Quartz and Quartzite are the two most misunderstood and often mixed-up countertop materials. Both of them are very popular in today’s market due to the qualities they have, but understanding the differences between them will help you make an informed decision while choosing your countertop material.
Quartz vs quartzite: Is Quartzite the Same as Quartz?
No, quartzite is not the same as quartz. The main difference between quartz and quartzite countertops is that quartz is man-made, while quartzite is a natural stone. What they have in common, is the Mineral Quartz. If it sounds confusing, let me explain:
The mineral quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth’s crust. Quartz, if it refers to a Mineral name, is a specific chemical compound (silicon dioxide, or silica, SiO2), that has a Hexagonal crystalline shape.
If the Mineral quartz is pure, then it is clear and colorless. However, in nature, it often has color variance due to impurities: purple (amethyst), white (milky quartz), black (smoky quartz), pink (rose quartz), and yellow or orange (citrine).
When we talk about Quartz as a countertop material, we don’t refer to the actual mineral itself, but instead, we mean a man-made material, that is produced by mining and grounding Natural-quartz crystals into dust and fusing it with resin binders under intense heat and pressure to form a solid slab. Since quartz is a man-made countertop material, producers can offer any variation of color or veining.
On the other hand, quartzite is a natural stone, a metamorphic rock that is formed when Quartz sandstone undergoes heating and pressure during mountain-building events i.e. tectonic compression, and then melts, recrystallizes, and gets cemented together by silica.
Quartz and Quartzite: Material Qualities
In order to make an informed decision, you need to explore the qualities of both, quartz and quartzite. While both of them are considered to be high-end countertop materials, they do differ from each other in terms of parameters.
In the next part of this article, I will try to give a comprehensive comparison of quartz and quartzite in terms of three parameters: durability, easiness of maintenance, and repairability. Each of the parameters is broken down into sub-parameters, such as scratch resistance and heat resistance for durability, for example.
Durability: scratch resistance
When it comes to scratch resistance, both, quartz and quartzite are very comparable and very durable. On the Mohs hardness scale, both score 7 out of 10. Evidently, they are both harder than granite, which scores 6-7, depending on the actual slab.
The exceptional hardness of both, quartz and quartzite is determined by their composition – Mineral quartz, which is a crystalline form of Silica and is considered to be one of the hardest minerals.
Durability: heat resistance
The heat resistance of countertop material is crucial. You might put a hot pot or a pan on the worktop if you are not aware that the material is not heat resistant, and cause permanent damage to it. Will an air fryer damage a quartz countertop?
When it comes to the second parameter of Durability for quartz and quartzite – heat resistance, that’s where things go in the opposite direction. Quartzite is absolutely heat-resistant, while quartz countertops are not. Quartz countertops can withstand heat to a certain degree, but once the fine line is crossed, you will end up with a permanent mark due to heat damage.
The difference between quartz and quartzite in terms of heat resistance is because of the composition: Quartz, depending on its grade, contains resin 7 to 12%, and that’s why it gets damaged with the heat. On the other hand, quartzite is a solid metamorphic rock. It has seen all the heat and pressure, as wild as it can get: it was basically formed there.
Durability: Etch resistance
Etch resistance is the quality of the material to withstand the effects of acids, such as vinegar or lemon juice. When it comes to etch resistance, both, quartz and quartzite are very much comparable. Neither quartz nor quartzite countertops will etch.
BUT
There is a big BUT here:
In most cases, vinegar or lemon juice does not harm quartzite. However, since quartzite is a natural stone, there are different types of quartzite with different chemical compositions. The quartzite which has more marble-like characteristics will be damaged by acidic liquids, such as vinegar or lemon juice.
The first reason is that some of the species of quartzite may contain traces of calcium carbonate, which easily reacts very to acid, including vinegar or lemon juice.
The second reason might be that countertops are often mislabeled and you might get a marble countertop instead of quartzite. Due to its chemical composition, marble is easily damaged by household acids. Therefore, it’s important to check carefully what you are getting.
Bottom line: If you are ordering quartz, you can be sure that it’s acid-resistance. However, if you are going for Quartzite, order samples of different quartzite types and test them against the acidic products. Choose the one which withstands the test, but in any case, make sure you seal it with a permanent sealer. The sealer does not guarantee protection against acidic liquids, because none of the sealers are resistant to acid if exposed extended amount of time.
Durability: stain resistance
The term stain-resistant should not be confused with the term stain-proof. The stain resistance of a countertop implies that it can resist stains long enough so that you can clean it up. However, if the stain stays there for an extended amount of time, both, quartz and quartzite will get stained. Quartz and most of the quartzite types, however, prove that they are highly stain-resistant.
Having said that, if the stain stays on top of the surface, both, quartz and quartzite will likely stain. The reason is that, even though quartz countertops are non-porous, they still consist of two main materials: dust of mineral quartz, and resins. The mineral quartz is stain resistant, but the resins might sometimes react to some of the chemicals if exposed to them for an extended amount of time.
The same goes with quartzite: some types of quartzite do not stain almost at all, while others stain easily, especially if it is not sealed properly or you leave the stain unwiped for a long time. All natural stones, including quartzite, are porous to some degree. The penetrability of the stain is directly related to the porosity of the material.
As tested, none of the kitchen products would stain Sea Pearl and Taj Mahal quartzite sealed or unsealed, including wine, lemons, tomato sauce, and olive oil if they are wiped away within 18 hours. However, other types of quartzite, such as Dolce Vita, for example, that have more marble-like characteristics and high porosity, can get stained with just about everything except for olive oil.
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Bottomline: before ordering the countertop, order actual samples and test for the most common household stains, such as red wine, oil, vinegar, and lemon juice
Easiness to Maintain
When it comes to maintenance, we actually need to look at two different sub-parameters: easiness of long-term maintenance and easiness of daily maintenance. Those two parameters differ across quartz and quartzite. It might change how you look at them resulting in altering your decisions.
Easiness of daily maintenance
When it comes to daily cleaning and maintenance, both, Quartz and Quartzite are pretty easy to keep clean: microfiber cloth and a mild dish soap would do. However, if you want your quartz countertops to be all clean and shiny, you can go for Shine-eez Daily Countetop Cleaner.
The important point is not to use any acidic or abrasive cleaners (that includes Windex, by the way) or scrubby pads. You don’t want to strip the sealer off the stone.
Long-term maintenance
A widespread popular opinion is that quartzite needs sealing, while quartz does not need any sealing. Well, this is not necessarily true. As experts advise, quartz also needs to be sealed. Therefore, both of them are comparable in this case.
When it comes to sealing, using a good quality sealer guarantees that it will last 4-5 years, provided that you are not using acidic or abrasive cleaners or scrubby pads on your surface.
Quartz vs Quartzite Cost
Quartz countertops cost an average of about $50 to $200 per square foot, while the price of quartzite ranges from $80 to $210. Both of them are expensive countertop materials on the market. The price of quartz reflects its quality, while this is not necessarily true for Quartzite. Let me explain:
The price of quartz is determined by size, color, labor, and grade. There are three grades of quartzite. The first grade features slabs that contain a low percentage of resin and the highest quality of quartz crystals. High-quality quartz crystals mean that they are more transparent, while low-quality crystals are white or smokey. The top-quality quartz usually has a marble-like authentic look due to the clear crystals they are made of.
On the contrary, low-grade quartz has a lower quality quartz crystal and a higher percentage of resin. Quartz is typically imported from countries such as Brazil, Italy, India, the Philippines, and China, and the cost of importing it plays a role in determining the final price.
When it comes to Quartzite countertop cost, it does not necessarily reflect the quality of the stone, but rather how rare the type of quartzite is. The exotic rare quartzites are the most expensive. The lowest price quartzite slabs come from huge quarries. It enables the companies to mass-produce the slabs and keep the prices relatively low. Of course, the thickness of the slab plays a role too. Typically, most of the quartzite slabs are 3cm thick.
When comparing the cost of quartz and quartzite slabs, keep in mind to check if the veining pattern of the quartz goes all the way through the thickness of the slab. This is an important determinant of the quality and price of quartz countertops, and it is important to get it right, especially if you are using an undermount sink.
Here is the picture to show you my point:
Quartz or Quartzite Countertops: Which is Better?
The answer depends on what your priority is. Since the prices are more or less comparable on the high end of the spectrum (meaning, that on average, if you go higher price slabs, in both cases you are likely to pay around 200USD per square feet) there are other factors that would determine your choice.
Firstly, if you are looking for a countertop for an extremely large surface, quartz is the better choice: you can get a consistent look/pattern throughout the space. This is difficult when it comes to quartzite.
On the other hand, if you want your countertop to be absolutely unique and unrepeatable by any of your neighbors, then quartzite is the way to go.
When it comes to durability, both are quite durable. The biggest difference between them is the heat resistance though. If this is a dealbreaker for you, then you should go for quartzite.
Another reason to choose quartzite over quartz is that quartzite is 100% natural stone, while quartz contains polymer resins & pigments. If you are someone who wants the most used surface in the house to be absolutely natural, then quartzite is the way to go.
Nowadays, eco-friendliness becomes more and more important for people. However, they might forget that the sealers which should absolutely be used on quartzite countertops are not natural products, anyway.
FAQ
Does quartzite stain more than quartz?
When sealed properly, neither quartz nor quartzite stains easily. The reason is that, first of all, they are not porous materials (well, quartzite DOES have a low porosity). Secondly, the sealer protects the surfaces from staining. However, it is important to wipe any stains as soon as possible, because some of the household substances, such as wine or vinegar can remove the sealer if they stay on the surface for an extended amount of time.
Can you tell the difference between quartz and quartzite?
When it comes to telling the difference between quartz and quartzite, there are several clues: quartz is a denser engineered stone, while quartzite might not be as dense as quartz, since it is a natural stone and does have porosity. Quartz features more regular patterns compared to quartzite which is always unique, even though that’s not necessarily always the case.
Another way to tell the difference is to test the stone samples against the heat. I do not recommend doing it with the installed countertop or large slab, though. Make sure to use small stone samples for the test. If the slab is quartz, it will be damaged by high heat, while quartzite is completely heat-resistant.
Can you put hot pots on quartzite?
Absolutely. You can put hot pans and pots on quartzite countertops. Quartzite is extremely heat-resistant, unlike quartz, which contains 7-12% resins that get damaged by heat.
Does coffee stain quartzite?
No, coffee does not stain quartzite, provided that the quartzite countertop is sealed, and you wipe the coffee within 18 hours. Quartzite is a natural stone with low porosity, and when it is sealed properly the coffee stains won’t get inside the pores.
Can you put a hot cup of coffee on quartz?
While quartz is not heat-resistant, it can tolerate heat to some degree. Usually, the temperature of the coffee cup is not that high to permanently damage the surface, but still, it would be safer to use trivets.
Does water stain quartzite?
No, water does not stain quartzite, provided that the quartzite countertop is sealed. In most cases, even unsealed quartzite won’t get water stains. Quartzite is a natural stone with low porosity, and when it is sealed properly the water stains won’t get inside the pores.
