Need a white quartzite! Help?

9 years ago

So my brand new arabesque quartzite counter was being installed and it cracked right down the middle. I went to the supplier, 2 hours away, to find a new slab. When it arrived, it was also cracked. I am desperately looking for a white strong quartzite with only grey markings on it. Nothing too intense as far as streaks. Don't want something that looks like my kid took a marker to it. That being said, all I can seem to find in this category are marbles, which etch and scratch. I have a 2 year old boy with another kid on the way and would rather not risk it with marble. But I only have a few weeks to closing and my builder needs me to make a decision on the counter. Can anyone suggest a quartzite or very strong white and grey marble? We also want a 3" mitre edge and I'm not sure it's possible with marble.

Featured Answer

Lisa 902

9 years ago

Wow, sorry, that is such a shame. I've seen lots of Taj Mahal and White Macaubus here that are lovely.

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Comments (12)

PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
For that configuration i can see the vulnerability but this is handling problem. Also it appears this is 2cm? Not 3cm. You may need thicker slab for this configuration. Check out Zodiac London Sky quartz. Do i see a slab on front of this counter? If so, mixing materials will not work well. So sorry this is happening to you. Good luck.
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User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You're dealing with idiots. That piece should already be shop cut into two pieces, with a seam behind the sink, for handling. Then seamed on site. And they've done this twice??? That also looks like marble, not quartzite.
silviakunst
9 years ago
You need a granite top .
R A
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for suggestions. It was 3cm quartzite. I do not want a seam so we used a jumbo slab. It was double laminate for a thicker edge but they said that's not what caused the issue. They claim it's a softer quartzite. There is not another slab, the front is my farmhouse apron front sink. I do have a sleek concrete Quartz on the perimeter but it's very commons to have a different center island slab so I'm not sure how that's mixing materials. I will check into those suggestions! Thanks again.
PRO
Carolina Kitchen & Bath
9 years ago
You could also try a man-made quartz countertop like Silestone or Caesarstone. Try Silestone Lyra https://www.silestoneusa.com/color/lyra/ or Bianco Orion https://ca.silestone.com/colour/blanco-orion/

silestone lyra countertop · More Info
Lyra

M/I Homes of DC: Maryland :: Crown - Monet Model · More Info
Bianco Orion
felizlady
9 years ago
When I order granite or any special-order counters, I have the fabricator cut, deliver and install it to avoid any liability issues. My 13' granite sink counter has an invisible seam behind the sink. If it is cut from one long slab, it will match.
Dee Sanchez
9 years ago
That doesn't appear to be quartzite. That's a marble, dolomite at best, being sold as quartzite. Unfortunately that's rather common. As far as a 3" miter edge on marble, yes that's possible.
jj610
9 years ago
Unfortunately quartzite can be extremely brittle because it is so hard. You could look at a dolomite like super white but those will still etch. At this point I would look at engineered quartz options if no one has a quartzite slab you love.
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
What does your builder have to say about this? Is this just for an island? If so, then you can do a quartz surface and get a color and look but of course, it won't have the feel of natural stone. Makes me sick to see this because with proper support template for handling and more than two people handling this, it could have worked. The fact that they messed it up twice just shows how inept they are. So doggone frustrating. Their dime though. You might be able to negotiate a better stone from this mess. Try looking at their "bookmatched" pieces of stone. Then they could do the "seam" at the center behind the sink and it would look "intensional". A "bookmatched" stone is two slabs that are specialty cut to "mirror" each other and when put together create a very interesting look. Quite often done in quartzite.
bookmatched stone · More Info
This is a "bookmatched granite, exotic stone. Time for somebody to pony up! I would go ask to look at their bookmatched stones, at no additional cost to you! (btw, these cost way more!) they have the stone they messed up, so they will recover their costs, you are the one lacking a countertop as ordered and envisioned and designed around. Worth a try. The bookmatched slabs come in a variety of colors and choices.
suzyq53
9 years ago
Real Taj Mahal quartzite leathered.
PRO
Carolina Kitchen & Bath
9 years ago
The common method of joining runs of stone around here is like what shopdeeva showed in her picture. Joining at the sink has it's problems, too, since the pieces in front and behind the sink break easily.

I don't recommend any soft, porous stone for a kitchen. Yes, it's gorgeous, but unless you are never going to prepare food, it's a real headache to prevent stains and maintain so it continues to perform. Sure, you see it in Architectural Digest, but you also see ads for expensive watches, fur coats and vacations. Those people never cook for themselves.