Quartz vs Quartzite: What’s the Difference & Which One is Best for Home?
Quartz and quartzite is basically a material that is used to enhance the beauty of your home. People don’t know the main difference between Quartz vs quartzite. Quartz is a human-made product. It is hard and durable, and also available in many colors. This is used for indoor usage.
On the other hand, quartzite is a 100% natural stone, available in limited colors and used for both indoor and outdoor uses. Let’s discuss the whole difference between Quartz and quartzite that lets you choose the best material according to your needs.
What is Quartz?
Quartz is a handmade product that has great economic importance. The components of the quartz are many types of rock which are particularly prevalent in certain igneous stones. Ground quartz, resin, and pigment components are put together to create quartz.
Quartz is a mineral made up of silicon and oxygen atoms, and it belongs to the group of minerals identified as silicates. One of the most prevalent minerals on Earth, it can be identified by a multitude of forms and modern concrete colors.
What is Quartzite?
Quartzite is a naturally occurring 100% hard non-foliated metamorphic rock that is primarily composed of pure quartz crystals. Quartzite forms when a high level of heat and pressure in the deep of the Earth’s crust is subjected to sandstone so by this process sand grains recrystallize and create the rock.
As a result, a dense and hard stone is prepared with the multiple color that are available in unique designs. Quartzite is mostly found in Mountains and hillsides. Honed quartzite requires it to be sealed properly.
What is the difference between Quartz and Quartzite?
In the table below, let’s discuss the main difference between Quartz vs Quartzite.
| Quartz | Quartzite |
| Quartz is man-made. | It is the natural form of stone. |
| Sio2 is the chemical formula for quartz that consists of 1 silicon atom and 2 oxygen atoms. | Quartzite is the purest form of natural quartz in rock form that consists of 90% quartz content. |
| It belongs to the trigonal crystal coordination which has a crystalline structure that usually has six-sided prisms with a pointed conclusion at a single finish. | Quartzite is made of sandstone that has underground a process of metamorphism that involves gravity and temperature. After millions of years, unfathomable transformation happens in the earth’s crust. |
| It is available in a wide range of shades like purple, yellow, pink, gray, brown, and many more. | Available in limited ranges of natural colors like white, gray, blue, yellow, green, and brown. |
| It is mostly used in the industries of ceramics, glass, and electronics like solar plates and computer chips. | Quartzite is mostly used in kitchen countertops, floor tiles, bathroom vanity tops, and other enhancing pieces. |
| Its Mohs hardness rating is 7 which makes it harder than common minerals found in the earth’s crust. So, it is harder and more long-lasting than quartzite to stains, cracks, and chips. | It is popular due to its hardness which is one of the hardest natural stones that reduce the chances of scratches, scrapes, and influence, but they will creak with greater ease. |
| Quartz is easily cut and adjusted during the installation which means far less chance of breaking on installation. | Installing the countertops is difficult so requires a professional who can level, and measure the slab in the right place because it has the chance of breaking during installation. |
What are the pros and Cons of Quartz vs Quartzite?
You can easily make a decision by comparing the cons and pons of quartz vs quartzite which helps you to understand the brief difference between them. However, analyzing both has several advantages and disadvantages that can be necessary between these two products for your specific needs.
| Quartz Pros and Cons | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Countertops made of quartz are highly durable and reduce the chances of cracks, chops, and scratches. | It is a man-made product designed to mimic natural stone appearance but homeowners prefer natural stone. |
| Quartz has no need for sealing; it can easily be cleaned with soap and water. | The surface can be damaged by extreme heat like hot pans directly placed on the surface. |
| Quarts are available in a vast array of colors that offer versatility in design. | It can only be used for indoor activities because the sun’s UV rays change the color of the countertops. |
| They can be resistant to household substances like coffee, oils, and wine. | |
| Quartzite Pros and Cons | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Quartzite is a natural stone that is resistant to scratches, ships, and other damage. | Quartzite needs to regularly prevent staining that damages from acidic substances. |
| They are designed as heat-resistant so you can place the hot pots and pans on the surface without fear of damage. | Available in a few colors. |
| It can easily be cleaned with soap, detergent, and warm water. | Quartzite is expensive because of its natural origin and uniqueness. |
| They offer unique and natural stones with a wide range of colors and different designs. | Needs regular sealing and care to keep countertops in their real condition. |
| You can use it for outdoor activities. | There are chances of being prone to chips and cracks due to the stone’s lack of flexibility. |
What is the price of the Quartz vs Quartzite?
The prices of quartz vs quartzite depend on the material and factors like quality, source, color, material, and location. However, the price of Quartzite is more expensive than quartz.
- Quartz countertops’ price ranges between $50 to $200 per square foot and averages around $125 per square foot on the other hand Quartzite Countertops’ price ranges between $70 to $200 per square foot.
- Standard countertops tend to be on the lower end of this price range.
- Premium and exotic design that required the higher end of this price range.
- If you require additional factors like brand, thickness, edge profiles, and other specific features that affect the price of quartz.
| Prices | Quartz | Quartzite |
| Average Range | $1,750 to $3,000 | $3,600-$4,950 |
| National Average | $2,300 | $4,200 |
| Low-end | $550 | $960 |
| High-end | $5,500 | $6,300 |
Keep in mind that these price ranges are estimated and can vary significantly based on your location and specific market state of affairs. Additionally, features like installation cost, edge treatments, sink cutouts, and others can increase the total price of countertops.
What is the difference between the material of Quartz and Quartzite?
The main difference between quartz and quartzite is the materials used for countertops. Quartz
| Material | Quartz Explanation | Quartzite |
| Natural | Quartz countertops are an engineered handmade product in companies. | Quartzite countertops are a natural stone product. |
| compound | Quartz countertops are mostly composed of 90-95% crushed natural quartz crystals that are merged with resins, pigments, and additives. The merged material increases its durability and provides non-porous properties. | Quartzite stones are 100% natural and present in the depths of the earth. |
| Origin | The slabs are created by combining natural stone with synthetic resins and additives that enable the different shades of colors. | There is no need to manufacture the stone slabs. They are quarried as large slabs that are just cut and present for various applications. So, that is the reason for the fear of cracks. |
Which is easier to maintain Quartz or Quartzite?
Quartz countertops are easy to maintain there is no need for sealing but require cleaning simply using detergent soap and warm water. Quartz is damaged by extreme heat like hot pans directly placed on the surface which Fahrenheit degrees around about 300.
On the other hand, quartzite requires regular sealing to maintain its quality due to the fear of porousness. Also, quartzite is not damaged by extreme heat.
Which is better: Quartz or Quartzite?
After understanding the difference between these two materials of quartz vs quartzite it’s up to you. You decide which one is better for your requirements.
Quartz is made by combining other quartzite stones with synthetic materials and man-made products which means it’s not natural quartz like marble and granite. On the other hand, quartzite is a natural stone and not a handmade product that typically has a high glassy appearance like marble.
So, the result is that Quartz is sealed and mixed with material which means that it is harder and longer-lasting than quartzite. However, there is no fear of crack but quartzite has the chance of cracking. Quartzite is porous which means it needs sealing to maintain its strength and long-lasting.
Also, Quartz is not usable for outdoor purposes because the sun’s rays damage the color and it looks ugly but quartzite is used for both outdoor and indoor purposes.
Wind Up
Quartz vs quartzite are manufactured by different materials and the main difference is that quartz is a handmade product on the other hand quartzite is a natural stone product. Both have the advantages and disadvantages with their unique quality.
According to your requirements, you can find out which one is better according to its appearance, durability, and maintenance needs. Quartzite is more expensive than quartz but quartz is durable and hard.
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