Choosing between Cambria, Zodiaq or Granite countertops

Granite countertops have been installed for years due to granites natural beauty and long lasting durability. In recent years quartz countertops have been becoming more and more popular due to quartz supposedly being a superior material for manufacturing a countertop. While Cambria and Zodiaq tout the superior advantages of quartz many granite installation companies will always stand by the natural beauty and durability of granite. It can be difficult to cut through all the marketing hype in deciding just what type of countertop best suits your needs.

Cambria is smaller independent company while Zodiaq is actually the countertop manufacturing division of Dupont. Both of these companies use quartz which is actually a component of granite to manufacture their countertops. The quartz is processed and sorted according to its color and characteristics and is fused together with resins to produce Cambria and Zodiaq countertops. Typically a quartz countertop is about 93% quartz with the other 7 percent being the bonding resin material. These countertops are then polished to give them a glossy appearance and through the magic of technology you get a natural stone looking countertop that is marketed as superior to granite in many ways. While Cambria and Dupont Zodiaq do not publish their exact processes and materials it is pretty safe to say that they are probably manufactured in much the same way with similar characteristics.

Some people would rather go with a smaller independent company like Cambria while other people are more comfortable with larger conglomerate companies like Dupont. Either way both companies manufacture quality products in many different styles and it all comes down to which style you like in choosing between a Cambria or Zodiaq countertop. Both Cambria and Zodiaq countertops are touted with much the same marketing advantages of going with their quartz countertops as opposed to natural granite countertops.

1. Quartz is stronger than granite. Both Cambria and Zodiaq state that their quartz countertops are stronger than granite. Well for this to mean anything you have to to know what is meant by "stronger". Strength when describing a solid surface is a measure of its ability to withstand weight when it is applied to an object. So it is probably likely that say a one foot square of quartz countertop material could withstand more weight then a one foot square of granite without breaking apart. When talking about countertops this is really irrelevant because countertops will never be subjected to the amounts of weight or pressure that would damage them in this way. A more important characteristic when talking about countertops is hardness. Hardness is a substances ability to withstand being scratched by another object. It is obvious that the ability of a countertop to withstand being scratched is a far more important number then just its strength. When it comes to hardness granite is by far the superior material. While just normal quartz is an extremely hard material, after it is processed and the resins applied it is no way near the hardness of granite. Granite is one of the hardest stones on the planet and can typically only be scratched by a harder type of granite or by diamonds.
2. Quartz countertops are more non porous and stain resistant than granite. The claims by Cambria and Zodiac that their countertops are more non porous and stain resistant than granite are just not true. Granite is one of the most dense stones on the planet. There are hundreds of types of granite and most of them are extremely non porous materials that will not absorb any type of liquid, sealers or solvents. This is why it is futile to seal most granites since they are so dense that they will not even absorb a sealer much the less any spills or stains that they come in contact with. Since there are so many varieties of granite there are a few that are a tiny bit porous and will absorb spills and stains and these types of granites need to be sealed. Typically these types of porous granites are not the highest quality granites and these types of granites should be avoided for making a countertop. You should always research your particular granite type to be sure that it is a quality stone. You will find that the vast majority of granites are extremely dense stones that make an excellent countertop material.
3. Cambria and Zodiaq quartz countertops are more maintenace free then granite. Quartz countertop manufactures want you to believe that granite will lose its shine over time and need to be frequently sealed and polished to keep them looking beautiful. As stated most granite countertops never need to be sealed. By the same token quartz countertops will also not benefit from being sealed and they are very non porous materials. Granite is one of the hardest stones on the planet and granite countertops will rarely need to be polished and will typically last many years without showing their age. With quartz type countertops being not as hard as granite they will eventually need to be polished to bring back the shine that they had when they were initially installed.
4. Quartz is a more durable material then granite. It is true that quartz is actually more durable the granite but this is not true for quartz countertops. Granite is typically 40 percent quartz so the quartz in granite is extremely durable and resistant to man made materials. When the quartz is mixed with resins to make countertops the countertop material is now susceptible to damage by a number of man made substances. Strong solvents, glues, as well as strong alkaline materials such as floor strippers can break up the resins in the quartz countertops causing the quartz countertop to become damaged. While a typical countertop will not come in contact with these types toxic materials there is always the potential for the countertop to become damaged with these substances. Granite on the other hand is a natural stone and resistant to all types of man made solvents and high alkaline substances. There is an extremely small percentage of granites that contain silicas in them and these have the potential to be damaged by acidic products just like other acid sensitive stone like marble or slate. There are only a few granites that are acid sensitive and you should definitely research your particular granite to ensure that your granite is not acid sensitive.
5. Cambria and Zodiaq countertops are more beautiful and have a more consistent look then granite. Quartz countertops do have a more uniform look to them and you will not get the natural veining and similar natural "imperfections" associated with a natural stone such as granite. This is more a question of taste then anything else. Some people prefer the consistent look of Cambria and Zodiaq quartz while other people prefer the natural look of granite. For the vast majority of people the natural beauty of stone will win out over the consistent look of quartz but this is all a question of taste.
6. Cambria and Zodiaq quartz countertops have a more polished appearance than granite. There really is no law or countertop accreditation organization that can monitor and control claims by the many countertop manufacturing companies. The truth is that granite countertops will always be more highly polished and have more clarity than quartz countertops. It is impossible to polish the quartz resin material to have more of a polished appearance then when you polish granite. When you are deciding on what type of material to use for a countertop you should always take samples home and look at them in various lights to see how the countertop material will reflect light in your particular home
   
7. Granite countertops have soft spots and imperfections that can be porous and absorb stains. This can be true but this statement by Cambria and Zodiaq is very much overstated. Granite is a natural stone that is made in nature so anything is possible. It is possible for a granite slab to have some imperfections and some people may say that this is what makes granite such a beautiful stone. If you do choose to have granite countertops you should definitely ask to choose your stone and inspect the particular stone to ensure that it does not have any huge imperfections that might detract from its appearance.  It is also necessary to seal granite countertops to protect any porous areas of the granite stone that are somewhat porous.
   
8. Quartz countertops have a lifetime warranty. You will find that both the Cambria and Zodiaq lifetime warranties are actually "Limited Lifetime Warranties". While their warranties are better than nothing they really do not mean much. If for example a solvent comes into contact with one of quartz countertops and etches the finish both Cambria and Zodiaq warranties state that they are not liable for these types of conditions.

Both types countertops just need a normal pH neutral cleaning product designed for cleaning natural stone for their daily cleaning and maintenance. It is not necessary to use any type of harsh chemicals on either of these countertops and the pH neutral formula is a safe and effective cleaning product for both of these non porous surfaces.