Quartz is more enviromentally freindly. It's from here in the US where Granite is out of state and would need to be shipped here.
I recieved this info from a contractor when I was looking for quotes on remodeling my kitchen.

We want to redo our countertops and what we've found is that granite can be a lot cheaper than quartz, depending on where you're looking (not the big box stores though). And for the color we want, you really can't tell the difference. I think part of the issue is that a very small number of companies (basically 3 to 5) control the quartz market whereas granite can come from a variety of sources.

ABG (anything but ... )

I put two quartz sinks in my kitchen about 10 years ago. Sinks get more wear and tear than counters; now there are some hairline cracks, minor stains and minor chips. On the positive side, they look fresh and are quiet in use.

LOVE quartz. I have quartz counters that have recycled glass in them. It's also has a microban built into it.

I have caeserstone counters in my kitchen and I love them! They're durable, they clean easily and they were inexpensive compared to other solid surfaces.

I had quartz countertops in my old kitchen and loved them (although I'd be sure to buy the kind that is NOT permeated with triclosan if I bought again, since I don't think that is necessary).

There are a few granite countertops I've seen and loved, but in general, I think they are overused and a lot of people make some really ugly choices that are not going to age well.

@Fiona - I agree. When I went house hunting I saw one house that had been totally renovated...with forest green granite counters! For something so expensive (relative to the kitchen), I am glad that even though I have to spend the money to redo the counters, I can choose the simple kind of counters I want.

Love the look of quartz, although I have never had it in a kitchen personally. I am of the "anything but granite" camp, though, for the pure fact that it's now considered a requirement of every home buyer on HGTV. Get creative people!

I'm really not an "anything but granite" kind of person mostly because I hate the look of formica and laminate and haven't had to live with truly ugly granite. I'll probably be putting granite or quartz in my kitchen, whichever ends up being more cost effective.

Don't forget about soapstone! An alternative for those who want a dense, matte feel and look. Seen it work from an aesthetic standpoint in both industrial/contemporary and rural/rustic decor.

We installed Ceasarstone in our condo kitchen a year ago and I love everything about it. Easy to clean, modern clean almost crisp feel, nice and cool for pastry (although, yes, not as cold as granite). Just bought a house and of course it has tan/brown/black mottled granite in the kitchen. Feeling a bit guilty about the fact that I'm going to rip it out immediately upon getting the keys, but at least in Seattle there are places we can donate it for reuse, I'm sure someone will appreciate it more than me. And yes of course, this is a very first world problem... I just need clean lines to feel inspired and looking at intense granite patterns gives me a headache.

I like the idea of having quartz. I did alot of research on this topic and I went with granite in my kitchen remodel. It's not a busy colorful granite, but it I really like it and one of the major factors was price. For my kitchen, quartz was $3k more than granite and I did not want to try to afford it.

I'm with everyone here in the ABG camp but if you do happen to buy a house with granite counters and feel guilty about tossing them... any idea how much it would cost to have the exisiting granite re-cut/polished/etc. for use somewhere else (ie: bathroom sink).

I love my Silestone counters. I'd love to replace our old tile showerstall with Silestone or another quartz product - no grout lines & supereasy to clean.... can't afford it for now though.

and granite looks dated.

So many more color choices in manufactured quartz, also love Syndecrete and soapstone, or even polished concrete. But strangely enough, granite is often cheaper. I was shocked at the price of Caesarstone when helping my parents with their kitchen when their tile counter tops lost some of the edging and the original tile was no longer available. When I got the bid for the beautiful warm ochre quartz, especially for sizing the backsplash and the cutout for the sink opening, I went shopping for tile. I found a lovely Italian in a size for the edge that worked and in a glaze that matched the large original Italian octagonals on the countertop. Fixed the whole thing for a pittance with a new and better sink that fit perfectly in the original opening. and a great new faucet. Looks fabulous too. Not always necessary to slash and burn and spend a lot of money.

Whoa, there are other people that don't like granite too?! I thought I was the only one. I am a House Hunters fan and keep hearing all these people rave about granite countertops. I think it looks ugly (or at least the ones I've seen). I'm currently renting (old 1920s house) so I don't have to worry about countertops and I'm not in the housing market yet but I hope when I get there, there will be more options than granite.

I have Cambria quartz counters and I think they're fantastic. It's definitely not *cheaper* than granite, but I feel like it had all the benefits and fewer drawbacks. Plus, since all the quartz looks are "manufactured", some are quite uniform in color/texture (as in, they don't have the mottling of many granites), some mimic granite or other stone very well, and some are crazy and colorful, if you're into that sort of thing.

I put Silestone counters in my previous home and they were just right for the style and space, though at the time, they were a bit of a strain on the budget. In my current home--very different in character and setting--shine just didn't look right. I wanted a matte finish without the granite price tag and went with a local gray-green slate, picked up straight from the quarry. In fact, I used 12" slate tiles, not even solid surface, with a gray-green grout, and put the same tiles on a bathroom floor and tub surround. I've been very happy. They fit the space, were very easy on the wallet, and have held up well. I also used them for the kitchen backsplash, adding interest with a band of tumbled slate in 1" and 2" variegated colors. If we move again, I'll check out butcher block for at least part of the work surface. (Love the look of wood!) With proper installation and sealants, they might be a reasonable option. I've recently seen solid-core doors repurposed as kitchen counters, and they look terrific.

RIP granite

Love my counters - Cambria - a little cheeper than Silestone. We've had them for 3 years now.

Granite is not that bad as long as it is honed and has a square-edge profile. The polished bullnose edge style is what makes it look so dated. Absolute Black honed can look nice.

Hate granite. I am one who loves old Formica in a retro house.

Amen J.Stella. I agree that granite isn't the defining material people on tv seem to think it is, but the edge profile is the number one thing making many granite counters look dated. That's no reason to throw out an entire class of stone that comes in a zillion looks and varieties.

I agree quartz is a great choice. Depending on your market, it can be cheaper or more expensive than granite. Please note that not all quartz is made in the US. Cambria is made in the US. Caesarstone, one of the major quartz manufacturers, makes some if not all of their product in Israel. I believe Silestone is made in Spain. Granite is also quarried and imported from around the world. Just something to note. I have Caesarstone and really love it. It was the big splurge in my kitchen, and I think it was worth it.

Woo-hoo, that's my countertop in photo#1! We love it!

I was going to bring up soapstone too. Who knew our old science lab countertops could be so chic?

We have Caesarstone! Had it for years, it's gorgeously vibrant and bright (it's blue!), and it looks brand new, seven years on. When we move, we're getting Caesarstone again - it's just a brilliant surface. (We have it in our main bathroom, too, and we'll be getting it in the bathrooms in the new place, too.)

When I bought my little house in 2011, the kitchen had a granite countertop and island. But when I converted my garage to living space, I had a beautiful (Cambria) quartz counter installed in the middle of the room, as a sort of room divider. I like it better than granite.

Just like quartz, granite comes in a variety of colors, 'patterns,' etc. Certain types of quartz would look dated too - and others yet look awfully similar to granite. Context means something, too. Get what you like - both are great, durable surfaces that will serve you well for many years to come with proper maintenance/cleaning. Personally, I have fallen in love with Costa Esmeralda granite for my kitchen, but am considering Caesarstone/Silestone for bathrooms, and Formica for my laundry room (we're building a house).

In my place (Québec, Canada) quarts and granit are not at all the same price. Quartz is a lot higher.

Two things I am sick-to-death of: Granite, Stainless & Fondant (I realize this is completely unrelated to the topic but I'm a former pastry cook). :-/

I love my 1915 house with the old outdated kitchen.

One reason granite is so common...even in the motel industry, is that most of it now comes from China. Another reason NOT to have it. I have never understood the mass appeal.

What K-ROG said. I've seen some heinous granite, but I've seen some really tacky (imo) color and pattern choices in quartz, etc., too. And anything will wind up looking dated, especially if it's popular enough.

Anyone want to take bets on how long before the "ugh, quartz again!" gets up and running?

I have DuPont Zodiaq, and have been very happy with it until recently. When I bought it, the sale price was not significantly different from solid-surface, and the performance and appearance much better. Six years ago, they offered better color selection than Silestone, Cambria or Caesarstone (in our opinion), I can't vouch for what they make now.

I have had a recent problem: 40 hours of a 3-gallon sous vide vessel at 145F put a big crack in my countertop (which has mostly retracted since), through the sink's faucet hole, out the other side of the sink, and to the edge of the counter (about 2 feet of crack total). DuPont has not yet ruled as to whether this is covered by warranty (the service org thinks it probably is), or whether they'd want to replace or repair. I hope it's not replace, since I've got tile backsplash that would be difficult to remove or reinstall, and may not be replaceable.

Anyone who is considering granite should consider the environmental impact of granite quarries.

I purchased a High-Definition Laminate by Wilson for my counter and island in order to stay within my budget. The color/design choices are great and you really can't tell the difference from granite or quartz. Plus they are extremely easy to clean.

I adore out quartz counters. When we redid our kitchen I wanted something in the stone category because it is good for rolling dough etc. Quartz doesn't stain, doesn't easily crack unless you do something incredibly stupid, is easy to clean and doesn't need any maintenance. The maintenance was the biggest thing for me out of anything!

I love my Caesarstone counters, but I do have to stand up for granite. I, too, watch HGTV and was sick of hearing "I must have granite" every freaking episode. The vast majority of granite I saw while house-hunting myself was hideous. BUT, I saw one high-end kitchen remodel in a small studio that had the most beautiful granite counters: They were a fine-grained sea-green-and-sand color with a square-edge profile in a kitchen with simple, unadorned pale-wood cabinets. It wasn't actually my decorating style, but it was truly beautiful.

Quartz is the new trends in the stone countertops business. It's the nonporous that make it hard to stain. It comes with wide range of colors that are truly amazing. Best of all, there is a brand that offers all the good qualities of quartz at lower price. You can check out www.haysonstone.com

Granite feels done to death to me most of the time and I agree with the article about quartz generally being easier to care for and, certainly, more environmentally friendly. Still, a client of mine recently found a granite slab that I just love and it ended up being the focal point of her bathroom. I wrote about it here: http://www.whartoninteriors.com/blog-0/bid/251182/Home-Renovation-I-can-t-believe-it-s-the-same-space

For a client who wanted soapstone or that kind of look in a kitchen, this kind of option would work really well and the granite would be far more durable than softer stones like soapstone. Even though I work in the industry, I am sometimes surprised at the options available out there.