Your kitchen countertop is the most important part of your kitchen. Choosing the right countertop material is essential because this impacts the efficiency of completing your cooking-related tasks and allows you to make a statement with its timeless style and elegant look.
Kitchen countertops come in a wide variety of materials, including natural stone such as granite and marble. To help you choose the right kitchen countertop material that is right for you, read the list below to determine and understand their differences.
Prices
When choosing a kitchen countertop, it’s important to consider your budget. As for granite and marble, they do not come cheap and are considered a worthwhile investment. However, marble comes at a much higher price than granite.
Aside from the countertop material itself, don’t forget to take into account the complexity of the job required as this can affect the overall cost of your countertop. Check different countertop contractors first to see which one matches your budget, preferences, and needs.
Maintenance
Both granite and marble countertops require a level of maintenance. This ensures that it will last for many years to come and you can make the most out of your purchase.
Compared to various countertop materials with solid surfaces, such as ceramic tile, glass, laminate, or quartz, granite needs moderate maintenance. On the other hand, marble requires moderate to high maintenance.
When buying a kitchen countertop, make sure that you can keep up with its maintenance needs. For instance, when you accidentally spilled liquids to the surface of your countertop, make sure to wipe it up quickly. Also, avoid placing acidic materials to your countertop.
Durability
If you are choosing to buy between a marble and granite countertop, you must consider the hardness of these natural stones. This plays a major role in the durability of the materials. Both natural stone materials are resistant to heat, chips, and scratches. But since granite is harder than marble, it is generally more durable.
Meanwhile, keep in mind that both natural stone materials are porous, making it prone for liquids to stain and seep through them. While both marble and granite are durable, they should be properly sealed every 1-2 years. Otherwise, juice, oil, wine, and other acidic foods and beverages can damage the surface of the materials.
Appearance
Taking into account the appearance of your kitchen countertop is important to make your kitchen look visually appealing and create an environment where you will enjoy cooking and dining.
When deciding between granite and marble, both are considered beautiful options. Marble has large patterns that have colored veins. As for granite, it has specks that come in various colors, allowing you to choose a color scheme that matches the interiors of your kitchen. Some common colors that you can choose from are pink, red, blue, green, and orange.
Conclusion
Marble and granite make for excellent kitchen countertops because they are long-lasting, elegant, and luxurious. Make sure to remember the differences mentioned above to help you decide which material is best for you.
Whether you need high-quality marble countertops or the best granite countertops in Seattle, turn only to Granite Designer. Contact us today for a free estimate!
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