ARE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS OUT OF STYLE OR OUTDATED? Will granite become obsolete in view of the popularity of quartz?
Those who say that granite is on its way out point to studies like Statista’s “Leading kitchen countertop materials used for remodeled homes … 2021/2022” that showed quartz with a whopping 42% of the market compared to granite’s 24%. Or they quote elite home shoppers who sniff at the idea of settling for granite.
Why this backlash against what was once the gold standard for countertops and is it justified? Let’s answer the following three questions with some facts.
Blue Bahia Granite bar by WilgusIQ in Springfield, Missouri.
Why Do Some Say Granite Countertops Are Out of Style?
In 2017, members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association made news when they chose quartz as their preferred countertop material over granite, signaling the end of America’s decades-long obsession with the natural stone. Why did granite lose its status as king of the countertop?
Ubatuba granite was a staple of the 1990s.
The first reason is simple: some early styles and color palettes associated with granite fell out of fashion. Granite selection and finishes continued to evolve, but it was too late to erase the impression some had of granite as dark and preternaturally polished.
Another reason for the granite backlash? Overkill. That would have been hard to believe back in the ‘70s and ‘80s when granite countertops were a novelty for the rich. How did granite go from exotic to everywhere?
Santa Cecilia granite quarry, Brazil. Imports from Brazil account for nearly half of the granite entering the U.S. Credit: Stoneadd
As demand for new and remodeled kitchens took off with the housing bubble of the early 2000s, granite imports poured into the market from new sources. Designers promoted granite. Builders and property owners enticed customers with it. A plethora of reality shows featured home hunters losing their minds over the shiny igneous rock. America caught granite fever, and the only prescription was more granite.
Home improvement shows fueled the fever for granite countertops in the 2000s.
Even those who appreciated the virtues of granite recognized that it was being overexposed. Homeowner Judi Staab expressed her misgivings in a 2006 Chicago Tribune article with the telling title, “You love your granite. But will you still love it tomorrow?” She had just spent $45,000 on a kitchen remodel that featured granite countertops.
“At some point,” she predicted, “someone is going to say, ‘Granite again? I can’t stand it.’”
Perhaps the most compelling reason for granite’s drop from the top is that the competition simply got tougher. By the 2010s, countertop shoppers had a super buffet to choose from that included solid surface, concrete, glass, porcelain, sintered stone, tile, metal, wood, natural stone — and one countertop to rule them all, quartz. Durable and maintenance-free, quartz offered colors that perfectly suited the latest design trends. Influencers that once championed granite now gave it the stink eye in favor of quartz.
Quartz offered marble lovers a classic look for the kitchen without the upkeep issues. Credit: WilgusIQ in Springfield, Missouri.
Does the fact that changing styles, overkill and increased competition ended granite’s reign mean that it’s out of style or unpopular? The Statista survey referenced above shows that 24% of U.S. homeowners chose granite in 2021-22 for their remodeled kitchens. In other words, granite was popular enough to win out over the competition with one in four buyers. That’s pretty popular. But are granite lovers buying an outdated product?
Are Granite Countertops Outdated?
Those who dismiss granite as outdated are like a cruise ship passenger who spends an hour in a foreign port and thinks they have seen the whole country. They need to take a closer look.
Among the masses of granite slabs, no two are exactly alike and there is no color palette that cannot be complemented by granite, whether it calls for bold or subtle hues.
Granite countertops can be fabricated in an array of styles. Finishes can reflect light or absorb it, and they can be smooth to the touch or textured. Granite edges can be ornate or sleek; they can even be chiseled to accent the beauty of the natural stone. Granite has too much versatility to be outdated.
Chiseled granite edge. Granite typically offers more edge options than engineered stone. Credit: WilgusIQ
Nor has engineered stone made granite obsolete. Granite’s list of strengths — durable, heat-resistant, fade-resistant, scratch-resistant and easy to clean — compare favorably with man-made products. Which leads us to the final question, namely, is granite a good value when compared to quartz or other countertop materials?
Are Granite Countertops Still a Good Value?
What determines a countertop material’s value is not just price but also how long it lasts, its contribution to a property’s resale value and the material’s ability to maintain its appearance over time. How does granite stack up in these areas?
• Granite’s Price: Similar to Quartz
Countertop prices, like politics, are local and current. Price comparisons can only offer a snapshot of the national average from months or years past. But price comparisons of granite and quartz slabs consistently reveal three significant facts:
Both granite and quartz offer a wide variety of price points.
Granite and quartz slabs start at around the same price and remain roughly equivalent until you reach the high end.
Except for exotic granites, high-end quartz is generally more expensive than high-end granite.
Blue Dunes granite with leathered finish in Ozark, Missouri. Credit: WilgusIQ
• Granite’s Longevity and Resale Value: Outstanding
“It’s assumed that granite countertops will last 100 years or more,” according to Forbes, depending on their care and maintenance, and a home seller can “expect to recover around 25% of the retail cost of recently installed granite tops” when they are part of a pleasing kitchen design.
• Granite’s Appearance Over Time: Above Average
Granite is not impervious to the effects of the sun, but it ranks very high in UV resistance. Its natural color will not fade as easily as synthetic pigments. And it’s tough. With reasonable care and maintenance, your granite countertops and surfaces should continue to look vibrant and fresh for many years to come.
The Roman Pantheon’s granite columns are still going strong after nearly 2000 years. And they look quite stylish, too.
At approximately four billion years old, granite has been around long enough to know that trends come and go, but quality endures. Time has shown granite to be a good value, a beautiful, versatile and durable countertop that will always be in style.