Hanstone Vs. Granite

HanStone Basics

• HanStone is made from 93 percent mined quartz, with the remaning 7 percent comprising of a combination of polyester resin and pigment. Polyester resin, a thermoplastic synthetic resin, is often found in fiberglass. On Moh's scale of mineral hardness, the natural quartz in HanStone has a rating of seven, ranking just below diamond, sapphire and topaz.

Granite Basics

• Granite is a naturally-occurring igneous rock composed mostly of quartz and feldspar, with small amounts of mica, hornblende and other minerals. This coarse-grained rock, which forms from magma over the course of millions of years, features a distinctive flecked pattern. Dense granite, which weighs about 19 pounds per square foot, typically has a rating of 6 out of ten on Moh's scale of mineral hardness.

Similarities

• Because quartz is a vital component of both, HanStone and granite share many similarities. Both substances heartily resist scratches and impact. Like granite, Hanwha recommends HanStone for countertops, islands, peninsulas, vanity tops, showers, table tops, sills, walls and wainscoting. Both surfaces require simple cleaning with dish soap and warm water. Both surfaces exhibit visible seams when installed, though installers typically fill the seams with color-matched epoxy.

Differences

• According to Hanwha, HanStone is about six times stronger and more durable than granite. While granite is porous and needs to be sealed, HanStone is nonporous, which helps prevent bacteria and mildew penetration. HanStone, unlike granite, does not require sealing and is stain-resistant. However, granite offers better heat resistance than HanStone. While granite is a natural product, HanStone's polyester resin content makes it partially synthetic. Moreover, suppliers offer granite slabs in an almost endless amount of colors and custom sizes, while HanStone only comes in a handful of sizes and 32 patterns, as listed on Hanwha's website.