Torn between Marble and Granite? Fret not! This guide will help you make a wise choice while you weigh the pros and cons carefully before making your final choice.
Before we dive into the differences, it is important to understand what these stones are. Their composition or ingredients will be a base of differences and reasons of applications in several places.
Marble is chiefly Calcium Carbonate which is much softer than Granite. It is a metamorphic rock formed from recrystallized carbon. Marble is the most luxurious and elegant stone in natural stones. On the other hand, Granite is an ingenious rock made of compressed grains of quartz, feldspar, mica and more. These minerals make Granite harder than marble.
Now depending on their characteristics as stated below, you can choose one for your project.
Colors and appearance
Granite is more versatile in terms of color availability and patterns. Since it is made of number of grains, they come in a variety of colors ranging from grey and black to beige and red. Marble generally comes in shades of white only. It has more consistent color with veins running through it which is mostly due to impurities like iron oxide. Marble is preferred due to its elegance and classy shades that reflect light, making rooms appear bigger and brighter. To some people
Hardness and robustness
Granite is harder than marble and more resistant to heat, fading, chipping or scratching. It is hands-down the more durable natural stone. Marble is softer in comparison with Granite and fades easily. When used as kitchen countertops, contact with hot pans may cause severe damage to marble.
Prone to acidic reactions or stains
Granite is automatically the tougher one that is resistant to acidic reactions or stains. However, the surface needs to be sealed. Marble is highly reactive and susceptible to damage in case of acidic solutions or stains.
Maintenance
Marble needs more maintenance as it requires annual sealant and polish to retain its sheen. Being softer and more prone to fading or staining, it naturally requires more maintenance. On the other hand, Granite needs to be maintained only in three or four years owing to its robustness.
Applications
The durability and low maintenance properties of Granite make it a perfect choice for kitchen countertop, patio, driveway, walkway, and other outdoor areas with high footfall. Marble is suitable for surfaces that are less used or have exposure to low pressure/activities like pool surrounds, indoor floor, bathroom vanity, interior décor or walls.
Cost
Price is an important consideration for natural stones. Marble is costlier than Granite since it is used for décor purposes. The elegant looking stone needs more care and maintenance than Granite, adding up to its cost. Therefore, Granite costs less.
The bottom line, Marble continues to rule the market with its classy beauty in variety of colors but scores less on scale of durability, maintenance, and cost. Though both the natural stones are porous and require sealant, Granite is much better in terms of strength, low maintenance and hence variety of applications. Use Marble for indoor duties and leave the rest to Granite for outdoor applications.
*Disclaimer: All information and advice given above in the blog are to the best of our knowledge. Please reconfirm at your end before execution.
