Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Should You Choose Quartz or Quartzite for Your N”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
We compare these popular (and often confused!) countertop surfaces.
Quartz is engineered, low-maintenance, and offers endless design options, perfect for modern lifestyles.
Quartzite, a natural stone, boasts unique patterns and amazing durability, though it requires regular sealing.
People are often unsure of the differences between quartz and quartzite and that’s fair—you can’t spell quartzite without quartz, so most would assume they’re super similar. But in the world of countertops, they’re really not. We’ve discussed the differences between quartz and granite, but now we need to tackle the bigger (and possibly more perplexing) question: What is the difference between quartz and quartzite? With the demand for quartz growing, it’s especially important now to be able to distinguish them!
What is Quartz?
Simply put, quartz is technically a readily available natural stone, but it’s transformed into "engineered stone" for countertops by combining crushed quartz crystals with resin and synthetic additives like pigments. The artificial components make up roughly 10 percent of the countertop makeup—the rest is crushed quartz.
“The actual mineral quartz is used in the man-made product—the quartz [countertop] product contains the same mineral quartz found in natural quartz sites,” Viana explains. “So people say, ‘Well I’ve been told that quartz [counters] are made up of natural quartz.’ That part is true.”
Roy Viana, natural stone and slab director at Daltile, points out the key difference: “You have natural quartzite, which is a natural stone product, and then you have quartz, an engineered stone. I always refer to natural quartzite as what Mother Nature has given us and quartz as the man-made product.”
What is Quartzite?
If you want something straight from the ground, in its pure state, then quartzite is for you. Quartzite is a natural stone that forms when sand-sized quartz grains, also called sandstone, undergo intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth's crust.
“This process transforms the sandstone into a harder and denser rock, giving it its unique characteristics,” explains Corbin Clay, CEO of Wayhome.
Viana adds, “You have this phenomenon with natural quartzites because of how they’re formed—there are other minerals that mix in together to create a different visual that you don't see in granite, for example. You get a lot more movement. You don't necessarily get all the black mica that you see in granite.”
Quartzite typically has a very glassy appearance. Like we mentioned earlier, quartzite is available in a variety of lighter colors, compared to other stones like granite, and can actually look quite similar to marble.
“Each slab of quartzite is one of a kind, and they can resemble other natural stones, including marble and sandstone,” Clay says.
Appearance and Fabrication
Quartz, on the other hand, can look pretty much like anything you want it to because it’s engineered. One of “the outstanding features of quartz include the virtually unlimited availability of colors and designs,” Viana says. He continues, “For example, with quartz, you can add gorgeous marble looks to your home’s design in a material that stands up to real life activity, perfect for kitchens.”
If you think you can tell apart a quartz countertop from a quartzite countertop, think again: Technology has gotten good, and usually, only a highly trained eye might be able to discern the veining in quartz is not genuine.
“During fabrication, the edges of quartz can be finished off just like natural stone, helping to ensure that the installed quartz is virtually indistinguishable in most cases from the natural material it is emulating,” Viana notes.
Durability and Maintenance
Quartzite is incredibly resistant to scratching and heat, though because it’s a natural stone, it’s porous and therefore susceptible to staining if not sealed properly or regularly. Quartz is also quite heat and scratch-resistant, but unlike quartzite, requires no sealing on the homeowner’s part because it’s not porous.
When comparing the two, quartzite is technically harder than quartz. (For more context, one of the only stones harder than quartzite is diamonds. Quartzite is harder than its natural counterparts granite or marble, and it's harder than engineered stones like quartz.) So quartzite might hold up a little better against scratches.
Quartzite can also withstand higher temperatures than quartz can—after all, the resins in quartz are not produced in the flaming hot crust of planet Earth the same way that quartzite is! Quartzite can naturally tolerate way hotter temperatures. That being said, quartz can still handle heat in most average, real-life scenarios, though most people wouldn’t put hot pots and pans directly on their countertops, no matter the material, anyway.
As we mentioned, quartzite requires regular sealing because it’s a porous material.
“The slabs are typically treated with a penetrating sealer, which fills the stone’s pores, helps repel liquids, and needs to be reapplied periodically,” Clay explains. This can mean every one to three years but confirm with your installer the exact timeframe and the best product.
He advises that it’s a good practice to regularly check the sealant’s effectiveness by performing a water test to determine if your countertops need resealing. If water drops are absorbed and darken the stone, it's time to reseal. Quartz does not need any resealing or follow-up treatments.
Source: Read the original article | Published: November 16, 2023