Is Granite Harder Than Marble
These are both beautiful options for countertops.
Is granite harder than marble. Limestone generally ranks at around a 3 on the scale while marble falls between 3 and 4. Granite is mainly composed of quarts and feldspars it is coarse grained and usually in light colors. This mean that it is harder than glass and can actually cut it. In its purest form it s white like marble but can have impurities in it that lead to some incredible patterns and colors.
Granite comes in at a 6 to 7 on the mohs scale meaning it is relatively hard. Because of its mottled pattern granite can typically hide. While quartz can closely compare with granite and marble it is of better quality than solid surface countertops. It is mostly known as the most durable natural.
Similar to granite however marble is more prone to staining than granite. Homeowners often turn to quartz as an alternative to not only granite and marble but materials such as solid surface as well. Granite is less expensive than marble starting at roughly 75 square foot installed and 100 more than that for higher end stone. This means that granite is slightly harder than marble but both offer reasonably good durability.
The table below displays the positive and negative qualities of quartz. While marble is slightly harder and denser than limestone both rate very low on the mohs scale a rating used to measure the hardness of stones. Comparing marble and granite head to head in important categories will assist you in deciding which stone to use in your building or renovation project. However with certain polishing sealants modern marble can be made to look much glossier than it did in the past.
On the mohs test that measures how hard a material is it has been given a hardness reading of 8 10. It has been in use extensively since the ancient times for both indoor and outdoor applications. Granite is comparatively harder and stronger than marble. Granite is a stronger and harder stone than marble is which lends it a shiny glossy appearance compared to marble s dull smoothness.
Granite is a harder stone than marble and holds up better to chips and scratches. An example of the hardness of a granite countertop can be seen in the fact that a knife blade will not scratch the surface. In the sense that granite is extremely hard wearing it could be considered eco friendly as it prevents the need replace it frequently as opposed to other flooring options. The igneous rock is comprised of mostly quartz and feldspar along with smaller amounts of various other minerals.
While definitely not a cheap countertop option the look and endurance of stone make it well worth the cost.