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At first glance, you probably thought the white countertop in the photo was exquisite white marble. Well, the surface is exquisite, however it’s not marble.

Like an aerial photograph of the icy arctic, Wicked White quartzite features swirling shades of grey and white. The light and dark shades play off of each other, creating a dramatic landscape. A great alternative to marble, Wicked White adds elegance and beauty to any project. Whether used as the “main attraction” or as a backdrop (such as it is in the kitchen below from Downsview Kitchens of Boston) it’s an eye-catching option that’s practical too.

“I’ve heard that quartzite is a great choice for my kitchen countertop, but that it’s prone to etching. Is this true?” A visitor to our Milford, CT showroom recently posed this question. In short, quartzite is not bullet-proof, but it is considered an exceptional material for use as countertops. Here’s why…

Quartz and Quartzite countertops are indeed an excellent choice. At Marble and Granite, we work hard to bring you the best in materials and help bring your projects to fruition.

Quartzite                                            

This is an amazing material. It is naturally strong, resists heat and is hard to stain. Quartzite is formed from sandstone and quartz together under a great deal of heat and pressure. The empty grains of sandstone are filled with quartz. This process makes quartzite harder than quartz. On the Mohs scale of hardness (1-10), with 10 the hardest, granite measures between 6 and 6.5; whereas quartzite measures around 7.

However, there is a chance for etching to occur on its surface. Quartzite is considered an exceptional material for use in countertops. This can be literally found all over the world, as it is a very common material formed in the crust of the earth. You will notice the more sought after material originates in Brazil and India. The difference in price for the material in either slabs or tiles will be reflected through the availability of colors and location.

In today's world finding the right information at lightening speed is the key not only to take critical business decisions but also to take routine decisions involving our day to day life. Everything is moving at such a fast pace that you can be left behind if you do not act with speed and precision.

The process of selling marble and granite for countertops and vanities was relatively simple 10-15 years ago. Sales people who have worked in this industry for that long will tell you that majority of customers in those days were happy if they could find a nice Ubatuba, Butterfly, Giallo Ornamental, New Venetian Gold, Tan Brown, Sapphire Blue, Shivakashi, Colombo Juparana, White Carrara etc. Today by contrast we sometimes come across homeowners who go through at least 150 different colors from the most basic to most exotic and are still not sure if they fell in love with something. And the reason is unlimited material options and design ideas available in today's market.

The process of showing marble, granite and other natural stones to customers is extremely satisfying and full of excitement. Sales people absolutely love that expression and amazement when customers look at a slab and totally fall in love with it. And many of us often come across customers making comments like," This slab looks gorgeous. I wish I could hang this on my wall like a painting. I would not like to even cut it into a countertop". This is such an aesthetically satisfying statement which not only recognizes but also truly appriciates nature's beauty. Though all natural stones look beautiful yet there are some that you cannot resist saying "WOW".