Granite, quartz or whatever work surfaces

[Twelvetimestwo]

Please could someone explain to me which is the definitive best?

Is it granite?

There isn't a definitive answer... sorry😅
I love granite but there is a zillion types of granite and I like some of them a lot more than others. I went to a huge granite importers warehouse near Heathrow and chose an amazing slab of unusual but beautiful granite. I absolutely love it.
Choose what you like the most and what fits your budget and don't overthink it.

I don’t think there is a cut and dried best! It really comes down to personal preference. Granite is totally natural, so you have little say in the pattern. Quartz is man made so has control over colour and regulation of pattern. Composite is cheaper, and a great step between the cost of stone and laminate. All of these are porous, will stain, can be chipped and quartz and composite will burn/melt if you put a hot pot down. Wood will soak up water and swell and warp.

There are pros and cons to all. We personally have gone for a composite solid surface this time as it’s cheaper and I already have it in my bathrooms so know it stands up well to use. (Also my husband is qualified to cut it himself so I don’t have to worry about templating and fitting costs, a major bonus!) but in the past have also used quartz, wood and cheap laminate. Never granite though, too bold for me.

I think I want whatever is hardest wearing, something I can put hot pans down on!

Is that granite?

A quick pan stop won’t damage granite but I really wouldn’t recommend doing it regularly or for a period of time. Especially anywhere near a join, the silicone or sealant will melt. Personally I’d use a pan pad/grid thing. Or the hob!

We had silestone in our last kitchen and it was indestructible. I could put hot pans down, red wine rings wiped off the next day, turmeric came up with a bit of Bar Keepers Friend. I can't wait to redo the kitchen in my new house and change the wooden worktops!

I'm in the final stages of planning my new kitchen and have been through all the work surface choices with our kitchen designer.

The hardest wearing surface that you can literally put a pan on straight from the oven is Dekton. It's a ceramic surface available in many different patterns and styles but it is very pricey.

We have opted for Quartz, several thousand cheaper than the Dekton we had quoted but still he's wearing and good looking. No you can't put hot dishes straight into it, but we will mange to live with that!

We went for quartz and it's been pretty indestructible. We got small sample tiles of the ones we liked before deciding and covered them in coffee, paprika and turmeric. Also bashed them about with a screwdriver. No stains and no damage.
We also asked the workman to leave behind the pieces he'd cut out for the sink and hob so we could leave one on the counter next to the hob and use it for hot pans. So far it's survived hot pans and cutting but I wouldn't dream of doing it to the actual counter top.