Assessing Countertop Materials

WALNUT CREEK — There are a lot of decisions to make during a kitchen remodeling project, one of which is choosing a countertop material. Below, we’ll briefly look at three potential options: quartz, quartzite and marble.

Quartz
As an engineered (man-made) stone, quartz is very durable and affordable, but it does have some downsides. Because it’s made in a factory, it lacks the unique natural beauty that other stones possess. Also, while quartz is tough, it’s not indestructible. Most notably, it’s very sensitive to heat. If you took a pot off of the burner and placed it directly on the countertop, the heat could actually cause it to crack.

Quartzite
This option has a similar name as quartz, but the similarities end there. Unlike quartz, quartzite is a natural stone. It’s very tough and durable, which makes it ideal for countertop application. Moreover, quartzite boasts a natural beauty that’s unmatched by any factory-made stone.

Marble
Besides being high-maintenance, marble is very sensitive to discoloration and other kinds of damage. While it may be suitable for flooring and some other applications, it just isn’t a good candidate for a countertop material.