Granite is recognized as a light-colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be visible to the unaided eye. It develops below Earth’s surface from the slow crystallization of magma. Granite can be white, pink, or gray - depending on its mineralogy.

Quartz is a chemical compound that consists of one part silicon and two parts oxygen, also known as silicon dioxide (SiO2). It's the most abundant mineral on Earth’s surface, and its unique properties make it an incredibly useful natural substance. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s continental crust, only behind the mineral feldspar.

Most granite countertops don’t need to be sealed, but it certainly helps. Sealing helps the stone resist dirt and spills, which can lead to etching and staining. Many professionals recommend sealing granite countertops once per year.

Quartz is difficult to scratch. Like granite, it will dull your knives, so make sure to use a cutting board. Granite and quartz are nearly equal when it comes to resisting scratches or chips. Because quartz is engineered, it tends to be harder and more durable than granite, even though it offers a similar level of heat resistance. Granite is much more porous than quartz, which can cause bacteria to be trapped within the surface.

Granite - No. While brief encounters with a hot pan won’t damage your granite countertop, we recommend using a trivet regularly.

Quartz - Yes. However, like granite, continuously putting hot pans down in the same place on the counter may cause discoloration over time. Although quartz countertops are durable and heat-resistant, placing a hot pan on the surface can hurt the countertop. As with most other countertops, you must use a trivet or stove mitt to protect it, as heat can cause discoloration and even cracking.

Drop-in sinks (the most familiar and popular) are also called self-rimming or top-mount sinks. All these terms mean the same thing: Sinks with a visible lip around the perimeter that rests flat on the counter. Undermount sinks, by comparison. are installed from below the counter.

While granite is one of the most durable countertop surfaces, no material is indestructible. You shouldn't drop weighty or hard objects onto your countertops.

The natural stone industry standard is a seam that's 1/16 of an inch in width. There's a maximum lippage (amount one piece will protrude above another) for the natural stone industry at 1/32 of an inch, measured at the center point of the countertop, with no lippage at the ends.