Kitchen countertop suggestions

forgop · 02-19-2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain53

I have owned many different kinds and my current home has polished granite and it is by far superior to anything else I have tried. Yes it is expensive but looks great and very durable with little maintenance.

In a couple of brief conversations with my realtor and brother, they seemed to discourage granite because of the potential for staining and having to seal them. On the other hand, quartz seems to be resistant to pretty much everything, except a high price tag that is. I have no idea how granite and quartz compare in price though.

marge796 · 02-19-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forgop

In a couple of brief conversations with my realtor and brother, they seemed to discourage granite because of the potential for staining and having to seal them. On the other hand, quartz seems to be resistant to pretty much everything, except a high price tag that is. I have no idea how granite and quartz compare in price though.

We put a total 35 feet of granite in our kitchen & bar top 3 years ago. We spend a lot of time in our kitchen and at the bar with no issues of staining, as for the sealing goes it's takes about an hour every six months. One of the best decisions thus far with the upgrades we've made to our home. Granite is the only way to go IMO.

Chris.....

captain53 · 02-19-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marge796

We put a total 35 feet of granite in our kitchen & bar top 3 years ago. We spend a lot of time in our kitchen and at the bar with no issues of staining, as for the sealing goes it's takes about an hour every six months. One of the best decisions thus far with the upgrades we've made to our home. Granite is the only way to go IMO.

Chris.....

About the same experience here, 9 years old and not a stain anywhere and we spill stuff on it all the time.

Ashcan Bill · 02-19-2010, 06:32 PM

If you go with a quartz tile, will you have grout lines?

The reason I ask is grout will stain or discolor over time. That may be a concern if you have lighter color grout.

We currently have granite, and I love it. Stains haven't been a problem for us.

mash · 02-19-2010, 06:58 PM

Have granite and love it. No recent issues with staining, though I did have one or two at the start, I think it may not have been properly sealed.
If it ever stains, it is easy to get out. Mix acetone and baking soda to the consistency of a snow cone (too Canadian a term?). Anyway, cover it with wax paper, tape the edges and leave for 24 hours. Next day, take off the wax paper. You will have dry powder with a stain-free countertop. No long term worries.

forgop · 02-19-2010, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

If you go with a quartz tile, will you have grout lines?

The reason I ask is grout will stain or discolor over time. That may be a concern if you have lighter color grout.

We currently have granite, and I love it. Stains haven't been a problem for us.

It's not quartz tile. To me, it has the same appearance qualities, but I'm thinking the quartz may be cheaper. Just a guess as I have yet to step foot in a hardware store to compare pricing and actual appearance of each next to one another.

Guess I know what the wife and I will do tomorrow afternoon.

captain53 · 02-20-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forgop

In a couple of brief conversations with my realtor and brother, they seemed to discourage granite because of the potential for staining and having to seal them. On the other hand, quartz seems to be resistant to pretty much everything, except a high price tag that is. I have no idea how granite and quartz compare in price though.

Increasing Your Home Value With Granite Countertops
By Ryan Frank

(I am not sure about the 10% added value shwon in the article but it definitely adds value) There is a reason why virtually every house over $1 million has granite everywhere ..... it is highly desirable and it sells! But it may be a budget buster in which case there are several good lower cost quality alternatives. Beware of the $50 granites, they are much more porous than the more expensive polished granites. Probably the $80-100 range stuff is the minimum quality range you would want to use as an alternative to some of the other materials, I have had Silestone in another house and it performed well. Granite is also not suitable for the do-it-yourselfer to install.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Increasing...ops&id=3006819

Here is another good article about the added value of granite:

http://www.kitchendesignersideas.com...untertops.html

02-19-2010, 06:32 PM	#4
Ashcan Bill Ol' Dude Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bill Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 1,902 Trading: (6)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions If you go with a quartz tile, will you have grout lines? The reason I ask is grout will stain or discolor over time. That may be a concern if you have lighter color grout. We currently have granite, and I love it. Stains haven't been a problem for us.

02-19-2010, 06:58 PM	#5
mash Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Kevin Posts: 435 Trading: (2)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions Have granite and love it. No recent issues with staining, though I did have one or two at the start, I think it may not have been properly sealed. If it ever stains, it is easy to get out. Mix acetone and baking soda to the consistency of a snow cone (too Canadian a term?). Anyway, cover it with wax paper, tape the edges and leave for 24 hours. Next day, take off the wax paper. You will have dry powder with a stain-free countertop. No long term worries.