The Difference Between Quartz And Quartzite Countertop Material
Posted on: 4 August 2021
Are you getting new countertops installed in your home and need to decide on a material? You may have your choice narrowed down to quartz but are not sure what the difference is between quartz and quartzite. Here is what you should know about these two materials and how they are similar and different.
Manufacturing
The main difference between quartz and quartzite is how the two materials are made. Quartz is a man-made material that is mostly crushed quartz combined with polymer resins and pigments. The combination of these materials makes quartz incredibly durable for use in a kitchen. Quartzite is different because it is a completely natural material found in nature. It must be mined from under the earth's crust due to quartzite being formed by heat and pressure.
Durability
Many people love quartz because it is an incredibly durable material. The man-made nature of quartz means that it is going to be non-porous, which means that liquids from your kitchen and bathroom are not going to seep into the material. This is all due to those resins that are added to the crushed quartz during manufacturing. Meanwhile, quartzite is still a very durable material that resists heat and scratches. However, the nature of the material being mined instead of manufactured means that it is going to be porous.
Patterns
The benefit of selecting quartz is that it is an engineered material that has a consistent pattern across the surface. Many people love this because it is great at hiding seams between multiple slabs of quartz material since you will not have a dramatic pattern that suddenly ends. Quartzite has a lot more natural swirling and veining patterns that resemble the look of marble. This makes each piece very unique, with it being much harder to hide seams in the material. The color of quartzite is also more of a white and gray color, with less variety due to not adding pigments to it.
Maintenance
Quartz does not require any sealing to maintain the surface. The most that you have to do is wash off the surface when it gets dirty, making it great for a kitchen. Quartzite does require that the surface is sealed if you do not want it to be porous. Be prepared to do this a couple of times each year to ensure that the material stays in great condition.
Contact a local contractor to learn more about quartz countertops or other types of materials.
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