Homeowners today are going crazy for stone countertops. While there are lots of materials to choose from, the two most popular are marble and granite.

Both offer benefits as well as disadvantages. At Love Marble, we have worked extensively with both granite and marble so we know both their pluses and drawbacks. Let’s take a look.

Granite Countertops

Many homeowners choose granite for their kitchen countertops because it is less expensive than marble yet still offers lots of colors and styles. It’s very durable and requires little maintenance. Another huge advantage is that granite is more heat-resistant than marble, so you don’t have to worry as much about damaging it with a hot pan or pot.

Granite is metamorphic or igneous and is composed of silica, mica, feldspar, and quartz. It tends to have flecks, veins, or solid patterns.

The biggest drawback to granite is that it’s not marble. While it looks elegant, the discerning eye will be able to tell that the homeowner went with the less expensive alternative. Its composition also varies more from slab to slab. And granite has a higher probability of becoming stained, as well as a susceptibility to scratching.

Marble Countertops

The biggest advantage of marble is that it is one of the most elegant materials for kitchen countertops. Like granite, marble comes in a wide variety of styles and colors. And it is somewhat heat resistant, at least when compared to composite, wood, or other more common countertop materials.

Marble is metamorphic or sedimentary in origin, with a smoothy surface that typically is striated with veins of materials. Some marble is quartz-based while others are made up of serpentine, which is a greenish material. The best marble comes from quarries in Italy, although there now is domestic marble in the US.

There are a few drawbacks to marble, besides the higher cost. It does require more maintenance than granite. We recommend sealing your marble countertop annually for maximum protection.