Difference Between Granite & Marble Kitchen Counters

Difference Between Granite & Marble Kitchen Counters

before choosing a marble or granite countertop for your kitchen.

Stain and Scratch Resistance

Natural granite is a very hard, nonporous stone, making it highly resistant to scratching and staining; it offers an ideal material for almost any kitchen counter. You can even cut on granite with a knife blade without scratching it, but you will risk dulling or ruining your knives very quickly. Because natural granite has little porosity, spilled liquids typically leave no stains after they are wiped away. Marble is innately a softer and more porous stone than granite, which makes it susceptible to scratches from sharp objects, such as kitchen knives, and stains from watery or oily liquids. Applying a sealer to a marble countertop provides a barrier to liquids, making them less likely to stain after spills are wiped clean.

Heat or Chemical Damage

If you place a hot pan directly onto a granite countertop, it will typically have no marring effect, such as melting or burn marks. Marble is also somewhat heat-resistant, but to avoid potential surface discoloring, it's best to place a trivet underneath a hot pan. Liquids such as vinegar, ketchup, mustard, lemon juice, alcohol and acidic or citric items leave an etch mark on a marble-topped counter. The etching appears as a dull, lackluster spot on a marble countertop, which is irreversible and cannot be prevented -- even by a protective sealant. Granite is naturally resistant to chemicals and other acidic substances.

Cracking or Chipping

Any solid surface, including natural granite with its crystalline structure, has the potential to chip or crack when it comes in direct contact with high-impact blows from a hard, sharp object. Under ordinary kitchen use, however, chipping or cracking is highly unlikely for a granite counter, and daily use will not overstress this hard, durable stone. Because natural marble is a much softer material than granite, it is more prone to chips and cracks under frequent, everyday employment as a kitchen countertop.

Aesthetics and Ease of Maintenance

Marble countertops set the design bar for creating an upscale, luxurious kitchen, while granite also conveys an air of upscale sophistication. You can seal a granite countertop if you wish to provide an additional layer of protection for the inherently tough stone. With a marble kitchen counter, manufacturers strongly recommend that you seal this highly porous material. A quality sealant should have a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. Wipe down granite and marble countertops with a clean, damp cloth for everyday cleaning. Add a tad of soapy water to your damp cloth to remove stubborn food residue, but avoid bleach, ammonia or other harsh cleaning agents. With a marble countertop, it's imperative to thoroughly dry the wet surface as you're cleaning.

source:- https://homeguides.sfgate.com/difference-between-granite-marble-kitchen-counters-91349.html