About Quartzite

Not to be confused with man-made "Quartz," quartzite is a naturally occurring metamorphic rock that is becoming more and more popular as a countertop material in today's most desirable homes. And no wonder--natural quartzite seems too good to be true…

• It has the appearance of a marble, but doesn't etch like marble can.
   
• The understated colors and soothing patterns typically found in quartzite go well with just about any color scheme or home décor. Most often, pure quartzite is naturally white or grey, with subtle veining; however, other colors are available as well. (Additional colors found in some varieties of Quartzite are due to the mingling of other minerals.)
   
• Quartzite is harder than soapstone, marble, man-made “Quartz”, and even the hardest of granites—so no worries about scratching or dinging; In the unlikely event that it were to become damaged, it is repairable. (This is also true of marble, soapstone, and granite, but not of engineered “Quartz.”)
   
• After sealing, quartzite is very resistant to staining.  
   
• It won’t fade from exposure to bright light or sunshine, as can happen with man-made “Quartz.” And like all natural stones, quartzite is perfect for kitchen use because it is heat-proof.
   
• Quartzite’s look is timeless and beautiful. There is no mistaking that it is real stone, with a unique veining pattern only nature could create. Each one-of-a-kind piece of quartzite has the appearance that artificial stone tries to imitate.

Actually, it is difficult to find a down side with quartzite, other than the fact that it is so hard, the homeowner’s choice of edge profile is limited, and that its high absorption rate means a good-quality sealer is necessary. But because its porosity is so easily overcome with today’s outstanding stone sealers, the only remaining disadvantage is cost. Quartzite is a high-end material that looks and acts like a high-end material.