Quartz vs. Marble Countertops by Cambria
Quartz and marble countertops each bring elegance and luxury to any home. Choosing between them depends on your lifestyle and preferences. Marble offers distinctive veining and classic appeal. The Cambria quartz palette provides many veined designs with added durability and low maintenance. Let’s review their similarities and differences.
Curious about the similarities and differences of quartz and marble countertops?
Explore what sets them apart.
What Is Quartz?
Quartz countertops are made of natural quartz that is then combined with binders and pigments to create its final, beautiful product. This process enables quartz countertops to be maintenance free, extremely durable, nonabsorbent, and resistant to stains, scratches, and chips. Available in a wide range of designs, colors, and consistent patterns, quartz also presents a uniform look from slab to slab.
What Is Marble?
Marble countertops are made from natural stone quarried in large blocks, then cut, shaped, and polished. Known for its sophisticated veining and unique patterns, each marble slab brings a one-of-a-kind luxury to any room. However, marble’s porous nature makes it more susceptible to staining, etching, and scratching, requiring regular care to maintain its beauty.
Performance: Quartz vs. Marble
With their high-end look, quartz and marble elevate any space. Discover the differences between how the two perform.
Maintenance
Quartz countertops are maintenance free, stain resistant, naturally nonabsorbent, and NSF-51certified, and they never need sealing. To clean, just wipe with warm water, a soft cotton cloth, and mild soap, if desired. Because of its porous nature, marble requires ongoing care, including regular sealing to prevent staining from everyday substances like water, wine, and oil. If you’re willing to invest in its maintenance, marble can offer long-lasting beauty.
Durability
Quartz is extremely durable, resisting chips, scratches, and stains. While beautiful, marble is softer, making it more prone to scratches and chips. Marble can handle heat better than quartz in some instances, but sudden temperature changes may cause damage to both, so the use of a trivet is always recommended. Cambria quartz surfaces are backed by a transferable Full Lifetime Warranty to provide peace of mind for a lifetime.
Appearance
Quartz countertops offer a wide range of consistent colors and patterns, ideal for any space aesthetic and ensuring a uniform look from slab to slab. Marble countertops feature unique veining patterns and colors. While a positive for some, this variation can make it challenging to match multiple slabs or find the right slab for your project. Marble typically is found in neutral colors, limiting options for those looking for darker or more bold countertop colors. Quartz is often preferred for its versatility within various styles and color schemes, with Cambria known as an industry leader in design innovation.
Environmental Impact
Quartz is harvested by removing small aggregate quartz stones, which leaves a smaller footprint and generates less waste. This harvesting practice allows for more optimal native vegetation restoration. Marble extraction is a labor-intensive process that involves removing large blocks of stone that are then cut into slabs.
Available at Cabinet-S-Top, 1977 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256 - 330.239.3630
