"These granite counter tops are 'dated' and they need to be replaced."
Yeah, they are dated at about 100 million years, give or take a few millions ;)
It's liek salt: It is amazing how the companies know which salt, that was millions of years down there, is going to run stale in 2 more years and always get that one up.
Lately I've heard people justifying "upgrading" to quartz because "granite requires too much upkeep". That's a marketing ploy if ever there was one. Head-->Desk.
Are they cutting meat with diamond-bit drills right on the counter?
Beats me! Also, people think quartz countertops are "natural". LMAO.
OT, but here's my experience:
We renovated kitchen and baths in our house late 2018. Went to the big Orange and Blue box stores, then a couple of stone warehouse showrooms to learn and understand countertop materials. Laminate was a no-no. We were very concerned about staining, as we use a lot of spices, esp. turmeric.
At one of the warehouse showrooms, the owner, from India, told me that everything can be stained given enough time (he sells quartz, granite, onyx, marble, travertine, quartzite, porcelain, and semi-precious materials). Very light quartz can stain. Very hot pots on quartz will scorch and do things to the resin that binds.
As
@Dicey said, the misconception that "quartz is natural" is pervasive. He suggested to go with a natural material and go with a darker color. However, he was quoting us $1000+/slab for the granite we liked.
I took a few light-colored (but not white) stone and quartz samples and conducted stain tests at home. The man was right.
We found another stone place, barebones, that supplies to the stone warehouses. (The stone warehouses are the ones who deliver your stone to the fabricator when you place the order via the big box store.) This place was half the price, plus free delivery to fabricator.
After installation, I used a water-based sealer (which doesn't perform well). We paid for a man to come in and apply 2 coats of a polymer-based sealer (wife wanted it done professionally). That stuff works great. Need to reseal every 2 years, but can do it myself.
Lastly, properly sealed granite doesn't need more upkeep than our 40 year old laminate countertops.
The price/sq ft at the supplier warehouse was X, price at the fancier showroom stone warehouse was 1.5-2X, price at big box store is 2-2.5X.