DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MARBLE AND GRANITE

When choosing countertops for your kitchen or bathroom, granite and marble surfaces are popular choices. They are natural stones — unlike, say, engineered quartz silestone — so both marble and granite surfaces are susceptible to chipping and staining. However, granite is more durable than marble and less prone to stains and scratching. For this reason, granite is often found in kitchens, while marble is more common in other areas, like bathrooms.

Appearance

The physical appearance of granite is very different from that of marble. Granite has a variety of speckled colors resulting from the melded stones within it — namely, quartz, feldspar, biotite mica, and sometimes amphibole — and comes in numerous shades and tones.

Marble is typically a solid grayish-white or cream color and has dark veins running through it, though there are other, rarer varieties that have a pale green or pink base color. The lines in marble are formed from mineral impurities, like silt and iron oxides.

Granite is a stronger and harder stone than marble is, which lends it a shiny, glossy appearance compared to marble's dull smoothness. However, with certain polishing sealants, modern marble can be made to look much glossier than it did in the past.

Properties

Granite is the more durable stone, but both granite and marble are porous, meaning liquids that spill on them — especially if the stones are left untreated — can seep into the stone and cause stains.

As the more porous of the two stones, marble's "softness" is far easier to stain and damage than granite overall, which is why it is recommended to use unsanded grout with marble tiles. Marble is also specifically susceptible to heat and acidic spills in ways that granite is not. Placing hot cookware on marble may cause damage to the stone, and spilling acidic foods or liquids, like vinegar or lemon or lime juice, can dull it. However, polishes and sealants can increase marble's resistance considerably.

Applications

Granite's durable nature makes it suitable for kitchen countertops and floors, while marble is more appropriate in areas with less traffic, like bathrooms, where it can be used for vanities, tub decks, shower walls, and flooring. Marble can create a light and unique look and can be good for surfaces that will not get much use, or for people who are willing to put in the maintenance work and do not mind if their surfaces have a bit of character over time. Both granite and marble are also found in sculptures and gravestone markers.

Maintenance

As both granite and marble are porous, they absorb liquids from spills. (Moreover, lighter-colored stones are generally more porous than darker-colored stones.) Sealants can help improve and prevent staining and etching on both marble and granite, but it is still best to wipe up problematic spills as quickly as possible. For marble surfaces, resealing is recommended twice a year, while for granite resealing once every two years should be sufficient. But how frequently either needs to be resealed depends on how heavily the surface is used.

Stain Removal

Whether a stain can be removed or not depends on whether any permanent and deep damage has been done to the stone. Some stains are relatively superficial and can be removed with a stain remover; others seep down into the stone's pores and cause permanent changes to the chemical makeup of the stone.