A homeowner or a professional chef desires to have a Kitchen Countertop that emits style and elegance—while at the same time—inspiring creativity. Many materials have been known to be used as a kitchen countertop, but the Quartzite has recently been on record to be every homeowner’s choice. Interestingly, recognized interior designers have been recommending this impressive natural stone to people who need advice on the proper material to implore for a unique Kitchen Countertop.
WHAT IS QUARTZITE?
Quartzite, a naturally occurring metamorphic rock, should not be bemused with the man-made quartz that is being produced by combining crushed stones, resin, and color. Quartzite is a hard, non-stratified naturally occurring metamorphic rock which existed originally as an unadulterated quartz sandstone. The quartz sandstone is transformed into the quartzite through the process of heating and pressure — associated with the tectonic compression. The reason behind the catapulted rise in the use of quartzite an excellent piece for Kitchen Countertops will be enunciated in the following paragraphs.
QUALITIES OF QUARTZITE
Even though quartzite is not as popular as other natural stones, it has recently appreciated and has been given outstanding recommendations by top interior designers. This is as a result of the combination of quality features which makes quartzite stand out and qualify as the perfect choice for your Kitchen Countertop: Marble-like beauty, Indisputable strength, Easy maintenance and High resistance towards UV rays.
Marble-like beauty: Quartzite is capable of producing a blazingly beautified kitchen countertop as a result of its dynamic range of Veins, texture, colors, and patterns—with varying depth and personal appeal. Due to the patterned nature of quartzite, the lighter-colored stones are usually healthful because they give off a sense of warmth. Quartzite countertops have diverse finishes, but most are either a honed/brushed matte finish or a polished shiny finish.
Indisputable strength: The strength and durability of quartzite make it a perfect choice for applications that require a solid material. Quartzite is usually recommended by interior designers as a result of its great strength that makes it unsusceptible to abrasion and highly impervious to most chemicals and harsh environmental conditions.
Easy maintenance: Quartzite shows great strength of resistance to etching and scratching, it is not affected by destructible heat, and it doesn’t present any difficulty in cleaning and sanitizing. The maintenance of quartzite does not require the purchase of expensive cleaners; just a simple mixture of disinfectant soap and warm water will keep the surface germ-free and beautiful.
Highly resistant to UV rays: Quartzite is resistant to UV rays and this helps to prevent the surface from fading due to chemical reactions. This property makes quartzite an excellent option for any outdoor application or in a room that has a direct impact with sunlight.
POPULAR QUARTZITE COLORS AND PATTERNS
It was stated earlier that Quartzite has a dynamic range of patterns, textures, and colors; and so, some of the most popular quartzite patterns and colors for your kitchen countertop are as follows:
1. Allure Quartzite: The Allure Quartzite is an exceptionally polished gray surface that features subtle veining and spots of strikingly different lighter and darker tones. The use of this quartzite makes it an ideal choice for every kitchen island cook-tops due to the quartzite’s heat resistance.
2. Azul Macaubas Quartzite: Azul Macaubas Quartzite, a blue-gray stone, inspires culinary creativity and adds a splash of color to your kitchen countertops with its bold linear pattern of bright blue against taupe and gray base. Quartzite forms into a variety of edge finishes, particularly with slabs of 3 cm thickness, such as the double ogee.
3. Ice Flakes Quartzite: The Ice Flakes Quartzite passes excellently as a modern aesthetic due to its metallic gold and silver tones of color combination. The features of this light stone make the kitchen countertop conspicuous and give it a glacier look. Its chunking pattern with medium degree complements light wood and tile well while its light shade gives the kitchen a sense of warmth.
4. Onyx Bamboo Quartzite: The Onyx Bamboo Quartzite is a quartzite that originates from Brazil. The use of this quartzite will leave no room for doubt with respect to the natural state of your stone countertop. It is a rocky pattern with gigantic swirls of purple, brown, and gold that gives off a sense of elegance, beauty, and class.
5. Sonora Gray Quartzite: The Sonora Gray Quartzite gives your kitchen countertop a beautiful, solid surface with its warm brown tones mixed with gray and black veins and small flecks. This darker stone is a great concealer of dirt and stain-resistant compared to any white or neutral quartzite. The cocoa and charcoal tones of the Sonora Gray Quartzite is compatible with the walls of the kitchen cabinets. This form of quartzite is great for a busy kitchen because there is less concern regarding spills and it’s easy to manage.
6. Taj Mahal Quartzite: This quartzite is an excellent beauty and meets the high demand for resilience and easy maintenance. Taj Mahal Quartzite is a marble-like beauty that shows class and elegance. Its golden beige veins on a soft white background imitate the classic masterpiece, and it comes in both polished and brushed finishes. Although elegant, this quartzite is great for a busy kitchen— Highly resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew —and is easy to manage.
IS SEALING IMPORTANT?
Although quartzite is resistant to etching and scratching, it is still susceptible to staining. Hence, properly sealing your quartzite helps it to resist stains and it also highlights the remarkable movements and veins throughout the stone. To seal your countertops, spray a satisfactory amount of the stone sealer over the entire countertop. Even though some countertops come pre-sealed, it is still necessary to seal because over-time wearing occurs in a few months as it is being used daily. Bi-annual sealing will help your countertops to stay in a pristine condition. For more information, please visit www.slabmarket.com.
COST
The stone costs about $60 per square foot, but most exceed $100 and can cost significantly more. In complex jobs, quartzite will cost more. The process of installation of the quartzite takes time and skill; hence, the more complex the job, the more the cost of quartzite per square foot.
In conclusion, quartzite is a great recommended piece of material that will boost the physical appearance of your kitchen while at the same time offering ease in terms of installation, management, and maintenance.
