Granite vs Marble for Your Home – A Comparison

If you watch any design show about home remodels or flipping properties, you know how common it is for granite to be installed in kitchens and bathrooms, alike. This natural stone has been widely accepted as the go-to material for homeowners and designers.

However, a new natural stone is also beginning to make an appearance and give granite a run for its money: marble. What makes marble stand out from the wildly popular granite, you may ask?

We have put together a comparison of granite and marble, including their makeup, appearance, durability, and maintenance.

Getting to Know Granite and Marble

While comparing the general makeup of these two stones, they are actually fairly similar. Both granite and marble are natural stones that can be found in quarries all over the world. They have unique characteristics that make each piece a true one-of-a-kind and can be suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, offices, laundry rooms, or even wet bars. 

Marble is created when limestone is put under intense pressure and heat. Granite is produced from compressed grains of many different minerals, including quartz, feldspar, and mica. Both of these are porous, due to their natural elements.

Appearance

Thanks to their natural creation, both of these stones will have unique veining, patterns, and colors that will virtually ensure each slab is as individual as the home it is put in. Grants is made up of many small grains of material, all of which can be seen upon close inspection.

All of the specks appear in different colors, making the piece come in tones of blue, brown, gray, black, rose, and white.

Marble is known for its gorgeous veining, which also comes in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. The pattern is larger in marble and it usually tends to be more consistent than that in granite. It also comes in a large variety of Earth-toned colors, including blues, grays, pinks, whites, and reds.

Durability

Due to the fact that granite is formed of denser minerals and substances, it is much harder and more solid than marble. It is more resistant to scratches, cracks, and chips, and will stand up better to regular wear and tear. However, both granite and marble are resistant to heat, although use of heating pads are advised.

In order to ensure their longevity, both of these surfaces require regular resealing every one to two years. As noted, granite and marble are porous in nature, which means that they have extremely small holes that can soak up spills and bacteria. Without proper sealant, these surfaces are more likely to stain.

An important thing to mention is that marble is more vulnerable to acidic liquids and foods than granite, so it is vital to keep them off the surface completely or clean up immediately after something acidic comes in contact with it.

Maintenance

Granite is considered to be a fairly easy material to keep clean and looking beautiful. If properly sealed, all that granite requires is a daily wipe-down with soap and warm water or a mild household cleaner. This helps to sanitize the surface and ensure that bacteria or spills do not have a chance to settle into its pores.

Marble, on the other hand, is a more high-maintenance stone. It is less durable than granite, so requires more TLC and attention,epecially when acidic liquids are spilled on it. As long as the marble is properly sealed, it too can be cleaned with soap and warm water or a mild household cleaner.

Conclusion

Although both of these materials may require a little more maintenance, you will never regret the beauty and individuality of a natural stone. Both granite and marble have unique veining and patterns that cannot be duplicated, and their colors are a work of art from Mother Nature herself.

With proper sealing and care, these surfaces will bring your home to the next level of beauty, and will give you breathtaking counters to admire and love.