Countertops come in all kinds of interesting surfaces these days. Granite, quartz, concrete, marble and the list goes on from there. Recently I was asked what the difference was between quartz and quartzite and I really didn't know the answer. Quartz is very popular right now so I thought I better be clear on the difference between the two. After a bit of research here is what I found out.
Quartzite is a natural stone that is extracted from the earth, just as marble, limestone or soapstone are quarried.
Quartz, or engineered Quartzite is engineered quartz, is manmade. It’s composed of roughly 90 percent ground quartz (the actual mineral), with the remaining 10 percent being a blend of resins, polymers and pigments that varies by manufacturer.
There are differences between the two in form and function. Quartzite and quartz both offer durability. In fact, each outperforms granite in terms of hardness. However, you will definitely want to consider the factors that differentiate the two before you decide on your new kitchen or bathroom countertops. The man-made version offers better stain resistance while the natural version is more dense so is better with heat. If you want a very unique look quartzite can't be beat because every piece coming out of the earth truly is different. If you want veining that is more uniform quartz is a better choice since it is manufactured.
They can be very difficult to tell apart but this should give you an idea of which product might work best in your application.
