Learn the key differences between these two stylish countertop choices
Recycled glass countertops add unique style to your kitchen.
Granite countertops are durable and attractive.
Both options are available at a wide range of prices.
Recycled glass counters are easy to clean with plain water and soap.
Granite surfaces are porous, which can lead to staining.
Both recycled glass and granite are popular choices for kitchen countertops, but each delivers a unique look and set of features. Depending on your personal preferences, you might prefer the eco-friendliness and artistic flair of recycled glass or the elegant beauty and sturdiness of granite. Here is how to choose the right material for your kitchen.
Recycled glass countertops and granite countertops overlap in some ways, but they are very different materials. The biggest difference is that recycled glass counters are human-made and customizable, while granite countertops are made of natural stone that is quarried and cut into slabs. Because recycled glass is manufactured in a time-intensive process, these countertops are more costly than most types of granite; they also come in a much larger range of colors, patterns, and styles than naturally formed granite.
Both are very durable. They require some care and maintenance, but both are considered to be relatively easy to care for and maintain. Overall, your choice between recycled glass countertops and granite countertops will come down to your preferences on style, cost, and look.
Manufacturers source glass for recycled glass countertops from curbside recycling and building demolition sites. Glass shards are crushed and reassembled into a colorful pattern or mosaic within a cement or resin binding agent. More rarely, a manufacturer may melt down all the glass from various sources to form a single slab.
During the assembly process, workers may add pigmentation to create a wide range of looks and styles. The result can be a vibrant riot of color, adding some visual spice to your cooking space. And because production uses materials already in existence, most homeowners consider it the more eco-friendly option.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sustainable, made from recycled glass | Can crack and chip |
| Easy to clean and maintain | Not impervious to heat |
| Colorful, unique appearance | More expensive than other countertop materials |
| Customized colors and patterns available | Customizations can further raise the cost |
Best for:
Homes with an eclectic, bright, modern, nontraditional, or artsy style
Those who prefer a human-made countertop material over natural stone
Homeowners who want a sustainable, recycled countertop option
Homeowners looking for an easy-to-clean, easy-to-maintain, non-fussy countertop material
Those with mid-range to higher budgets
Instead of making new material to build countertops, recycled glass manufacturers scour existing sources that would otherwise wind up in landfills or elsewhere as garbage or demolition debris. Some countertops, however, may use binding agents that undo some of those environmental gains.
Recycled glass countertops are easy to clean and maintain. Because the material is not porous, it can be cleaned regularly with soap and water. If the countertop uses a cement-based binder, it must be regularly sealed just like granite countertops.
Recycled glass countertops are generally made of crushed glass with a binding agent or a single piece of glass. The former process can produce a unique, colorful, and translucent appearance that cannot be replicated with other materials, including granite. Some manufacturing companies allow you to choose specific bits of glass or specify certain colors, giving you even more control over the appearance of your countertops.
Are recycled glass countertops durable? The answer depends on your definition of durable and the exact countertops you purchase. Some recycled glass countertops can crack or chip, either over time or from extreme heat. Placing a hot pan on the surface without a trivet or dropping a heavy pan on it can result in chips or cracks that might be difficult to repair.
According to the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, glass registers around 6.5 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, which helps track minerals by their relative hardness. This medium-hardness score makes glass slightly more susceptible to chipping and breakage than countertop materials found on the harder end of the scale.
Recycled glass countertops cost around $2,700 for the average kitchen installation. Depending on your requested customizations, type of glass, and overall kitchen dimensions, recycled glass countertops cost an average of $65 to $140 per square foot.
Granite is mined from quarries in slabs and chunks that are ultimately reduced to slabs using specialized tools. The slabs are then polished on one side to create a smooth surface. Edges may also be polished and shaped using computerized or smaller hand-held routers.
The manufacturer will apply a high-quality sealing agent (or may leave this to the customer to do). After the sealant dries, the surface is buffed to a sheen, revealing the natural beauty of the underlying stone.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very heat resistant | Porous, needs sealing |
| Resistant to chips and scratches; repairs are possible | Internationally sourced materials are not as sustainable |
| Low maintenance and easy to clean | Limited variety of colors and patterns |
| Range of costs, including affordable slabs |
Best for:
Homes with a more traditional, classic style
Those who want natural stone countertops
Homeowners who want a countertop that is heat and scratch resistant
Homeowners who want a popular countertop material that will retain its value
Those with a range of budgets who want to invest in a quality, durable surface
Granite is one of the most heat resistant countertop materials you can choose for your countertops. While it is best to use trivets on any counter surface, it is possible to place a hot pan directly from the oven onto a granite countertop without any risk of damage.
Granite scores about a seven out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and is slightly more resistant to chips and scratches than recycled glass. When chips and cracks do occur, it is best to call a local granite countertop repair pro for fixes. Usually, they are small enough to fill with epoxy and buff out, so repair work is not necessarily extensive or costly.
Granite is generally considered to be a fairly low maintenance countertop material. Sealant for a granite countertop should last for 10 or more years. Best of all, most homeowners can take a DIY approach and do the job themselves when it is time to replenish the sealant. It might not be as easy cleaning granite countertops as recycled glass, but it is not the toughest job around, either.
Installing countertops ranges from $2,00 to $4,500, with the exact cost depending on the kitchen size and granite quality you choose. The cost may be higher because it is important to hire a local countertop contractor near you who is familiar with natural stone countertop installation and knows how to cut granite countertops. Whole slabs run anywhere from $15 to $140 per square foot, although you can save money by selecting prefabricated pieces wherever possible, at a typical cost of $10 to $35 per square foot.
Overall, granite is relatively stain resistant, though less so than recycled glass surfaces. Granite is porous, unlike glass, and needs a sealant to increase its resistance to stains. If the sealant wears off, the granite will be more susceptible to staining.
Not all granite comes from domestic quarries. When sourced from overseas sites, this dramatically increases the energy required to transport granite back to the United States for sale and installation.
Which material is best for your kitchen—recycled glass or granite? It depends to a large extent on your personal preferences and needs. Let us look at how each option fares in a head-to-head battle.
| Recycled Glass Countertops | Granite Countertops |
|---|---|
| Made from post-consumer recycled materials | Natural stone |
| Overseas production and cement binders are not eco-friendly | Transportation distance and mining may not be eco-friendly |
| Variety of colors, patterns, and styles | Limited natural colors and patterns |
| Scratch and stain resistant | Heat resistant |
| Cost ranges from middle to high | Cost ranges from affordable to high |
Because of their status as upcycled products from building demolition and other recycling sources, recycled glass countertops are generally viewed as more sustainable than other materials, including granite. But overseas production can eliminate sustainability gains, as can the use of cement binding agents, so make sure you know where the glass in your countertops is coming from.
On the other hand, granite does not exclusively come from nearby quarries. Some countertops are sourced from other nations, raising the energy requirements for transport and adding to granite’s production footprint.
Recycled glass presents a unique aesthetic appealing to many homeowners who want to stand out and express their individuality. Your countertop may produce a three-dimensional look and feel, depending on the recycling process the manufacturer uses. Customization and coloring agents during processing can also create a stylish appearance.
Granite countertops provide a different yet equally striking look and feel and come in various natural colors. That aesthetic appeal explains why granite counters have been popular for many years now.
As recycled glass countertops are human-made, they have a nearly infinite number of color and style options. Granite, on the other hand, is a natural stone that is available in a limited number of natural colors and patterns (though there are many).
Both materials can handle the kitchen heat, but it is hard to find a more heat resistant countertop material than granite, which can take pots and pans straight from cooking surfaces (although, again, trivets are always recommended). Recycled glass surfaces are heat resistant under normal conditions, but they might crack or chip under an extremely hot pan or dish.
Recycled glass countertops are nonporous, giving spilled foods and liquids nowhere to go. Cleanup is simple—a paper towel or sponge with soapy water is usually all you need. By contrast, porous granite surfaces seem to suck up liquid spills. Untreated acidic substances, such as citrus juice or vinegar, can result in hard-to-remove etching, discoloration, and altered texture.
The cost for recycled glass ranges from $65 to $140 per square foot. You can expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $140 per square foot for granite. This means you could wind up spending about the same or even more for recycled glass instead of granite, depending on your specific preferences. If cost is a concern, take some time to research kitchen countertop ideas on a budget, as recycled glass and granite countertops can both be on the higher end of material and installation costs.
Overall, recycled glass countertops may give you more bang for your budget, especially if you are already drawn to artistic colors, as opposed to the more natural stone look of granite. If, however, you prefer natural stone and do not mind minor maintenance, granite is a hardy and beautiful choice. Your personal and home style will be the best indicators of whether the more traditional look of granite countertops or the more modern appeal of recycled glass countertops will be best for your kitchen. Whichever material you choose, make sure you hire a seasoned local kitchen countertop installer to install yours.
