Is quartzite better than quartz or granite?
Quartzite is the hardest of the three and has the marble-like veining many people want, but it usually costs the most and needs sealing. Quartz is engineered, never needs sealing and is the most consistent, though very high heat can mark it. Granite usually costs the least of the three, handles heat well and needs sealing about once a year. Which is better depends on how you cook and how much upkeep you want.
Granite and quartzite are quarried, and quartz is made
Granite forms from cooled magma and is cut from the ground in slabs, so no two are alike. Quartzite starts as sandstone and is changed by heat and pressure into a very hard, dense stone. Both are natural, both vary from slab to slab, and both are best chosen by looking at the slab itself.
Quartz countertops are roughly 90 percent ground quartz held together with resin and pigment. Because it is manufactured rather than quarried, the slab matches the sample, and a long island can be seamed with less chance of the pattern jumping at the joint.
Heat is where quartz gives ground
Granite and quartzite shrug off a hot pan set down for a moment. The resin in quartz can scorch or discolor under high heat, so quartz kitchens keep trivets beside the range.
Quartzite resists scratching better than granite, which is part of why it is popular on busy islands. All three are hard enough that a knife dulls before the stone marks, so cut on a board either way.
Sealing the natural stones takes minutes a year
Granite and quartzite are porous enough to absorb oil or wine left sitting on them. A penetrating sealer, reapplied about once a year for most slabs, keeps stains out. To test, leave a few drops of water on the surface: if the stone darkens within a few minutes, it is due.
Quartz has no pores to seal. Mild soap and water is all it needs, which makes it the low-upkeep choice for a kitchen that gets heavy daily use.
Some stone sold as quartzite is marble
A few soft marbles and dolomites are sold as quartzite because the name carries a higher price. Real quartzite scratches glass and a marble will not. Ask to test a sample against a piece of glass, and put a drop of lemon juice on it to see whether it etches, before you commit to a slab.
Rarity moves the price more than the category
Across the Dallas area, installed granite commonly starts lower than quartz, and quartzite commonly costs the most. Rarity changes that order: an exotic granite can cost more than an entry-level quartzite. Treat any per-square-foot figure as a range until a slab is picked out.
Related questions
Does a quartz countertop stain?
Quartz resists stains well because it is not porous. Strong solvents and very high heat are what damage it.
Which countertop looks best with white cabinets?
All three work. White quartz or a veined quartzite gives a bright look with White Shaker or Pure, and a granite with gray or black movement adds contrast.
