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KitchensDesign Dilemma
rachel_nye4

Quartz or Quartzite pros/cons

7 years ago

Hi! Replacing our busy granite considering both quartz or quartzite. We are a busy family of 5 always in the kitchen and kids eat at high top bar. Being encouraged to get quartz. I love marble and have it in our formal living room (have also had to pay to get etching out and currently have a huge etched area from someone leaving a juice box overnight....no way we could do marble in kitchen.)

I see lots of posts here asking about the products but hard to find follow up after the products being installed. Any advice?

Considering Cambria Ella or a Quartzite like Taj Mahal or Mystery Gold/White (also pricing difference, I have a quote for the Cambria is quartzite much more expensive). Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer
  • 7 years ago
    Jan not an option. Would have to tear down walls, reconstruct ceiling, plumbing and we like it just the way it is. Also like my double basin sink. Some things are popular but also depends what you like/budget/and if you want to get into ripping down walls. Thank you though. Going to focus on which counters to get. Off to the stone yard.

    Comments (27)

    • PRO
      7 years ago

      The first decision is to get rid of the high top:) if at all possible. I have clients with Ella, and with Taj. Nobody has had staining issues with either one.

      You are showing a fraction of your kitchen. You want to consider seams......the total look. No matter which you decide. Which will NOT be marble.

      Consider that high top please....... and a drop down.

    • 7 years ago

      We are busy family of five. We have Taj Mahal for one year. It is easy to mantain and beautiful

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    • 7 years ago

      @jan just had cabinets($$$) made for front of high top which we love. I would not want an island it wouldn't work with our peninsula and too close to living room.

    • 7 years ago
      we only have 2 seams one on high top one next to sink
    • 7 years ago

      I think getting rid of backsplash between high top and counter would help. It would be more continuous.

    • 7 years ago
      Soncna any pictures? Was there a huge price difference between that and premium quartz if you checked? Thanks!
    • 7 years ago
      Jan we are extending out the bar top:)
    • PRO
      7 years ago

      A far more OPEN look results from a simultaneous lowering of a bar top. Most eschew the rise today,. Up to you

    • 7 years ago
      not looking to change high top. Just put the cabinet panels there. Love that I can't see my sink, dishes...from my couch. Love that it breaks up living space and kitchen.
    • 7 years ago

      Quartzite is stronger than quartz. And I find natural stone much more beautiful than engineered counters.

    • 7 years ago
      thank you Rita off to stone store!
    • 7 years ago

      Fell in love with this quartzite

    • 7 years ago

      Love it!!

    • 7 years ago

      Here is a thread that explains how to simply test the slab you are looking at to be sure it truly is quartzite. Sometimes vendors will label a marble or dolomite quartzite. Since quartzite is tougher than granite and more expensive than marble, it is important to be sure you are getting what you pay for. You test to see if yo can scratch the slab and etch the slab. Karin_mt is a geologist and hugely helpful to those of us who like rocks ;-)

      https://www.houzz.com/discussions/countertop-geology-part-5-marble-quartzite-and-other-favorites-dsvw-vd~2438427

    • 7 years ago

      Thank you Rita, I was just going to post that. :)


      This is an article that summarizes the quartzite ID situation

      http://usenaturalstone.com/definitive-guide-quartzite/

    • 7 years ago
      Now being told that the slabs I picked out are "soft quartzite". I was not able to do the tests on them. So confused on what to do now. Considering going with Pompeii vanilla ice quartz.
    • 7 years ago

      According to Karin Kirk, a geologist who contributes to the "usenatrualstone.org" website, there is no such thing as a soft quartzite. Anything labeled as such is likely marble. Take a look at the article. Great information.


      The Definitive Guide to Quartzite



    • 7 years ago

      so happy with our quartzite mystery gold

    • 7 years ago
      Looks great!
    • 7 years ago

      What did you find was the price differential between quartz and quartzite?

    • 7 years ago
      The quartzite was slightly less than Cambria Ella. we are so happy with the product and having end tables made with the extra.
    • 7 years ago

      What is the name of your quartzite and has it held up?


    • 7 years ago
      Hi Noreen it is Mystery Gold. It's amazing and has taken abuse. I cook a lot, 3 kids that hit it with swivel barstools.... I have sealed it since installing and will do that again in a couple weeks. So happy we went with a natural stone. Love looking at the many natural variations.
    • 5 years ago

      Love this look. It’s so warm yet fresh!!! I am also on the fence with quartz and quartzite to replace our granite...because I don’t live the artificial look of the quartz I’m rethinking after seeing this!! Thanks!!

    • 5 years ago

      Also, Rachel, can you share what color your cabinets are and the accent color on the peninsula? Thanks

    • 5 years ago

      Hi! Thank you! The cabinets are SW Divine White and peninsula Virtual Taupe. Walls Nomadic Desert.

      Just got the new backsplash to install which I’m super excited about. ( The current one matched the old countertops.)

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