While marble and granite are both great natural stone materials for construction use, there are some quite important differences you need to consider before deciding which one suits best for your project. What to choose for kitchen countertops, what works best for bathroom vanity tops, and which stone is better for outdoor kitchens? We’ll try to cover all these questions and more in this article today!

Strength and Durability

As we already discussed in previous articles, marble and granite are both very durable materials. However, because of its higher hardness, granite is more scratch and heat damage resistant. Thus, granite is perfect for kitchen countertops, both inside and outside kitchens.

Marble, on the other hand, with its slightly lower hardness, works better for bathroom countertops and vanities, fireplaces, and decor. Some marble types, though, have much better water absorption rates and higher hardness than others, which makes them just fine to be used in kitchens.

Affordability

Granite is usually slightly cheaper than marble. While granite countertop prices start at 75 USD per square foot installed, marble countertops begin at around 100 USD.

Stain Resistance

With its metamorphic attributes, marble is a pretty porous material. The porosity of this natural stone may result in it absorbing some materials, such as foods or liquids. For instance, spilled wine may cause a permanent stain if not cleaned up well on time.

Granite, however, is incredibly dense and thus is highly resistant to stains from food and liquids.

Maintenance

Granite

To preserve the beauty of your granite countertops, make sure you are keeping granite surfaces free of dirt and grime. A soft cloth with warm water and a few drops of an antibacterial detergent will do the job.

Marble

It takes a little more effort to maintain marble, but if you remember these 3 simple steps — your marble tiles and countertops will serve well for a long time:

• Make sure you choose the right sealant for your specific needs and reseal once water no longer beads.
• Use cutting boards and coasters and wipe up spills immediately.
• Stubborn stains are removable by a poultice paste. Sometimes it takes more than one.

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