Granite vs Silestone

Which One Will You Choose?

A comparison - Granite vs Silestone®. The biggest differences between granite and silestone® is what they are. Granite has a broader price range than Silestone®. Silestone® is priced similar to a "mid range" granite.

GRANITE	SILESTONE®
Granite is a rock. A solid piece of rock taken out of the ground, cut into blocks of stone and then processed into slabs, tiles, etc. It is a product of mother nature... nothing added... nothing removed. It's a rock.	Silestone® is a mixture of crushed stone and man made products produced in a factory. The newest Silestone® has a product called "Microban®" added to the mixture and some of the Silestone® colors include recycled glass.
Many different companies from all over the world, both large & small, quarry stone. Some companies process the stone all the way to the finished product (tiles, slabs, etc.), while other companies sell the stone in varying degrees of a finished product or even rough blocks. The upside to granite is hundreds of different companies offer a unique product (100's of colors) from all over the world. Pricing is competitive, not set in stone. The downside? It can be confusing.	One giant corporation which manufactures the product and then supplies small & large business' world wide for resale and installation. The upside to Silestone® is it's easy to control the product, the price & distribution channels. The downside? Same product, same company, same look & feel. It's not unique.

GRANITE	SILESTONE®
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR Interior Uses Backsplashes Countertops Desk Tops Fireplace Surrounds & Hearths Floors Island Tops Shelving Stairways Tabletops Tub & Shower Surrounds Vanities Walls Wet Bars Exterior Uses Benches Exterior Stairs Paving Sills Walkways Wall Cladding	INTERIOR ONLY Interior Uses Backsplashes Countertops Desk Tops Fireplace Surrounds Floors Island Tops Shelving Tabletops Tub & Shower Surrounds Vanities Walls Wet Bars

GRANITE	SILESTONE®
Color consistency: Every slab is unique. You may have issues matching some stones if necessary in the future. Natural blemishes or color variations. Colors - Hundreds of granite colors. Colored all the way through. Unlimited edge designs. Some installations require seams. Almost all sinks styles & brands are used with granite. Custom sinks out of real granite matching your top can be made. Sink installation methods: Undermount, over mount, vessel and flush. Surface Finishes - Antiqued, Flamed, Honed, Leather, Polished, Thermal, Tumbled.	Color consistency. Still some shade variances but more consistent than granite. Easier to match if needed. More uniform in pattern and color. Colors - 74 (2009) Colored all the way through. Unlimited edge designs. Some installations require seams. Almost all sinks styles & brands are used with Silestone®. Various sink models in Silestone® match countertop colors. Sink installation methods: Undermount, over mount, vessel, flush and bevel mounted. Surface Finishes - Leather, Polished.

GRANITE	SILESTONE®
You can cut on it. Scratch resistant. Stain resistant. Stain Removal - Poultice. Some stones need to be sealed. Scorch resistant. It will not burn if a hot pot from the stove is set on it. More susceptible to chipping and cracking during transportation and installation. It could be damaged with excessive force or pressure. Avoid harsh chemicals.	Do not cut on it. Scratch resistant. Stain resistant. Stain Removal - Soak the area for up to 10 minutes with a Silestone® recommended cleaners and vigorously wipe away with a non scratch Scotch Brite® pad. No sealing. Scorch resistant. It may burn if a hot pot from the stove is set on it. Less susceptible to chipping and cracking during transportation and installation. It could be damaged with excessive force or pressure. Avoid harsh chemicals.

GRANITE	SILESTONE®
Certified Training? - Offered, not required. Install Yourself? Yes. Plywood Underlayment? Maybe. 3/4" most likely. 1 1/4" no. Microban®? *No. Warranty? **No. Natural product. Fabricator may warrant the installation.	Certified Training? Mandatory. Install Yourself? No. Plywood Underlayment Maybe. Movement or shifting of foundations? Yes. Laminated edge? Yes. Microban®? *Yes. Warranty? **Yes. 15 year limited warranty.

*MICROBAN® - The active ingredient in Microban®, Triclosan, is permanently added to the structure of products during manufacturing. It is designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew and to protect the product. There is still some debate on the use of Microban® in food related products. Microban is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a pesticide, (EPA Identifier: E966226; EPA Registration Number: 42182-1), and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in medical and food related products. Recent studies have not shown any link to cancer and it appears to be safe and nontoxic.

**15 Year LIMITED WARRANTY - Always read the fine print when you are given a warranty so you know what your warranty covers. The 15 year warranty does cover defects in your Silestone® countertop. It does not cover fabrication, installation, seams, stains, scratches, chips or burns. If you choose Silestone®, comply with the warranty rules so you are covered!

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Here's MORE Granite STUFF:

• Want to know how granite countertops stand up to E. Coli? E. Coli vs Granite
• A little more on granite countertop sanitation.
• And finally, is using natural stone in you home a good choice?