26
Feb

Are Glass Countertops Harder Than Granite?

When selecting the material for your countertop, there are several considerations to take into account. One of these is looks, as you want an appealing countertop that will become the focal point of your kitchen. You also very much care about price and durability.

After taking some time and weighing your options, you’ve narrowed it down to two potential materials for your kitchen countertop. These are glass and granite. The question becomes, which is harder?

glass kitchen countertops

To answer that question, we’ll look at the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which was created by Friedrich Mohs in 1822. This mineralogist from Germany came up with the scale by scratching various minerals to see which one fared best.

On the Mohs Scale of Hardness, a material can be rated a 1, meaning it’s the least durable, up to a 10, which is considered the hardest. Here’s how the scale breaks down a slew of materials (some of which are ineligible to be used for countertops):

  • Talc – 1
  • Gypsum – 2
  • Calcite – 3
  • Limestones – 3.5
  • Marble – 4
  • Apatite – 5
  • Orthoclase – 6
  • Granite – 6.5
  • Quartz – 7
  • Topaz – 8
  • Corundum – 9
  • Diamond – 10

Okay, so granite gets a rating of 6.5, which puts it slightly above the middle of the pack. As you can see, glass isn’t on the list. That said, glass is mentioned in a blurb about granite. This is as follows: “A knife will do virtually nothing to a stone this hard [granite], while the mineral itself can scratch glass and weaker stones and only be scratched itself by something harder.”

Just because glass may not be as hard as granite doesn’t automatically make granite the best choice for your countertop, though. Granite can be more expensive per square foot than glass. Plus, when you order a granite countertop for your kitchen or bathroom, it is what it is.

That’s not so with a glass countertop, especially when you get yours from CBD Glass. We allow you to customize all elements of the countertop, from its base color, its shape, whether it’s backpainted with more color, if you get any texturing or edgework done, and even if your countertop will be illuminated with LEDs.

If you’re concerned about the durability of our glass countertops, there’s no need to be. Here at CBD, our customers also have the freedom to select the thickness of their countertop. With one made of thicker glass, you’ll feel confident that you’ll have a lasting addition to your home.

Perhaps you’re stressed about the possibility of the glass cracking. We just wrote a great post on this. While glass can crack, so too can granite. Both materials don’t shatter often, and it typically requires misuse for it to happen, especially with glass.

If you’d like to learn more about the glass countertops and other home accent items available through CBD Glass, please reach out to us today. You can give our Toronto headquarters a call, email us, or even fill out a contact form on our website. One of our staff members will get back to you shortly.

Sources:

https://www.ianknapper.com/infographic/mohs-stone-hardness-scale-infographic