granite vs silestone countertops

[huey duey & luey]

We are starting to remodel our kitchen and I can't figure out what countertope to get. Doeas anyone know which ones is better. I have 3 young children so the more durable the better. Thanks
Tara

 

[LuvN~Travel]

After comparing them, I decided we would get the Silestone, since it gave you all of the 'advantages' of the granite, and didn't have to be resealed repeatedly. I'm all for ease! BTW, ours are going to be the Kona Beige. They have already done the template, now we are just waiting on the counters to be installed.
Good luck on your choice.
Kim

 

[kbkids]

Ditto above! We're building a new house and have decided to go with Silestone. We almost went with Kona Beige, but have decided on Brazilian Brown instead. Honestly, my final selling point was that I simply like the colors better with the Silestone. Sealing the granite is not difficult, but it's just one less thing for me to have to do.

 

[JimFitz]

They have a new Granite coming out in July that never has to be resealed. I am not sure of the name, but I read about it in a magazine.

Each have the pros and cons. I would go with Granite only because there is so much more variety to choose from and you can find a slab that you really want.

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

I worked with a woman whose husband installed granite countertops. He would not install one in their own home because they had small chidren. There is a very slight chance that kids could be exposed to some sort of contaminate with the granite. It's very rare, but he didn't want to take the chance and it's his own business.

 

[JimFitz]

I worked with a woman whose husband installed granite countertops. He would not install one in their own home because they had small chidren. There is a very slight chance that kids could be exposed to some sort of contaminate with the granite. It's very rare, but he didn't want to take the chance and it's his own business.

You wouldn't happen to work for Dupont, do you?

 

[Poohnatic]

We have the silestone at work. We're a professional kitchen, and my boss picked it because his opinion was that it would hold up to the wear and tear.

I like how it cleans up-it looks awesome. Ironically, it's very similar in appearance to my mica countertops. When it's time to replace the countertops someday, I'll be getting the silestone.

Suzanne

 

[arminnie]

I think it really depends on what you want it to look like. I know people who were sold on Silestone but hated what it looked like in big pieces - too uniform for their tastes.

I've had granite in two different homes for the past 15 years and never had a problem with any staining from red wine, oil or anything. I think I only sealed it twice in all of that time. You name it, and I've probably spilled it.

If I decide to replace the formica that we have now in Arkansas I don't know what I would choose. I think it would be on looks. They hold up very well. I know I would never get Corian or any of those. I'd go with a laminate if I couldn't afford the stone.

 

[DisTeach1]

Well, we went with Silestone slabs in Brazillian Brown slabs and we love it. We have a very large kitchen, so it was still very pricey. I have to tell you, if you have kids, the wear and tear, and the upkeep really sold us on Silestone.

So now for the story...About two weeks after our new kitchen was complete, my 11 year old son was cooking pasta. I am teaching him how to cook, but wasn't paying attention too much. We had our puppies in the house and I was in the kitchen, relaxing with a glass of wine and playing with the puppies. So, I was "there" but not really paying attention. Well, my son forgot to put water in the pan and turned the gas up high. After a bit, the pan got SO HOT it started smoking and burning. So, my son grabbed it, but burnt his hand and set it down on the new silestone. I grabbed two pot holders, picked the pot up, put a potholder under the pan, and then helped my son with his burnt hand. In a few minutes, I grabbed the pan, and realized it was so hot, that it completely burned through the pot holder and the pan was ruined because the pot holder was seared onto the bottom of the pan. Anyways, there was a crystalized white ring on my new Silestone that wouldn't come off and I was heartsick. I assured my son I wasn't mad at him-after all, he was a kid, and I was in charge of supervising him.

Well, we looked into our options and none of them were cheap. Silsestone can withstand high heat, but not at the temperature that burns potholders. Replacing that segment of the slab would have cost over $2000 for that section. So, we were stuck and I was sick!!!

Anyways, over the last year, amazingly enough, the ring of white crystalized silestone has slowly disappeared and you can't see it at all, although you can still feel it if you run your hand over it. We are amazed, to say the least, and are really sold on Silestone because of this!

So, morale of the story, if you have kids, and want something that will stand up to abuse, still look great and have very little upkeep, Silestone is for you.

 

[yearbook50]

A huge problem with Granite is that you have to buy a dishwasher that is side mounted because you can not drill into the granite to install your dishwasher. Typically only the high end dishwashers have the ability to be top mounted.

 

[momrek06]

I just built a brand new home here in MA and chose CORIAN countertops...no one on this Thread has mentioned that...is Corian not popular

Also I am not sure what Silestone is

I love my Corian but Granite was out of our price range for the size kitchen we needed counters for. I heard Granite is sweeeeet!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I watched the guys who installed our granite cut holes in ours for our sink top, soap dispenser and all the other things we needed, so I know that really isn't true.

Also, the big fuss everyone seems to have about resealing a granite countertop is as simple as wiping a sealing liquid over your countertop once a year...IMHO, not a big deal at all!

My vote is for granite. We found a fabricator who picked our slabs and cut them for us...and saved a lot of money in the process--i.e., $4000 versus $5800 from Home Depot.

Do plenty of research before purchasing either one!

 

[kbkids]

Well, we went with Silestone slabs in Brazillian Brown slabs and we love it.

Got any pictures you can share?? I'm having a time trying to decide on a backsplash. We're going with Brazilian Brown, our cabinets will be a coffee-glazed maple, and I would like to do something neutral with the floors. Can't really decide on the backsplash. I originally wanted something similar to the floors, taupe/beige tiles - diamond pattern, but not sure how this will look up against the countertops. Any thoughts?

 

[gobledygook]

Got any pictures you can share?? I'm having a time trying to decide on a backsplash. We're going with Brazilian Brown, our cabinets will be a coffee-glazed maple, and I would like to do something neutral with the floors. Can't really decide on the backsplash. I originally wanted something similar to the floors, taupe/beige tiles - diamond pattern, but not sure how this will look up against the countertops. Any thoughts?

I'm having this dilema with the backsplash as well. We have granite counters (I don't remember the name of the color but they're a lightish brown) and dark brown cabinets. I was thinking of a tin backsplash in a copper color. How do you think that would look? I do like my granite though!

 

[golfgal]

I'm having this dilema with the backsplash as well. We have granite counters (I don't remember the name of the color but they're a lightish brown) and dark brown cabinets. I was thinking of a tin backsplash in a copper color. How do you think that would look? I do like my granite though!

I don't have pictures but a friend of mine did her backsplash in tin with a copper color and it looks really nice. She has hickory cabinets and Corian counters that would be similar to the Diana Pearl Silestone.

My MIL has had Silestone for at least 5 years and it still looks brand new. She loves it. My SIL just put it in her kitchen and it is really nice. About the only difference between Silestone and Granite that I have noticed is that Granite is a little thicker and feels colder to the touch. Nothing important at all. Also, not all granites need to be sealed.

Momrek06--silestone is a quartz countertop similar to granite but is supposed to be more durable. The big difference between Corian and Silestone/Granite is that Silestone/Granite are heat resistan, you can put a hot pan right out of the oven on the counter without anything and it won't burn. You can also cut food on the counter and it won't scratch. Corian isn't quite as durable but it is easy to clean.

When we redo our kitchen we will go with either Silestone or Granite.

 

[huey duey & luey]

Got any pictures you can share?? I'm having a time trying to decide on a backsplash. We're going with Brazilian Brown, our cabinets will be a coffee-glazed maple, and I would like to do something neutral with the floors. Can't really decide on the backsplash. I originally wanted something similar to the floors, taupe/beige tiles - diamond pattern, but not sure how this will look up against the countertops. Any thoughts?

thanks everyone

btw Our cabinets are also a maple, coffee glaze
we are using an independent company, they are also doing our tile work. Going in, I was all set with the silestone, and the owner really preferred the granite. She works with both and the price is really comparable, so I don't think that was her motivation.

 

[pearlieq]

We're choosing granite. Partially it's because we want the interest and natural variance of stone, but mostly it's because I want a very high gloss finish and I've never seen that from silestone. It has a very matte finish, and is almost institutional looking in its uniformity.

I can handle sealing once a year. Nothing is as beautiful as granite!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

A huge problem with Granite is that you have to buy a dishwasher that is side mounted because you can not drill into the granite to install your dishwasher. Typically only the high end dishwashers have the ability to be top mounted.

Huh?

I have granite and have a $400 Figidaire dishwasher. Nothing high-end about it, trust me.

Out of all the granite myths out there, this is a new one. By the way, one of the oldest is the "chance that granite carries pesticide", or whatever scare tactic is currently out.

It's all a bunch of BS.

There have been about five threads on granite and other solid surface counters in the last six months. If you do a search you're going to find tons of info.

I have granite. I love it. Sealing takes about as much energy as wiping on cleaner and wiping it back off again. There is no pesticide in it. It doesn't harbor bacteria (I have CDC info I can post). The big-box stores highly mark up their products. A fabricator is the way to go. I think that's it...

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I just built a brand new home here in MA and chose CORIAN countertops...no one on this Thread has mentioned that...is Corian not popular

I think it depends on where you live. I sell real estate in Houston and it's on its way out here. You very rarely see it being installed in new construction anymore.

The big thing here is granite and man-made quartz counters, of which Silestone is one of.

By the way, Corian here is more expensive than granite.

 

[JimFitz]

Huh?

I have granite and have a $400 Figidaire dishwasher. Nothing high-end about it, trust me.

Out of all the granite myths out there, this is a new one. By the way, one of the oldest is the "chance that granite carries pesticide", or whatever scare tactic is currently out.

It's all a bunch of BS.

There have been about five threads on granite and other solid surface counters in the last six months. If you do a search you're going to find tons of info.

I have granite. I love it. Sealing takes about as much energy as wiping on cleaner and wiping it back off again. There is no pesticide in it. It doesn't harbor bacteria (I have CDC info I can post). The big-box stores highly mark up their products. A fabricator is the way to go. I think that's it...

Very nice kitchen.....can we see more pics?? Pics of the range? What are the dimensions of your Kitchen?

Also.......that poor dog!!!