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| Calcutta marble from Italia Granite. |
Furthering that discussion, I had come across white quartzites (not to be confused with quartz which is typically a man-made product) in my online search for marble look-a-likes.
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| Photo courtesy of Amber Martin. |
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| Photo courtesy of Amber Martin. |
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| Quartzite counters, image via. |
I set out to source quartzites locally so I could see them in person
(as there are countless variations with any stone).
“My biggest tip would be to get a sample from the same bundle that you are planning to purchase and then do some testing. Make sure it doesn’t etch with acids and make sure it doesn’t stain with the items that you always have in your kitchen. I personally have never had a problem with quartzite etching in the 8 years that I’ve been in this industry but I have heard of it happening. I think in those cases the quartzite may contain some calcium which is causing the etching. I always encourage my customers to take the time to do some testing.
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| Quartzite. Image via Granite Gurus. |
I see quartzite stain every once in a great while, but it’s actually relatively easy to get a stain out where as an etch is there to stay. So staining isn’t as big of an issue. Quartzite is really hard and dense, so we have actually found that it doesn’t necessarily need to be sealed. In fact, sometimes sealing it is a bad idea because the sealer won’t absorb into the stone and just sits on top. We had one instance where we thought the quartzite had etched. We came to figure out that it was actually the sealer changing appearance because it was just sitting on the top. Once we stripped the sealer off the counters were great. Every color of quartzite is different too, some definitely need to be sealed. So I guess I would say my other piece of advice would be to hire a fabricator that is experienced with quartzite. It’s not only more difficult to work with than typical granite, there are also just some tricks with sealers and what not that take experience to figure out.”
Great tips Stephanie, thank you.
She also referred me to Cory with Italia Granite which (cue harps) also carries Super White
Quartzite! Here it is:
Cory with Italia Granite said you have to be careful with where you buy it from.
Sometimes you may find a lower quality slab which may tend to be brittle if it has excess of calcium in it.
Also, hiring an experienced fabricator is key as well.
So there it is folks.
Quartzite 101.
Why do I feel like that made my decision all the more difficult?
Hey there! I’m Michelle; I’m an Passionate DIY’er and in constant pursuit of how to bring beauty to my house full of men (3 boys + 1 hubby). Stick around and see what I’ve got up my hard-working sleaves!
Gosh that Calcutta is just amazing isn’t it? But you know, I know I’m not the kind of person who could have it in my kitchen. Some might call it patina, but I think it would drive me nuts and I’d be terribly OCD until that first stain/etch got on there. Quartzite sounds like a wonderful alternative and it certainly is beautiful. For me, I think I’d have to go with a quartz because I’d require something as bulletproof as possible. I’m sure whatever you choose will be beautiful.
Oh, Michelle. I’ve been warring in my mind with this exact problem for years… Oh, how to remodel my kitchen?? We’re soul sisters, you and I. We are both mommies to three little boys. We both like pretty things. We are both fiercely attractive with great hair. (right? say it’s true. come on.) Sometimes a busy REAL life and pretty prettys are at odds… yup. So here is our big decision. Do we want to be the kind of people who lives safe? Who settle for the safe options in life because they don’t stain? Or… Do we get what we want and live following our hearts, recognizing that it isn’t always the safest option? Yes. I am waxing seriously philosophical about counters. It’s that kind of day. hmmm… whatever will we do??
Mariah,
I like you! I think you just sealed the deal for me. Thank you for your philosophical perspective on pretty counters. We must be soul sis-tahs indeed! We must meet sometime for a boy playdate. Where oh where do you live? I must behold your fiercely attactive hair!
Oh my goodness- a lot of information to take in! They all LOOK beautiful though- go luck with your decision!
oh my lordy that is to die for. Good luck with your decision. You can’t wrong with either one.
~Mandy
wow, good to know. We’re building and the marble look is what i wanted, but A- knew it would be pricey, and B- I was told it stained pretty bad especially in the kitchen. We went for quartz, and the sample is gorgeous, but I worry about what the whole slab will look like :/
This is a really great post…I am doing a post soon on marble tops I may just have to quote this! Thanks
PS totally with credits…just sayin 🙂
Well this is a wealth of info..thanks.
Now if you could only find a good source in Arizona.
Love the Calcutta marble – actually love any gray/white marble – why limit myself. However I am not terribly neat, especially when cooking. Also LOVE LOVE that Super white quartzite. Sigh! What to do? I think quartz (Silestone Lyra) for the kitchen (way more potential for staining) and Super White Quartzite for the master bath.
I worked at a granite counter shower room many years ago. We had a LOVELY granite w/ the same gray white look called Bianco Ramano. I know Arizona tile in SLC carries it! Check it out fur sure!! Oh and google it too!
I worked at a granite counter shower room many years ago. We had a LOVELY granite w/ the same gray white look called Bianco Ramano. I know Arizona tile in SLC carries it! Check it out fur sure!! Oh and google it too!
I worked at a granite counter shower room many years ago. We had a LOVELY granite w/ the same gray white look called Bianco Ramano. I know Arizona tile in SLC carries it! Check it out fur sure!! Oh and google it too!
I worked at a granite counter shower room many years ago. We had a LOVELY granite w/ the same gray white look called Bianco Ramano. I know Arizona tile in SLC carries it! Check it out fur sure!! Oh and google it too!
We have Calcutta and I LOVE it. L-O-V-E love it. we had a few people try to talk us out of it, but we had just as many say it was no problem. It is honed and sealed and we just take care not to leave stuff on it that might leave stains. It’s just so beautiful I’m so glad that we didn’t listen to the nay-sayers. I figured since we don’t drink (red) wine or smoke, then we should be okay. We keep a big cutting board by the stove for when we are moving around hot pots that need to come off the stove. I figure that half if not more of the kitchens in italy have cream or white marble, and not just any marble, but really really old marble, and they all seem to manage somehow.
That’s right, Michelle! We laugh in the face of peanut butter and red wine stains! That’s just patina. Chips on the edge by the sink? eh. Character, that’s nothing but character. We’ll get what we want, dangit! Durability fears be dammed! Or… We’ll chicken out at the last minute and get honed granite like normal people.
I also have 3 little boys and we got honed Carrara marble counters a little over a year ago… we L.O.V.E. them! They are etched all over the place. I think it’s impossible to prevent etching with marble unless you never ever spill anything. I’m a messy cook and my kids & husband are messy eaters so we spill and splatter constantly! but NO stains. The honed finish hides the etching better than the polished & as long as they’re sealed properly, staining shouldn’t be an issue unless you are dumping marinara sauce all over them and leaving it there for days. I vote marble!
Hi,
I went through the same dilemma. My kids are small and I can’t trust my family to be diligent, nor can I be in the kitchen all the time. We went with a quartzite called Madre Perla. We really like it. It actually gives some dimension to an all white kitchen w/o the stress of what happens when I am not the one in the kitchen.
This is exactly the advice that I have given my clients over the years – test the actual sample that you are considering buying. Such smart advice and great tips overall!
I have a quartzite counter top. The edge that meets the stove where the quartzite was cut has stained. Is there a way to remove the stains. Should that edge have been sealed? Does the top need to be sealed? Thank you.
Good question. I’m not an expert but I would definitely ask an expert at the stone yard. 🙂
Any reason you cannot use quartzite for a dining room table? Soul preferably. Any cons?
Absolutely could. 🙂
My quartzite counters were beautiful. …until the installer put sealer on. Now it has a horrible haze like waterspot appearance. I am sick. Installer tried a wipe of acetone. Nothing. He says it is just the stones look…NO…it was beautiful UNTIL it was sealed.what can I do to fix it?