It’s the place where you bake cookies with the kids, put together your favorite casserole, and even roll out your dough for homemade pizza.
It’s your kitchen countertop — no doubt one of the busiest places in your home.
Your countertop has served you well for years, but now, it’s time for you to give her a well-deserved makeover. The question is, what countertop material is the best option?
As a general rule of thumb, you can’t go wrong with stone — especially quartzite — in the kitchen environment. Here’s a rundown on seven little-known benefits of a quartzite countertop.
Let’s dig in!
The Quartzite Countertop Difference
So, what exactly is quartzite? And is it the same as quartz?
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that forms when sandstone experiences extreme pressure and heat stemming from tectonic plate compression that occurs in the earth’s crust.
Professionals then mine the stone, form slabs from it, polish the tops, and seal it for durability and beauty.
Quartz countertops, on the other hand, are engineered countertops. That’s because they’re formed from synthetic materials and silicon dioxide.
Quartz, which constitutes a majority of these countertops, is combined with pigment and binder during the countertop creation process.
1. Durability
A major benefit of quartzite is that it is stronger than both granite and quartz.
Quartzite beats these materials on the durability scale because it’s formed by using processes that increase the material’s strength.
Quartzite is also denser and less porous than granite in particular, so it’s especially in demand for anyone wanting a scalable kitchen countertop.
2. Scratch Resistance
Although quartzite is often confused with quartz, the two couldn’t be more different — particular when it comes to scratch resistance.
Quartzite is much more scratch-resistant than quartz is, which is why it is such a popular option for the kitchen environment.
3. Maintenance
The fact that quartzite countertops require less maintenance than quartz is another reason why many cooks love them.
With quartzite, you don’t have to worry about constantly cleaning your countertop. All you have to do is clean it after you use it or spill something on it, just as you would any other countertop surface.
When it comes to cleaning your countertop, just a damp rag and a dish soap that is pH balanced will do.
However, you should reseal your countertop once or twice a year, as the right seal will keep stains from penetrating the stone. All natural stones share this weakness, but when they are sealed properly, cleanup couldn’t be easier.
4. Etching and Chipping
If you like the appearance of marble, then you’ll love quartzite even more.
Here’s why.
Some quartzite countertops — specifically, white ones — look a lot like marble ones, so you can hardly tell the difference between the two.
At the same time, you don’t have to pay the premium price you’d pay for marble. And on top of this, quartzite won’t etch and chip easily like marble does.
So, with quartzite, you can basically enjoy the benefits of marble without dealing with its inherent negative properties.
5. Price
Some consumers worry that quartzite may be too expensive to install in their homes.
The reality, though, is that quartzite is becoming increasingly popular due in part to the fact that it offers multiple cost advantages. For example, it’s cheaper than other countertop materials, and it also doesn’t require much labor when you’re ready to install it.
Keep in mind, though, that a more exotic — or rare — piece of quartzite carries a higher price tag. For instance, a quartzite that resembles marble in appearance may be more expensive than other quartzite options, simply because they are in higher demand.
In addition, a thicker slab will fetch you a higher price. Higher prices may also come with countertops that come with ornate edges or special fabrication-related demands.
Still, the great news is that quartzite is more available today than ever before.
If supply can continue to keep pace with demand, due to the opening of more quarries, quartzite’s prices should remain the same or even drop over time.
6. The Countertop Look
Every person’s tastes are different, so we can’t say definitively that one countertop’s appearance is superior to another’s.
However, quartzite is an in-demand countertop choice because it comes in such a wide range of hues — perfect for any style kitchen.
Red and pink hues result from iron oxide’s presence. Meanwhile, orange, yellow, blue , and green hues result from other minerals’ presence.
No matter what color a piece of quartzite has, though, the rock will feature streaking due to the presence of minerals, in addition to the different amounts of pressure involved in the rock’s formation.
In light of this, quartzite is an excellent choice if you want your kitchen countertop to have a natural stone look.
7. Heat Resistance
Finally, one of the major advantages of quartzite is that it is resistant to heat and fire.
A plastic resin is used to manufacture quartz. So, quartz is susceptible to melting when exposed to something that is 400 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
However, this is not a problem for quartzite. For this reason, quartzite is a highly functional kitchen countertop material — one that you can enjoy for years to come.
How We Can Help
We are a leading installer of high-quality kitchen countertops, including quartzite countertops.
Our quartzite countertops come in a wide variety of colors and designs to suit your needs and style, including the following:
- Allure Royale
- Alexandria
- Azul Macaubas
- Botanic Green
- Calcatta
- Brown Fantasy
- Ocean Blue White
- Shadow Storm
Get in touch with us to find out more about the functional and aesthetic benefits of a quartzite countertop. We’ll show you how these countertops can quickly add value to your home — and to your daily life.
