How to Tell If Your White Stone is a Granite, Quartzite, or Marble One of the favorite parts of my job as a roving geologist is to share not just an appreciation for natural stone, but a deeper understanding of it. With a little guidance and practice, anyone can learn to recognize the properties
Quartzite may be the most confusing natural stone out there. A quick internet search will reveal an unsettling disparity of information. Some people say it etches. Some say it doesn’t. Sometimes you hear it’s a hybrid between marble and granite. Yet, others report that it’s harder than granite. Which is it? Why are there such
Natural stone is one of the most beautiful materials available for residential and commercial design. Each piece is unique, not manmade, and can fit effortlessly into a variety of decors, making it a top choice for consumers and designers. While natural stone is a popular material, there are several myths surrounding its use that cause
Many of my articles extoll the virtues of using simple tests to learn more about the properties of natural stone. So I get a kick out of hearing about customers arriving at stone showrooms armed with lemon slices, pocketknives, glass tiles, and notebooks, ready to perform an impromptu geology lab on their natural stone. It
“Quartzite is nearly indestructible,” notes Louis Battista of New England Stone Technology in New Haven, Connecticut. Two of its strongest selling points is its hardness and durability. Quartzite is nearly twice as hard as glass and harder than the blade of a knife. It is also resistant to common kitchen acids and will not etch
Traditionally used for fireplace surrounds, chemistry labs, and sculptures, recent years have seen a resurgence in demand for soapstone as a countertop material. With its rich tones and resistance to heat and chemicals, it is easy to understand why modern builders and homeowners have turned to soapstone.
White kitchens are classic, and they gained popularity in recent years likely due to Joanna Gaines’ modern farmhouse renovations on HGTV’s Fixer Upper. Her countertop stone of choice was often marble, with light colors and stunning veining. While they’re beautiful, marble countertops can be considered high maintenance, says Galen Roth of Roth Restoration in
As a natural stone fabricator and sculptor, I can appreciate the timeless beauty and durability that only a building material like natural stone can provide. After all, I work with it every day (well, five to six days a week, but who’s counting?) and have done so for nearly thirty years now. I see the
Quartzite might just be the hottest natural stone at the moment. If quartzite were on Instagram, it would have thousands of followers, and as with any other celebrity sensation, people would wonder in hushed tones, “Can that be real?” “Looks too good to be true.” Or, “I’m not sure if I can trust it.”
Quartz is one of the most low-maintenance options for countertop materials on the market. Made from crushed quartz pieces held together by resin and other bonding materials, it is a nonporous surface that is heat, scratch, and stain resistant. Best of all, this manufactured stone requires no annual resealing, unlike some of its natural stone