[emailprotected]. The homeowner showed me his bill of sale from the fabricator specifying quartzite. I have madre perla about 2 months old, that is honed and sealed with a product they wiped on, let sit for 10 mins., and wiped off. I was told it shouldnt etch at all and so far thats been true, and its a gorgeous stone that gets complimented every time someone sees my kitchen. As a general contractor, I suppose I had an advantage, as my old Italian fabricators told me to keep looking every time I came with something they knew I wouldnt be happy with. Quartzite Countertops May be Gorgeous, But Theres Something Your Stone Dealer Isnt Telling You. Same experience plus tons of cracking and edge chipping. My granite, which is called mont blanc, looks remarkably like quartzite gets heartattack appearing stains from oils and wine. thanks. DO NOT rely solely on the information from the sales people at stone yards. I know for sure lemon juice has sat many times on it for at least 30 minutes before its wiped up after cooking. No. Natural stone MUST be sealed on a regular basis (every 12-18 months), and even then, it can still be stained or etched. Im in love with my stone choice, however, Im constantly wiping it clean. Did they just get a bad slab? The point was to educate that what is often called quartzite isnt. You seem to think that mislabeling and misleading consumers are the exceptions rather than the rule. Anxious to know what it is, as we are choosing countertops very soon. Does anyone have experience with this color (Blazing Pearl)? Assuming this is our new reality, is there any way to repair marks like these so at least we can get a do-over? Cant believe we trusted the experts. We are very disappointed and discouraged. Wiped it up with a damp paper towelzero stain. UGH. Can't let water sit on the countertop. Please read the newer columns that have new information. The resins are used before it gets to the distributor/fabricator so its not a local treatment. Granite is a class of stone that was formed by the same geologic (not godly) process. Its all over. My fabricator confirmed this as well. So two questions: is there any chance this is indeed quartzite? I believe if we had been more careful this wouldnt have happened. ~boxer, Eye-catching patterns and a natural pedigree make durable quartzite a popular alternative to granite and marble, An engraved island, art-screened cabinets and a smart layout are just the right mix for a professional chef and his wife, Love means accepting maybe even celebrating imperfections. Thanks again. We have used Method Daily Granite cleaner on it ever since and have been extremely careful. Learn to love them until you replace the top; more are on the way. Our tops were sealed ~ 1 year ago. Hi! It doesnt describe the ingredients (colors). It does not mark, stain or scratch. Okay, based on the 2nd photo what about a quartzite. Will it still be fairly etch and scratch proof or by doing so does opening it up, lead to problems ? Thanks for any pointers!! Articles like these are so misleading. He said some of the marks are the glue marks. As we shopped for our new counter tops, we did a TON of research and almost bought something that looked nice but turned out to be something other than true quartzite. Good times. Now that it is installed, they are saying both of these things! I have been looking for something to seal my stone and I havent tried it yet. Clearly this was a subpar slab made saleable. I poured some oil oil on, rubbed it in with a cloth and let it sitmaybe 5 or 10 minutes? Yes research but the challenge with that is exactly the authors point. I think Taj Mahal is too yellow cream unfortunately. I had etching 2 days after my fantasy brown quartzite counters were installed. I also have a beautiful quartzite countertop , Terra Bianca , which was exactly what I was looking for , I replaced the granite that I had which was so much more durable , but I hated the color from day one , I was not told of the etching either and its not that shiny but I was told that it just isnt as shiny as granite . This happens all the time. We have had ours for well over a year now with ZERO etching or staining issues and it is beautiful. I cant even believe my eyes and it is obviously not quartzite of any kind. Quartz is man-made engineered from resin and ground stone. The good news is that I have observed that they actually evaporate out in a few days without any special treatment besides everyday granite/stone spray. So if it is the resin it would stand to reason that you could strip the etching resin and reapply another one that would not etch? Quartzites appearance varies greatly but has distinct veining and can have a look anywhere from crisp solid coloring to very crystalline in appearance (like crushed ice). Yours sounds like a pretty odd situation, and I am not sure why you could not involve your son-in-law to ask his friend the fabricator to come and have a look at what has happened. I Purchased my honed quartzite counter from a stone dealer through whom I had done business for 10 years with highly satisfied results of three different kitchen and bath granite installations. Pretty much every fruit & vegetable out there has a pH low enough to dissolve calcite tomato sauce alone has a pH between 3 and 4, while lemon juice is 2, so good luck finding a safe meal to prepare on your very expensive, beautiful, but exceptionally delicate counters. I would never have purchased it, had I known, as I did not purchase Marble because of the etching . The worker said to try to keep it dry!! Yes. I am sorry you are having so much trouble with your counters. https://imgur.com/gallery/EBd6M18. We installed leathered Quartzsite less than a year ago and within a couple months putting anything like a wine bottle, pot or metal can and moving on the surface at all scratches the surface any idea on how to remove these small white dot scratches? Marriage proposals accepted (now that theyre legal in Texas)! fresno: Only sealers listed as oil repellant (oleophobic) will repel oil-based substances. Jon, thanks for the article. This was a replacement done by insurance due to water damage from a bad refrigerator hook up. Good luck with your resolution to the problem! Thats great to hear! I've only dealt with quartzite once and it's a bitch. The quartzite I got had many different names depending on the yard you went to. With a truly excellent sealant, I'm convinced that the slabs we chose will be a very good choice. I get a lot of natural light in the home so the etching "pops" throughout the day and looks like I have spots that need to be cleaned. If you are looking for quartzite do your research, stick to picking a hard quartzite, and find a good dealer and you will be amazed with this stone beauty and softness of marble which is bullet proof better than granite. We had a very similar experience. The only sample that was COMPLETELY 100% impervious to everything we tried was the Taj Mahal quartzite. Ive been shopping at many stone yards, and have seen Taj Mahal frequently. Jet Mist. I cannot believe they would risk their reputation and sell me something that is not the quality they claim. Did you clean it with any products? It is an absolutely beautiful stone and looks wonderful in our kitchen. I can't imagine what will happen once we've really moved back in. May I ask where you got your slabs as well too please? (Not just dolimitic quartzites) . We are fighting with our contractor, but will have it replaced one way or the other. Julie, I think Id be careful. Natuaral quartzites are actually harder than granite and will not etch. As someone who has worked with natural stone countertops for over 15 years, I completely agree with Chesss comment. Although regular cleaning and maintenance at home on your own will take care of much of the day-to-day spills and messes, your quartzite will require a bit more attention professionally from time-to-time. Thats why they look different from each other. I was so happy when I first installed these countertop (received soooo many compliments) it was gorgeous. ugh! And I also was not told and in fact, when I called three weeks after installation, my dealer assured me etching was simply a surface stain. IMC should be ashamed of themselves. Wonderful article, I too, purchased the exact stone for its beauty; the look and the option over Carrara marble. Sorry Laurie, what you got was marble, not quartzite. Consumer reports and other testing organizations rank Quartz higher than Granite for durability, although both are typically suggested as good choices overall. After showing my color scheme and cabinet doors, one of the options shown me was Sea Pearl Quartzite. My quartz countertop was installed 10 days ago. This is why we didnt go with marble! Help I am going looking this week any other names of real Quartzite in the white family, besides Taj Mahal, Sea Pearl and Macaubas? But, now, I see that oils, face cream, soap, ect are leaving a shadow! I called and said I was duped into believing them, and they continued to say it was premium quality from Italy. NOT TRUE!!! We have also had granite but if you chose the right stone quartzite is such a refreshing change and if you like crystal and the colors blue and white so much more beautiful. Well be replacing our 33-year old formica countertops soon, and had been weighing the pros/cons of each kind. This company has quartz site slabs in their store and brands it as granite. I researched and the color I like Nuage happens to be hard so I got lucky! Now I am beyond frustrated and dont know what to do. See if soapstones assets and imperfections will work for you, Every slab of this natural stone is one of a kind but there are things to watch for while you're admiring its unique beauty, Ever classic and with unrivaled beauty, marble countertops bespeak quiet luxury in the kitchen with a few caveats, Sculpted by heat and nonporous by nature, solid-surface countertops bring imagination and low maintenance to the kitchen, Acidic solutions can damage your marble surfaces. Well, DUH! You might want to check it out. But my hunch is that it chips rather than 'stuns.' My question is, does the buyer have any legal recourse for the product being mislabeled / misrepresented? No one ever said it was soft quartzite or calcite. Our trusted team of stone technicians restore marble, granite, limestone, travertine and other natural stones to its original look in DMV area. Personally, I arm every customer with the knowledge to allow them to be an educated consumer. So it is up to us , the people spending our money, to do our research and find out whether or not we are getting what we want. See Joannas comment above. May I ask how your Sea Pearl Quartzite is holding up now after a few years? The countertops have been sealed repeatedly and well by professionals. As a stone supplier; I can tell you that a true quartzite should not etch nearly as easily as some of these comments make it out to be. Its just over 1 year old. While some patterns are brilliantly crazy, its generally a more subtle stone group that definitely causes as much WOW for viewers as it does owners wallets. There are tradeoffs to all surfaces, too many for me to list. I recently saw it being installed at a remodel on Hanover Street in University Park and wonder how long before a new owner hears the ticking time bomb. However, it is still a stone and needs to be taken care of and maintained. The dealer suggested it is part of the natural stone, I should wipe it down with acetone and then seal it. Voila!!!! overnight to see what happens. Marble Floor Restoration Honing, Polishing And Sealing. I am considering Quartzite Calacutta Leathered. I left Saran Wrap from a lime I had been cooking with on my quartzite countertop without realizing it, and came back and there was etching. In fact the sales person told me it was the counter she chose for her own kitchen. Very happy with the results. Etching: SOME Quartzites (and Onyxs and Marbles) Dirty Secret. Im more than happy to supply pics of past work. Thank you for providing balanced information! Do your research, please. We are using the quartzite Taj Mahal leathered sealed for our new outdoor bbq/bar with no overhang so it will be exposed to all elements in southern california. The buffing got the rings out although one spot was left with a bit of a shine. Some posters suggest getting a chunk of stone youre considering and taking it home for a literal acid test leaving lemon juice, wine, etc. While unpolished finishes are much more porous and prone to staining, polished quartzite is more susceptible to getting scratches and chips. . It depends on what you mean by "durable". Just like any surface, quartzite can become scratched, stained, and worn out over time throughout use. If nothing else works, a countertop install company can likely sand and polish out the problem for a fee. By using Just Call Classic, you accept our. I bought a beautiful slab which was labeled Quartzite. Ugh! Water fresh from the tap is usually OK as most municipal supplies arrive with a pH in the 7-8 range, but as soon as its exposed to air it starts absorbing CO2, which can drop the pH to ~5.6 in minutes to hours, depending on the waters starting alkalinity. Cost is due to where the stone was mined, how to transport it from its location to you, difficulty in working the stone and its current popularity among other factors. he applied denatured alcohol and found this out. Wont you do that for those of us who make our living educating folks and selling the correct stone to folks for their needs? We've got the cross-cut version of WM (Calacatta Gold) in our kitchen, and I ran a bunch of science experiments last year -- tested for staining and water/oil repellency. Once shimmed there should not be ongoing stresses that are being applied to your countertop. I also am having problems with cut edges darling i have sea pearl quartile only 6 months old ! Could it be that my particular stone is soft vs hard quartzite or that after fabrication there is no resin to seal the edges? My friend had spilled red wine on it lemon juice etc. Gets rid of them like they were never there. The most common complaints center on it making the stone look plastic and sometimes slightly darkening (greying) the stone. Three Green Acres: Have an Appaloosa on Appaloosa Plus a Shelter From the Storm in Bartonville, Friday Five Hundred: This Allen Abode Has Me Dreaming of Life in The Burbs , https://candysdirt.com/2015/09/18/uchi-uchi-coo-showroom-event-aria-stone-gallery/, http://usenaturalstone.org/definitive-guide-quartzite/, https://marble.com/articles/what-to-expect-from-quartzite-countertop-costs, Quartzite versus soapstone counters: how do they differ? Weve used it for all of 36 hours and I noticed tonight MANY marks (forgive me I forget whether they would be stains or etches) on the island overhang where said children have sat to eat multiple meals. Linda. At the very least, if (fake) quartzite continues to be sold, it should include the cost of a sealer like Clearstone as part of the deal. An average Kitchen for me runs around $1000 on quartzite and cheaper for marble or limestone as theyre softer and much easier to work with. Most marbles are calcites, which will etch when it comes in contact with household acids. It scratched with a key, it etched from lemon juice, and it didnt scratch glass like its supposed to. Which is a nice way of saying its not covered by their warranty so if you damage the countertop, its your problem. I have to just breathe and enjoy my counters, and the patina thats inevitable. Is there any way to restore my countertop? This is what Im finding out too. For me, Ill never stray from granite again for a surface thats going to be used. Looking at the counter sideways show tons of spots that wont come out. Does anyone have a suggestion on a polish that I can use on my quartzite? I'd read MW and counterpart CG tend to be more porous than other natural stones, so may benefit from two coats of sealer, properly applied -- even moreso if the stone is honed, which tends to open up the pores, so to speak. The middle man will tell us what we want to hear, to make the sale. Update: so now over a month later, our counters are finally ready to be installed on Friday 7/28! After reading your article Im very seriously considering trading it for granite. Etching is actually reversible on softer stones such as marble, limestone, calcite, and travertine. You should not have to live with a counter that bothers you every day, when this is a 'simple' case of a mistake from the dealer. They are going to find your article, as I did. So while everything you write about resins is true, granite will not solve anyones problem in fact, its pretty much *guaranteed* to etch in any form, while un-resind quartzite will not. People use the terms interchangeably but as the author points out Quartzite is a natural stone. Can stun marks appear in granite or is it just marble? Great choice. But equally, the stones beauty wont show through either. Also if a product isnt factory honed but honed by fabricator is that ok such in the case of quartzite, Your post regarding quartzite etching really scared me as I currently have two Quartzite slabs on hold for my kitchen. The person who sold it to us said it was a real stone (unlike quartz) and that it was more practical than marble because it wont etch/stain and works like granite. Quartz is a 7 on the Mohs scale, whereas feldspar is a 6-6.5. Short of that there is little reassurance that you are getting anything close to true quartzite. And if it is speckled, there is a decent chance it is a granite and not quartzite. I am enlarging my master bath and completely remodeling it. Some will label granites as quartzite. Some will even label marbles which contain calcite and etch as Quartzite. I have my own company refinishing granite and marble as well as addressing shine issues scratches and stain poltice, The way these granite dealers take advantage of people is disgusting I use the best products on the market and I cannot even offer a warranty on this stone because is quality so low, Leather honed to a matte finish or mirror gloss still perfume on a pig, This is the equivalent of trying to write an entire book on toilet paper. I find it helpful that my husband and kids(boys 5 &7) dont leave behind a mess, they know to clean up after themselves. I have a quartz countertop which looks like yours. Thoroughly enjoyed learning some differences between quartz and quartzite. Polished quartzite also adds elegance and shimmer to any kitchen or bathroom counter. They are marble or dolomitic marble, which is soft. Word to anyone, while it might take your breath away DONT DO IT! With further research I discovered that quartzite slabs that etch are not really quartzite. In the fourth month after installation, I began noticing numerous spots that could not be wiped away. The Clearstone treatment would cost $4,200! Do they discolor from sun? How often do you have to apply it to keep it effective? Its a kitchen!! Thank you for your comments. The builder gave us a special cleaner and told us it would take care of it. I installed it without being told about the etching as it had been sold as durable as granite . Several people on this forum have done so successfully. The fact that your supplier tried to pass off the problem as an unknowable, uncontrollable manufacturing problem makes me suspicious on many levels. We wanted something white, but it had to be stain and etch proof so we kept looking for this quartzite and finally found some gorgeous slabs that were close enough. As of a month ago, the same place that sold me calcite as quartzite has simply removed labeling and places it alongside granite and quartzite. I am having this problem also sea pearl quartzite 6 months old. You also try to infer that cost is relative to durability. He also said there were a lot of water stains. I found quartzite i liked but after initially seeing the negatives on this post, was so disappointed not into the granite look and didnt find anything i liked in quartz. Currently, I restore countertops and floors within the metroplex. Water soaks in and dries, but, anything else has left a permanent etching. Has anyone had experience with this one? Something went wrong. The 'fusion' quartzites are also good ones. I asked ten times as I am aware of all the look alike stones. We went back twice to the largest distributor/yard and I found the owner who told me no dont get that one and then the stone I fell in love with and finally chose he said was a very strong one and I would not have problems. Doesnt seem to be any better. if anyone has had any experience with this colour of stone any info would be handy. It looks like sea pearl without all the green. You can go back to the stone company and complain - they sold you the wrong thing. As an example, after being told a sample of super white (also referred to as Brazilian Calcutta by one dealer) did not scratch as badly as a marble sample, but it scratched. The only time I have seen our product etch would be if someone left something acidic over night or a chemical like CLR or major harsh cleaner. HTH! It is important to keep up with the proper maintenance to keep the gorgeous finish of your quartzite. I am considering getting fantasy brown as well. Hi Julie, this is Shawn. I was considering quartzite for a kitchen counter. I can tell you from personal experience that Taj Mahal is virtually impervious to etching OR staining. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Ive already had it polished once in the 16 months in my new home. And the hardware. The stone cost me $6,500 installed. Quartzite is a metamorphic rock thats formed when sandstone-based rock is morphed from sand to glassy crystalline with heat and pressure. The marble yard assured me it was the highest premium quality. Of course, we designed the entire space around the island countertop so finding a suitable non-white/non-marble looking replacement has been difficult at best. Ill be eager to hear my neighbours comments on her new quartz countertop as it ages with misinformation. Hey, I was on here looking for other names for Nuage for you when I saw this. Three Things to Know: Jackpots, Jobs Reports, And Inflation! Because of that, it tends to be porous. I told them we likely needed granite and that I prefer granite typically. Im interested in quartzite counters for my new kitchen remodel, but I am trying to figure out what the right pricing should be so I dont get taken advantage of. You would preserve the look but protect the finish. What happened? So sorry to hear about your experience. It might be fine. We bought what we were told was granite 3 years ago. It isnt the resin in the stone etching. How do i got about cleaning this? The darker the stone the better you are able to mask things. And red wine etched it within 5 minutes! I just got back from a stone fabricator looking for options for my kitchen countertops. Karen, I'm sorry to say you have bought a product that was misrepresented. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many stone suppliers are classifying dolomite marbles as natural quartzites, but this is an incorrect classification of the stone. Essentially, the biggest difference between Quartz and Natural stone is that Quartz is non-porous and doesnt require sealing. While some suggest not all stones have been treated with resin, they seem to be outnumbered by stone experts saying that un-resined quartzite is next to impossible to buy. I am still looking for the right quartzite. Then, we buffed it with shoe polish. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. Everyone that sees it comments on how beautiful it is. Can someone help or point me in the right direction of someone who can help? But - you know this already -- the names are notoriously unreliable. Sintered (Neolith, Dekton) won't stain, but chip repairs aren't always inconspicuous. Has anyone used the leathered sealed finish outside? My stone is matte, but I can still see the etching. http://usenaturalstone.org/definitive-guide-quartzite/. Had I known, I NEVER would have purchased the stone, let alone pay extra over granite. Nope, not once in the dozen-ish trips I made to IMC nor at any of the other stone yards in Dallas I visited, (including Allied Stone). In my research, the only "real" Quartzite I found that was literally etching proof was the Taj Mahal. Countertops are sealed and protected!! I installed this in my kitchen about 8 years ago. But it gets tiring. Currently, I have begun an exhaustive search for fireplace materials: stone or tile surfaces. I thought true quartzite was hard and not prone to problems. Is that true? looking in the leathered or brushed finish and colour so far is infinity or Negresco which is a black stone with a touch of white in it. As far as strength and durability; Quartzite actually ranks higher on the Mohs scale for hardness than what a Granite does. The mineral content (calcite) also has something to do with it as does whether or not-or how much- resin was infused into the slabs. White Macaubus has not been metamorphosed to the same degree as Taj Mahal or Sea Pearl, for example. But unfortunately, I dont have granite, so what are the options to minimize the problem? Sealer can always be applied as long as its impregnating and the surface is clean. Perhaps yours will do the same? I did notice a lot of quartzite slabs had mesh on the back. Will the same product help? Etching can also occur when cleaners that contain hydrofluoric acid are used. They were not able to pick it out personally. Lustro Italiano Was helpful on etching last year. You saved me from a very costly mistake! There is no regulation as to what distributors call their slabs so something having only 70% quartz might be labelled quartzite, even though it is not really quartzite. Hot casseroles right from the oven dont faze it. Resins are natural or synthetic compounds generally originating from tree or plant sap. Candy . The industry is improving, but there are still sellers who aren't up to snuff and it makes headaches for everyone. I am also doing shaker cabs but I am looking to do a full height slab backsplash. Very informative and we learned a LOT that helped us in our decision. Required fields are marked *. When it comes to making a decision whether you should go with an unpolished or polished finish, it will ultimately come down to which you prefer. It pits the stone and can cause a stone ailment called spalling that you DO NOT want. How is yours holding up? Perhaps, but at what cost? According to the Marble Institute of America some quartzite etches because in slab preparation, resins are infused into the slab that enhance slab stability and make it shine. I have heard of Caesarstone etching. Yes, true about the color of Taj Mahalbut there is also a fairly wide range of colors, patterns, veining etc. I have sea pearl quartzite only 6 months old. Thats low enough to start actively dissolving calcite, which means that regular old tap water will for sure etch your counter if its left on long enough. Some granites also need to be sealed; some of the more dense ones don't. Many areas of the counter look like the polish has been removed. Youre right. Realtors, want to feature a listing in need of renovation or one thats complete with flying colors? The minimum one expects from a countertop is durability. Think of how many buildings use natural stone on the exteriors. This is the hardware I am hoping to go with.. the one above or this below Good luck on your kitchen journey so far it looks AMAZING. Luckily I have not installed it, but the rest of my kitchen is chosen based on that countertop. They are under new ownership and are lying to their customers. Thank you so much for all the detailed info. I took home 2 samples of hard quartzite (sea pearl and mother of pearle) and they held up. Basically, in my experience, the ONLY 100 percent safe, durable and un-etchable natural stone is granite. I had been told during installation to reseal at 6 -12 months. Doesn't help you unfortunately I realize, but for the benefit of others reading this threadDO NOT RELY ON THE STONEYARD SALESPERSON TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY YOUR STONE SLABS!!
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