Quartzite & Marble Countertops in Jersey City, NJ

Quartzite and marble countertops can look nearly identical in a sample: white or pale stone with soft gray, gold or green veining. Under the surface they are very different materials. Marble is a metamorphosed limestone, relatively soft and sensitive to acids. Quartzite began as sandstone, and heat and pressure fused it into a far harder rock that shrugs off most acids. Knowing which you are buying, and how it will age, is the most important decision in this category.

Marble: patina is part of the deal

Marble has been used in kitchens and on pastry tables for centuries, and it suits the restored brownstone kitchens and baths around Hamilton Park, Van Vorst Park and Harsimus Cove. Lemon juice, wine, vinegar and tomato will etch it, leaving dull spots even when the surface is sealed, since a sealer guards against stains, not against acid eating the surface. A honed finish hides etches better than a polished one. Owners who love marble usually accept that it will gather marks over time, the way an old butcher block does.

Quartzite: harder, still natural

Quartzite is the choice for people who want the marble look with more resistance to scratches and etching. HomeGuide rates it highly heat resistant, where quartz can be damaged by high heat, but also porous and prone to staining, unlike nonporous quartz. A yearly reseal is still advised; HomeGuide prices it at $0.50-$2.00 a square foot. Watch the labels, too: a few stones sold under the quartzite name are really dolomite, which is closer to marble in hardness. We scratch and acid-test a sample piece before you buy.

Price ranges

HomeGuide's installed figures: quartzite $65-$150 a square foot, marble $40-$150. Within marble, the type matters a great deal: HomeGuide lists Carrara slab material at roughly $40 to $50 per square foot, while Calacatta runs about $175 to $200 before fabrication. Rare quartzites and bookmatched slabs push costs higher. Fixr gives somewhat wider per-square-foot bands for both stones, topping out near $200.

Bookmatching and vein layout

Veined stone looks best when the pattern flows across the room. On a long island or a full-height backsplash, two slabs can be bookmatched, cut and opened like a book so the veins mirror at the seam. That takes planning and sometimes extra slab. We map the layout on the actual slabs with you before cutting so the main veins land where you want them.

Day-to-day care

• Wipe acidic spills right away, and use cutting boards and trivets
• Skip vinegar, bleach and abrasive powders; a stone-safe cleaner does the job
• Test the sealer with a little water now and then and reseal when it soaks in
• Expect marble to develop a soft patina, especially near the sink and cooktop