How Marble and Granite Countertops Compare

Appearance

• Marble comes mostly in lighter colors while granite comes in a variety of colors, including red, orange, pink, blue, blue, green, and red
• Marble features large veining patterns while granite has multi-colored speckles and a variety of patterns
• Marble is considered to have a more elegnat appearance but granite is still a high end look

Composition

• Marble is a derived from a crystallized form of limestone while granite comes from crystallized of magma

Durability

• Marble is highly suceptible to acid erosion (lemon juice, champagne, etc.) when not properly sealed while granite is less suceptible
• Marble is softer and is not scratch resisitent and will scuff up easily
• Granite is harder and can fend off most scratches and chips, even those from chopping directly on the countertop (although you'll quickly dull your knives if you do this)
• Putting hot pots and pants directly on a marble surface can cause discoloration while (and we dont' recommend doing this) it generally won't cause damage to a granite countertop, which is said to withstand over 450 degrees

Maintenane

• Both are porous and therefore require sealing, but marble requiress twice-yearly sealing while granite can be sealed bi-yearly
• Stains on marble must be cleand up ASAP, while on granite quickly cleaning up stains is still a priority, it's less urgent

Pricing

• While there's a range of pricing for both stone types depending on the specific type of marble or granite, marble skews more expensive

Value

• Both stones are considered highend counter finishes, but marble is more unique and has a luxury cache that granite lacks
• Granite has become extremely prevalent in recent years is more de rigeur in upscale homes than a special luxury