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Any experience with Palomino quartzite? Honed or polished?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

My husband and I fell in love with a slab of Palomino quartzite (pictured above). As we are unfamiliar with quartzite, I did a little research. Apparently, many quartzite have problems with etching, but this can be avoided by honing but not by sealing. I am going to try and get a small sample I can test for etching. I was also wondering if Palomino would look good honed. I love the brilliant colors in the polished sample, esp. the hint of greenish blue which pulls out the accent color for the room. Does anybody have a Palomino countertop. Is it polished or honed? How is it holding up? Does it etch, stIn or scratch easily? If you have a honed Palomino Countertop, can you please post an up close and further back photo? I am trying to get an idea what honing woul look like.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

debvanatl
6 years ago
I can't help with information about that stone - but it is spectacular!!
Kreative Touch thanked debvanatl
PRO
Kreative Touch
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Quick update for anybody else considering this countertop material.....I was able to get a sample of this and tested its resistance to staining/etching/discoloring. No issues with 409, windex (no-ammonia), acetone,or a hot pan placed directly on top. I sealed the sample. Left ketchup, mustard, red wine and coffee overnight. Minor stains from coffee and mustard. Very noticeable stains from red wine (bright purple) and ketchup, the worst being the wine. After some googling and experimenting, I discovered that the stains do come off if I make a paste from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, spread it over the stains, cover with plastic and leave it for an hour or more. However, I think I will look for a more stain-proof countertop. None of these substances stained the Santa Celia granite countertop in my kitchen.
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I have honed dark granite right now and it stains like crazy esp anything remotely oily. Tried everything to seal it and nothing worked. It was in the house when we bought it and we are now remodeling the kitchen and it it will be gone. Replacing with polished Sea Pearl quartzite if the quote is right (fingers crossed). It's been a process because this kitchen has extremely high end (previous owner installed) cabinets with a high gloss finish in teal blue - gorgeous but challenging and way to expensive to replace. Very sleek and modern. Thanks to the oven forum we chose the Miele Master Chef oven (wanted that rotisserie) and warming drawer and after reading on the Refrigerator Forum we chose the Thermador Freedom Towers for the fridge and freezer. LOL we inquired about getting panels for them to match the cabinets and yikes, the cost was more than the appliances cost. So stainless fronts it is. Everyone here is so helpful - certainly appreciate this site and the forums.
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Hi, I did not mean to disparage the mother-of-pearl quartzite. It is beautiful in it's own right. I also came up empty with an on-line search. I was told by many sources that quartzite is granite. I am looking at a sample now. It doesn't have the cloud like effect of marble; more an overall pattern of medium grey short lines in a paler shade of grey. Very serene I wish I could learn about the actual qualities of the stone. For grins, I performed the same wine-mustard-lemon juice test that I did on my marble sample; it sure reacts like granite. I will keep you posted.
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i did not test it that far as the madreperla was too grey for me so i moved on to marble. i have seen on this site postings of quartzite etching but think it is not as prevelant as etching to marble. search this site for more info. i finally concluded if i was going to select a product that was prone to etching i might as well get what i want -marble! i would say get a sample honed and have at it. and search this site for more reports on etching on quartzite for accurate assessments by owners.
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If you are accepting of etching of the slab you posted, and you like that it resembles carrara marble, why not get the less expensive honed carrara marble? I would trust the local fabricator to hone it--I honed my own carrara island top, with no experience in stone fabricating. I bought it used, and it had many etches and scratches. I then hand polished it to a satiny sheen, but it's still easy to polish out most etches. (Note--my grandson placed a metal lunch box on it, with a leaky juice bottle, and no one noticed the leak until the next morning. There is a distinct line matching the rolled metal edge of the lunch box--and it is much too deep to polish out, without making my counter top look like natural Dolomya.) I would have the same finish on island and perimeter tops.
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PRO
The Goronson Farm
3 years ago
We just installed tis in our inlaw unit and were told those very things would stain it but they could come back and lift it out. We chose it because it is a live stone and you can see the fossilizations in it. Definitely has a story to tell.
Jay Fitz
2 years ago
I have them. We love them but I think due to the stone and how it was polished it hasn't held up so well on the island counter. The half side where we do most prep has lost all luster. It has pitting from knives and the side edges has 3 chips. How they got there o have no idea. I feel this stone albeit as beautiful as it is with its deep dark brown vein running through it is actually what's weakened it. I believe it's a fissure. The rest of the kitchen cou treetops look fantastic. we are replacing the island piece with a new lighter accent stone.

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