Quartzite is increasingly being used for interiors in modern buildings. Both home designers – architects, interior decorators, and homeowners love the sophisticated good looks of quartzite. The stylish appearance, natural earthy colours, combined with the brilliant sparkle of this natural stone makes it an elegant choice for home interiors.
What more, the durability of the material make it a great choice for accent walls, kitchen, and bathroom countertops and more.
Despite the similarity in names, quartz and quartzite are poles apart. Most people confuse quartzite with quartz due to the similar sounding names. However, quartzite is a naturally occurring stone like marble and granite. Quartz, on the other hand, is a manmade material.
Quartz is manufactured by combining crushed pieces of stone with resin to create a smooth, engineered slab. Quartzite is a naturally occurring rock that is mined from a quarry. It initially starts as sandstone, and with changes in weather and other natural elements like heat and pressure, over time it becomes quartzite.
Quartzite is cut into slabs from quarries, which is then used for interior applications like flooring, feature walls, vanity and countertops, pillars and more.
Let’s start with the pros.
Since quartzite is a natural stone, it’s strong and durable. Meaning, quartzite applications last for years to come. Additionally, it’s heat-resistant making it an ideal choice for kitchen countertops.
Just like other soft natural stones, quartzite is prone to scratches, etches and stains. However, with the right sealing, you can protect the surface of quartzite counters from scratches.
Make sure to get your quartzite surfaces sealed right during installation and then carry out periodic sealing once a year. Just like all other natural stones, make sure that you wipe spills immediately to avoid permanent damage to your stone surfaces. Using trivets and coasters for hot pans and pots is a good practice to keep your quartzite counters looking good for years to come.
Quartzite is available in a wide range of colours. Earth-toned, natural shades are the most common. Other neutral shades of quartzite like beige grey and white are popularly used in contemporary homes. Apart from these regular colours, quartzite is also available in other rare colours like red, pink, green and blue.
The colour of the stone depends on the region from where it comes from, the age of the stone and the amount of iron oxide present in it.
In the Moh’s Scale of Hardness, Quartzite like at 7, while granite lies between 6 and 6.5. Kitchen knives and glass measure 5 on the Moh’s scale. Thus, you can see that quartzite is tough and can withstand daily usage scratches.
Quartzite is also resistant to acids in regular cooking items like lemon juice and vinegar, thereby making it etch-resistant.
The stain resistance of quartzite depends on the stone composition. If the minerals in the stone bonded tightly during metamorphosis, then it’s stain resistant. Generally, popular types of quartzite like Taj Mahal and Sea Pearl have tightly bonded minerals making them relatively stain resistant. On the other hand, Macaubas another type of quartzite is prone to staining.
To avoid all stains, it’s recommended that you apply a sealer to the surface of the quartzite.
The two main categories of quartzite include:
Check out our gallery to view a large selection of the best quartzite slabs from around the country. If you need further help, don’t hesitate with our stone experts, who provide you with complete assistance in choosing the right quartzite slabs for your home. We at Decor Luxury Stones, is leading quartz slabs suppliers or quartzite suppliers in India.
