When people are interested in doing some home improvement in their kitchens, it's common for them to debate if it's better to have granite or marble countertops. Both are high-end materials, but you might not know exactly what the differences between to two are, other than whatever your preferred aesthetics tastes include. To help you decide which one you prefer, here are two of the differences.

Appearance

Granite

Granite comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. In fact, each slab of granite is so unique that no two pieces are identical, and many homeowners spend a great amount of time choosing their perfect piece of granite.

Marble

Marble comes in several colors and patterns, but white with gray veining is the most commonly-seen type. Other marble colors include brown, light beige, and light yellow. Like granite, marble is also an entirely natural stone.

Care Requirements

Granite

This is a porous stone, so spills should never sit on the countertop for more than a couple of minutes, otherwise, the liquid will seep into the granite and leave a stain. Furthermore, it's important to wipe granite counters down daily and seal them about once a year. Harsh chemical cleaners should also be avoided.

Marble

Like granite, marble should be sealed, as well. Acidic foods, such as tomatoes, should never sit on the marble counter for more than a few minutes. On marble, one of the dangers of acidic food is that it can create etchings in the marble.

One final area that people are often concerned about is the price. Granite and marble are comparable, although prices of marble are slightly higher than those of granite. If you're trying to decide between these two natural stones, you'll need to commit to caring for your countertops, regardless of which one you choose. Beyond that, a lot of your choice is aesthetic taste.