The demand for quartzite countertops for kitchens has been steadily increasing. The reason is its durability and resistance against mechanical and chemical damages paired with the looks of marble, which makes quartzite one of the best choices for countertops. In this blog post we will discover the material qualities that make quartzite so special.
Keep reading!
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Hardness of Quartzite
Quartzite is a natural stone that is as beautiful as marble but has an extended resilience and durability: compared to marble, which rates a 3 on the Mohs hardness scale, quartzite is almost as hard as Granite with a score of 7 or 8 on the same Mohs scale. Both marble and quartzite are the same type – of metamorphic stones, but the difference in hardness is due to their chemical composition of them.
Porosity of Quartzite
Quartzite is less porous than marble, it does not react with the acids as marble does and it is less susceptible to stains. These qualities make quartzite a better material for kitchen countertops. However, not all quartzites are the same. Depending on the chemical composition, their properties can differ.
Is quartzite countertop man-made?
Quartzite countertop is not man-made – is it actually a natural stone? There are three different natural stone types based on their formation: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. Quartzite (and marble) are metamorphic stones. It starts its formation as a sedimentary stone (like a sandstone), but the heat and the pressure make it recrystallize into solid rock.
Quartzite, as a metamorphic stone, never reaches a point where it gets molten and then resolidifies, like granite. However, just because Quartzite is a metamorphic rock does not necessarily mean that it is less hard than granite. Hardness has to do with the chemical composition of the stone.
Quartzite must not be mistaken for quartz, which is a man-made engineered stone widely used in modern kitchen designs as a countertop. Quartzite is formed naturally, while the engineered quartz is made of 92% of natural stone quartz and gets re-composited into an engineered surface.
Are there different qualities of quartzite countertops?
There are different types of quartzite. The quality can be measured with hardness, durability, and acid resistance. The real quartzite, no matter what type and look, has an outstanding hardness, durability, and acid resistance. However, you should be careful not to purchase a dense sandstone instead of quartzite. They might look similar but the dense sandstone will not be acid and scratch resistant as quartzite is.
Technically, quartzite is a former sandstone that got recrystallized due to temperature and pressures and acquired better qualities, such as scratch and acid resistance.
different types of quartzite
There are different types of quartzite that would make your kitchen look absolutely gorgeous. The color of the natural stone has to do with its chemical composition. While the most popular choices of modern designs are very neutral, there are beautiful colorful quartzite countertops that would add character to your space.
Classic white quartzite features an almost solid white background brushed by gray striations, with minimal streaks of darker veining. This type of quartzite is extremely close to some of the most popular marble varieties, like Calacatta or Carrera, but has extended durability than marble.
Taj Mahal is the most popular quartzite type. Its popularity is due to its neutral tone which can go extremely well in modern interiors. It is also super durable – 7 on the hardness scale.
This prominent creamy gold tone creates a grand elegance.
Emerald quartzite is quarried in Brazil. It features a tonal background in greens ranging from pale jade to grayish-green to bright emerald hues, with variation across the surface and by the slab.
You can easily notice shades of white, gold, beige, brown, dark green, and even burgundy and purple, in some cases.
This type of stone goes extremely well with neutral kitchens that would not compete with this beauty and let it become an iconic focal point.
Does quartzite have natural cracks?
Quartzite cracks are sometimes mistaken for natural fissures or vice versa. There is a big difference. Cracks are mechanical manmade damages to the stone, while fissures occur naturally. Fissures occur due to different reasons: crystallization of different minerals, pressure, and different environmental forces. On the other hand, cracks can be created during the transportation or fabrication process.
The natural fissures are adding character to the slab. There is not anything you should do about them. Cracks, on the other hand, are mechanical damage and they will harbor dirt and bacteria if not repaired. Knowing the difference between natural fissures (or veining) and crack is essential.
There are ways to repair cracks in quartzite countertops, if the producer of your countertops offers to change the damaged one, definitely go for it.
Does quartzite absorb water?
Some types of quartzite absorb more water than others. The absorption degree has to do with the porosity of the material. While in some types of quartzite Taj Mahal or Sea Pearl minerals are bonded together tightly, others might not have been exposed to that degree of pressure resulting in a more porous material that absorbs more water.
Quartzite types, such as White Macaubus are fairly porous, while the Taj Mahal is the least porous. That’s probably the reason of its popularity for kitchen countertops. In any case, the surface must be sealed to avoid water and other types of stains.
quartzite countertop durability
Quartzite is a calcified material, which means that it is as hard as granite. It makes quartzite an extremely durable material and perfectly suitable for busy kitchens. Natural quartzite is a hard stone, resistant to scratches, chipping, and heat. The chemical composition of quartzite ensures its resistance to acid as well. All these qualities make quartzite a perfect material for kitchen countertops.
Quartzite countertop producers define five categories when it comes to natural stone, including quartzite. Category 1 is the cheapest. The price of quartzite does not necessarily have to do anything with the quality or durability of the material, but it is mostly a matter of how rare the material is. Category 1, the cheapest quartzite usually comes from huge quarries, which means that the producers are able to mass produce the slabs and keep the prices low.
Category 5, that costs the most expensive, does not necessarily mean that it is of better quality or more durable. The rare materials that look exotic are usually significantly more expensive.
is quartzite heat resistant?
Quartzite is a natural heat-resistant material. Neither hot objects, like pots or pans, nor direct exposure to fire will damage quartzite. On the other hand, quartz, a man-made engineered stone, which includes a high percentage of resin in its composition, is highly inflammable.
When deciding which countertop material to choose, it is important to keep the heat resistance in mind. Natural stones, including quartzite, are generally highly resilient and stay undamaged when exposed to hot objects or direct fire.
Does quartzite chip easily?
Quartzite is considered a hard stone, however, it is susceptible to damage if something heavy drops on it. The mechanical damage can also be caused by a rapid change of temperature on the surface. Corners and edges can chip easier, that’s why damages happen to appear near the sink more often than in other places.
However, if your quartzite countertop chips easily, it is more likely that it’s not actually quartzite. Due to its similar appearance quartzite can be mistaken for marble or dense sandstone. A good way to test your quartzite is to scratch glass with the corner of the countertop. Real quartzite will actually damage the glass, but marble or dense sandstone will get damaged with the glass.
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Does quartzite crack easily?
Even though quartzite is one of the hardest natural countertop materials on market, it can crack, especially at places where there is a cut-out for a sink or a drill hole for a faucet. Overhang corners and edges should be treated carefully as well – try to avoid dropping heavy items, especially in places where there is already a natural veining/fissure.
Quartzite cracks should not be mistaken for quartzite fissures. Fissures are quartz hydrothermal veins where quartz was deposited during metamorphism of the rock. Fissures are natural features and give a lot of character and beauty to the slab, while cracks are mechanical damage.
Keep in mind that the hardness of the material is very much dependent on its chemical composition, which might change from type to type. Therefore, different species of Quartzite might differ in terms of hardness.
Does quartzite stain easily?
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 long. The reason why natural stones get stained is that all of them are porous: some more, and some less. 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 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 can get stained with just about everything except for olive oil.
Quartzite is not as porous as marble, and it is a more suitable material for countertops in the kitchen. However, no matter how less porous a natural stone is, it still needs to get sealed. Sealing will protect the quartzite countertop not only from visible stains but also from moist and dirt penetration.
From time to time it can get stained with watermarks, wine, or coffee. Apply a baking soda mixed with a little bit of water to make a paste, cover it with a plastic bag and leave it for 24 hours. Then wipe it away.
If the baking soda trick does not work, go for Barkeeper’s Friend.
Does quartzite scratch easily?
Quartzite is one of the hardest materials available for countertops and it does not scratch easily at all. However, countertops are often mislabeled and you might get a marble countertop instead of quartzite. Marble is softer than quartzite and gets scratched much easier. Therefore, it’s important to check carefully what you are getting.
One of the ways to check if it’s marble or quartzite, is to use glass. Glass will easily scratch marble while quartzite will leave scratches on the glass itself.
Does water stain quartzite?
Generally speaking, quartzite is not a very porous material, and if sealed properly water will not stain it. However, there are different types of quartzite. Some of them are more porous than others and they can soak more water, and get water stains.
Experiments showed that White Macaubus is one of the most porous quartzite types. One of the reasons why Taj Mahal quartzite is so widely used as countertops is that it is one of the least porous quartzite types out there.
Does quartzite scratch easier than granite?
Quartzite does not necessarily get scratched easier than granite. They are different materials by the way they are formed, but the hardness of the stone has to do with the chemical composition rather than the way of formation. Granite ranges from 6 to 8 on the hardness scale while quartzite is around 7.
There are three different natural stone types based on their formation: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. Igneous stones are formed by melding the minerals and then re-solidifying them into a stone. Granite is an Igneous stone.
Quartzite (and marble) are metamorphic stones. It starts its formation as a sedimentary stone (like a sandstone), but the heat and the pressure make it recrystallize into solid rock.
Quartzite, as a metamorphic stone, never reaches a point where it gets molten and then resolidifies, like granite. However, just because Quartzite is a metamorphic rock does not necessarily mean that it is less hard than granite. Hardness has to do with the chemical composition of the stone.
What will stain quartzite?
While some of the quartzite materials do not get stained at all even unsealed, some others are more susceptible to stains. As testing showed, acidic materials are dangerous for quartzite types that have more marble-like characteristics.
As tested, none of the kitchen products would stain Sea Pearl 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 can get stained with just about everything except for olive oil.
Bottomline: order samples of different quartzite types and test them against the kitchen products. Choose the one which withstands the test, but in any case, make sure you seal it with a permanent sealer.
Bottomline:
What can damage quartzite countertops?
There are many different types of quartzite and they withstand mechanical or chemical damage in different ways.
When it comes to resistance against mechanical damage, the hardness of the material is important. The hardness of quartzite is dependent on its chemical composition.
The same is true when it comes to staining. While some of the quartzite materials do not get stained at all even unsealed, some others are more susceptible to stains. As testing showed, acidic materials are dangerous for quartzite types that have more marble-like characteristics, such as Dolce Vita. However, other types of quartzite, such as Sea Pearl perfectly withstand the test against wine, lemons, tomato sauce, and olive oil if they are wiped away within 18 hours.
Bottomline: order samples of different quartzite types and test them against the kitchen products. Choose the one which withstands the test, but in any case, make sure you seal it with a permanent sealer.
Does vinegar harm quartzite?
In most cases, vinegar does not harm quartzite. However, there are different types of quartzite with different chemical compositions. The quartzite which has more marble-like characteristics will be damaged with acidic liquids, such as vinegar or lemon juice.
The reason is that some of the species of quartzite may contain calcium carbonate, which easily reacts very to acid, including vinegar or lemon juice.
Bottomline: 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.
Conclusion
Quartzite is one of the best choices among all the natural stone materials for countertops. It is durable, scratch and acid resistant. However, the types of quartzite differ as their chemical composition differs. This will affect the hardness and acid resistance of the material.
Before buying the countertop, make sure to order material samples and test them against both, mechanical and chemical damages: scratches, acidic products such as vinegar and lemon juice, and red wine.
After installation make sure to seal the countertops with a permanent sealer.
If it still gets stained somehow, you can try a baking soda paste, or Bartender’s Friend cleaners to get rid of the stain.
