According to market research granite remains the top choice among homeowners looking to buy or replace their kitchen countertops and accounted for 56% of countertop sales over the past year. The next most popular options, quartz and laminate, are miles behind and tied for second at 13% each, with solid surfacing coming in 4th.

What makes granite so great? It’s beautiful, durable, and the best at resisting damage from normal wear and tear. Here’s how it breaks down compared to other natural stones:

Granite Resists heat, scratches, and stains (when sealed)

Marble Not as resistant to heat and stains (because it’s more porous) and scratches/chips more easily

Limestone Very resistant to heat but is the easiest to scratch, nick, and stain (even if sealed)

A few tips on buying granite countertops:

• Because it’s a natural stone no two countertops will have the same look, vein pattern, and exact color. If you’re very particular you should choose the slab yourself.
• You can save money by going with a thinner slab (usually 3/4″) but you’ll get the most beautiful and durable results by opting for a thicker (1″+) option.
• Most granite countertops don’t make for a good DIY project and should be installed professionally.
• Seams are fairly visible with granite — ask about seamless installation options.