What’s the Best Kitchen Countertop: Granite, Corian, or Quartz?

Last Updated on October 31, 2022

Choosing a kitchen countertop is a highly personal experience. You will want to consider your individual tastes, the style you want to achieve, your color preferences, your existing décor, and the available kitchen space you have. Additionally, you need to determine how you will use the countertops to select the most appropriate material. With all these factors to consider, it’s easy to get stuck in the planning stages and struggle to make a final decision.

We want to help you break out of this “stuck” stage so you can finally get the kitchen countertop of your dreams. To help guide you through the decision-making process, we pulled together a brief guide on the best materials for kitchen countertops. Below, we explore the pros and cons of granite, Corian, and quartz countertops.

Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are a perennial favorite among homeowners. They add a sophisticated and classy air to every kitchen and come in a wide-ranging color palette.

Pros:

Granite is naturally heat resistant. Granite countertops from Granite and TREND Transformations contain ForeverSeal®. This proprietary finish ensures the surfaces are nonporous, stain-resistant, and scratch-resistant. ForeverSeal® also means your new countertop will never need to be sealed, unlike traditional granite countertops.

Cons:

Many types of granite countertops are prone to cracking or chipping. You will likely have seams showing since the material is not as flexible. As one of the more expensive countertop options, granite is an investment.

Corian Countertops

Corian technically refers to a brand of surface material created by DuPont in 1967. However, now the name is often used to refer to a broad range of solid surface counters. Corian is composed of an acrylic resin, specifically polymethyl methacrylate, and natural minerals.

Pros:

Corian has a naturally nonporous surface and is easy to clean. Extremely durable, Corian is a lower-maintenance countertop surface and is simple to repair if it becomes damaged.

Cons:

Due to the softer surface, Corian is not as scratch-resistant as granite or quartz. It is composed of some natural minerals, but those are combined with binding agents. High temperatures can damage Corian countertops, so you must be careful setting a hot pot or pan directly on the surface.

Benefits of Quartz Countertops

Quartz is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners due to its durability and an excellent range of style choices.

Pros:

Quartz countertops are made from natural stone. As quartz is a harder material, the countertops are more scratch-resistant and heat-resistant than Corian. Quartz is extremely durable and long-lasting. The non-porous material makes them easy to clean.

Cons:

Quartz is slightly more difficult and time-consuming to repair. The color is not entirely natural. Some coloring is added in to mimic natural surfaces like marble or granite.

We hope this helps make your decision a little easier, but if you’re still uncertain exactly which material you want for your new kitchen countertop, we can help! At Granite and TREND Transformations, our design consultants are ready to serve you and help you accomplish all of your décor goals. Schedule your consultation or use our virtual kitchen visualizer to get a vision of what various materials would look like in your kitchen! We offer a large selection of kitchen countertops to make it easy for you to find the perfect fit for your home. Feel free to schedule your free in-home design consultation or contact us today if you have questions!