fact, be the right choice for your kitchen, but before you make this assumption, give quartz a chance. It's cheaper, better for the planet, and comes in an array of colors. For more information about installing quartz counters in your kitchen, contact a local remodeling contractor.