7 on MOHS scale
On par with granite
Engineered stone
Ground quartz plus resin
No sealing needed
Non-porous surface
Indoor use
Not rated for direct sun
What Is quartz
Not To Be Confused With Quartzite
Quartz is an engineered surface, made by combining ground natural quartz crystal, roughly 90 percent of the mix, with resins and pigments, then compressing it under heat and pressure into a dense, non-porous slab. This manufacturing process is what gives quartz its wide range of consistent colors and patterns, along with a surface that never needs sealing.
Quartzite, on the other hand, is a natural stone, cut straight from quarried slabs and shaped entirely by heat and pressure underground over thousands of years. It shows the one of a kind veining and mineral variation you only get from nature, but it does need to be sealed to stay stain resistant.
Quick way to remember it: quartz is manufactured, quartzite is quarried.
Buying Guide
Common questions about quartz
A few things worth knowing before your showroom visit.
