What Is the Difference Between Quartz and Quartzite?

Here’s a short article we found that is worth sharing to inform anyone new to home, kitchen and bathroom design the difference between quartz and quartzite. Their names may sound similar, but as stones they are totally different.
Here at Trendstone we distribute to stone fabricators nationwide and stock New Zealand’s largest range of natural and engineered stones – including quartz and quartzite. Our full range of granite, marble, quartz and quartzite is available for viewing on our website. We work with a range of fabricators across New Zealand, if you’d like more information on any of the stones or to be matched with a fabricator contact us here.

Enjoy!

Trendstone Quartz 2

If you’re researching countertops for an upcoming kitchen remodel, quartz probably keeps popping up on sites like Pinterest and Houzz, or in the pages of your favorite design magazine. It’s become a design favorite in recent years, and it’s also the top-rated material in our countertop Ratings, given its ability to shrug off stains. You might also be seeing more references to quartzite, which sounds a lot like quartz and can look similar. But these are actually two separate materials with some very key distinctions.

Quartz used to be known as engineered stone, because it’s just that—a synthetic material that’s made in a factory out of stone chips, resins, and pigments. Quartzite, by comparison, is a metamorphic rock that originated as sandstone. It’s extracted from a quarry and formed into finished slabs that become kitchen countertops, as well as tiles for floors, walls, and backsplashes.

Calacatta Quartzite

(Calacatta Quartzite)

A lot of quartzite has swirling white and gray coloring, two hues that have become extremely popular in kitchens over the last few years (in fact, they were the two color schemes used most in the kitchen by professional designers, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association). That’s driving more interest to the material.

We haven’t tested it in our labs, but quartzite is often compared to granite in terms of hardness and durability. It combines that toughness with the variegated patterning of marble, which makes for an alluring combination. The one caveat is that, like all natural stones, quartzite must be sealed periodically to protect it against wine, citrus, coffee, and other would-be stains.

Platinum White, Trendstone-Quartz

(Platinum White, Trendstone Quartz)

Because it’s non-porous, quartz does’t have to be sealed, making it much easier to maintain. The tradeoff is that, next to natural stone, with its unique spread of color and sparkle, quartz’s more uniform patterns can be a give away. But manufacturers are getting better at mimicking Mother Nature. We were particularly impressed by the exclusive patterns unveiled by Cambria at the 2016 Design & Construction Week, including the Brittanicca, which could be mistaken for certain cuts of quartzite.

As for price, quartz and quartzite are in the same higher-end category of countertop materials. But as with most natural stones, you might be able to find a scrap of quartzite at the local stone yard for a reduced price. Given the material’s growing popularity, that would be a pretty lucky find.

Read full article.

1950’s Marble Quarry (Video)

Take a look and these sweet historic video’s we found from the British Pathé film archives. They show some great insight into how Carrara Marble was quarried back in the good old days, when hard labour was the driving force of the stone industry.

 

New Warehouse For Brazil Trendstone Stockist

Novastone is the stockist of Trendstone slabs in Brazil. We’re excited to share that Novastone have just opened a new Warehouse in Cachiero.

With a larger space and updated facilities, Novastone now have an increased capacity for production and more area for stock. Being a wholesaler, Novastone imports Trendstone slabs and sells them to stone manufacturers and fabricators. Their upgraded headquarters is exciting, as they’re able to provide a better experience for their customers by offering more variety of exotic granite, marble, quartzite and Trendstone Quartz.

Check out these pictures of the Novastone Warehouse in Brazil.

1 New Warehouse For Brazil Trendstone Stockist2 New Warehouse For Brazil Trendstone StockistNew Warehouse For Brazil Trendstone Stockist

Trendstone slabs are currently available in New Zealand, Australia and Brazil. In New Zealand, Trendstone is available nationwide. The Australian stockist is Project Stone in Queensland.

Trendstone is always looking for new stockists. If you or a company you know is interested in stocking Trendstone, please enquire here.

If you’re after Trendstone for your home project, you’ll need to contact a fabricator. If you need help finding a fabricator who works with Trendstone, please contact us.

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