Is Quartz Stronger Than Granite

Whether it’s quartz or granite, you’ve got to admit that both are becoming eye candy for homeowners.

The visual appeal of each material is undeniable, offering a wide array of colours and patterns to suit any design style. Strength is just one factor in the decision-making process.

Simply put, I feel there are no two ways to this argument and the only right approach is having a general idea of their features, properties and most importantly what are their advantages and drawbacks.

Since technically you could say that both the products are almost identical in features and specifications, they have huge fundamental differences.

Once you have those fundamentals aligned in your mind, you will get a direct answer on the topic “Is quartz stronger than granite” because while both quartz and granite offer stunning aesthetics and durability, their compositions differ significantly.

Otherwise, stating one is stronger than another without that fact would simply feel unnecessarily biased and we don’t want that, do we?

Table of Contents

Let’s Start the Detailed Guide now.

Origins Of Quartz

Quartz is a man-made flooring material that was made back in the 1960s, created by combining and extracting ground quartz and polymers resin and pigment color and finally bound together through some glue, and lastly its heated at high temperatures under intense pressure to give its shape.

So Where Can I Use It?

Since Quartz doesn’t get infected easily by microbes it has been and is used commonly all across houses as floor tiling or sometimes also used as kitchen sinks as shown in this photo given below, where it is being utilized for bathroom shower areas as a countertop and not just floors, making this quartz product extremely flexible and versatile.

Here are other ways Quartz is commonly utilised and put into practice.

Showers
Walls
Countertops
Sinks
Vanities
Flooring

Where Is Granite Found?

Granite found naturally all around the globe is igneous and formed naturally in the depths of planet earth from slow-cooled magma from volcanic rocks or when you go all the way to its end you find molten magma all across from where they are originally produced, hence granite doesn’t have colour and or visual inconsistency, unlike Quartz which sometimes tends to lack its richness of being inconsistent.

Technically, you could say there are more than 700 colours of granite rock all across the world from varying countries across the planet, here are a few locations where Granite rock are mostly produced.

United States
Italy
Brazil
Canada
India
China

What Granite Rock Are Mostly Used For:

Granite, just like its other counter partner Quartz is also commonly used in almost any and every type of construction site or other parts across houses in the modern era. Because of being inexpensive as well as providing gorgeous quality.

You won’t get this in a regular tiling block, especially given high resistance from heat damage is something which makes it an almost ideal fit across for its versatility in applications, that can be anything. Let me list a few

Paving stone
Tiling floors and bathrooms
Walls
Statues
Countertops
Buildings
Memorials

Many people assume that since their use cases are the same, they can be used interchangeably. This is a misconception. Here is why,

Quartz Vs Granite How Strong It Actually Is | A Direct Comparison

Speaking about whether a quartz is more powerful than its rival counterpart which is granite, a quartz has greater capacity and intensity and density than a granite because as mentioned above.

Quartz is formed with some additional material while making quartz rock ,so its far more compressed with higher molecular bond intensity given quartz being on top as it can hold 120 megapascals as opposed to granite.

Having only 18.33 megapascals resistance from extreme external damage or force from something heavy. Moreover, if the Quartz is well manufactured the tensile stress could go as high as 200 megapascals which makes this manufactured tiling flooring the winner without second thought.

Here is a detailed table on Quartz and Granite strength as shown

	Mohs Hardness:	Porosity:	Scratch Resistance:
Quartz:	7	Non-porous	High
Granite:	6-7	Porous	Moderate

Quartz And Granite – How Do They React To Outside Pressure?

Speaking of reacting to external pressure, Both quartz or granite is top quality in their respective class when it comes to how well both resist impact to certain intensities given that quartz comes out on top with full victory on who can withstand extreme stress and damage because quartz doesn’t chip off from any impact on heavy force due molecular bond and higher density.

On the flipside, when you heat up quartz at intense temperatures, quartz does break from cracks and other sorts of deformation in physical form; it only tends to lose the resin components that are glued to these rock chunks.

And not just because it has higher tolerance capacity due to higher density but even with how hard these resins make these rock solid through binding is something to be adored which isn’t seen with its counter counterpart competitor product which is granite that are not bonded that much as compared to quartz.

But that is totally opposite with the granite, Granite usually is more susceptible from getting chipped which can cause cracking through these chunks when dropping super heavy equipment or hitting it to intense levels of forces.

This also tends to weaken granite to be much less resistant to stress and pressures and becomes very fragile as you do frequent beating and bashing.

Additional Features Comparison Chart Between Quartz and Granite

Let’s Explore the Additional Features.

1. Price Tags $$$

Quartz generally carries a higher initial price tag compared to granite. However, if you consider its extended lifespan and factor in the potential cost savings over time due to reduced need for replacement, it might eventually balance out, making it a potentially cost-effective option in the long run.

Granite, on the other hand, typically presents a more budget-friendly option up front, with prices often starting around $40 per square foot.

Given its impressive potential for longevity, sometimes spanning two decades or more with proper care, granite offers exceptional value for your investment.

2. Heat Resistance

Quartz can be vulnerable to damage from high-intensity heat, especially in areas subjected to direct and prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.

This means it is more susceptible primarily due to the resin component used in its manufacturing process, which can be degraded by excessive heat.

But when it comes to Granite, you need to keep in mind that it exhibits superior heat resistance compared to quartz and can withstand considerably higher temperatures without significant damage.

While it’s not entirely impervious to heat-related issues, it is far less likely to suffer thermal damage like cracking or loss of strength.

3. How Well It Holds Up Under Pressure

As discussed earlier, granite simply doesn’t measure up to quartz in terms of strength. While granite can withstand a reasonable amount of stress, impact, and pressure (such as hammer blows), its overall capacity for tolerance pales in comparison to quartz.

Quartz boasts significantly higher tensile strength, with the ability to resist pressures up to 32,000 pounds, making it much more resilient to cracking and chipping.

Granite’s tensile strength is considerably lower than that of quartz, averaging around 2000 psi or even less in some cases.

This lower tensile intensity makes it more susceptible to chipping, cracking, and structural damage under heavy loads or impacts.

4. Overall Core Durability & Compound Engineering

Quartz’s durability isn’t as straightforward as granite’s due to its engineered nature. Since it’s not a naturally occurring material and relies on artificially assembling crushed minerals and resins, its structural integrity can be compromised over time.

The resin used to bind the quartz particles can degrade with age and exposure to various environmental factors, leading to wear and tear, weathering, and a potential decrease in overall durability compared to natural granite.

Despite its susceptibility to chipping and cracking under heavy impact, granite demonstrates remarkable durability over time.

Its natural composition allows it to withstand years of wear and tear, potentially lasting for decades with minimal signs of ageing, provided it’s not subjected to consistent and excessive pressure.

5. What About Staining?

You have to admit that quartz is the absolute “MVP” in this regard when it comes to direct staining, I mean it is highly resistant to staining due to its non-porous nature.

In other words, it doesn’t readily absorb liquids or other substances, making it relatively easy to clean and maintain.

However, exposure to harsh chemicals can still potentially cause discolouration or damage to the surface so make sure you don’t go completely ham with your new slabs, pick your cleaning chemicals wisely.

On the flip side, the story for Granite is a tad polar different, as it is a porous material, meaning it can absorb liquids and other substances, making it prone to staining if not properly sealed. Regular sealing is crucial to maintain its appearance and prevent permanent discolouration.

Sneak Peak Into Cost Analysis

Generally, if you take only the pricing of Quartz and Granite per square inch for a unit Quartz tends to fall into the zone of the expensive bracket.

However, you also need to keep in mind that the worth of cost when the pricing tends to get average if you multiply by a factor of its usage times that goes up 15 -20 years.

And that means after certain time or periods or decades depending on how much stress it is being subjected a Granite tends to break from impact.

As I mentioned given resin wear and cracks, so you need replacements of the Quartz and the total price after 2 – 3 replacements could end up exceeding that original purchase at first purchase at your home which makes granite, a cheaper choice for immediate time purchase of buying the product of floor or ceiling countertop.

On the other hand, granite doesn’t come with extra expense as you usually wouldn’t change a product that can go through wear and tear from the usage of two or even sometimes going all way through two decades.

It’s quite a marvel if you make a direct correlation with the price so it’s really a matter of perspective whether you want granite over or Quartz by balancing which aspects.

Last Remarks | Conclusion

Buying tiling isn’t difficult when there is ample knowledge to start and begin an argument to get something meaningful that fits certain specifications, and needs.

I have talked about how each, granite or quartz withstands damage to ensure the user knows exactly how quartz and or granite rock may or might fail depending on usage and how frequently the users tend to do the changing of these rocks for floor or other compartments such as counter or sinks.

I sincerely, do believe from this article any indecisiveness you have between Quartz and granite has vanished as you have gathered a pretty good understanding of each section whether granite or Quartz is strong so take advantage of the table, and price points that I have gathered at a centralized section in the article.

Having said that, kindly write any feedback about the topic of why either granite or quartz is great, I am happy to sort out any misunderstandings and guide you or maybe write another guide on it, who knows?

Is Quartz Stronger Than Granite | A Thorough Guide On Origins, Use Case & Durability