question I’m often asked by customers thinking about replacing their laminate kitchen worktops is “What’s the difference between Granite and Quartz worktops?” The answer is quite simple – Granite is a completely natural product which has been mined/cut/polished and sealed. Quartz worktops are made by mixing elements such as granite, mineral quartz and silica into a man-made resin.

If you consider worktops on a scale -

• Granite (purely natural) is at one end
• Corian (wholly man-made – like plastic) is at the other end
• Quartz – somewhere in between

Granite tends to be less expensive on the whole and is resistant to heat. Because it is naturally porous it needs to be sealed periodically – a quick and easy process.

Quartz comes in a broad colour spectrum, is non-porous but may be subject to damage by heat and exposure to sunlight over time.