June 2022

WHO IS CONTINENAL?

Continental Granite is a family-owned and operated custom fabrication shop located in North-Central Florida, providing superior quality products and services, including but not limited to granite, marble, onyx, travertine, Silestone, Cambria, Ceasarstone, and Corian. Continental also works with the best cabinet makers in the business to provide cabinet options for both residential and commercial projects.

Continental Granite offers a combined 80+ years of experience in residential and commercial projects and services in 50 states. We pride ourselves on building relationships with our customers, including homeowners, business owners, and interior and design professionals. 

Granite, Quartz & Marble

Whether you are remodeling or starting from scratch with a residential or commercial project, deciding on a countertop is an important decision that you will most likely be making. There are several options, but the three most popular materials used in countertops are granite, quartz, and marble. The material you choose can significantly impact the visual appearance of the completed project and your budget. Let’s look at how these three materials compare to one another and how to keep them looking fabulous.

GRANITE

Granite produces some of the most beautiful counter surface areas you can find. There is an abundance of styles and colors to choose from. No two granite countertops look the same, and it has a very organic appearance.

Granite is a natural resource and type of igneous rock that combines minerals like mica, quartz, plagioclase, and feldspar. This combination creates one of the toughest natural stones available for residential and commercial projects. 

Granite is stain-resistant, heat-resistant, and scratch-resistant, but granite can sustain damage such as cracks and chips if not careful with day-to-day usage. The durability makes a perfect choice for any home or office.

Granite pricing ranges from $50 to $175 per square foot installed.

Maintenance requires your countertop to be cleaned daily with mild soap and water or a non-harsh cleaning product. To maintain the integrity of the stone, you must also seal the granite approximately every year.

QUARTZ

Quartz is an engineered product created with a combination of ninety percent ground natural quartz and roughly ten percent polyresin. These percentages may vary slightly depending on the brand of quartz.

Quartz has a more uniform appearance than granite and marble. It has the look of stone but without imperfections and varying patterns.

Quartz is a durable option but can not withstand high levels of heat. High levels of heat can melt the resin and lead to burn marks on the surface. 

Quartz surfaces are non-porous and considered relatively bacteria-free. The polyresin materials protect the surface from needing to be sealed. However, if you require a long span of countertop, you may need to seam together multiple pieces of quartz. Continental uses a unique Invisa-Seam process. With this process, we can minimize unsightly separations in the countertops, giving them a more seamless look.

Quartz pricing ranges from $65 to $150 per square foot installed. 

Similar to the granite countertop, quartz maintenance is relatively simple. Clean daily with mild soap and water, making sure not to use harsh chemicals. 

MARBLE

Marble is considered a timeless classic when it comes to interior and commercial design. Marble has been used for centuries, including in some of the most famous sculptures and statues. 

For years marble has also been used in many homes, offices, restaurants, and commercial spaces. 

Marble is a metamorphic rock that is formed by the transformation of other rock types; in this case, the other rock is limestone. Marble is more porous than granite and quartz, making it more maintenance-heavy. Marble can easily stain and scratch, making it less durable than granite and quartz.

Marble offers several options when it comes to color, veining, and edges. 

Marble pricing ranges from $50 to $180 per square foot installed.

Marble is vulnerable to acidic food and drinks and will need to be cleaned quickly. Items such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, soda, coffee, wine, fruit juice, and even vinegar can damage the marble. Suggested cleaning is wiping down the countertop with a damp cloth and a pH-neutral cleaner designed for stone. Be sure not to use abrasive cleaners that can damage and dull the finish. 

Many stains that appear on marble countertops can be lifted with a mixture of baking soda and water. Spread the paste on the stained area, leave for 12-24 hours, and then wipe with a damp cloth.

Marble also requires that it be sealed periodically. As with granite, sealing can prevent stains and damage to the surface, maintaining the countertop’s beauty. 

Granite, quartz, and marble provide a pleasing aesthetic to your space. Granite and quartz offer a more maintenance-free choice for your kitchen, bathroom, office, or commercial space. 

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Continental Granite & Cabinets offers our clients a wide variety of custom fabrication needs, including countertops, fireplaces, stairs, wall cladding, flooring, bars, furniture pieces, custom trim, and much more. We also offer a wide range of products to make such creations, such as Granite, Marble, Onyx, Travertine, Silestone, Cambria, Caesarstone, Corian Quartz, etc. Continental Granite & Cabinets is proud to be a family-owned and operated business and treats its customers as if they were one of their own. We’re located in Bunnell, Florida, just 6 miles Northwest of Destination-Daytona in Ormond Beach, Florida, serving all of Central Florida and beyond. We believe our relationship with our customers lasts much longer than the current project we are working on with them. To learn more, call us today at 386.586.7059 or fill out our contact form here.