Quartzite is one of the hardest natural stones and is quickly becoming a sought-after material option for kitchen and bathroom countertops. It works in modern and bright contemporary spaces as well as rustic and more country-like interior designs.
Quartzite complements a variety of appliances and highlights features such as cabinets and fixtures throughout a kitchen or bathroom space. It is considered a luxury match and sophisticated design material.
While being a hard and beautiful material is a benefit in itself, home and business owners are choosing quartzite for a variety of reasons:
- Quartzite is typically white or gray with beautiful marble-like nuances, which are attractive, sleek, and complement a wide range of kitchen or bathroom designs.
- Quartzite also tends to have a high percentage of iron oxide, which allows for beautiful pink, beige, or red hues that are desirable in a kitchen or bathroom and are also not as common.
- Quartzite is actually tougher than granite, so it holds up well in high-use areas.
- Due to its birth by heat, quartzite is heat resistant, which is always desirable in a kitchen countertop.
- Quartz is natural, and natural means unique and harder to copy.
Quartzite vs. Quartz
It’s actually a misconception that quartz and quartzite are the same.
Quartzite starts as quartz sandstone, which through heating and pressure turns into a hard metamorphic rock with no layering. Quartzite comes in on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness between a seven and an eight. Due to the extreme pressure needed to create quartzite in the first place, the rocks usually have a streaked pattern and no two slabs of rock are the same.
Quartz is one of the most wide-ranged and popular minerals found on the planet. However, when it comes to manufacturing, quartz surfacing components like countertops, for example, are actually created through a man-made method. Quartz in the world of home and business construction and architecture is considered an “engineered stone.”
This engineered stone is made by combining loose quartz with coloring and resin to bind everything together. The process makes it so quartz surfacing can come in every color imaginable, and it is systematically designed to be low maintenance. However, quartz countertops are plastic based, which means they can melt when subjected to high heat, and they are not considered precious or rare.
Quartzite for Your Next Project
With any home or business remodel or new project, choosing the right materials for the job includes a lot of factors. Quartzite is a strong and beautiful material with the following pros and cons:
Pros of Quartzite
- Quartzite is truly a “one of a kind” polished design option
- Colors are natural, which means they do not fade (this is extremely desirable in outdoor areas or in areas of the home with a lot of natural sunlight)
- Hard means durable, tough, and heavy
- Natural and more environmentally sound
- Fire and heat resistance (making it a great safety option, as hot pans and dishes do not cause damage)
- Easy to clean when properly sealed
- Stain-resistant when properly sealed
- Water-resistant when properly sealed
Cons of Quartzite
- Quartzite is a more porous material, so it needs to be sealed correctly to hold up to stains and water (and quartzite countertops will need to be resealed throughout the year, so a little more love and attention is needed to keep quartzite looking beautiful)
- Due to their natural state, quartzite countertops are carefully and professionally measured and cut, which increases production and labor cost
- Quartzite is heavy, and due to its preciseness during installation, the process will take longer and might involve more stabilization components when compared to other countertop materials
- A quartzite countertop is a single slab, so if damage occurs, the entire section will need to be replaced
There are many material and design options out there for kitchens and bathrooms. We always recommend home and business owners discuss pros and cons with manufacturers, contractors, architects, and installers to make the best decision for the space and the project’s budget.
Quartzite, just like any high-end material, is an investment, but when installed and maintained correctly, it can stay beautiful and functioning for years and years. Quartzite is a distinct, talking-point material for countertops in a bathroom and kitchen and is a worthwhile upgrade for increasing a home’s overall value, especially for a homeowner looking to sell.
Supplying All of the Dallas–Fort Worth Area
At Wholesale Granite Direct, we specialize in the finest quartzite countertop options in this part of Texas. Our showroom has over one hundred unique and beautiful designs and materials for your next bathroom or kitchen project or renovation.
There’s a reason we’ve been voted the number one flooring and granite store in Arlington, so give us a call today!
