Silestone

• Silestone is made from natural quartz and can be used for both indoor and outdoor surfaces. Because it is made from quartz, Silestone is scratch-resistant and has a Mohs Hardness Scale rating of 10. This product is also stain and scorch resistant and four times stronger than granite. Silestone is a wonderful maintenance-free option for countertops and comes in 74 colors and unlimited edge designs.
  
  

Zodiaq

• Also made from mostly natural quartz, Zodiaq by DuPont is both strong and beautiful. This product has a Mohs Harness Scale rating of 7 and is both heat and scratch resistant. Zodiaq is available in 45 colors and 19 edges, and it is easy to find the right look for any room. Because quartz is nonporous, this product is incredibly stain resistant.
  
  

CaesarStone

• This products is 93 percent natural quartz and is stain, scratch and heat resistant. There are 39 colors available and 12 different edges. CaesarStone earned a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and is very low maintenance.
  
  

Granite

• Granite is readily available through a variety of companies. Like quartz, granite is scratch and heat resistant. Unlike quartz, granite can be susceptible to cracks, stains, mold and mildew. The maintenance for granite is slightly greater than that of natural quartz products.
  
  

Cost & Warranties

• Silestone countertops come with a 15-year manufacturer's warranty. Zodiaq comes with a 10-year limited warranty. The manufacturer of CaesarStone offers a lifetime warranty. The warranties on granite are determined by each manufacturer. Granite is the least expensive of the four products. Zodiaq, CaesarStone and Silestone are all very similar in price.