Hey guys! So my mom and I are in this cold war right now (my dad is like Switzerland because he’s just gonna pay for it) because of countertops.
A little background: I visited my parents when the pandemic cases were low and saw cracks of various sizes on their kitchen (granite) countertop. I confronted them about it and they told me that they’ll replace it with another granite countertop. I told them that they should take a quartz one instead but my mom said a hard no. And, that’s where the cold war began.
I showed her this site https://www.caesarstoneus.com/blog/quartz-countertops-vs-granite-the-big-debate/ that showed the big difference of quartz and granite. But she’s still hard on staying with granite. Can you guys help me out by sharing experiences with quartz? Or anything that’ll be helpful? Big and many thanks in advance!
Replies
I have a rule on staying out of family conflicts.
It is up to you to decide when you want to be "right" and when you want to get along with your mother.
Unless you plan to inherit the house, or are paying for the counter top, it may be best to make your point and let it go.
but if your family enjoys this kind of conflict,
I am a fan of quartz countertops.
On a related note, a few years ago we took a raft trip down the grand canyon. after a few days, we ended up camping in a layer of rock made up of red granite.
The guides explained that the beautiful red rocks were embedded in a black rock which was called Vishnu Schist.
He followed up saying he had explained this so we would not take our Schist for Granite.
Now you know too.
Most cracks in granite countertops can be repaired. I would be more concerned with why the countertops cracked in the first place.
One point to keep in mind- might even appeal to your Mom- is that granite is really GRAIN-ite. That is, it's composed of small grains of rock, with small cracks in between- you'll see that if you sight across a polished slab of granite. Because of that, it has to be sealed and then resealed occasionally- otherwise crud seeps into the cracks and builds up.
"Quartz" is really just fine sand in a plastic matrix, sliced and polished, but it's solid- no cracks- and it can be glued into long, large countertops by skilled installers. Generally doesn't need sealing, although some recommend you buy their magic sealer goop.
Greg's point about the reason the first countertops cracked is well taken.
While they are both solid options, granite has a more natural look and thus is more aesthetically pleasing than Quartz. It's also more durable and long-lasting and therefore expensive.
Quartz has its own advantages and can very much replicate the functionality and visuals of granite at more affordable rates. So that might help you do the convincing.
Additionally, you can consult a general contractor to vouch for you.
https://www.google.com/search?q=veined+quartz+countertops&sxsrf=ALeKk00H6Q3D8qfbU_FjN0To0EbcaVh93Q:1619007696527&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj4947VqY_wAhWXMlkFHRPuDUMQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1192&bih=621
Stopped by my son's new house. they chose a veined quartz countertop design.
only checked this thread out again now, thanks for the advice!
"When I got married, we renovated this house and got quartz for the kitchen counters. It's been a few years now since we got it and it's been great. We don't have a hard time cleaning and maintaining it. After cleaning the spills, there are no stains at all.
I suggest that you both look at other options together like the ones here https://www.caesarstoneus.com/blog/which-stone-countertop-is-best-for-your-kitchen/. Maybe both of you will see some compromise at the end. "