I think both are a good choice. Granite needs to be sealed and then occasionally sealed with use. This is an easy homeowner done thing although frequently the installer does it the first time. The only other difficulty with granite is that sometimes stone yards mislabel stones so you need to be sure it is really granite and not a softer easier to damage marble. Some light granites can stain or develop rust spots.

Quartz does not need to be sealed and is also very pretty. Sometimes the right look can't be found in granite and can be found in quartz. Many of the patterns are more subtle then granite. I have quartz and I am very happy with it.

Here is some information on checking a stone to be sure it is durable - for granite. You would not need to check with quartz counters. Quartz counters are a man made product using the rock quartz mixed with a resin, not to be confused with quartzite which is a natural rock like granite.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2692150/countertop-geology-part-six-lets-talk-about-rocks-some-more

Check quartzites also. They're natural stone harder than granite. But can be mislabeled.

I've never sealed any granite I have owned. Previous house had a white/gray/black speckled granite and any stains came out with some lysol with bleach, sometimes I had to leave a soaked paper towel sitting on the stain for 20 minutes, but everything came out. It is a work surface and not one I am going to treat like a baby!

I think quartz feels plasticky.

"Granite needs to be sealed and then occasionally sealed with use."

I am echoing the other posters on this thread that said that not all granite needs to be sealed. There is a problem with people's posts that put all granites under one umbrella - there are thousands of granites, and some never need sealing, some need sealing once a year, and a few need sealing several times a year.

While I'd like to say the "lighter" granites usually need more frequent sealing (Kashmir White is one), but again, you can't make a blanket statement like that. There is the whole family of granites called variously Bianco Antico, Alaska White, Lennon, White Spring, and White Delicatus. They have white backgrounds with varying chunks of black, taupe, gray, mica. These appear to be almost indestructible, and may need sealing only once a year, if that. So, you cannot really make rules about granite. Best is to go to a stoneyard, and see a few you like, then do research on them to see how high or low maintenance they are.

I think the choice between granite or quartz is more an aesthetic one. I love the beauty of the natural stone, but many people prefer the quiet and regularity of quartz. This is personal taste, and what decor your kitchen is.

It all comes down to taste. Quartz and granite are equally resistant to regular day to day use. Some granites do require a little more attention as far as sealing goes, but we're talking maybe once a year, and you don't need a professional to apply sealer for you. We're fabricators and installers, we personally prefer granite mainly because quartz is essentially resin and quartz dust baked together. We see tons of customers tearing out old formica countertops and replacing them with granite all the time. I'm afraid quartz will suffer the same fate in years to come. But that's a personal opinion.

I love the natural look of some of the granite. They are doing a good job with some of the quartz products, to make them look more natural. But some people don't want natural and prefer an even and uniform look. It is just a matter of preference I think. And to echo some other comments, we have two different granites and a quartzite and none of them ever need sealing or any upkeep. They look like the day they were installed, years ago.

I keep trying to like quartz since it is very popular, but I just can't. I like it in other people's kitchens, but it's not my style. I love how natural granite is & how every slab is different. It's so warm & inviting.

I am a fabricator. Either material can provide a beautiful and durable countertop that will give many years of use. Some natural stones (the more porous ones) can be stained and all of the quartz products are susceptible to damage from heat. Usually a stain can be removed; scorched quartz usually cannot be repaired completely. In actual practice I've dealt with only a handful of stained stained stone tops or scorched engineered stone ("quartz") tops in 16 years of business.

IMHO the best approach is to determine the look you want and then choose a specific material. A good fabricator will take the time to educate you on the material properties of the various options. If a fabricator isn't willing to spend some time, sometimes even as much as several hours, during your decision making process find a new one.

Good luck with your project.

I've read quite a few threads on here about these two (just do a search). There's more than one or two about Quartz chipping. It's not as indestructible as it's made out to be, at least that's what some owners are saying.

I've shied away from quartz because of chipping but in truth, all stone counters chip. I have soapstone with chips, a small marble counter with chips, gouges and etches and have had granite that was chipped around the sink. The difference with quartz is that it has a modern aesthetic that doesn't play well with chips. On the other stones, it's just patina.

We've had both - several types of granite, quartzite, and now Caesarstone quartz. We went with the quartz because we bought it through IKEA and the cost with installation was $60/sq ft. I've never sealed a counter after it was installed (the fabricator seals it) and never had any issues with stains , etching or chips. Go with what you love and as long as it's not marble or a white stone, and you are not exceptionally abusive to your counters, I don't think you will have a problem!

I used quartz in 3 bathrooms and I prefered the quieter, simpler, more uniform look of those products in bathrooms where I wanted the tiles to be the star in the room.

I am remodeling my kitchen and bought Taj Mahal quartzite. I wanted a light (but not gray) counter with minimal movement and high durability.

The last bathroom I am doing right now will get a white Corian counter with integrated sink. I am doing a clean, slightly minimalistic bathroom for a teen (young adult) who uses various beauty products when home and I wanted as few nooks and crannies to help in keeping the bathroom clean.

Look at all the counter materials available and choose the one that best meets your needs/wants for that particular project. Feel free to mix and match materials, but keep a loose theme throughout the house to tie it all together ... mine is modern Moroccan!

This is totally subjective and depends on the style of your kitchen and your lifestyle. As long as you are sticking with granite and not talking about marble and the oft mislabeled quartzite, there isn’t really a huge difference in durability.

As Economic Granite mentioned, I do think quartz will likely date a kitchen, but then again so do certain varieties of natural stone. If resale or trends are important to you, I just purchased quartzite for my own kitchen and all the fabricators and stone yards said there has been a strong shift that is gaining momentum back toward natural stone, especially in high end design. I don’t know if this is a widespread thing or just in my area. I am on Long Island in NY.

They’re both really good choices for different reasons, so it’s really just a matter of what you like.

I have quartz. I initially did not want granite because 1) it needs sealing and I wanted something with less maintenance and 2) I don't like the "speckled" busy look of granite. I wanted a much calmer, more serene look. If I could have had any stone I wanted, it would have been quartzite, as I don't think anything matches the beauty of some of those slabs I saw...but it became quickly clear that it was going to be a challenge to find one that was a true quartzite and would not etch or scratch. Very few passed my tests, and I was not crazy about those. Having learned more about granite now, I know the sealing thing is no big deal, but I've yet to see slabs that I would want in my kitchen. I have seen one now, that I think is nice, but it was too dark for me. So in the end, quartz was the winner, and I am very happy with my choice.

The July 2017 issue of Consumer Reports rated countertop materials for stains, cutting, abrasion, heat, and impact. Quartz and granite topped all the other countertop materials by a wide margin. Quartz edged out granite by three points, 84 for Quartz and 81 for granite. Laminate got 68 (virtually tied for third). Marble got 14.