Engineered Stone from Gran Marbello. The perfect blend of form & function

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The Solid Surface Experts::: Granite - Engineered Stone - Acrylic - Marble

ENGINEERED STONE

What is Engineered Stone and how
are Engineered Stone Countertops made?

You may be a bit confused in that there are granite countertops and Engineered Stone countertops. As discussed above, granite is a type of rock that is partially composed of quartz, a mineral. Therefore, what exactly is a Engineered Stone countertop?

You may initially think that a Engineered Stone countertop would be composed of a quartz arenite, a rock made up of at least 90% quartz.

However, you will find that Engineered Stone countertops are actually man made and although they consist of 90% quartz, the rest of the countertop is composed of resins, polymers, and various types of pigments.

This creates a very durable artificial rock without pores or cracks.

The pigment is used to provide coloration that is naturally found in quartz arenite.

This may remind you of a white sandy beach with a few brown and pink specs. The natural sorting of quartz on beaches is driven by mineral strength and their differential weathering rates. As weaker minerals weather and erode relatively quicker than quartz, you are left with quartz as a predominant mineral in well weathered sediment systems (i.e. beaches) far from sediment source (i.e. mountains).

COMPARISON OF GRANITE vs. ENGINEERED STONE COUNTERTOPS

Here, I’ll directly compare both granite countertops and Engineered Stone countertops with physical, chemical, and geologic parameters.

Title

Mohs Hardness

Melting Point

Natural Radiation

Source

Natural Fractures

Porous

Quartz (Quartz Arenite)

7 (pure quartz)

1670 °C

None

Man-made

None

Granite

6-7 (depending on mineralogy)

1215–1260 °C (dry)

Trace amounts

Natural

Small but variable amounts

Very slightly

Which One Should You Choose?

The debate breaks down into a few large picture questions that you have to ask yourself. There are really two variables that you should take into account. One variable is whether you prefer a man made stone or a natural stone.

You will find much more beauty in granite and there is certainly an excitement involved in picking out the small imperfections and color variation. I’ll give this one to granite as it has a unique and impossible to replicate feel that never disappoints in upgrading your kitchen countertop.

The other variable is ease of use in a number of different factors. Engineered Stone countertops are sealed and therefore not porous, they are primarily made of quartz, which means they are more durable than granite.

You’ll find that quartz countertops are easier to clean, maintain, and forget about. If your primary concern is having a countertop that you can ignore and heavily use, quartz composite is the way to go.