Quartzite

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that forms when sandstone is transformed under high pressure and temperature. The sand grains fuse into a very hard, dense structure made of more than 90% quartz. Minerals such as mica and iron oxide give each variety its own colour, from white and golden yellow to pink, brown and grey-green. Many quartzites have a natural layering: they split into slabs with a lively, subtle relief. Don't confuse quartzite with quartz composite: quartzite is a 100% natural stone, quartz composite an engineered material made with resin.

• Very hard: with a hardness of around 7 on the Mohs scale, quartzite is harder than glass and comparable to granite. That makes it extremely scratch- and wear-resistant.
• Heat-resistant: quartzite handles high temperatures well, a big advantage in the kitchen.
• Frost-resistant: thanks to its dense structure, quartzite absorbs little water and withstands frost, ideal for outdoor use.
• Resistant to acids and UV: unlike marble and limestone, quartzite barely reacts to acids, and its natural colours don't fade in the sun.
• Durable: quartzite lasts for generations and needs little maintenance.

Every quartzite has its own colour and pattern. At STONE NV you can choose from:

• Light and bright: Albino Light, a white to light grey quartzite with a fresh, bright look.
• Warm and sunny: Albino Yellow in golden yellow tones and Flamingo in warm pink and salmon tones.
• Grey and natural: Ara, a silver-grey quartzite with a subtle sheen, and Flammet in deep grey-green.
• Earthy and bold: Pirana, a brown-grey quartzite with lively colour variations.

See all varieties above, or come and see the slabs in person in our showroom.

The finish determines the look and the use of quartzite.

• Natural cleft: the surface follows the stone's natural layering, with a lively relief and plenty of grip. Ideal for walls, facades, terraces and pool copings.
• Smooth (honed or sawn): a flat, even surface that lets the colour and pattern speak quietly. The logical choice for kitchen worktops, vanity tops and indoor floors.

Quartzite is one of the most versatile natural stones, indoors and outdoors:

• Kitchen worktop: a quartzite kitchen worktop is scratch-resistant, heat-resistant and hardly sensitive to acids: one of the strongest natural choices. Weighing up materials? Read our guide to choosing a kitchen worktop material.
• Walls: as wall cladding, the layered relief creates a play of light and shadow, ideal for a feature wall, a spa or a fireplace.
• Facades: thanks to its frost and UV resistance, quartzite is a durable choice for facade cladding.
• Terraces: a quartzite terrace is slip-resistant, frost-resistant and stays beautiful for decades.
• Pools: for pool copings and pool surrounds, quartzite offers grip and stays pleasant underfoot.
• Floors: a quartzite floor is ideal for high-traffic areas and for a continuous floor from indoors to outdoors.
• Bathroom: in the bathroom, quartzite creates a natural, robust feel on walls, floors and vanity tops.

Kitchen worktops and vanity tops are finished to the millimetre in our workshop, including cut-outs and edge finishing.

Quartzite is easy to maintain: clean it with lukewarm water and a pH-neutral product. Impregnation after installation gives extra protection against oil and grease stains, especially on a kitchen worktop, on terraces and around the barbecue. Avoid harsh cleaning agents and a pressure washer used too close, as they can damage the natural surface. Find more tips in our article on cleaning and caring for natural stone.

The price of quartzite depends on the variety, size, thickness and finish, and on the complexity of the bespoke work. Because of its great hardness, quartzite takes more work to fabricate than softer stone, but its long lifespan and low maintenance make it a durable investment. See our price list for an up-to-date overview.

Yes, quartzite is one of the best natural choices for a kitchen worktop. It is very hard, scratch-resistant and heat-resistant, and far less sensitive to acids than marble or limestone. With impregnation, it is also well protected against oil and grease stains.

Quartzite is a 100% natural stone, formed from sandstone under high pressure and temperature. Quartz composite is an engineered material made from crushed quartz and resin. Quartzite is more heat- and UV-resistant; composite has a more even, uniform colour.

Both are very hard and durable. Granite is an igneous rock with a speckled grain; quartzite is a metamorphic rock with a layered, livelier pattern. Quartzite contains more quartz and is therefore even slightly harder.

Yes. Thanks to its dense structure, quartzite absorbs little water and is excellent for terraces, facades and pool copings, even in harsh winters.

Not with a natural cleft finish: that surface offers good grip, even in the rain and around the pool. Smooth finishes are intended for indoor use, such as kitchen worktops and indoor floors.

Quartzite is naturally low in porosity, but impregnation after installation gives extra protection against oil, grease and dirt. We strongly recommend it on kitchen worktops, terraces and around outdoor kitchens.