Natural Quartzite vs Manufactured Quartz

By: Alex Jan 23rd, 2019

Natural Quartzite vs Manufactured Quartz: Why Natural Quartzite is Better

Are you looking to upgrade your kitchen countertops?

If you are looking for a high-end luxury material then quartzite and quartz are likely among the materials you are considering. Both are favored by designers and look similar — to the untrained eye that is, meaning it can be hard to know which you should choose.

Don’t worry, we are here to help and in this post you will learn why natural quartzite is the better choice for your kitchen.

What’s the Difference?

Quartzite is natural rock, compressed over millions of years. It’s extracted from the ground by quarrying.

Quartz countertops are manufactured. The normal formula consists of 90% ground quartz. The rest is a combination of resins, pigments and polymers to bind it together.

1. Appearance

As quartzite is naturally occurring, it comes in almost unlimited pattern combinations. This means that every slab is truly unique. This is perfect is you want a more refined, organic appearance.

Like many manufactured products, quartz lacks this uniqueness. Although it can be designed to recreate natural veining patterns, repetition is common. However, the resin can be used to give quartz a wider selection of colors. The smooth texture of the resin also can give it a more manufactured feel.

At DiPietro Trading Company we carry a handpicked selection of premium quartzite natural stone.

2. Durability

A quality kitchen countertop needs to be able to deal with a lot of punishment. Although both quartzite and quartz provide a hard surface, quartzite is harder, making it highly resistant to scratching.

The waterproof resins in quartz do provide it with an advantage when it comes to water resistance. However, proper sealing can allow quartzite to stand up to water just as well.

The internal stresses of quartz slabs make it prone to cracking at inside square corners. These cracks are irreparable. When quartz scratches it’s usually impossible to repair to factory condition.

3. Heat Resistance

Your kitchen countertop is going to have to deal with heat. Quartzite is perfect for this. The natural stone will not be damaged from even the hottest of pans.

In contrast, the resin binding in quartz countertops have some difficulties with heat. The binding will melt when heated to temperatures around 150 degrees. This means that a hot pan could blister, crack and scorch the resin leaving a permanent mark.

4. Cost

Both quartzite and quartz are considered premium materials. The new tariffs on Chinese quartz brands is expected to increase the price of non chinese brands as well.

In general, the bespoke nature of quartzite makes it slightly more expensive than most (but not all) manufactured quartz. Whereas quartz is simply poured into a mold and made to a predetermined size, each piece of quartzite is unique. Each quartzite slab is cut it to size with diamond blades, which results in no standard size.Should you choose natural quartzite or quartz for your countertops? Read on to learn why natural quartzite is the better option.

Quartzite vs Quartz

As you can see, both quartzite and quartz have similar looks and properties. Ultimately, the more premium quality of quartzite edges out quartz to make it the superior countertop material.

When it comes to durability, quartzite is better suited to stand up to the practical tests of everyday cooking. It’s more durable against scratching and chipping, and heat and acid resistant too. Not only is it practical, its unique patterning and colors mean your kitchen will be one of a kind.

Natural Stone: There is No Substitute.

If you have any questions about quartzite or a particular type, drop us a line below and one of our stone experts will be happy to help you.

Contact Us

Contact us if you have questions about our slab inventory, request a digital rendering, sample or to learn more about our half slab program.