Corian vs Granite vs Quartz: Best Countertop Materials

There are many different decisions to be made when designing your home or commercial property. One such decision that’s often easy to overlook until the immediate moment you need to choose is your countertop. However, despite seemingly being a small part of your property, finding the right countertop materials is integral. With this thought in mind, today, we’re looking at some of the different countertop materials you could invest in for your property. Crucially, we’re comparing three popular materials to help with this decision: Corian, granite, and quartz.

What are Corian, Granite, and Quartz?

In many cases, finding the ideal choice of countertop material for your needs can seem like a major challenge. However, if you ask us, this question is pretty easy to answer actually, but you’ll need to consider several key things to ensure you know which option is right for you.

An Introduction to Granite

The first material we should address here is perhaps granite, an incredibly popular and common material for creating high-quality countertops. Granite stone countertops are excellent for practicality purposes. When fully sealed, they are waterproof and stain resistant. Granite countertops are also highly valuable for their scratch resistance.

However, perhaps the most significant feature of granite countertops is that they are resistant to extreme heat. This reduces the chances of the granite countertop staining or discoloring due to high temperatures. In turn, this makes granite countertops exceptionally effective for use in kitchens and areas with high temperature.

What About Quartz?

A common alternative to granite is quartz, a breathtaking material highly popular for constructing high-quality countertops. Quartz differs from granite in that it’s naturally non porous. This means that it doesn’t allow any liquids through, which helps protect the surface against developing stains and the like.

Furthermore, it’s well worth considering that quartz is also available in a wider array of colors and styles in many cases. This makes it highly practical for many different property designs and styles. Contrastingly, natural granite is available in a smaller array of colors, which is worth considering.

And, of course, there’s just something instantly recognizable about premium quality quartz. So, if you want to make a statement with your property, a quartz countertop may be a valuable option to consider.

How About Corian?

Finally, you may have stumbled across Corian countertops. However, this is something that many people misunderstand, as there’s a common belief that Corian is a type of surface. In fact, Corian countertops are actually a specific brand of countertops. Corian countertops are made by the DuPont team and differ significantly from granite and quartz in that they are not natural surfaces. Instead, Corian surfaces are made from alumina trihydrate and acrylic polymers, delivering a highly realistic finish but without the same exact properties of quartz and granite.

There are several reasons that people invest in Corian worktops, but one of the most apparent is the huge array of styles, colors, and designs, even when compared to customized quartz worktops. Furthermore, Corian surfaces are able to imitate many other materials, aside from just quartz and granite; for example, many people use Corian countertops to replicate especially luxurious materials such as marble.

However, it’s well worth considering that Corian countertops are far from an ideal solution, and they need to be handled with care compared to natural stone and quartz. They will also stain, discolor, or deform readily with heat and are prone to get scratched; this could significantly lower their value for a commercial application. As such, if you choose to invest in Corian countertops, be sure to consider whether or not practicality is important to you.

Which is Better: Corian vs Granite vs Quartz?

At this point, we have summarized some of the key features of each material. But which is better: Corian vs Granite vs Quartz? Each of these materials has unique pros and cons, as we have outlined above. However, they all suit different applications, so there’s no single clear winner. This will instead depend on how you intend to use your new countertop.

The Best Material for Value: Corian

Corian countertops may be a good option if you need a “cheap and cheerful” solution. They are often used to replicate premium-quality materials for a more affordable price tag, such as quartz, granite, or even marble. They can easily replicate many different designs, adding to their versatility and making them a good value-for-money solution in circumstances where a solid granite or quartz countertop isn’t possible.

The Best Material for Aesthetics: Quartz or Corian

Quartz is often the clear winner if you’re buying a countertop for aesthetic purposes since it can provide a stunning aesthetic appeal. Premium quality quartz is also highly durable and naturally non porous, which helps prevent stains from developing on the counter. In addition, many quartz materials can potentially be colored to give an even more unique aesthetic appeal.

However, while quartz offers a breathtaking natural aesthetic, it’s worth noting that Corian offers the greatest potential in terms of choice. Therefore, when you choose a Corian countertop, you’ll have far more options to choose from.

The Best Material for Durability: Granite

As a natural stone material, granite offers countless benefits. You’ll need to take slightly better care of granite to prevent stains than quartz since it’s porous. However, most granite countertops are sealed to prevent them from staining, and they also come with a further benefit: they’re exceptionally durable and resistant to high temperatures. This makes granite countertops highly valuable for durability and practicality; you shouldn’t worry about putting down a hot saucepan, whereas other materials may discolor under extreme temperatures.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot to think about if you’ve been trying to decide between Corian, granite, and quartz materials. Fortunately, we have outlined some of the most vital things you need to know in this regard to help inform your decision. After all, each of these three materials provides a similar job, but with wildly contrasting features. Luckily, our professional team here at Viva Quartz can help if you have any further questions, so please don’t be afraid to contact us if you need to.