Granite vs Quartz vs Marble vs Quartzite
Six materials side by side on the properties that decide whether a surface survives the room it is installed in.
| Material | Type | Hardness | Heat | Porosity | Outdoor | Sealing | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite | Natural | Very high | Excellent | Low | Yes | Annual | $$ |
| Quartzite | Natural | Very high | Excellent | Low | Yes | Annual | $$$ |
| Marble | Natural | Medium | Good | Medium | No | Twice/yr | $$$ |
| Quartz | Engineered | High | Poor | None | No | Never | $$ |
| Porcelain | Engineered | Very high | Excellent | None | Yes | Never | $$$ |
| Solid Surface | Engineered | Low | Poor | None | No | Never | $ |
Reading this table
Heat is the column that catches people out. Engineered quartz is excellent at almost everything except heat — a pan straight off the burner leaves a permanent mark, and no warranty covers it.
Outdoor is binary, not a preference. UV destroys the resin in engineered quartz and solid surface. Outdoors means granite, porcelain or quarried natural stone.
Porosity drives how much maintenance the owner actually does. Non-porous materials never need sealing, which matters more in a rental or a restaurant than in an owner-occupied kitchen.
Price is relative and moves with the specific stone — an exotic quartzite can cost several times a common granite. Ask us for current pricing on anything you are considering.