Quartzite & Marble Countertops in Fort Wayne, IN

Quartzite and marble countertops are often shown side by side because both have soft backgrounds and long, flowing veins. Day to day, though, they could hardly be more different. Marble is a calcium carbonate stone that etches when acid touches it. True quartzite is a metamorphosed sandstone, much harder and far less reactive. Knowing the difference before you buy is what keeps a beautiful countertop from becoming a disappointment.

How marble wears

Marble is cool, smooth and classic, and it suits the older homes in neighborhoods like West Central and Williams-Woodland Park well. It is also soft. Marble.com explains that etching happens when acid contacts the calcium carbonate in the stone, leaving a dull mark; tomato, lemon, vinegar, wine and coffee are common causes. Sealing helps resist stains, but it does not stop etching. Many homeowners accept that a marble kitchen will develop a patina. A honed finish shows etching less than a polished one. If you want a surface that looks the same in 10 years, marble is probably not it, but it is a wonderful choice for a baking station, a bathroom or a lightly used island.

How quartzite wears

Real quartzite is very hard and handles heat well. HomeGuide notes that Taj Mahal quartzite offers the look of marble but is more durable. It still needs sealing, since some quartzites are more porous than granite. The catch is labeling: some stone sold as quartzite is actually a soft marble or dolomite. Before you commit to a slab, we test a sample with a glass scratch test and a drop of lemon juice or vinegar. Genuine quartzite scratches glass and shrugs off the acid. That ten-minute test can save a lot of regret.

Cost

HomeGuide's installed figures are $65 to $150 a square foot for quartzite, which puts a mid-size kitchen between $1,950 and $6,000, and $40 to $150 a square foot for marble. Fixr's ranges run higher at the top end, $60 to $200 for quartzite and $50 to $200 for marble. Common Carrara marble is the most affordable; Calacatta, with its bold veining on a white background, costs much more for the slab alone. Because both stones are prized for their veining, layout matters. Matching veins across a seam or wrapping a waterfall end can take extra material.

Care in a Northeast Indiana home

Wipe up acidic spills quickly, use a pH-neutral stone cleaner, and reseal on the schedule your stone needs. If your home is on well water, mineral spots will show on polished stone, and the acidic descalers sold for hard water will etch marble. A stone-safe cleaner and a soft cloth handle the spots without damage.

Supporting heavy stone

Both quartzite and marble are heavy, and marble is brittle in thin, narrow sections such as the strip in front of a sink. The cabinets get checked for level and strength; we add support where needed and plan cutouts so those narrow sections are not overstressed.