As beautiful as marble and as resilient as granite, quartzite has recently emerged as a stone option for cladding countertops, floors and walls.
But is it worth investing in this trend? Find out in this post.
What is quartzite?
Quartzite is a type of natural stone that is abundant in Brazil, particularly in the Goiás state region.
Formed from very resistant sedimentary rocks, quartzite consists of 75% quartz and another 25% materials such as tourmaline, muscovite, biotite and others.
What is the difference between quartzite, quartz and other natural stones?
Quartzite stone ends up being very confused with other stones, especially marble.
However, the fact is that each of them has different and unique characteristics. And you, as a consumer, need to be aware of these differences in order not to put a sack in the sack.
Quartzite differs from quartz in composition. While quartz is 90% pure quartz, quartzite has less quartz in its composition.
This differs mainly in appearance since quartz has a dotted surface.
Another key difference between the two stones is that quartzite can be used both indoors and outdoors, while quartz should only be used indoors.
With marble and granite, the differences become even clearer. Aesthetically, granite is very different from quartzite as it has a much more granular and irregular surface. Marble, on the other hand, is closest to quartzite precisely because both have a veined surface.
However, quartzite has a milkier appearance and finer veins than marble. Quartzite is also ahead in terms of strength and durability.
On the Mohs scale, a worldwide reference chart used to measure the hardness of materials, quartz and quartzite score seven points, with 10 being the maximum degree of hardness and 1 being the minimum degree of hardness.
On the same scale, marble scores between 3 and 4 points, while granite scores 6 points.
Where to use quartzite
Due to its high resistance, durability and beauty, quartzite is a stone that can be applied in different environments of the house, ranging from the countertop to the floor or wall covering.
In bathrooms, for example, stone can be used on the sink countertop or as a coating in the shower area. In kitchens, the classic use of stone is as a countertop and support counter, also serving as raw material for islands.
In living rooms and bedrooms, quartzite stands out in the covering of walls, especially those that are most prominent within the environment, such as the headboard or the TV wall.
Quartzite can also be applied in outdoor areas. In the case of floors, special treatment of the stone surface is recommended to prevent it from becoming slippery.
Check out now the following project ideas that bet on quartzite stone and be surprised by all the possibilities:
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