Picking The Right Countertop
Quartz or Granite,
what should I choose?
Choosing the right Quartz or Granite countertop is easier with the right background information. Included are some key points to help you decide.
Quartz
Quartz is not 100 percent natural. Instead, countertops are manufactured using 93 percent ground natural quartz and 7 percent polymer resins.
Appearance
One of the main reasons quartz has exploded in popularity is due to appearance. Quartz has the look of stone while also allowing homeowners to customize the design and match. While granite offers many options in terms of appearance, you may have to search for the right piece that matches your color scheme. With quartz, the selection process is much easier.
Price
Depending on the quality of quartz and style of edging, pricing can be up to 60% more expensive than granite. Being heavier than other stone surfaces, a professional installer needs to make sure the space is structurally sound before installation.
Environmentally Friendly
Since quartz is engineered, it can be more environmentally-friendly than granite if you use regionally manufactured stone and local fabricators. This cuts down on the distance for material transportation.
Maintenance
You will always want to clean any spills on quartz countertop. It is as simple as soap and water or a household cleaner and you are done. The solid surface means that there is no need to have your countertops resealed.
Durability
Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus, more durable. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn’t porous like granite, it’s easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. But be careful with hot pans or dishes: Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat, so use heating pads at all times.
Choosing the Right Quartz
Quartz is non-porous, stain and scratch resistant. In today's world it is known as the new granite in home renovations.
You don’t have to be an interior designer to pick a quartz countertop but it helps to know a few things. By systemantically reviewing your kitchen, you’ll be on your way to determining the best color coordinating possibilities and choosing the perfect quartz countertop color for you.
Undertone Identification
Identifying the undertones in the kitchen is the first place to start in choosing a quartz countertop color. Look around your room to determine the cabinet wood tones, and the paint color or wallpaper selection on your walls. You can choose complementary colors (dark cabinets & lighter countertops) or tone-with-tone, which keeps the colors in the same family, depending on your personal color preference.
Identifying the undertones in the room is a great place to start in choosing a quartz countertop color. Look around your kitchen to determine the wood tones of your cabinets, and the paint or wallpaper colors on your walls. Depending on your personal color preference, you can choose complementary colors (such as dark cabinets with lighter countertops) or tone-on-tone, which keeps the colors in the same family.
Basic Color Rules
Choosing your quartz countertop color is easier than you may think. Here are some simple steps to help create a beautiful kitchen:
EXAMPLES:
- Neutral colored maple cabinets would work well with a mix of light brown, white or gray colored countertops.
- Dark brown or espresso colored cabinets look great with lighter colored quartz countertops, like light brown, white or ivory with golden variants.
Complementary Colors
For those looking for an elegant, sophisticated look, we recommend choosing a complementary quartz countertop color.
Examples:
- White cabinets: White cabinets are the ideal backdrop giving you free reign to choose the color combination of your choice. They let creativity be your guide.
- Multiple color cabinets: Today’s homeowners are switching things up by using different colored cabinets in their kitchens. Upper cabinets in one color and lower cabinets in another, or an island showcased with dark cabinets set in a white kitchen. Just remember to keep your countertop color blending with both.
- Mahogany or cherry wood: Red-toned cabinets look amazing with countertop colors like dark green, green-gray or even greenish-blue with a grey hue. Appliances should have a stainless steel look to work with deeper, saturated colors such as red or vibrant yellow to help reflect light and make the colors feel even bolder.
Choosing the Right Granite
Granite countertop are a top favorite for many people, when looking to add impact and value to their home.
Granite comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. Neutral colors such as white, black, and brown or exotic and bold colors such as red, greens, and blues can make choosing a difficult procress. Provided are some tips you can follow to help you in making your decision.
Match Making
Designers recommend to choose an element as a basis for creating a kitchen color scheme. Pick out the primary color in the granite that best matches the dominant color in the kitchen, which is usually the cabinets, or go for a subtler approach by finding matching veins or streaks. As an example, if you have white cabinets, you can choose granite with a white primary color or with white veins.
Lighter or Darker
Another option is more about the effect on the kitchen rather than the color scheme. Small kitchens or bathrooms are better off to go with a light color in granite, something in white, beige, or gray. Granite is generally stain resistant, but be aware that a light stone choice may show stains as time goes by if not sealed properly on a regular bases. A dark granite choice is good for adding drama to a kitchen, especially if it is large or has a modern flair. So a good rule of thumb is light for small rooms, dark for larger rooms.
Pattern Picking
People tend to look at the color of granite when making a countertop choice, but the pattern can actually be a better direction to focus on in some cases. If your kitchen happens to be colorful or busy, you might want to choose a granite with more or less of a solid look for contrast. Or, if you have a basic or monochromatic kitchen, choose granite with a flamboyant pattern to some attention. As an example, if you have flat-panel or Shaker-style cabinet door, a marble pattern can create the idea accent for the room.
Pairing Up Your Choice
Get inspiration when choosing granite countertops using these tried-and-tested pairings options:
- Dark hardwood cabinets: Gold or neutral granite countertops
- Light wood cabinets: Black or other dark colored granite countertops
- Deep brown cabinets: Green-hued granite
- Rich red cabinets: White, green, or earth tone granite
BLACK, WHITE OR RED?
Black Granite
If you have a neutral or monochromatic kitchen, black granite will usually give it an elegant look. Black granite works best in large or well-light kitchens, because black granite usually has a good sprinkling of white or silver specks to reflect off the light. You can still use black granite in a smaller kitchen or bathroom if you pair it with white cabinets. The black countertop will make the white float as a focal point for a modern look.
White Granite
Pure white granite is hard to find, as they usually have a good amount of other colors mixed in. The most common granite slabs are in the gray, brown, beige, and pink hues, but if you choose white granite, it would be a fantastic choice with shiny, sleek appliances to give your kitchen a contemporary touch. On the other hand, if you have vintage or retro appliances, white granite will bring you back to the roaring twenties.
White is always a good choice because it goes with almost anything. You just have to be careful to find one that has some depth, or your kitchen will look lifeless.
Red Granite
Red granite can be a bold statement for a kitchen. Red tends to dominate, so it may just be too much red in one spot. You can pull it off if you have cabinets in a neutral color to rein back the color. Red granite though mixed with white, silver, yellow, or blue highlights, can be easier to match to and create a bright or dramatic look, depending on the shade you choose.
Still not sure?
If you are having a hard time choosing between two similar slabs or picking the right color, consult with our countertop professionals. At KCD Quartz & Granite we are here to help you make the right choice. Come visit us.
We make the process very simple:
First, we walk you through our slab selections and explain how each can benefit you in your new home or kitchen/bathroom remodel.
Once you have chosen your material and supplied rough dimensions, we then provide a quote for your approval.
Upon approval, we then book an appointment to arrive at your home and double check all dimensions, along with scanning the walls for adjustments to ensure a perfect fit.
From here we input the data obtained from your home into our fabricator. Cut and polished, we are ready to go back at your home to complete the process with installation.
On time, on budget and to your complete satisfaction.
We are experts at fabricating and installing engineered stone, quartz, and granite countertops, so you can be confident that you will get the very best in product, service and quality. Give us a call today (204.488.2811) or send us an inquiry through our website form below.
What to bring when you visit
Samples, samples and more samples
When it is time to choose your countertop, bring your color paint samples, and pictures of materials that inspire you.
Create a pinterest board so you have a collection of reference ideas right on your phone for quick access and easy comparison.
If you are installing countertops over existing cabinetry, then unhinge a door and bring it along to match against.
Bringing colors and samples to the showroom will help you in selecting the ideal finish that goes with your new or current color scheme and ensure you are happy with the results.
Ensure proper measurements
So many people when determining the size of the space get it wrong. Often they measure the inside of their counter and forget about the back splash. Although we always re-measure spaces with the latest in technology to factor in changes in the wall due to construction or repair work. A wrong sizing could result in a revised quote and slow the completion of your project. To avoid miss-measurements we have created a simple pdf guide to help you with your measurement calculations. Please download our pdf guide quoting template. Print it, fill it out and bring it with you when you come to shop. It will make our quoting more acurate, avoid delays due to possible re-quoting and speed things up for you because we know how fast you want your new countertop and we respect that.
Download our PDF measurement guide quoting template
Got A Question? We are here to help.
Send us an email and we will get back to ASAP.
Unit 2 -214 DeBaets Street, Winnipeg MB R2J 3W6
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday -Friday: 9:00-5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00-2:00pm
204.488.2811