Whether a homeowner is looking to remodel their kitchen, bath, or something else, we are often asked what the differences and similarities are between Quartz and Quartzite. So, we’ve compiled a list to help explain which will hopefully guide homeowners toward making a choice that will best suit their needs.
Quartzite
Quartz
The love humans have for all things natural and beautiful is nowhere more evident than in the recurring request from customers for quartzite. Each piece is a visually stunning piece of artwork from nature.
Natural quartzite can sometimes be mistaken for marble but has durability which surpasses marble. In many cases, testing the stone is the only way to know for sure which type of stone is at hand.
Colors of Quartzite
In shades of white and grey, quartzite can often have a touch of blue tossed in, or even green or a light tan brown due to trace minerals in the material. But, it’s the white and grey swirls which have made it such a popular option among design experts.
Quartzite is harder than granite, but since it is often mislabeled, the consumer should be aware and only purchase from the most reputable of dealers. It needs to be regularly sealed, a fact that should be taken into consideration upon purchase.
Quartz
While Quartz is a manmade stone, it holds its own in the sales arena, since it offers both light and dark shades, swirled or grained, and is non-porous. Customers love Quartz, not only for the options it provides but also because it never needs to be sealed. At 93% quartz and 7% resin, the composite can be created into hundreds of color and style options.
When customers choose Quartz, they’re picking a luxury product with tremendous durability and low maintenance. It can have a natural look or be more homogeneous in appearance, which means seams can be less visible. It comes in a wide variety of textures, as well, which reflect or absorb the light accordingly.
The one caveat of quartz is that heat, such as that from a hot piece of cookware, will discolor it.
Because technology brings the beauty and look of man-made products ever closer to that of natural stone, it becomes harder and harder for the unsophisticated eye to discern one from the other. As time goes on, we suspect that this will continue to be the case.
Summary
Quartzite
Both Quartzite and Quartz are high-end materials which provide rich elegance to any project. One is natural and the purchaser is limited in color choices. The other is man-made, and no such color limitations exist, and although it needs no maintenance, heat will damage it. The buyer’s choice and availability is the only deciding factor when it comes to these two gorgeous options for kitchen or bathroom countertop materials.
If you have a home, business or rental property in the Metro Phoenix area and are considering upgrading with granite countertops or other stonework features, call us here at JDM Countertops at 602-461-7559.
