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Quartizite? Marble? What to do when you are sure it is marble...

8 years ago

I have been lurking here for a long time, finally decided I need to post.

We are building a new home and we were set on using ceaserstone counters for the kitchen and vanities. Then I went to the fabricator to see the slabs I was considering - and that's is where I fell for Super White. I did not know much about these before my trip (as I was sure we were sticking with ceaserstone). And now I have had the afternoon to look it up.

The stone rep said it was "Super White Quartzite". So, I googled quartzite - yay for us - its an awesome rock! Then I looked up super white quartzite on this forum to confirm it was as awesome as I thought... Ever feel like you want/need to believe in the fairy tale?

So, question, if we went with a darker (more gray) version of the super white, and it was honed - would it be any better than the lighter version? Is it stronger?

Featured Answer

leela4

8 years ago

Can you get a sample to test?

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Comments (8)

rmarvin437
8 years ago
Very happy with SuperWhite Quartzite. Just got it installed with White Cabinets.
blueberry thanked rmarvin437
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blueberry
Original Author
8 years ago
I did get samples of all the countertops that are in play. And I did confirm the Super White is not quartzite - it etched with lemon and had some discolouration with tumeric.
karin_mt
8 years ago
Good that you got a sample and figured out what it is. Now at least you know what you're getting into. The darker color isn't any stronger, sorry to say. Some people say that the honed version shows less etching. It will need to be sealed and that will help with staining. It's also not nearly as hard as quartzite. But, the main thing is that you know where you stand and can make an informed purchase. So, yay for you!
blueberry thanked karin_mt
blueberry
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all for your replies. You rock ;-)

rmarvin437- do you do a lot of cooking? are you planning to reseal it on a regular basis?

karin_mt - is marble a no go in a heavy use kitchen? Should we go back to quartz?
karin_mt
8 years ago
Marble is fine if you can live with etching, and perhaps some chipping or scratching too. It really depends on your taste for perfection vs patina. Plenty of people use marble and love it. But you really have to know yourself and if the wear and tear would bother you and turn you into a control freak that follows guests around with a dishtowel.
Evan U.
8 years ago
I realize that I'm late to the party, but for anyone who searches and comes up with this question, there are some great videos detailing the differences between some of the most common stones. Check them out
slush1422
8 years ago
This was posted several years ago and I was surprised to read the poster said super white quartzite was actually a kind of marble. Our installer said though he went through several blades to cut it because the stone was so hard. We did have a honed finish and it never stained but did etch with citrus if it was left on it for several hours. I was pretty much the only one to notice it though. http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2695698/the-lowdown-on-super-white

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