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I just put granite in my place but I see it losing ground to quartz. Actually, that's been happening for years here. Granite has become the lower priced alternative to quartz. We rarely see solid surface counters in models anymore unless they are lower priced developments. Formica is even more rare and I rarely see any of the others.
BTW, granite can be losing favor and still be hugely popular and I think that describes the situation here best.
I just put granite in my place but I see it losing ground to quartz. Actually, that's been happening for years here. Granite has become the lower priced alternative to quartz. We rarely see solid surface counters in models anymore unless they are lower priced developments. Formica is even more rare and I rarely see any of the others.
BTW, granite can be losing favor and still be hugely popular and I think that describes the situation here best.
Well, doesn't "favor" imply "favorite?"
I get what you are saying, and I guess that "trend" could have been employed.
We see some quartz, but many people not willing to pony up.
And, too much quartz looks artificial, vs. the genuine appearance of granite.
All IMO...
I agree that granite looks great and there are many, many, colors and patterns. Some have become too common due to price so that contributes to the "falling favor", IMO, but I think most of it is just the power of trends. I like the idea of the antibacterial nature of quartz, though, and I am sure that also is part of the trend.
I have no idea the numbers, and obviously this would change with price point, but I can confidently say that less than half the homes on the market have upgraded countertops here, so I have no idea what is desired in the area and what isn't.
I've never liked granite, so it can go. Too busy. I like simple and clean. I've always favored marble, myself. Although, if I were to install new countertops, I would probably go with quartz instead for durability.
Quartz always look fake to me. I've seen hundreds of attempts to make it look more like granite or marble but it just looks off. I get that some people "buy the hype", saw the same trend when DuPont tried to promote Corian as "premium" but now it just looks dated as a leisure suit.
The same thing will happen with quartz -- folks will see it and say "I remember when they tried to sell this as the best thing since indoor plumbing"...
Funny thing too is that has already happened with things like concrete countertops, which might actually be ripe for a mini-comeback, the same way kooky type people sorta like retro kitchens with orange laminate...
Actually, Mike, I answer #2 a little differently. I see quartz more and more, especially in new construction homes (where costs tend to get lost in the myriad of upgrades). So I checked thathe granite is losing favor to quartz. But it is definitely NOT my personal preference.
Would I ever have it on my countertops? I can't imagine it. My father was a rock hound who opened a small, but very successful, rock and mineral museum. Not having natural materials in my home would feel disloyal. And I sincerely love the patterns, colors and process of selecting slabs.
That said, I did replace a scratched glass coffee table top recently. I wanted marble. Then I found out that red wine stains marble, so we went with quartz. Ain't nobody who can tell the difference.
Actually, Mike, I answer #2 a little differently. I see quartz more and more, especially in new construction homes (where costs tend to get lost in the myriad of upgrades). So I checked thathe granite is losing favor to quartz. But it is definitely NOT my personal preference.
Would I ever have it on my countertops? I can't imagine it. My father was a rock hound who opened a small, but very successful, rock and mineral museum. Not having natural materials in my home would feel disloyal. And I sincerely love the patterns, colors and process of selecting slabs.
That said, I did replace a scratched glass coffee table top recently. I wanted marble. Then I found out that red wine stains marble, so we went with quartz. Ain't nobody who can tell the difference.
I wonder about the resins used to create quartz. I mean, it is part stone and part chemical.
I wonder about the resins used to create quartz. I mean, it is part stone and part chemical.
Same with the "cultured marble"....it's powdered marble mixed with resin that is cast in a mold. My father once bought a business that made vanities and sills. I was one of the grunts.
The marble style quartz is gaining ground here in kitchens, but granite still dominates. The builders that use the quartz tend to have a more pottery barn/classic design style in their homes (think shiplap on the walls, beadboard cabinets, etc). The ones with a more traditional look tend to use granite.
We have a lot of Formica here too. What isn't popular at all is tile in the kitchen.
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