tarcor211 - would you give an update on your countertop? I am really wanting to buy a slab of leathered sequoia for our new kitchen island - its so beautiful. But I'm very concerned with durability. In addition to your installation issues with cracking and the seems, have you had any issues with damage from use? Etching or staining, rings from glasses etc?

I finished this beautiful Super White quartzite vanity top in April of 2014 with no problems to date. Client loves it!

Torry Manzo

Renaissance Kitchen and Home

Ocrose- Quartzite is much more like granite than marble. Water definitely does not cause etching or staining. I have had Super White quartzite in my kitchen and bar (think lemons and limes) for the last two years and have not had one issue with etching. We are adventurous cooks (parents and kids) and just by nature are not in any way cautious with our counter tops, which is the reason we didn't use the marble i would have liked to use for aesthetic reasons. In our previous home we had dark granite counters. That was 100% more of a maintenance headache because it was hard to keep it from looking streaky, even after cleaning and buffing.

Ocrose- mountjoy is correct. REAL Quartzite is strong. The name Super White is used by some stores for quartzite, marble, or other stones. The only way you can really tell is to test the stone

tarcor211

Would you mind sending an update on your leathered sequoia? Have you used it yet? Are you having any problems with etching rings from cups, water or scratching and staining? Thanks!

Kristen, have you tried Hydrogen Peroxide? I am in the middle of a field test with Super White quartite and it looks like it's making progress. Good luck.

There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet about Super White Quartzite and it's hard to know who or what to believe because there seems to be a lot of confusion - just in this post alone. I took the advice of another post and went to the granite yard to test it for myslef. My biggest concern was the staining, since most of the professionals rated quartzite a bit stronger than granite (7 vs. 6-6.5). Last night, I loaded up my quartzite sample with all the stuff I was afraid of (minus lemons as I never have them in the house, so not a big concern of mine). I used Black Diamond Granite Plus sealer on one side and did not seal the other side. At 6pm, I loaded the slab with ketchup, tomato sauce, cut tomatoes, oil, Italian sald dressing, red wine and mustard. After an hour, I wiped off 1/2 of everything on the non treated side and there was no sign of staining. I then left everything on overnight and cleaned the slab at 8am with a wet paper towel (water only). At first glance, I couldn't see ANY staining, other than the red wine, mostly on the treated side. When I looked closer, I noticed there was red wine staining on the untreated side too but I had poured it on a darker spot so it was tougher to see. Again, this is after 14.5 hrs of sitting on the stone. I poured Hydrogen peroxide on the treated side where the stain was bigger (larger amount of wine was poured on that side and it was on a lighter spot, so I dont attribute that to the sealer). It definitely helped. I'm still testing so I will update soon. Here are some photos of the test.

Peroxide took the pink out after leaving it on for about an hour.

I feel bad for you because I know what you are going through. Mine is called Antartide Quartzite but found out it is a type of marble which does scratch and etch. Mine is still beautiful..although I do have spots here and there you really can't see them. I use a polishing powder I bought online..and a chip repair kit that works wonders filling in a small chip because it's a clear resin based product and my countertop is very light. It fills in with the crystals so you never knew there was a chip. It looks like a dinky repair kit but it works. I don't let anyone slide a dish across the counter because it will scratch. I keep a clear blotter and white large cutting board on the island to make sandwiches or preparing a meal to protect the counter. I also don't seal it because I think some of the etching was from the sealer and it doesn't stain at all..It will etch if a sweating cold glass sits on the counter so I'm careful with that. My kitchen was redone with cabinets and shelves sitting directly on top of the counter so they can never been replaced without damaging the cabinets. This won't be my "Foreverhouse" because we have to move one more time in five years. I have to keep it looking nice for when I sell it. I have another house that I just put in a quartz marble look alike on the island only as a test...for when I move again. It looks so much like marble but it is so easy to take care of. If you're careful with your quartzite (marble) it will stay pretty with a little care. Good luck!

Kawena21, it was polished Super White

Thanks so much for your comment! Every countertop that I love is real marble, but I don't want to go there. I have been struggling with this decision for months now and have just about decided that the MSI Carrara Grigio is my best option. I appreciate your input.

shesmith97, how did the countertop come out? i am also looking at MSI carrara grigio. please let me know! thanks

Mc

Wow! So much information. I've been trying to decide on countertops for months. I've read and asked many questions and seems that most everything has issues except Granite. Problem with granite is there is no grey and white! I'm going with American made matble in my MB. Has anyone heard of that? I had not. If so, please advise. The slab is gorgeous, I'm willing to be super careful in my bath but not my kitchen.

What you saw in that slab yard was not a quartzite, at least not the pure kind. White quartzite stone is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink and red due to varying amounts of iron oxide . Other colors, such as yellow, green, blue and orange, are due to other mineral impurities. On the Mohs test that measures how hard a material is, quartzite got a hardness mark of 8 from 10. This actually means that it’s harder than glass and can actually cut it. We provided a list of things you should pay attention to when looking for the perfect slab of Super White Quartzite - http://aquagranite.com/super-white-quartzite-everything-need-know/

Super White is not a quartzite.... I work for a stone yard in Houston and we often are told that others are selling their Super White as a quartzite.... It is a dolomite. (You can look that up on your own :-) When I read the above comments about Super White quartzite not performing as expected, it is because it is not a quartzite....I just want to try to clarify so that quartzite will not get an inaccurate reputation. Quartzite is extremely durable, hard like granite ...

thank you strictlybzz, that is what we need: more people speaking the truth

We were told at the stoneyard we went to that places categorize some stones inaccurately (which stinks for consumers). We saw the dolomite as mentioned in a previous comment. The person explained the differences between marble, granite, quartzite, and Dolomite (dolomite being more like marble, whereas quartzite is similar granite).

@shesmith97 and @bigred76 - how did the MSI Carrara Grigio come out? any pics?

I finally decided on a Dupont product, Zodiaq London Sky. I am happy with the appearance, durability and resemblance to marble. There were problems with the installation because my pieces came from different lots. Do not let this happen! They knew better, but made a mistake on the first piece. What I learned is that the variation in the product can be quite noticeable. It is a quartz product. All was finally satisfied, after replacement of one piece, and I am very pleased. But, it could have gone the other way!

@rjcabson333....just about to say YES to Cristallo Quartzite....read SO, SO,SO many conflicting reviews.......This is definitely the look we want. Granite looks too modern and Quartz well looks way too machine made and uniform........Are you still happy with your choice?? Any advice for us????