Kitchen With Quartzite Countertops in a St. Louis Home
Quartzite is a beautiful, durable natural stone for bathroom or kitchen countertops and Arch City Granite and Marble, Inc. has a great selection of different slabs to match any design or color scheme.
When working with these stones, it’s important to understand the material’s possibilities and its few limitations—then you’ll be able to choose the countertops that are best for your home.
Quartzite stone not to be confused with Quartz material!
Some confusion still surrounds the difference between Quartzite stones and Quartz in relation to countertops.
They are two completely different things. Here are the key differences so that you’ll be able to make the right choice for your design:
Quartzite is a naturally-quarried metamorphic rock. It was once sandstone, but subjected to intense heat and pressure within the earth until it turned into these stones.
As a result, this is a very hard, durable stone with subtle, beautiful patterns and colors resulting from other minerals present within the rock as the earth was heating and compressing it.
Many people think that these slabs look similar to marble (particularly Taj Mahal) but they are much harder than marble.
These slabs can be expensive for the very reason that they are so hard and durable—it takes two to three passes to cut the slab—unlike granite, which usually only takes one pass.
The hardness also makes cutting ornamental edges like Elite or Ogee very difficult and time consuming.
The stone is simply too hard. It’s a great investment for durability in a variety of countertop applications, however.
Speaking of durability, this stones measures 8 out of 10 on the Mohs test, which measures the hardness of different rocks and minerals.
For reference, natural quartz is a 7 while diamonds are a 10.
It also withstands heat very well, and as long as you seal it properly, it should resist stains as well.
Quartz slabs (not Quartzite) On the other hand, are manufactured from mostly natural materials in an industrial plant.
Yes, quartz stone itself is the predominant ingredient in these engineered stone slabs (about 90 percent), but other materials are added for color and design.
The main takeaway is that this is a very hard, naturally quarried stone while quartz is manufactured stone.
Your choice between the two will depend on what your design, budget and taste.
Quartzite Countertops: Colors and Designs
Here at Arch City Granite and Marble, Inc., we carry a beautiful variety of colors for countertops:
Allure
Allure Slab
Allure slabs are soft, light gray with subtle flecks and veins that can accentuate almost any design scheme you have in mind.
A versatile choice for countertops, backsplashes, floors and walls.
Amazonite
Amazonite Slab
For a dramatic design scheme, Amazonite incorporates bold turquoise splashes mixed with dark gray, taupe and white veins.
Excellent for countertops, bars, accents and flooring, indoors and out.
Azul Imperiale
Azul Imperiale Slab
A subtle gray-blue shade with white and gold veins, often in sweeping lines, Azul Imperiale makes a wonderful statement on walls, countertops, floors and more.
Can be used indoors or outdoors.
Azul Macaubas
Azul Macaubas Slab
With gorgeous veins of medium blue, tones of white and gray, this variety makes gorgeous countertops and flooring, even in high-traffic areas of your home.
Calcutta Macaubas
Calcutta Macaubas Slab
This soft, white Brazilian-quarried stone features dramatic veins of gray to create interest and movement.
Goes will with all kinds of design schemes in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways.
Crystal Ice
Crystal Ice Slab
The light gray with white veins gives an impression of luminous crystals. A neutral, highly durable variety of stone, it works well with any design, both indoors and outdoors, even in freezing temperatures.
Dolce De Vita
Dolce De Vita Slab
A lovely soft white to light gray stone with clouds and subtle veins of peach and darker gray lends a friendly warmth for countertops, backsplashes and indoor walls and flooring.
Fantasy Macaubas
Fantasy Macaubas Slab
A medium gray stone with waves of darker gray and white veins. Great for almost any color scheme or design, indoors or out.
Ice Flakes
Ice Flakes Slab
A light, soft gray mixed with taupe flecks that makes a wonderful addition to a wide variety of modern or more traditional designs for bathroom or kitchen countertops, backsplashes, walls or flooring.
Madreperola
Madreperola Slab
Light gray with cream and white veins throughout, this Brazilian stone provides an elegant, warm note to any color scheme.
Onyx Bamboo (Nacarado)
Onyx Bamboo Slab
Warm and dramatic, creamy Onyx Bamboo features dramatic veins of cream, taupe, gold, and beige bordering on rose tones occasionally.
An excellent stone for countertops and walls where you want to make a high-impact impression.
Sea Pearl
Sea Pearl Slab
Sea pearl countertops have a calming blend of gray waves that go from darker charcoal to light misty gray.
Sea pearl slabs from Brazil are a great neutral element with a wide variety of kitchen and bathroom applications.
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal Slab
Taj Mahal kitchen countertops or bathroom walls will trick visitors with their soft white marble-like sheen and warm gold veins—but Taj Mahal countertops are far more durable than marble with all the elegance.
Come see the Taj Mahal slabs in our showroom to see for yourself.
White Macaubas
White Macaubas Slab
Another beautiful Brazilian stone with clouds of soft white to light gray interspersed with dramatic charcoal-colored veins. An excellent choice indoors or outdoors.
If you’d like to see some of the amazing slabs that we have in stock, please stop by and visit our Arch City Granite and Marble showroom in St. Louis to see them for yourself.
We often have Taj Mahal slabs and Sea Pearl slabs on site, but if there’s another color we don’t have in the showroom, we will get it for you!