There are few design elements that spark heated debate and divide homeowners as much as granite and quartz. Don’t believe me? Tune into any show on HGTV and you’ll likely hear the prospective buyer/renter wax poetic about their preferred counter top material and shun the other vehemently. But is one really better than the other or is it merely a matter of aesthetics?

To help break down the granite vs. quartz quandary,we thought up five categories to help show the differences between both. By the end of this article,you can decide which one you prefer. Before we get into all of that though,exactly what is granite and quartz?

Granite is a very hard stone and 100 percent natural. It’s mined from quarries all around the world,cut down to a manageable size,then afterwards polished to a fine finish.

Quartz is slightly different because it is not 100 percent natural. Instead,countertops are produced using 95 percent ground natural quartz and 5 percent polymer resins.

Now that you know the basics,let’s see how they compare against one another.

1: Appearance
Granite

Granite comes in various colors and patterns due to the way it’s formed (cooling and strengthening of molten materials). Whether you’re looking for a subtle complement to your kitchen or a standout slab with unique mineral inclusions,there is an almost unlimited selection to select from and no two granite countertops are the same.

Quartz

Among the main reasons quartz has exploded in popularity is because of appearance. Quartz has the look of stone while also allowing property owners to customize the design. While granite offers many options in regards to appearance,you may have to search for the right piece that matches your color scheme. With quartz,the selection process is a lot easier.

2: Price
Granite

According to HomeAdviser.com,the average cost to purchase granite and have it installed can cost between $2,000 and $4,000. You can save money by purchasing the material from a wholesaler and doing a portion of the preliminary work yourself but the actual fabrication and installation of the countertops should be left to a professional.

Quartz

Depending upon the quality of quartz and style of edging,HomeAdvisor.com places the average cost to install quartz countertops between $1,500 and $5,500. You can do some of the preliminary work to save money,but because engineered quartz is heavier than other stone surfaces,a professional installer needs to make sure the space is structurally sound.

3: Environmentally-Friendly
Granite

The only way granite ends up in your kitchen is if it’s quarried which uses a lot of energy. If you select a high-end slab from Italy,for example,there will be considerable transportation involved. Try using indigenous stone when possible or visit salvage shops for pieces that can be cut to fit your needs.

Quartz

Since quartz is engineered,it can be more environmentally-friendly than granite if you use regionally manufactured stone and local fabricators. This cuts down on the distance the material needs to be transported.

4: Maintenance
Granite

Granite countertops should be cleaned daily with soap and water or a mild household cleaner. Some oils and acids can stain so do your homework first to avoid stains. To ensure the longevity of your investment,consider having your countertops resealed once a year.

Quartz

Like granite,you’ll wish to clean any spills on quartz countertops with soap and water or a household cleaner,but that’s about it in terms of maintenance. The solid surface means that there is no need to have your countertops resealed.

5: Durability
Granite

Granite is a durable material that’s resistant to heat and many other kitchen elements. Due to its porous nature though,there can be some staining if spilled liquids are left sitting and damage can be done if your counter receives a high impact blow.
Quartz

Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus,more durable. In point of fact,quartz is nearly indestructible,and because it isn’t porous like granite,it’s easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. Be careful with cooking pans though: Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat,so use heating pads at all times.
If you ‘d like to explore the differences yourself,contact Peakstone Granite at (336) 324-2875 or visit them at http://PeakStoneGraniteMarble.com

ByJohnSageMelbourne

Forseveralyearsnow,commercialpropertyhasactuallybeenresoundinglyexceedingothertypesofpropertywhenitpertainstoinvestmentreturns.Investorsarerewardedfortheirinsightintothepropertymarketandcandelightinthefinancialbenefits.Iwanttogothroughthethreefactorswhycommercialpropertyisthemethodtogo.

Factor1—BetterEfficiency
Commercialpropertyoffersyougreaterreturnsonyourinitialinvestment.Intruth,manyinvestorsmakemorethanthreetimesasmuchinvestingincommercialpropertythantheydoonhome.It‘snotuncommontogetanywherebetween8%and12%grossrentalyieldforbusinessresidentialorcommercialproperties—it‘sreallyanobrainer!

Reason2—LowBarrierToEntry
Thebusinesspropertymarketiseasiertobreakinto.Wheninvesting,businesspropertiesaretypicallylowerpricedcomparedtohomes,soyourinvestmentmaybesmallersized.Acarsandtruckparkcancostaslittleas$80,000,asopposedto$400,000foraninner-cityapartment.

FollowJohnSageMelbourneformoreexpertpropertyinvestmentadvice.

Reason3—SuperiorTenants
Whilearesidentialoccupancycanturnoverevery6to12months,businessoccupanciescanbeanywherebetweenthreeandtenyears.Occupantsalsonormallyremainlongerwhenthey‘veboughtcustomisingthepremises.
Inaddition,businessrenterslikewisesatisfymanyoftheexpensesthatyouwouldgenerallyhavetopayasadomesticfinancier,savingyouthousandsonoutgoingslikerates,utilities,upkeepexpenses—andmore!

DoNotAvoidTheCommercials
I‘mabigfanofcommercialpropertyforinvestmentreturns,howeverlikewithanyhugechoice,youneedtotakealookatallthechoicespriortochoosingwhat‘sfinestforyou.Ihopethispostassistsyouseriouslyconsiderbusinesspropertythroughoutyourresearch,asithasconsiderableadvantages.

By John Sage (financial advice)

You have made it! We’re now at the end of my blog series about the secret rules of wealth development. If you’ve come this far,you are in a much better area than many other property investors,but your journey to adopting a wealth mindset still isn’t total.
Today,I wish to cover the last 3 guidelines to wealth production,so buckle up – we’re ending this list with three of the most crucial rules in life that you need to follow.

Guideline 8: Action helps

If you’ve read my blog,I hope you’ve felt inspired. That’s my goal. I share my wealth of knowledge with ordinary individuals like you with hopes that you’ll use it to produce real wealth for you and your household.
Pay attention to that word – I hope that you’ll use this information.
See,this information is great,and you might read every monetary book under the sun,but if you don’t do anything with the knowledge,it’s useless.
Investing and creating wealth is a series of actions and you can’t win by resting on the sideline. If you feel stuck like you don’t understand where to go,the very first step is to take action. Wealth will not simply land on your lap.

Rule 9: Proficiency

Individuals get fortunate all the time. Luck is never ever a bad thing,and I would be lying if I didn’t state that luck didn’t influence my monetary success throughout the years. The thing is,I’ve never ever depended on luck.
Luck needs to never be your go-to investing technique,and even in other locations of your life,you should not ever simply hope that you’ll get lucky.
Instead,you need to deal with luck as a nice surprise and a boost to your existing method. How do you go about browsing the financial world without luck? Well,you require skills.
You need to continuously grow and inform yourself,so your investing methods are backed by truths and trustworthy information. Structure skills take time,but given that you’re spending your time reading this blog,you’re on your way.

Guideline 10: It gets simpler

Here we are – the final guideline. The more that you go on this financial journey,the simpler that everything will get.
With every book you read and every choice you make,you’re becoming more skilled,and the difficulties these days will become easy actions for your future-self.

So,with this information and all the rules from the series,it’s clear what your next action is:
With your new-found values and set of guidelines,start making choices and take action. Make mistakes,make fantastic choices,get lucky.

Click here for more advice from John Sage.

www.johnsage.com.au John Sage (financial advice)