If you’ve ever thought about updating your kitchen and wondered what countertop material might be the best fit, you’re in good company! We are renovating our old house step by step.Should we choose marble, quartz, granite or quartzite? This year, we decided to tackle two major projects: the kitchen and a bathroom. Maintaining the old house charm while making it functional for a busy family is our goal—and choosing materials has been one of the biggest decisions along the way. When it came to countertops, we had our hands full researching different options. After weighing the pros and cons of marble, quartz, granite, and quartzite, we landed on quartzite, and here’s why it won us over.
The Dream of Marble, the Reality of Life
Originally, I dreamed of marble countertops for our kitchen. Marble is a timeless favourite in home design and has unquestionably luxury and classic appeal. Marble has drawbacks, though as well. It is more likely to scratch, stain, and etch since, first of all, it is softer than many other stone materials. With three kids and plenty of daily kitchen use, I quickly realized that the upkeep of marble just wasn’t realistic for our lifestyle. I needed something more robust, a surface capable of managing both spaghetti night and the sporadic scientific experiment free from the extra burden of ongoing maintenance.
Exploring Other Stones
So, I started looking into other options. Granite seemed like a good choice; especially in darker tones, it is quite hard and stain and scratch resistant. Granite actually ranks highest on the hardness scale; followed by quartzite, marble, and then soapstone (which, although lovely, is rather soft and prone to wear). Though we wanted to keep the kitchen feeling light and airy, we thought black honed granite would be classic. At that point we noticed quartzite.
Quartzite: A Happy Medium Between Style and Functionality
Quartzite is a natural stone that combines some of the best features of both granite and marble. It’s quite tough—only somewhat softer than granite—so it’s naturally scratch-resistant and less prone to staining than marble. Moreover, without the same degree of care, its light, crystalline look reflects some of the beauty of marble. Quartzite is not to be confused with man-made substance quartz. A naturally occurring stone produced from extreme heat and pressure acting on sandstone is quartzite. Often on par price-wise with high-end marble like Calacatta, it’s a bit of a splurge, but for us the durability made it worth the investment.
Choosing a Finish: Polished vs. Honed Quartzite
When it comes to quartzite finishes, there are two main options: polished and honed. Though it shows fingerprints and smudges, polished quartzite has a glossy finish that resists stains rather nicely. Conversely, honed quartzite prevents etching and has a softer, matte finish that won’t readily show smudges. However, honing quartzite can be tricky. It lets the stone open its pores, which increases its staining susceptibility. Since quartzite is a hard stone and calls for particular tools, many countertop fabricators discourage honing for this stone. Actually, our fabricator first struggled with the honing process and even had to use some additional material from the same slab because of minor scratches during the process.
We ultimately opted for a polished finish. Six months of living with it allows me to say that was a wise choice! Durable, easy to clean, and with a glossy, high-end look we love for our kitchen, polished quartzite is
Real-Life Lessons with Quartzite: Stains and Cleaning
I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have any close calls with stains. I discovered a dark ring in the morning after unintentionally leaving a brown dye bottle on the counter overnight just last month. Fortunately the stain vanished with a brief application of a stone cleaner. But oil stains are rather more difficult. Though a poultice cleaner usually takes care of it, regular soap and water are not always the solution. Conversely, water spots are not a problem; often they evaporate on their own within a day. Every few months, I use a cleaner and sealant meant for stone surfaces to keep everything in top shape.
Last Notes
Quartzite Countertops has been a fantastic choice for our family. It offers the elegant appearance I always dreamed of and the longevity we require in a busy kitchen. Although it does need some upkeep—mostly with regard to occasional sealing and careful cleaning of oil spills—it’s not nearly as high-maintenance as marble, and I adore how it accentuates our room. Quartzite could be the ideal fit for anyone wishing to give their kitchen a little natural beauty without compromising utility!
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