Countertop Geology: Marble and quartzite and granite, oh my!
karin_mt
10 years ago
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kksmama
10 years agokaren_ohio
10 years agoRelated Discussions
countertop geology question: super white = wicked white?
Comments (10)I am a geologist. Quartzite is a stone made of quartz SiO2 which has undergone natural pressure such that breaks occur across the quartz grains. Marble is CaCO3, and may or may not be a result of natural pressure. Marble is a lot more at risk of being 'etched' by acids (like vinegar). Soapstone is a metamorphic rock that has naturally undergone heat and pressure. It used to be used for chemistry lab surfaces as nothing would etch it. Granite is an igneous rock. A rock cutting operation cuts massive slabs of solid rock into slices with long diamond saw blades. Matching some rocks is like matching some wood patterns; you almost have to have adjacent slices for the duplication of patterns to look 'right' and/ or symmetric....See MoreCountertop Geology: Marble and quartzite and granite, Part 4.
Comments (4)We are staying with the existing back splash if the install goes okay. I will have to post some pics at the end of the process. The former owners painted the back splash wall soft yellow with a blue green undertone and then installed clear glass tiles 4x4 over it. Trying to describe it is as hard as trying to describe the cabinets, a sample of which is in the previous post. But we love yellow and it really works. We think when the Golden Lightening is installed with the existing cabinets and back splash it's going to be striking. We also chose a Houzer Granite under mount sink in a soft grey. Now that all our selections are made from new appliances to this granite we fell in love with we are so ready to have it all done! If we find we have to change the back splash it was good to know that the Golden Lightening comes in subway tiles and 12x12 tiles....See Morekitchen countertop, marble or quartzite, first world problems
Comments (10)I love that slab and would grab it in a second - faster than a second if it is quartzite. I have marble (montclair danby) and had "Granite Shield" sealant put on it. It was sprayed on and did not change the texture of the stone. It is supposed to be a lifetime sealant. Today I canned 24 jars of tomatoes. My friend helped me and she was slopping cooked tomatoes all over the place. Not one stain and very little if any etching (the Danby seems a little harder than the european marbles). My only problem with the marble is around the sink. You have to be careful not to bang heavy pots into it or it will ding. I never had this problem with my AB granite. And Quartzite is supposed to be hard like granite. If you go with a marble which is softer, I would suggest a farmhouse style sink....See MoreQuartzite and granite and sealers, oh my!
Comments (7)Ugh! I typed a whole story and just lost it! I will try again... I love marble too and the light quartize but opted for LG Minuet Quartz because of its ease of maintenance. I have 2 kids and a messy DH. We push and pull and drag stuff all over the counters. We don't clean up spills in a timely fashion. I tried but couldn't find a real quartize and now after a few weeks in my new kitchen I am glad I have a low maintenance counter. I can even understand why people use laminate. It's durable and you don't have to think about it. i have to use hot plates but I have always had too so that's no big deal to me. I haven't had my Quartz long but so far it hasn't stained....See MorePeke
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