Corian or granite?

[Miss Jasmine]

We did a kitchen remodel and a partial master bath remodel earlier this year. You can see the results on the linked renovation thread. We put in Cambria countertops in both rooms. Cambria is just another name brand for a quartz product (like Silestone). I love them.

I would not put in something "plasticy", but that's me.

 

[Maryr1]

I had Avonite (a corian type product). It was just beautiful to look at but it CRACKED about 5 years after instillation. My builder had left the area so I notified the company. The closest service person was 5 hours away. He never showed up when we made appointments for him to come and see it. I lived with it for 5 more years and redid my kitchen last year. I looked at Corian and Silverstone, but I finally went with Granite. It is a darker color (blue something). No special care. I love it. In my other house I have granite in the kitchen-again a dark color(Amadeous)-I have had it 8 years and I love it. In my downstairs "summer kitchen" there I have tumbled marble. That I have to seal once a year and it will stain they say. I haven't had a problem yet.

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks, all!!!


I have absolutely no experience with any of this stuff, so I really appreciate all the responses, and the personal stories!!

 

[jrmasm]

I've always wondered about granite in bathrooms.....who has it, what colors and are you pleased with it? What do you do about a sink?

Sorry OP to pile on!

 

[MareQ]

My granite is also dark and hard and no way it is going to stain.
We have never treated it.

Ditto - it IS as carefree as I think 5 years we have had ours now and it looks brand new.

 

[damo]

We also have dark granite that is about 7 years old and we have never treated it. We have no chips and it looks like new. I'd do granite again in a heartbeat.

 

[ZachnElli]

I have granite in my kitchen and I LOVE it! It's a very unique granite (uronga gold), not uniform at all, very cool! I've spilled everything on it red wine, sharpie markers, nothing stains. I think granite is timeless, just thinking of all those really nice older hotels that have it. I'll admit to still feeling guilty when I sit something hot on it though!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Another vote for granite. I have Uba Tuba, which doesn't stain and rarely needs to be sealed.

IMO, granite is timeless. As a matter of fact, Corian isn't nearly as fashionable here as it once was. When I show homes built in the early 90's, usually this is what they have in them, if they have interior upgrades.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I've always wondered about granite in bathrooms.....who has it, what colors and are you pleased with it? What do you do about a sink?

Sorry OP to pile on!

I have Absolute Black granite in my secondary bathroom and will be putting in Santa Cecilia in my master when we (ever) start our remodel.

I will NEVER ever again put dark granite in a bathroom again. It shows everything. Even toilet paper dust!

ETA: I forgot about your question about the sink. I my secondary bathroom, I have an undermount porcelain sink. In my master, I'm torn between abovemount and an undermount. It depends on the tub, because it too will be sitting on a granite deck.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Put in what you like, since you have to live with it. Granite is now on it's way out. If you were selling last year I would have told you to do granite, but the times are changing and with the downturn in housing granite will not get you back your money. Granite can be stained and needs to be treated yearly or more often, so it is not a carefree option as many think.

It's nowhere near going out in my market, which is huge (Houston). It still pulls in the "wow" factor when I show houses, and it's still the #1 choice for upscale builders.

If granite is going out, what's coming in?

 

[Bumpy Grumpy]

I have granite and love it. If you can, pick out the granite slabs yourselves. Even though you know the name of the granite you like, each slab is unique, the design/pattern changes with each slab.

Arlene

 

[Deb in IA]

Sorry OP to pile on!

No problem! I am learning a lot from everyone's opinions!!

 

[Deb in IA]

If granite is going out, what's coming in?

I'm getting the impression here that it is Silestone?

 

[mickeyfan2]

I'm getting the impression here that it is Silestone?

It is only the wow factor when yours is one of the few with it. When every house has it, then the wow is gone and it dates the house.

 

[MAKmom]

I'm getting the impression here that it is Silestone?

What is in is Quartz Silestone is only 1 of many brands of Quartz. I have a custom counter top business. We fabricate Zodiaq, Cambria, Avanza, Silestone & LG Viatera. Viatera is offering a free sink with 25 sq ft of top. They are really nice undermounts, 7 styles.

Granite & Quartz are the same price....different levels.

Corian looks like plastic next to a Quartz top. I fabricate both.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Put in what you like, since you have to live with it. Granite is now on it's way out. If you were selling last year I would have told you to do granite, but the times are changing and with the downturn in housing granite will not get you back your money. Granite can be stained and needs to be treated yearly or more often, so it is not a carefree option as many think.

What's supposed to replace granite?

Granite has always, and will always be *in*.

People should always be careful going with the newest trend. Trends date a home.

 

[jrmasm]

I just remembered the other reason we dismissed Zodiac. It was more expensive than granite. That was more than 4 years ago and maybe things have changed but at time, that made no sense to me.

 

[MAKmom]

What's supposed to replace granite?

Granite has always, and will always be *in*.

People should always be careful going with the newest trend. Trends date a home.

Quartz. It is made of Stone but it is a man made process. It never needs to be sealed, does not stain. It is stronger than granite but looks like granite.

 

[MAKmom]

I just remembered the other reason we dismissed Zodiac. It was more expensive than granite. That was more than 4 years ago and maybe things have changed but at time, that made no sense to me.

It depends on the level of granite or Zodiaq your are looking at. Some granite is cheaper some is more expensive. We have 4 price levels for Zodiaq & 6 for granite. We custom quote the levels above our 6 levels

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

We went through this when we built our new home, so I feel your pain. We had all kinds of grand ideas..... and looked and searched and debated..... granite and all of the other choices....

We ended up with Formica in our bathrooms and kitchen areas upstairs and down. It's been about 6 years now and I wouldn't change a thing... I love it.

So I guess I am not much help!