Ask Joshua - Granite Countertops - Outdated?

Hi Joshua,

My husband and I are discussing renovating our kitchen early next year. We spoke to a few local realtors for opinions on good investments for resell value since we may sell within a few years. All of them said that granite countertops are no longer popular and no one wants them anymore. I was surprised to learn that because I love the way granite looks. So, since granite countertops seem to be outdated now- what kind of countertop is popular?

Susan - Santa Clarita, California

Mediterranean style kitchen designed by Joshua Jones, JJones Design Co.

Hi Susan,

Thanks for asking about countertop options since it seems that granite countertops are no longer a hot commodity, or even desired, in your area. On the question of whether they are outdated or not, it really depends on your geographic location and the market trends in your area. On the more than 30 kitchen projects I’ve worked on in the past year, most of my clients don’t want granite. Many had previous poor experiences with granite as a countertop material and decided they wanted to replace it as part of their remodel. However, many of my interior design colleagues say that granite countertops are still popular where they practice…it just depends on area and personal preference. However, you’re looking for resale value, not only your personal preference, so let’s set granite aside as a no-go.

Easily the most popular countertops that I have seen or had my clients request are quartz and quartzite. I think you will like these options for a few reasons:

Quartz is a man made material and can integrate marble-like veining or granite patterning. It works really well as slab countertops. It’s very strong and heat resistant, so you have a lot less worry about cracking or staining than you would with a natural stone, so they are very easy to maintain. Pricing is good. My caution is that cheaper quartz can have a very fake and pixelated look to it’s veining that definitely does not look nice up close. Make sure that you see any quartz you want to purchase in person and is from a reputable vendor or brand.

Quartzite is a natural cut countertop stone slab which also can have either granite or marble patterns or veining. Like any natural stone, there can be a lot of variation and color difference between slabs. So again, look at it in person as what you see as a sample may not represent what you actually get. The best part about quartzite is that is highly scratch and stain resistant, durable, and lasts a long time.

Hope you find this helpful for you to make the right decision on which direction you take for your kitchen renovation. If you need any help with the design of your kitchen, I’d be happy to assist. You can get in touch with me here for further discussion on the kitchen project.

Warmly,

Joshua

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