I am currently hopelessly in love with white marble. My iphone case is white marble, the screen saver on my computer is white marble, my current favorite necklace is awhite marble bar, I cannot seem to get enough of this amazing white natural stone! When it came time to start picking out tile for the house, I could hardly wait. I wanted to do white MARBLE EVERYTHING!!! After relentlessly pinning photo after photo of white marble bathrooms & kitchens my husband and I went to the stone company and got a quick reality check. Marble, is SO ridiculously expensive!

Having a kitchen with a gorgeous white counter top was a definite MUST on my must have list, and I was so bummed when I found out that it would cost an absolute fortunate to have it installed throughout the house!

As we continued our search for countertops, we discovered that there are so many different alternatives to marble that give a similar look. Amongst the family marble of look a likes, my absolute favorite is Quartz. Although Quartz is more expensive than your traditional granite, it is less expensive than marble and it will not etch/stain/scratch with time.

Trying to pick between Marble & Quartz?

After doing much research this is what we discovered!

Marble Vs. Quartz Countertops

What is Marble?

Marble is created when sediment is put under an immense amount pressure and metaphoric rock formed. White Marble in particular, is mostly made of recrystallized carbonate and forms when metamorphism occurs with pure limestone. In classical times many artists used marble as a material to create statues because of its softness and resistance to shattering. Nowadays, marble is mostly used as a building material.

Cost? Marble counter tops typically range from $125- $250 a square foot.

Benefits of using Marble countertops:

1. It is a natural stone & varies with each piece making it incredibly unique
2. This stone is highly coveted by designers and artists alike for its beautiful veins
3. Heat resistant
4. Comes a variety of colors, designs & finishes

What is Quartz?

Quartz is the one of the most abundant materials on the earth’s crust. It is “a hard white colorless material consisting of silicon dioxide that is found in igneous, metaphoric and sedimentary rocks”. It is a engineered stone which means it is manufactured and comprised of quartz, resin, polymers and pigments. Since Quartz is man-made, it can be colored & dyed in many different shades.

Cost? Quartz counter tops will range anywhere between $65 – $100a square foot, depending on the type of coloring.

Benefits of using Quartz countertops:

1. Affordability. It is much more cost effective than marble because of its abundance.
2. Durability. Quartz It is the most durable countertop since it is manufactured, it and will not stain or leave marks from spills, it is also scratch resistant.
3. Low maintenance. Marble & Granite must be sealed every few years to prevent bacterial growth & staining, while quartz is non porous & certified by the National Sanitation department as a safe countertop.
4. Design consistency. If you’re looking for something that is even throughout, quartz is the stone for you! Since marble is a natural stone, each piece is different and varies in colors and design while quartz is colored evenly throughout. Since it is colored evenly, it may be hard for an installer to hide seems between the pieces compared to marble.

MS International stone company, has many options for Quartz counter tops that look like marble or granite! Here are some of their color options! Each piece is beautifully made, looks incredibly natural & is as durable as ever!