“There is life in a stone... You can feel that stones have witnessed so many things. ”
Let’s talk stone; and by stone, I mean Quartz… Marble… Granite… Quartzite… Soapstone… not stacked stone for fireplaces or columns or flat stone used for walkways and patios, we will cover those eventually.
This time we are talking about the stone you use on countertops, shower walls, benches, fireplace surrounds or even as art displayed on the wall or behind fish tanks.
First up in this 5 part series will be QUARTZITE. It’s a natural stone that often gets overlooked for its more well known Marble, Granite or Soapstone cousins or confused by its manmade friend, Quartz.
Quartzite in its creation, was pure quartz sandstone that through heat and pressure, converted to quartzite. The colors you see in quartzite will stand the test of time, even resisting harsh UV rays. It is also heat and stain resistant. It is harder than most stones making it scratch resistant but it can be cracked, think cold pan in a hot stove, so I still recommend using a trivet. Quartzite is also very hard and super heavy, making it more difficult to work with and to install.
For this particular stone, I have a drawing that my nephew in law, a Rock Doctor as we call him, as we do our niece, who is also a Rock Doctor of a different speciality, did to show the composite of this unusual and amazing stone. The story, the creation, the life of each stone is really amazing to me.
I will say, it takes a confident eye to see how this rock story can be used in kitchens and bathrooms. The uniqueness of stone will never get old, find one you love and you won’t regret it!
Quartzite has become my favorite stone to design with, it’s so unusual and the point of working with a professional designer, is to have something that is uniquely you, quartzite does this time and time again. Circle back around here again soon, I will be adding some photos of kitchens I have done recently to show you some of the diversity. I have some photos below of the stones you’ll see.
The stone in this post was discovered at one of my go to spots for quartzite, granite and marble. I have found wonderful and unique stones there multiple times. If you are local, a trip to Intrepid Marble and Granite on the eastside of Portland will be well worth your time!
Cleaning stone countertops, for the most part, can be done with the same products. First and foremost, it’s always important to wipe up spills as soon as they happen. Wine, oil, vinegar, and other foods, left untouched, can leave stains or etching in all countertops, even granite, so never take your stone for granted! Regular cleaning with a mild dish soap, like Dawn and warm water will serve you and your stone well for years to come. My fabricator even recommended a Magic Eraser, but ask your fabricator or their tried and true methods for cleaning.
This is a helpful guide from EleMar Oregon on how to keep your stone looking beautiful!