Kitchen Countertops with Taj Mahal Quartzite

Quartzite countertops have become the most-coveted countertop choices in recent times across the United States. Homeowners, interior designers, kitchen and bath dealers, etc. have all begun to think about using different colors of quartzite slabs (e.g., Taj Mahal, Sea Pearl, White Macaubas) quarried and imported from Brazil for their kitchen projects.

Popular Quartzite Colors

Comparing prices of different stone materials

The cost of quartzite countertops tends to be much higher when compared to granite and quartz countertops.

“Why is the cost of quartzite so high?” is a common question answered by project managers at Arch City Granite & Marble, Inc. in St. Louis, MO. The purpose of this article is to educate homeowners, interior designers, and others about the price of quartzite countertops.

Before going into the details as to the reasons for the higher cost of quartzite, let us compare the price range of most popular natural stones, such as granite, marble, soapstone, and quartzite. We will also discuss the prices of quartz countertops (not to be confused with the quartzite stone we are talking about here!)

Quartz and quartzite stones are two entirely different materials. Quartzite is a natural stone quarried from the earth just like granite, marble, or soapstone. Quartz is a material man made in an industrial environment by mixing naturally found quartz crystals and epoxy materials. Q-Quartz, Caesarstone, Cambria, and Silestone are some of the name brands that manufacture and distribute quartz countertops.

Following are the ranges of prices per square foot installed of 3 cm slabs, including material, measuring, fabrication, and installation costs. We have to consider that there may be additional costs involved if there is more-than-average wastage of material during the project. Additional costs will apply for add-ons like upgraded edges (stacked edge profiles or mitered, built-up edges), waterfall islands, etc.

Granite prices are $45 to $75 per sq. ft., installed. In exceptionally rare and beautiful granite colors like Fusion Granite or Blue Bahia granite, there may be exceptions to this price range. Prices may range from $150 to $240, depending on type.

Marble countertops prices are $59 to $90 per sq. ft., installed. Some very high-end marble slabs such as Calacatta Gold and Imperial Danby will cost much more. For example, Calacatta Gold Marble from Verona, Italy, ranges in price from $180 to $300, depending on the quality of the batch.

Soapstone countertops: $75 to $90 per sq. ft., installed.

Quartz (man-made stone): $55 to $90 per sq. ft., installed.

Quartzite countertops: $90 to $150 per sq. ft., installed

Scarcity or rarity of the material compared to granite

Unlike the vast tracts of land with granite quarries that are found in Brazil and India, quartzite stone quarries are comparatively rare, which makes the availability of quartzite materials scarce.  

Unavoidable wastage of material while quarrying

Taj Mahal quartzite quarry in Brazil (Photo courtesy – Antolini.com)

In order to cut the slabs of stone, big blocks of stone (granite, quartzite, and marble) must be carved out from the quarry. In granite, finding large enough blocks of rock is not difficult. Unlike granite deposits, quartzite deposits are very fragmented with cracks and fissures, and finding large enough blocks of quartzite is difficult. For every ideal-sized block, two or three smaller blocks must be sacrificed.

Simply put, the yield from a quartzite quarry is much less when compared to other natural stones.

More time to cut and extract and more consumption of cutting supplies

Since quartzite is a much harder and more abrasive stone than any other natural stone, including granite, it takes more time to cut it and extract the blocks from the quarry. It also needs more diamond blades, diamonds wires, and diamond polishing heads, etc., which results in higher cost of inputs.

High demand worldwide for Quartzite slabs

Quartzite is so beautiful that designers, architects, and homeowners around the world love to have it in their projects. This brings demand to very high level for a material that is not available in abundant quantities. The theory of supply and demand works here as well!

Difficulty in cutting and polishing of Quartzite material into countertops

Quartzite has to be cut with three passes even on the best stone machines!

Quartzite is a very hard and abrasive material. Stone-cutting machines with diamond blades that are normally used to cut through the entire thickness of 3 cm granite slab cannot cut the quartzite material in one pass.

In the case of quartzite slabs, even the most sophisticated machines like a Fusion Saw-Jet cannot cut the entire depth of 3 cm thickness in one pass. We have to program the machine to cut it in increments that take from three to five passes. That means it takes three to five times longer to cut the quartzite compared to granite slabs.

Polishing the edge profiles takes much longer time than it does granite material. It is not an exaggeration to say that cutting and fabricating quartzite slabs are kind of a nightmare for a fabricator without modern stone-cutting equipment.

Arch City Granite & Marble, Inc. is a leader in the fabrication and installation of quartzite countertops in St. Louis, Missouri. We have state-of-the art equipment and highly experienced stone fabricators to handle the quartzite fabrication.

We stock full slabs of premium quartzite stone, such as Taj Mahal, Sea Pearl, Azul Treasure, Florida Wave, Calacatta Macaubas, and White Macaubas.

Visit our showroom to hand-pick your quartzite slabs. We use in-house teams to measure, fabricate, and install our products.

The post Why Quartzite countertops are at the higher end of stone prices? appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

Quartzite countertops have grown in popularity across the United States. These days, many top designers are reporting that the majority of their clients are choosing this natural stone over granite and other countertop options. When it comes to colors, there are many quartzite shades to choose from. Taj Mahal quartzite, in particular, is one of the crown jewels among natural stone countertops.

With the rising popularity of quartzite, it’s no small wonder that so many homeowners in the St. Louis area want Taj Mahal quartzite countertops in their kitchens. This stone takes its name from India’s great monument because the colors are reminiscent of the Taj Mahal’s beauty.

In fact, there is some misunderstanding about this stone — it is sometimes mistaken for granite, and even though it is named for the Taj Mahal, it isn’t quarried in India. In fact, like most quartzite slabs, this stone comes from Brazil. If you’re interested in Taj Mahal for your kitchen or bathroom, read on to learn all about color variations, cost and more!

The Colors of Taj mahal Quartzite

Close-up view of Taj mahal Quartzite stone

One of the reasons why Taj Mahal quartzite is so popular is that it beautifully replicates the look of marble even though it comes with the hardness and durability of granite. Slabs of Taj Mahal will feature broad waves and swirls of color along with interesting striations — not so much the flecked or mottled look that is common with granite, but smooth marbling throughout the stone. Colors are generally warm in tone, white with creamy tan or beige marbling, or sometimes sandier taupe shades. Overall, this countertop is light in color, and it works well in warm and neutral toned kitchens.

Just like any naturally quarried stone, Taj Mahal quartzite will come in slightly different shades, with several color variations available. Scroll down to see several images of different Taj Mahal slabs and you’ll see what we mean — each has slightly different patterning, and there is some variation in color between one batch of slabs and the next batch.

Four different batches of Taj mahal quartzite slabs with some color and pattern variation are shown below:

Is Taj Mahal Granite?

There is some confusion about the differences between granite and quartzite, and in particular, Taj Mahal quartzite is often called granite, even though these are two separate species of stone. For all practical purposes, granite and quartzite are very similar — both are durable, and both come in a variety of colors and patterns, suitable for kitchen and bathroom countertops.

But there is a difference between granite and quartzite. Quartzite is a metamorphic stone, which means that at some point in its formation, it has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts. Usually, this means the rock was subjected to high heat or pressure while buried deep within the Earth’s crust. Granite is an igneous stone, which is a stone that forms when molten magma cools, solidifies and crystallizes.

What Color Cabinets Work Best with Taj Mahal Quartzite Countertops?

Because of the available shade range and the neutral tones found in many slabs of Taj Mahal quartzite, this is a stone that pairs well with a variety of cabinet colors. Taj Mahal works especially well in white and creamy off-white kitchens, where the pale tan shades of this stone are able to lend their warmth to the color scheme. This stone also makes a striking contrast against natural wood cabinetry, and again, the warm tones in Taj Mahal quartzite are a beautiful complement to most shades found in natural wood.

If you’re considering black, dark gray or navy cabinetry, look for more neutral color variants of this stone to make a nice contrast against dark neutral shades.

Durability and Maintenance

Quartzite is a very hard, dense stone that lasts well in a kitchen environment, just like granite. The main difference between maintaining a quartzite countertop over granite is that quartzite slabs sometimes have small inclusions of a mineral known as calcium carbonate.

This mineral can dissolve and etch the stone’s surface when it comes into contact with acidic foods like ketchup and tomato-based products or orange juice. Not to worry if you do spill tomato sauce on your quartzite counter — simply wipe the counter own in a timely manner to prevent etching. In other words, don’t let spills sit!

How Much Does Taj Mahal Quartzite Cost?

This stone rings up at the higher end of the price range, but it is durable and long lasting enough to make it worth the investment. Part of the reason for the extra cost is that quartzite tends to be rarer than granite, and the process to quarry it is a bit more complex than the process to quarry granite slabs.

With installation, a Taj Mahal kitchen counter will cost between $95 and $100 per square foot — about the same price as very high-end granite countertops.

Taj Mahal Quartzite Lookalikes

If you’re shopping for options, be sure to check out two other types of quartzite that look similar to Taj Mahal Madreperola quartzite and Kalahari quartzite.

At Arch City Granite & Marble of St. Louis, Missouri, we seek out the best batches of Taj Mahal quartzite, and we stock full slabs. This makes it easy to select your new counter because you’ll be able to see the entirety of the stone’s color and pattern, something that can’t be achieved by looking at small samples.

Visit our showroom to see the slabs of Taj Mahal that we have in stock, or call us at 314-426-3100 to speak with our stone specialists, who will be happy to help you choose the perfect stone for your kitchen or bathroom project.

The post Taj Mahal Quartzite: An Elegant Natural Stone from Brazil appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

Today’s homeowners have many options when it comes to countertop surfaces, including quartz and quartzite. While these names may sound alike and these materials do share some common qualities, they are two completely different types of stone.

Here’s a closer look at quartz countertops, quartzite countertops, and some things to keep in mind when choosing between these two increasingly popular countertop materials.

What are Quartz Countertops?

Quartz is an engineered material consisting of at least 90 percent of crushed quartz powder (one of the earth’s hardest minerals), resin and coloring. Its appearance is similar to marble and granite, but its size and thickness, as well as its veining, streaking and patterning, are more uniform.

Additionally, through the addition of pigment, quartz can be made in a broad range of colors and patterns which are not found in naturally occurring materials.

Quartz is hard, durable, and non-porous, making it appealingly resistant to stains and scratches.

Another benefit of quartz is that even if it does get stained or scratched, it maintains its color beneath the surface.

Quartz is also relatively maintenance-free, and can easily be wiped clean with a damp cloth. This makes it an excellent choice for homeowners who value durability. 

For these reasons and more, quartz received top marks from Consumer Reports in its “Countertop Buying Guide.” 

See also: Can a Quartz Countertop Take the Heat?

What are Quartzite Countertops?

Unlike manmade quartz, quartzite is a naturally occurring stone found in the earth. It forms over time when heat and pressure are applied to sandstone. It is then mined and cut into one-of-a-kind slabs, each with its own unique veining and coloring.

Quartzite has the detail and depth that characterizes granite, but is more limited in terms of color. It is most commonly found in shades of white and gray, but can also be pink, red, yellow, blue, green or orange depending on what minerals are present.

Quartzite is even harder than quartz so it’s slightly more durable in terms of its ability to withstand high temperatures without melting.

However, as with all natural stone, quartzite is also more prone to denting, chipping and staining. It can also be damaged by contact with acidic substances, which can leave dull spots behind. 

Because of these vulnerabilities, quartzite requires more maintenance than quartz. Proper sealing — both before use and throughout the year — is essential for preventing stains from penetrating the stone.

Choosing Between Quartz and Quartzite Countertops

Due to their winning combination of elegance and durability, quartz and quartzite are both wonderful surfaces for kitchen and bath countertops. If you love the aesthetic of natural stone, quartzite may be the more fitting design choice.

However, if you’re willing to consider a manufactured alternative, quartz not only has unique benefits, but may also cost less: While quartz and quartzite are comparable in cost, quartzite can cost more than quartz per square foot because the cutting process involves more time and skill.

While choosing between quartz and quartzite can be a daunting process, there’s good news for homeowners.  Whether you end up going with the natural stone or its engineered alternative, you can look forward to an alluring — and enduring — end result.

At Arch City Granite & Marble in St. Louis, we stock full slabs of Quartzite colors like Taj Mahal, Zermatt, Florida Wave, White Macaubas as well as Quartz, so that home owners can compare the two kinds of materials side by side.

There is no substitute to the experience of looking at full slabs of stone before making right selection of your kitchen countertops.

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