Natural stone countertops are losing popularity amongst other popular kitchen countertop materials, as reflected in Houzz’s 2024 Kitchen Trends Study. In this study, United States homeowners currently or just completed updating countertops, or remodeling their kitchen were surveyed to gather such data.
“Engineered quartz has notably increased in popularity as a countertop material, rising by 4 percentage points compared with the previous year,” the study shared. The rise comes after quartz being favored by 42% of respondents in 2022 and 2023. The jump to 46%, though not significant, has the industry rethinking kitchen remodeling trends.
As a result, granite surfaces was favored by 24% of respondents in 2022, dipping to 23% in 2023 and to 20% in 2024.
Men’s Journal shares reason why consumers are favoring quartz over granite,
- Consistent appearance. Quartz offers uniform appearance, unlike granite’s natural variations. Furthermore, it’s available in a range of colors, including solid colors, as well patterns, including stone-like patterns.
- It’s durable. It’s resistant to minor scratches and stains, ideal for active kitchens. Granite counters are more heat resistant, but quartz counters can stand up to more heat than other options in the industry.
- Non-porous surface. Granite countertops are a porous material and can stain easily, but wines, oils, coffee stains can easily be cleaned off an engineered quartz surface with mild soap.
- Super low maintenance. Unlike granite slabs, quartz doesn’t need to be sealed.
- Price. While some varieties can be pricier per square foot, quartz offers value in durability and consistency. The selection process for granite matching slabs of granite can be hard if you need a lot.
