| So you want to upgrade your kitchen or | | | | however, give you peace of mind and bring out |
| bathroom with a new countertop, but you’re | | | | the best in your granite and natural stone. And |
| not sure what your options are. Chances are | | | | the same can be said about quartz. Care and |
| you’ve heard of granite and marble. After all, | | | | cleaning is equally easy for either surface. |
| they have been used for myriad construction | | | | Myth #2: Again with the sealing. |
| purposes for centuries and you always see | | | | You may also read that you must seal granite to |
| marble and granite countertops in luxury homes. | | | | maintain it's shiny polish. Not true. Sealing is for |
| But what about Silestone. Isn’t it better than | | | | stain resistance. Both natural and synthetic stone |
| granite? | | | | counter tops are polished by grinding and buffing |
| Well, it depends on what you think is better. | | | | the surface into a smooth shine. |
| However, Silestone and other makers of | | | | Myth #3: Granite harbors bacteria. |
| engineered quartz stone countertops, such as | | | | Silestone also tries to claim their product resists |
| Zodiaq and Cambria would have you believe their | | | | bacteria while granite "harbors" bacteria. This is |
| product is a significant upgrade from granite. | | | | totally false. Studies prove that both granite and |
| Engineered stone countertops are a man-made | | | | quartz are among the safest and cleanest |
| product that mixes quartz found in granite with a | | | | surfaces on the market today, but one isn't |
| resin to make a surface with properties almost | | | | superior to the other. |
| identical to granite. Silestone and all the other | | | | So Which Countertop Is Best? |
| companies make essentially the same product, | | | | Well, once you remove the hype and you |
| which is widely regarded as an excellent | | | | understand that man-made quartz countertops |
| countertop surface. However, these companies | | | | and granite perform equally well and that the care |
| try to make mountains out of molehills in an | | | | and cleaning of each surface is essentially the |
| effort to sell their product and compete against | | | | same, the decision between granite and Silestone, |
| granite which is and has bee the most popular and | | | | Cambria, Zodiaq or other quartz counter tops |
| proven surface type. | | | | usually comes down to color, pattern and |
| Myth #1: Sealing granite is a horrible, dirty chore. | | | | perceived value for most buyers. |
| This issue has been blown way out of proportion | | | | Color and Value |
| with marketing. It’s always listed as a benefit | | | | Granite enjoys a greater “prestige” due |
| and one would get the impression that granite is | | | | to it’s natural uniqueness and is therefore, of |
| defective and must be sealed with over and over | | | | greater value in the minds of most homeowners |
| to protect it. | | | | and buyers. New granites come on the market all |
| True, you don't have to apply a granite sealer to | | | | the time from different countries providing |
| an engineered stone counter top. And hey, | | | | hundreds and possibly thousands of different |
| that’s great, but applying a granite sealer is | | | | colors and patterns to choose from. |
| really a very simple and infrequent "wipe on, wipe | | | | Silestone and other engineered stone |
| off" procedure. It is not a major chore and for all | | | | manufacturers offer 20-50 color choices all of |
| practical purposes it isn’t a factor when | | | | which have basically the same repetitive pebbled |
| deciding between granite and man-made quartz. | | | | appearance. The benefit here is that you never |
| Also, it doesn't take a closet full of special | | | | have a problem matching a pattern or color at a |
| chemicals to protect your granite and keep its | | | | seam, which sometimes is a problem with granite. |
| luster as Cambria and other engineered stone | | | | Of course, you may end up with the exact same |
| counter top manufacturers suggest on their | | | | countertop as your neighbor, which won’t |
| websites. Hey, to their credit they are just trying | | | | happen with granite as each slab is unique. |
| to effectively market their product. | | | | So, whether you choose engineered stone or |
| A little secret about most granite . . . | | | | granite you will get an excellent countertop |
| You could do nothing but wipe it with a sponge | | | | surface. Just don’t listen to all the marketing |
| for years and it would still look gorgeous. Minor, | | | | hype and pick your product based on what color |
| easy maintenance performed periodically will, | | | | and pattern you like best. |