Don’t Cut Quartzite Countertops (Before Reading This)

WHAT IS QUARTZITE?

Quartzite is a natural stone, a naturally occurring nonfoliated metamorphic rock that begins life sandstone and later gradually develops under intense pressure, heat and chemical activity over the course of time. Under the intense conditions, the silica cement and sand grain recrystalize and form a interlocking network of quartz grains that has incredible strength. The stone is quarried from various sources and cut into usable slabs. Quartzite is avaialable at most reputable slabyards.

WHY DO CUSTOMERS WANT QUARTZITE?

Quartzite is gaining pupularity among interior designers and home owners. The sophisticated natural look of this stone and its durability, along with the many sparkles, and earth-toned colors make it a perfect match for many applications like wall features and kitchen countertops.

QUARTZITE COUNTERTOPS DURABILITY

Quartzite is one the hardest materials available; way harder than granite. It has a Mohs Scale of 7 (Hardness measurement, 10 is the hardest) while Granite is usually around 6.0 to 6.5. Even though quartzite is extremely hard it is still not scratch-proof, so we still recommend using cutting boards. The biggest downside you will see with quarzite is the tendancy for etching in different parts of the slab. This etching can be caused by acids and other common kitchen chemicals. Choosing a honed finish is preferred to a polished to minimize how much the etching shows.

MAINTENANCE OF QUARTZITE COUNTERTOP

Ater installing quartzite countertops you need to make sure they are sealed right away, to avoid the possibility of stains from grease, etc.. Resealing it once or twice every year will help to keep its crystalline sparkle. Not sealing, or improper sealing may lead to stains that may be difficult to remove.

QUARTZITE COST?

Quartzite countertops pricing differs by market, but typically sells for as low as sixty dollars ($60) per square foot. It will cost more depending on the design and complexity of the job due to the process of cutting, the pattern desired and color, and the purchased of the quartzite amount. The principal driver of cost is due to the difficulty of cutting the slab.

BEST BLADE FOR CUTTING QUARTZITE

When cutting Quartzite, you will need to make sure you are using the correct Quartzite Blades. These blades are specially designed to work with this incredibly hard stone. If you try to use a normal granite blade, you will find it takes forever, you have to make multiple passes, and will have problems with chipping. This is a huge problem on miter edges. Our Assault QTZ Quartzite Blade is specifically designed to cut Quartzite quickly, in one pass, and with minimal chipping.