Last updated on March 9th, 2022
Granite and marble are both extremely beautiful, naturally occurring stones and hold their own place in the décor world, based on their unique properties.
Before you decide on which one to use in your interiors, it is helpful to weigh their pros and cons and know what you’re dealing with. So, here’s all you need to know about both these materials, in a nutshell.
1. Composition And Appearance
Both Granite and Marble are naturally occurring stones, formed as a result of hundreds of years of natural phenomena. While granite is an ingenious rock formed from molten magma (the hot, fluid core of the earth), marble is a rock that results when limestone is exposed to extreme heat and pressure
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Granite is composed of small grains of material and has specks of different colors. It is available in several different shades of black, blue, brown, and gray. Marble on the other usually has veins running across it and is available in many earthy tones like green, grey, pink, white and red. There’s also the more expensive, spotless, pristine white.
2. Uses And Available Varieties
Granite is a hard stone and is commonly used in flooring, kitchen island countertops, basins, vanity tops, window sills, backsplashes, etc. A few common names you may come across in the market are Jhansi Red, Rajasthan Black, Ivory Brown, Indian White, and Sinduri Red.
Marble is a softer stone in comparison and is used in sculptures, flooring, countertops, tabletops, walls, sinks, soap dishes, and decorative items. A few terms good to be familiar with are Kesariya Green, Makrana White, Italian, Udaipur Pink, Ambaji Udaipur Green, and Agaria White.
3. Cost
Although the cost of granite depends on its size and thickness, on average, the cost of a granite slab ranges from Rs 60 to Rs. 500 per sq. ft.
The cost of Marble depends on its thickness, size, and quality and ranges from Rs. 50 to Rs. 2000 per sq. ft. This cost may go further up, depending on the purity of the marble that you’re seeking.
4. Maintenance
Granite is more durable than marble. In fact, it is the strongest of all natural stones. And because it is less porous, it also requires less maintenance than marble, which requires that any acidic liquids like juices and vinegar be cleaned up immediately when spilled, to prevent any absorption resulting in permanent staining. Granite is also the more scratch-resistant of the two.
5. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Both
Granite: Granite is easier to maintain and more durable than marble and can be used in heavy traffic areas of the house for years without having to worry about scratches, stains, or chipping.
Another major advantage of using granite is that it doesn’t get as cold as marble does, even when temperatures take a nose-dive. It’s also extremely weather-proof and can withstand all kinds of harsh environments.
But it is a highly polished surface that can get extremely slippery when wet. So, you may want to think twice about using it in bathrooms if you have children and the elderly at home. Also, being a heavy stone, its installation needs to be handled carefully.
Marble: The translucency that it glows with, brightens any space that it is used in, which is what makes marble a popular choice in materials, but the same reason makes it unsuitable for high traffic areas which might give it a worn-out appearance in a few years.
More commonly used in bathrooms and giving them a luxurious appeal, it might not be a great choice for kitchen countertops owing to its tendency to absorb stains and sensitivity to acids.
Marble doesn’t fare very well in harsh weather conditions and turns yellowish over time. Also, it can get cold easily and should be avoided in areas that experience extreme dips in temperature.
Hope that helped! Happy decorating, folks!
