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.

The post What are Quartzite Countertops? Are they same as Quartz Surfaces? appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

One of the key factors homeowners will consider before investing in natural stone or quartz kitchen countertops is durability. Granite and quartz counters are designed to stay in your home for many, many years, so it’s important understand how these countertop materials will hold up under everything from normal wear and tear to destructive teenagers to the heavy pots and pans of avid cooks.

It is pretty widely accepted that, among the standard stone and engineered stone counters (granite, quartz, quartzite, soapstone, and marble), granite and quartz are the least likely to be scratched, chipped, stained, or otherwise irreparably marred.

But which of these two counter materials are the most durable? Well, the answer is not exactly straightforward. A lot depends on your lifestyle and where the counters will be. Let’s look at some of the factors that go into a durable counter so that you can make an informed decision about which elements are most important to you.

Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are extremely hard to scratch. In fact, if you cut directly on granite, you are more likely to ruin your knives than to scratch your granite. Some knives can leave unsightly steel marks, so for the sake of your stone and cutlery, we recommend using a cutting board. If you do ever chip or scratch your granite somehow, it can be repaired.

Granite naturally has a low risk for staining, and if you seal it annually, it is stain resistant. That’s one more thing you won’t need to worry about.

Granite counters are completely heat resistant, so you don’t have to worry about granite being damaged in any way by heat. You can comfortably take your pots and pans from the stove or oven and place them directly on the granite.

Granite is extremely weatherproof (that’s why it’s used on so many buildings) and will not fade or discolor under direct sunlight.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz is extremely hard to scratch. Like granite, it will dull your knives, so use a cutting board. Granite and quartz are about equal when it comes to resisting scratches or chips. The only difference is that quartz cannot be repaired (although this doesn’t really matter when you consider the extremely low likelihood of either countertop being damaged in this way).

Quartz countertops are completely stain resistant, and they don’t need to be sealed. So, even if you have a lighter colored quartz counter, you can use it confidently knowing that it’s safe from stains no matter what ingredients get spilled.

One difference between quartz and granite is that quartz counters are only heat resistant up to a certain point. Most quartz manufacturers recommend you use hot-pads as a precaution.

It is usually not recommended to use quartz in outdoor settings as certain colors may fade under intense direct sunlight (they are completely fine indoors even if you have sunlight in the kitchen). If you are considering quartz outdoors, talk to your fabricator about your unique project and how individual quartz choices will hold up.

The bottom line is that both granite and quartz are extremely durable. Both are reliable choices for a hardworking kitchen counter, and the only factors to consider when choosing one or the other based on durability is heat and location.

Both granite and quartz are popular choice for kitchen countertops in St. Louis, Missouri area. Visit Arch City Granite to view the full slabs of granite and quartz before you make your choice.

The post Kitchen Countertops: Which Is More Durable? Granite or Quartz? appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.