Epoxy Countertops vs Granite: Cost & Durability Comparison

When it comes to upgrading your kitchen or bathroom countertops, two options consistently rise to the top of the conversation: epoxy and granite. Both deliver stunning visual results, but they differ dramatically in cost, installation process, durability, and long-term maintenance. If you're a homeowner in Oakland, San Francisco, or anywhere in the Bay Area weighing your options, this comprehensive comparison will help you make the right decision.

Cost Comparison: Epoxy vs Granite

Let's start with the number that matters most to most homeowners — price.

Granite Countertop Costs

Granite countertops in the Bay Area typically run between $50 and $200 per square foot, installed. For an average kitchen with 40 square feet of counter space, you're looking at $2,000 to $8,000 or more depending on the grade of stone, edge profile, and complexity of the installation. Premium slabs with rare veining patterns can push costs even higher.

Add in the cost of removal and disposal of your existing countertops, plumbing disconnection and reconnection, and potential cabinet reinforcement (granite is heavy), and the total project cost can easily exceed $10,000.

Epoxy Countertop Costs

Professional epoxy countertop resurfacing in the Bay Area ranges from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the size of the project and the complexity of the finish you choose. That price includes surface preparation, primer, epoxy application, and a protective topcoat.

One of the biggest cost advantages of epoxy is that it can be applied directly over your existing countertops — laminate, wood, concrete, or even tile. That eliminates demolition costs, reduces waste, and cuts installation time dramatically.

At Brooks & Company Epoxy, we offer countertop epoxy services starting at $1,000 with a flat $500 deposit to get on the schedule. For most Bay Area kitchens, the total investment is less than half what you'd pay for mid-grade granite.

Durability: How They Hold Up Over Time

Granite Durability

Granite is undeniably hard. It scores a 6 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, meaning it resists scratching from everyday kitchen use. However, granite has a well-known weakness: it's porous. Without regular sealing (typically once a year), granite absorbs liquids, which can lead to staining, bacterial growth, and discoloration over time.

Granite is also brittle. While it handles daily wear well, a heavy pan dropped on a corner or edge can chip or crack the stone. Repairs are possible but expensive, and color matching is never guaranteed.

Epoxy Durability

Professional-grade epoxy countertops are non-porous, meaning they don't absorb liquids at all. Spilled wine, coffee, olive oil — nothing penetrates the surface. This makes epoxy inherently more hygienic and stain-resistant than unsealed granite.

Modern epoxy formulations are heat resistant up to 500°F, so you can set a hot pan down without worry. The surface is also impact-resistant and won't chip or crack the way stone can.

With proper care, epoxy countertops last 10 or more years before needing any refresh. And if you do want to update the look down the road, resurfacing is straightforward and far less expensive than replacing stone slabs.

Maintenance Comparison

Maintaining Granite

• Annual sealing required (or more often for lighter colors)
• Special pH-neutral cleaners recommended (acidic cleaners damage sealant)
• Stains must be addressed quickly before they absorb
• Professional re-polishing needed every few years to restore shine

Maintaining Epoxy

• No sealing required — ever
• Clean with any mild household cleaner and a soft cloth
• Stain-proof surface wipes clean effortlessly
• UV-stable topcoats resist yellowing for years

For a deeper dive into keeping your surfaces pristine, check out our epoxy countertop maintenance guide.

Aesthetics: Design Possibilities

Granite gives you what nature provides. You choose from available slabs, and each one is unique — which is appealing to some homeowners. However, your color and pattern options are limited to what's quarried and available from suppliers.

Epoxy opens up virtually unlimited design possibilities. Want a white marble look with dramatic gray veining? Done. Prefer a deep black surface with metallic gold swirls? Absolutely. You can achieve looks that mimic granite, marble, quartz, or create something entirely custom that no natural stone could replicate.

Our most popular finishes include marble effects, granite reproductions, solid colors with metallic accents, and ocean-inspired wave patterns. See our full range of options in our colors and finishes guide.

Installation Process

Granite Installation

1. Template measurement (1 visit)
2. Slab fabrication at a shop (1-2 weeks)
3. Removal of existing countertops
4. Installation of new slabs (1 day)
5. Plumbing reconnection
6. Sealing

Total timeline: 2-4 weeks from order to completion.

Epoxy Installation

1. Surface preparation and cleaning
2. Repairs to existing countertop if needed
3. Primer application
4. Epoxy pour and design work
5. Topcoat application
6. Cure time (24-72 hours)

Total timeline: 1-2 days of active work, ready to use within 72 hours.

Environmental Considerations

Granite requires quarrying, heavy machinery, long-distance shipping (often from Brazil, India, or Italy), and generates significant waste during fabrication. The carbon footprint is substantial.

Epoxy resurfacing reuses your existing countertop substrate, generates minimal waste, requires no heavy equipment, and has a dramatically smaller environmental footprint. For eco-conscious Bay Area homeowners, this is often a deciding factor.

Which Is Right for Your Bay Area Home?

Choose granite if:

• You want a natural stone surface and don't mind the premium price
• You're willing to commit to annual sealing and careful maintenance
• You prefer a traditional, proven material

Choose epoxy if:

• You want a high-end look at a fraction of the cost
• You value low maintenance and stain resistance
• You want custom colors and patterns
• You prefer a faster installation with less disruption
• You want to keep your existing cabinets and countertop base

Ready to See the Difference?

At Brooks & Company Epoxy, we've helped homeowners across Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Fremont, and Walnut Creek transform their kitchens and bathrooms with stunning epoxy countertops. Our professional installations start at $1,000, and we back every project with our quality guarantee.

Curious about what your specific project would cost? Check out our Bay Area countertop pricing breakdown or explore whether epoxy makes sense for your bathroom.

Get a free estimate and see why Bay Area homeowners are choosing epoxy over granite.