Lots of posts on this forum and kitchen forum with actual user experiences with porcelain counters, most not very positive.

If you are going to consider quartzite, not all quartzite is the same and some are outright mislabeled, when they are really marble. There is no such thing as soft quartzite or hard marble!

For quartzite, I would suggest you look at Taj Mahal. I have installed it in 2 kitchens, one a remodel and the other a recent new build, in which I also used Taj Mahal in the outdoor kitchen (under the lanai roof and not exposed to direct sunlight). Hardly any issues, or complaints, to be found in the forums from those that have used Taj Mahal.

The porcelain fabricators and sales people seem to be waving large red flags in your face ... you might want to pay attention! :-)

If you want something you can't hurt, stainless steel is nice. Then you put something pretty on the wall for a backsplash.

Chips and cracks cannot be repaired. And it chips and cracks. Also Also, 94 sq ft is pretty ig for a kitchen. Double the average size. Big kitchens are much harder to make work, and not be so spread out and dysfunctional. You might want to post your layout.

I, too, have read on this Houzz website about “Taj Mahal” being one of two choices for reliable quartzite. And, mislabeling of quartzite is a common problem in the industry.

Soapstone?

@User I did post layout in my new building thread. Already got the knocks and advice, thanks. All lines are straight, no seams necessary if slab is big enough. Cut outs for stove, sink, and faucets, as usual.

@chispa Thanks...I see your point. I read the complaints, but then I see the pros say no, fabricator error, fabricator inexperience, not product error. I have to wonder is the problem only on mitered edge? Or any surface? I will probably go with quartzite and just seal diligently. I'd love to make it easy on myself and go with affordable quartz, but since I have already ruined that in someone else's house, I won't...even with that product, I hear such contrary info, as in, oh, you can't hurt the "quality" quartz. Errr?

@Fori I have actually considered SS. When my son was in college, he used to work for a stainless steel fabricator who does counters and cabinets for a major grocery chain. We still have that friendship and could easily get those done. SS get beat up too, but certainly cheaper to replace. Yet I'm not sure I can go that industrial...

How did you ruin your neighbor's quartz?

@Chispa I think I answered this question in another thread with you, but maybe that was Kat or KT...I set a hot lid on on a neighbor's new quartz counter. While I wouldn't set a pot on a counter, I didn't think about the lid. I also stained it and then (ignorantly) applied comet to take it out. Both left a haze of a mark behind that you can see if you lean into it. On a separate occasion, I also saw the result after someone else in same kitchen left a coffee cup by the side of the sink, that made a coffee ring stain that took forever to lift, and again left a slight haze behind, sort of like a water mark. I was told by a salesperson recently it must be "cheap" quartz...but seriously, I'm not going to ask friend if this is the case. I know other people find ways to avoid melting or staining their quartz, but I just don't want to be OCD about a counter.

@Keen B, sounds like you have a quartz curse! ;-) It does seem like your neighbor has a less durable brand of quartz. I have only had quartz in bathrooms/laundry and never had any issues. No problem getting hair dye stains out of my Cambria White Cliff (plain bright white) with just a bit of spray cleaner w/bleach. Let sit for a few minutes, wipe and rinse.

I think my parents have had 3 kitchens with quartz counters and no problems.

What about butcher block? IKEA used to (haven’t looked lately) sell it at a reasonable price. I have stainless counters and love them.

it does sound like a cheap quartz. I have the suede finish Silestone eternal. I've left lids on it, (but i'm also near the sink so I often just throw them in there) hot mugs, and haven't had any issues. I've used soft scrub gel or bar keepers friend in the liquid to clean off any stubborn stains. They always come up and look fine afterward. the Silestone comes w/a factory sealant called Nuboost (I believe is the name)

If you friend got some knock-off quartz from china, they use a diff quality and quantity of resin.

as for chipping, I will say it sucks. I had granite for 15 years and never chipped anything. I've put 3 chips in my quartz edge all because of the damn iron skillet! Even tho I'm careful, if that iron skillet hits the edge just right, it's gonna chip. Luckily it's easily repaired.

go w/the quartzite. there are no horror stories w/true, genuine quartzite. the bad things you read about is because the seller mislabed marble as a quartzite. Always to the lemon and scratch test if you're unsure.

I just finished my kitchen. I had in previous countertops marble and granite. I was sold on the quartz for this rehab. Did my research and ended up with Mont Blanc quartzite. Love it. I did not read your whole post but I do know people who had problem with quartz staining. I would highly recommend quartzite

Picture of my quartzite

Wrong picture

Finished kitchen