Quartzite countertops in Chicago and the suburbs
Custom quartzite countertops: what we fabricate
Taj Mahal is the quartzite we fabricate most — the warm, soft-gold stone that looks like marble and behaves like granite (polished, honed or leathered?). Alongside it: White Macaubas for a bright white kitchen with grey movement, Calacatta White Lux, Ocean Green in a bath, and Fusion on a bar. Most are quarried in Brazil, and slabs vary more than any other stone we carry, so we select them with you in person.
Where quartzite belongs
Kitchens, first. Quartzite is the answer for the family that loves the look of marble and needs a counter that survives a real kitchen — it's harder than granite, takes heat, and resists scratching. It does waterfall islands and full-height backsplashes beautifully because it has the movement of marble to carry over an edge. It also works in baths and on bars. The one honest caveat: some stones sold as "quartzite" are actually soft marble; we test and won't sell you one under the wrong name.
Finish and edge
Polished is the standard and shows the depth of the stone; honed and leathered are available on many quartzites and read more relaxed. Our most-requested detail is the mitered waterfall — the counter continues down the side of the island to the floor with the veining following it. Square edges at 3cm are the everyday choice.
Care, honestly
Quartzite is dense but still natural stone, so it is sealed at install with a penetrating (impregnating) sealer that soaks into the stone rather than sitting on top of it. How often to reseal depends on the slab, so test instead of guessing: leave a few drops of water on the counter for 10 to 15 minutes, near the sink and the cooktop. If the water beads, the sealer is working. If the stone darkens where the water sat, it is time to reseal. For most kitchens that is about once a year; lighter, more open stones such as Taj Mahal can need it sooner, and very dense slabs can go longer.
Day to day: warm water with a little mild dish soap, or a pH-neutral stone cleaner, and a soft cloth. Avoid vinegar, bleach, ammonia, and abrasive powders or pads; they wear down the sealer over time. Sealed, quartzite resists stains well and is far less prone to etching than marble. More in stone care.
Test the slab
Not every slab sold as quartzite is quartzite. Some are softer stones carrying the more durable name. Two simple checks on a sample tell you what you have: drag a corner of the stone across a piece of glass, and leave a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar on the surface for a few minutes. True quartzite scratches the glass and shows no dull mark where the acid sat. A stone that fails either check will live more like marble. More on this in Marble or quartzite?
Quartzite we have installed
Taj Mahal in Naperville and Taj Mahal in Hinsdale, hood and all; White Macaubas in Glenview; Blue Roma and Cristallo Azul in Oak Park; Calacatta White Lux in Northbrook; Ocean Green in a Glen Ellyn bath; and Fusion on a Riverwoods bar. Deciding between stones? Read quartzite vs. granite and quartz vs. quartzite.
Where the work is
The quartzite projects above are in Naperville, Hinsdale, Glenview, Oak Park, Northbrook, Glen Ellyn, and Riverwoods.
Quartzite · Common questions
Is quartzite harder than granite?
Generally yes. True quartzite is one of the hardest natural stones we fabricate — very resistant to scratching and heat, which is why it's the answer for people who love the look of marble but need it to survive a real kitchen.
Does quartzite need to be sealed?
Yes. Quartzite is sealed at install with a penetrating sealer. To know when to reseal, leave a few drops of water on it for 10 to 15 minutes: if it beads, you're fine; if the stone darkens, reseal. For most kitchens that is about once a year.
What's the difference between quartzite and quartz?
Quartzite is a natural stone, quarried and cut from slabs — every one different. Quartz is engineered: ground quartz bound in resin, consistent and non-porous. Similar names, very different materials.
How can I tell if a slab is real quartzite?
Test a sample. True quartzite scratches glass and shows no dull mark after a few minutes under lemon juice or vinegar. A stone that fails either check will behave more like marble, whatever the label says.
Can quartzite handle heat?
Quartzite handles heat well, far better than engineered quartz. A trivet is still the habit we recommend for any countertop.
How do you clean quartzite countertops?
Warm water with a little mild dish soap, or a cleaner made for natural stone, on a soft cloth. Avoid bleach, ammonia and abrasive powders or pads; harsh cleaners wear down the sealer over time, and the sealer is what keeps stains out.
Can quartzite countertops chip?
Quartzite is very hard, but like any stone it can chip at an edge if a heavy pot or cast iron pan hits it hard. A slightly eased edge holds up better than a razor-sharp one. Small chips can usually be repaired with a color-matched filler.
