Natural Stone (Granite) vs. Engineered Stone (Quartz)

Drawbacks of quartz

The biggest complaint about quartz products is that if something does manage to scratch or somehow deface the surface of your counter top, it is almost impossible to repair. This is because engineered stones have a surfacing substance applied to them.

With granite it is possible to repair a chip or fill a scratch and to cover your tracks by surface polishing the material. Afterward the repair can often be unnoticeable. This is something that is difficult or impossible with many engineered stones.

Drawbacks of Granite

Granite counter tops occasionally need to be sealed because they are actually porous. Also over time each color of granite will tend to shift (get one shade darker or lighter, change hue slightly) as it is mined from deeper and deeper in the Earth. So if you ever wanted to replace a piece or add to your job, the odds become increasingly thinner and thinner of finding a good color match, even of the same color.

(US) Granite Special:Free Estimates your Source for Granite & Marble Countertops and more. Free Instant Granite Estimate to Makeover your kitchen with direct access to local sales, fabricators and installers of Custom fabricated counter tops in 1,000's granite colors, | Your Dream Kitchen Awaits.

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Source: http://knol.google.com/k/natural-stone-granite-vs-engineered-stone-quartz#

What do expert scientists say about adding Microban to consumer goods?

Several noted microbiologists have said that adding Microban to many consumer goods is unnecessary, and some have even called it a "marketing gimmick."

Not only have experts said that the benefits of Microban are questionable, but many are also concerned that the wide-spread use of these substances may cause a major public health problem. Researchers are concerned that repeated use of products containing triclosan could be breeding resistant bacteria, or "superbugs." A 1998 Tufts University study showed that over-exposure created five different triclosan-resistant strains of E. coli. According to Tufts' Dr. Stuart Levy, "If the idea is to sterilize surfaces, it is misguided. You can't sterilize surfaces that are open to the air. You will not eliminate bacteria, but rather replace them with other micro-organisms which could be potentially harmful."

[more http://www.rhtubs.com/microban.htm]

(US) Granite Special:Free Estimates your Source for Granite & Marble Countertops and more. Free Instant Granite Estimate to Makeover your kitchen with direct access to local sales, fabricators and installers of Custom fabricated counter tops in 1,000's granite colors, | Your Dream Kitchen Awaits.

FireUps.com Provides local internet Marketing services for granite fabricators in the US canada and the UK.

Microban protection inhibits the growth of microbes ...

such as odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew. While Microban protection does not protect users from foodborne illness and is not a substitute for normal cleaning practices, it does result in countertops that are easier to clean and stay clean.

[more http://www.silestoneusa.com/]

(US) Granite Special:Free Estimates your Source for Granite & Marble Countertops and more. Free Instant Granite Estimate to Makeover your kitchen with direct access to local sales, fabricators and installers of Custom fabricated counter tops in 1,000's granite colors, | Your Dream Kitchen Awaits.

FireUps.com Provides local internet Marketing services for granite fabricators in the US canada and the UK.

U.S. Consumers Overwhelmingly Prefer Granite Over Any Other Countertop Surface for...

CLEVELAND, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- A new national survey finds that by
overwhelming majorities U.S. consumers prefer granite countertops to any other
countertop surface for their dream kitchen and believe that granite
countertops increase the resale value of a home.

The survey of 2,021 U.S. adults aged 18+ was conducted by Harris
Interactive on behalf of the Marble Institute of America. It asked respondents
which countertop surface they would most want in their dream kitchen. At 55
percent, "granite countertops" was by far the most popular response, followed
distantly by synthetic stone at 12 percent. The survey was conducted Oct. 7
through 9.
When asked how much they agree with the statement "granite countertops
increase the resale value of a home," 90 percent of the surveyed consumers
either strongly or somewhat agreed.

[more http://www.reuters.com/]

(US) Granite Special:Free Estimates your Source for Granite & Marble Countertops and more. Free Instant Granite Estimate to Makeover your kitchen with direct access to local sales, fabricators and installers of Custom fabricated counter tops in 1,000's granite colors, | Your Dream Kitchen Awaits.

FireUps.com Provides local internet Marketing services for granite fabricators in the US canada and the UK.

Survey Finds Granite Countertops Still No. 1

Survey Finds Granite Countertops Still No. 1 January 26, 2009

(NewsUSA) - By overwhelming majorities, American adults prefer granite to any other countertop surface for their dream kitchens, and believe granite countertops increase home resale values, according to a new national survey�s findings. [more http://www.homedesign.com/]

(US) Granite Special:Free Estimates your Source for Granite & Marble Countertops and more. Free Instant Granite Estimate to Makeover your kitchen with direct access to local sales, fabricators and installers of Custom fabricated counter tops in 1,000's granite colors, | Your Dream Kitchen Awaits.

FireUps.com Provides local internet Marketing services for granite fabricators in the US canada and the UK.

NATURAL QUARTZ???

Another thing to keep in mind is that some manufacturers, particularly those that make quartz countertops, advertise their products as "natural quartz". And natural quartz it is - but it's not purely a slab of quartz that's been quarried and cut to size. Quartz is the key ingredient (usually about 93%), but the product you're getting is still the combination of quartz and other materials.

Some Products Can Be Expensive - Some, not all, engineered stone products can be costly. Cost per square foot will vary based on manufacturer, color and edge treatment.

It's Still Not Real Stone - This is one of those considerations that's dependent on your personal taste. Engineered stone can come "pretty close($$$)" to looking like real stone but it's not the real McCoy and doesn't have the natural variation of real stone.

[more http://www.home- style-choices.com/]

Microban in quartz countertops

Quartz is also a non-porous material, which means it will not promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria. One popular brand, Silestone quartz, is taking bacteria protection one step further as the only quartz countertop available to offer built-in Microban (pesticide) antimicrobial protection. However, many consumers view this additional pesticide protection as more of a health risk than a benefit.

Some Quartz Products have a product called Microban (Pesticide) do you want a surface to contain a pesticide? If the surface is solid what is the pesticide for? If it kills bacteria, How, If it can't get to food on the sirface? If it is on the surface then how can it not be attacking my food on the counter or my hand on the surface. Personally I would rather use my own cleaning products.

[ more http://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/]

Quartz does have some negative traits.

In our studies, we have found quartz has a propensity to chip and should not be used as a cutting surface And look into the warranties for quartz products. Many do not warranty against regular wear and tear.

However, recently, Realtors have told us that their customers are looking at solid surfaces similar to laminate tops. They say it just doesn't get any "value added" to their customer's homes.

[more http://www.39dollargranite.com/]

Radon, Why the buzz?

Radon has been in the news recently with reports that some granite countertops can release dangerous levels of radon. This isn't a new claim - it surfaced in the 1990s - and it's fairly controversial. In April 2008, BuildClean, a nonprofit that aims to educate consumers about safe and healthy building materials, made news when it announced that its pilot project would provide free in-home radon testing of 300 homes in Houston to determine whether granite countertops emit harmful levels of radon. It's worth noting that two big makers of quartz countertops, Cambria and Cosentino (which also sells granite counters), are the sole funders of BuildClean. "By its nature, granite emits radon - the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.," said Sara Speer Selber, BuildClean's president, in a press release at the time.

Next, in early May, W.J. Llope, Ph.D., a senior faculty fellow at the T.W. Bonner Nuclear Laboratory at Rice University in Houston, released a report in which he analyzed 18 articles covering 95 granite samples. In "Radiation and Radon from Natural Stone" (PDF download), Llope reported that 92 of the granite samples emitted no or very little radon, though two were in the 3.1-to-3.4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) range, and one registered 4.2. (These measurements assume a hypothetical unventilated room, not a standard home, according to Llope's study.) The EPA estimates that the average indoor radon level is 1.3 pCi/L and suggests that you reduce radon when the level in your home is 4 pCi/L or higher.

Shortly after Llope released his report, the Marble Institute of America trade group announced the results of a study of its own. A professor of geology at the University of Akron tested 52 samples (four each of 13 different types) of the most popular granites used for countertops in the U.S., representing the majority of granite countertops sold here, according to the MIA. Ten added "almost immeasurable amounts of radon to the house," reads the study, while two had radon levels of 0.04 pCi/L. The highest level of radon emitted from one stone was 0.27 pCi/L. The study did not account for natural ventilation in a home, which would dilute the concentration of radon.

Looking for some clarity on this issue, I interviewed Michael Kitto, Ph.D., a research scientist for the New York State Department of Health. As part of a study he's planning to submit for peer review, he measured the radon emissions from more than 40 granite and engineered stones in airtight containers, without ventilation. Kitto found that the engineered stones emitted almost no radon and many of the granite stones were very low emitters of radon. A few stones emitted slightly more radon, and only one emitted a substantial amount of radon. (Kitto defines substantial by saying it could produce from a few to several pCi/L in a room; he adds that the exact value depends on many variables, including kitchen volume and countertop size.) BuildClean and Cosentino also fund Kitto's study.

[more http://blogs.consumerreports.org/]

Natural quartz can emit trace amounts of radon.

More Info: Natural quartz is the fourth-hardest substance on our planet. It can emit trace amounts of radon, much like any other natural stone product used in replacement countertops, tile or hardscape. What is usually called "quartz" and made into countertops is more properly called engineered stone. Engineered stone -- a blend of crushed quartz, glass and resins -- does not release radon because it is permanently sealed during the fabrication process. The vast majority of quartz countertops installed in the United States are engineered, and sold under brand names such as Silestone, Cambria and Zodiaq. Source: http://www.sophisticatededge.com/do-quartz-countertops-emit-radon.html

Quartz is Resistent Not Invincible.

Cambria counter tops are extremely resistant to chemicals, heat and scratching (just like granite). But, they are not heat or scratch proof and can be damaged by intense heat, prolonged heat from say a crock pot or certain chemicals and food products such as, wine, vinegar, tea, juice, coffee, soda, some fruits and vegetables if these substances are left to dry.

Cambria vs. Granite
It's All Marketing. Despite marketing efforts by makers of engineered stone to try and convince you otherwise, there isn't any significant difference regarding performance, function, cleaning or price between granite and Cambria or other brands of quartz counter tops.

[more http://www.countertopspecialty.com/]

The truth about Granite countertops vs Quartz countertops

Quartz countertop surface	Granite Countertop Surface
The difference is quite clear in this photo.

Quartz and heat

"When a solid surface material is used in a rental unit, there should be a clause in the rental agreement requiring the tenant to avoid exposing the countertop to excessive heat. As a countertop repair specialist, I often see solid surface countertops discolored or cracked by hot pots or portable heat producing appliances such as electric griddles and crock pots. "

Quartz v. Granite Showdown 2011

"It's also worth noting, though, that Consumer Reports didn't find sufficient evidence linking granite countertops and health worries concerning radiation, which helped deflate the radon-scare bubble a few years ago. And, it's been fair about the need for sealing granite surfaces, using the words "some" and "periodic" instead of "all" and "annual."

Consumer reports on Countertop Surfaces

- Quartz came in first, and granite second but it[s a close one. On the 0-100 scale, quartz scored 84 and granite followed closely at 81, with test results running dead even. No other surface scored more than 70.
- Recycled glass made a large impression, coming in third with 69 points despite less-than-stellar stain and impact tests.
- Soapstone came in second among quarried stone, but seventh overall at 46 points.
-Marble finished 12th with 14 points, as the surface performed miserably in tests.
- What finished dead last? Well, marble may be porous, but bamboo countertops just suck. 92-quartz-v-granite-showdown-11

Granite is no longer alone in the spotlight - I SAY BULL

"Granite is no longer alone in the spotlight

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/17/home/la-hm-kitchen-counters-20110917

The hot-selling counter material is seeing competition from glass, engineered stone and much more.

* Lava stone and other natural stones can provide a variety of looks, but, depending on the rarity, can be expensive.

Lava stone and other natural stones can provide a variety of looks, but,… (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)
September 17, 2011|By Mary MacVean, Los Angeles Times

To anyone reading the real estate ads in recent years, it could seem that granite was the only material worth using for a kitchen counter, as important as updated electrical or a reliable roof.

Granite isn't going anywhere. But many designers and homeowners are turning to glass, manufactured stone, metal and other materials to create counters that work for people who actually cook as well for those who see the kitchen as a decorative accessory.

This is another attempt by the quartz industry to try to lift themselves out of the comparison with lamanent countertops. The reason this guy has not put in granite has been due to personal preference and his own personal agenda. glass quarts and other materials that have to be keep together with another man made product is the issue that makes these tops less practical

Lava and other exotic stone are great alternatives if you have the $ to shell out but keep in mind that these exotic stones may pose other issues when it comes time for resale. personal preference on exotic colors can have the inverse effect on value.

Granite due to its beauty, strength and durability will remain as the most sought after countertops by home owners and home buyers. 90% Agree that granite countertops increase the perceived value of a home whereas only 15% feel that quartz increases the perceived value of a home.

Granite is no longer alone in the spotlight

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