How To Select The Right Countertop Materials

Expert Tips For Marble, Quartz & Quartzite

Below, you’ll find expert advice on selecting the best countertop material—marble, quartz, or quartzite. Learn key do’s and don’ts, maintenance tips, and how to choose materials that balance style, durability, and functionality.

Marble & Dolomite

Marble is a metamorphic rock, derived of limestone and formed by recrystallized minerals such as calcite or dolomite. It has been used for thousands of years and is prized for its natural beauty and range of colors and veining patterns. Almost anyone knows marble when they see it. It is still a viable option for countertop uses, well as fireplace surrounds, facades, shower walls and furniture tops, not to mention flooring tiles and backsplash tiles.

Do's

Educate yourself on the selection you want in marble and how well it performs for the application you have in mind. Some marbles are more dense than others and will be more scratch and wear resistant than others. Many dolomites are more dense and hold up incredibly well as kitchen countertops and vanity tops. All marbles will etch when exposed to acidic materials like lime juice, juice/liquid from tomatoes, citrus based soaps, wine, etc. Reputable stone suppliers and fabricators will give you honest feedback regarding the risks and advantages of a particular stone.
Seal your marble with a surface or saturant sealer purchased from a stone supplier, fabricator or a fabricator-recommended product. Tenax Nano-seal is a great product, Bulletproof, and Dry Treat are name brands that offer great performance. There are also third-party sources that will seal your stone and offer 1-3 year warranties against staining only, for marble.
Do exercise care with your stone, cleaning the surface after use, not leaving food on the surface for extended periods of time. This extends the appearance and prevents buyers remorse.
Do find a fabricator that is knowledgeable about installing your product and when appropriate, has the knowledge, ability and even the technology to vein match and render your job before ever cutting it. Some of the finer marbles from Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Vermont, Colorado and Greece can be quite expensive and with that kind of investment, you don’t want surprises the day of install.
Do get a written quote with clearly spelled out terms and conditions of the sale from your fabricator. This is one of many signs that you are dealing with a reputable company.
Consult with an interior designer if you are struggling to make the right selection. Many are available at 3-5 hour increments for consultative work to narrow down selections that compliment your other furnishings. The time and money spent is better than buyer’s remorse!

Don'ts

Don’t select your slabs without consulting with an expert (slab sales rep or professional fabricator) that will provide honest feedback, even if means not selecting that material. Some places just want to sell you a slab, not help you complete your project.
Don’t buy from a fabricator that makes you do all the “hunting/research/legwork” for finding your materials or selections. Reputable fabricators provide that as a service to their clients and is part of the entire project. Most individuals buy countertops 1-2 times in their lifetime and it is just as important to know where not to look as it is. Reputable fabricators will provide that as a service and part of the job.
Don’t buy a selection that is trendy because other’s want or influenced you, buy the selection based on what you like and can see in your home 5 years from now.
Don’t buy from establishments/vendors/contractors that do not own and do their own fabrication. These are commonly referred to as brokers and get their fabrication done through toll manufacturing or other “third parties”. They do not own any fabrication equipment, nor control the quality of work throughout the process. They can sell a slab but not a job, and there is a significant difference in the overall customer experience.

Engineered Stone (Quartz)

There are many manufacturers of engineered countertop materials (most commonly called Quartz) and selecting the right material can be confusing. These are some do’s and don’ts to consider when selecting your quartz countertops:

Do's

Find a supplier that stores their product INDOORS, from factory to the showroom floor and even at the fabricator’s shop/showroom. The resins used in the process are susceptible to UV light (direct sunlight) and will turn yellow over time.
Find a supplier that supports their product with Technical Information about how their product can and cannot be used. This may be in the form of a Technical Manual or Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s). There are many “copycat” producers of quartz that do little more than make and ship the product, no warranty, and no information about what can and cannot be done with their product.
Find a supplier that offers a warranty of some kind. For residential customers, warranties from reputable manufacturers range from 25-years to “lifetime” and some are transferable when you sell the home.
Do find a fabricator that is knowledgeable about quartz and the suppliers. The larger, branded producers even have a Certification process where they come to the fabricators shop, review their machinery, processes and procedures and “certify” the shop, in terms of knowledge and capability.
Do get a written quote with clearly spelled out terms and conditions of the sale from your fabricator. This is one of many signs that you are dealing with a reputable company.
Consult with an interior designer if you are struggling to make the right selection. Many are available at 3-5 hour increments for consultative work to narrow down selections that compliment your other furnishings. The time and money spent is better than buyer’s remorse!

Don'ts

Don’t buy engineered countertop materials from dealers that buy bulk production from factories and don’t advertise the material grade on display. Often times, these bulk purchases include B-and C-grade materials that have flaws and imperfections that you as the consumer will NOT CATCH when touring the facility/showroom and if purchased, will leave you with sub-standard product and no warranty.
Don’t buy from a fabricator that makes you do all the “hunting/research/legwork” for finding your materials or selections. Reputable fabricators provide that as a service to their clients and is part of the entire project. Most individuals buy countertops 1-2 times in their lifetime and it is just as important to know where not to look as it is. Reputable fabricators will provide that as a service and part of the job.
Don’t buy a selection that is trendy because other’s want or influenced you, buy the selection based on what you like and can see in your home 5 years from now.
Don’t buy from establishments/vendors/contractors that do not own and do their own fabrication. These are commonly referred to as brokers and get their fabrication done through toll manufacturing or other “third parties”. They do not own any fabrication equipment, nor control the quality of work throughout the process. The can sell a slab but not a job, and there is a significant difference in the overall customer experience.

Quartzite

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock, derived of sandstone (quartz crystals) fused together under high temperature and pressure. It is essentially sandstone that has been transformed. Higher quality quartz generally rates at 7 or above on Mohs hardness scale, which is a durable and very scratch resistant product. If the slab looks like “sand art” it is probably quartz.

Do's

Educate yourself on the selection you want in quartzite and how well it performs for the application you have in mind. Some quartz materials are more dense than others and will be more scratch and wear resistant than others. As this material has grown in popularity, so too has the number of selections offered and not all beautiful slabs perform so well in kitchen and bathroom applications. Reputable stone suppliers and fabricators will give you honest feedback regarding the risks and advantages of a particular stone.
Take a water bottle with you when shopping for quartzite stone. For the selections you are interested in buying, saturate the surface with a wet cloth or spraying near the edge, more porous stone will soak up the water immediately. This is a sign of caution to the buyer. That slab/stone is less dense, more porous and will have a greater propensity for problems after installation than more dense materials.
Seal your quartzite with a surface or saturant sealer purchased from a stone supplier, fabricator or a fabricator-recommended product. Tenax Nano-seal is a great product, Bulletproof, and Dry Treat are name brands that offer great performance. There are also third-party sources that will seal your stone and offer 1-3 year warranties against staining only, for marble.
Do exercise care with your stone, cleaning the surface after use, not leaving food on the surface for extended periods of time. This extends the appearance and prevents buyers remorse.
Do find a fabricator that is knowledgeable about installing your product and when appropriate, has the knowledge, ability and even the technology to vein match and render your job before ever cutting it. You don’t want surprises the day of install.
Do recognize that quartzites can have “resonated fillers” injected into the block and/or slab before processing to fill voids and repair fissures, cracks and cold joints. It is helpful to have this pointed out during the selection process and not the day of install. Again, a reputable stone distributor and fabricator will point this out on the front end, not conceal it and then tell you about the “fine print” in the contract after the sale.
Do get a written quote with clearly spelled out terms and conditions of the sale from your fabricator. This is one of many signs that you are dealing with a reputable company.
Consult with an interior designer if you are struggling to make the right selection. Many are available at 3-5 hour increments for consultative work to narrow down selections that compliment your other furnishings. The time and money spent is better than buyer’s remorse!

Don'ts

Don’t select your slabs without consulting with an expert (slab sales rep or professional fabricator) that will provide honest feedback, even if means not selecting that material. Some places just want to sell you a slab, not help you complete your project. Quartzite often has many dramatic veining patterns that can also be the source of natural fissures and “cold joints”, meaning the stone did not fuse together well during the metamorphic process.
Don’t buy from a fabricator that makes you do all the “hunting/research/legwork” for finding your materials or selections. Reputable fabricators provide that as a service to their clients and is part of the entire project. Most individuals buy countertops 1-2 times in their lifetime and it is just as important to know where not to look as it is. Reputable fabricators will provide that as a service and part of the job.
Don’t buy a selection that is trendy because other’s want or influenced you, buy the selection based on what you like and can see in your home 5 years from now.
Don’t buy from establishments/vendors/contractors that do not own and do their own fabrication. These are commonly referred to as brokers and get their fabrication done through toll manufacturing or other “third parties”. They do not own any fabrication equipment, nor control the quality of work throughout the process. They can sell a slab but not a job, and there is a significant difference in the overall customer experience.

FAQs: Selecting the Right Countertop Materials

What factors should I consider when selecting countertop materials?

Look at durability, maintenance, aesthetic appeal, and how well the material suits your specific application (kitchen, bathroom, etc.).

Is marble a good choice for kitchen countertops?

Marble can be a great choice for kitchens, but it requires sealing and careful maintenance as it is prone to etching and staining from acidic substances.

What’s the difference between marble and dolomite?

Dolomite is denser and more scratch-resistant than marble, making it a better choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens.

How do I know if a quartz supplier is reputable?

Choose suppliers that store their quartz indoors, offer technical manuals or warranties, and have certified fabricators.

Is quartzite harder to maintain than other materials?

Quartzite is highly durable but may require sealing to prevent staining. Its maintenance is minimal compared to marble but more involved than quartz.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when selecting countertop materials?

Choosing trendy materials that don’t suit your long-term needs.
Buying from brokers or third-party fabricators.
Not consulting with experts or fabricators during the selection process.

What is vein matching, and why is it important?

Vein matching aligns patterns across slabs to create a seamless, cohesive look, especially with materials like marble and quartzite.

Why is a written quote from a fabricator important?

A written quote ensures clear communication of terms, pricing, and expectations, helping you avoid unexpected costs or issues.

Should I hire an interior designer to help with material selection?

Yes, if you’re unsure about design choices. Many interior designers offer short-term consultations to help you make informed decisions.

Can I see my countertop design before it’s fabricated?

Reputable fabricators often offer 3D renderings or previews to help you visualize the final result and avoid surprises.

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How To Select The Right Countertop Materials

Expert Tips For Marble, Quartz & Quartzite

Marble & Dolomite

Do's

Don'ts

Engineered Stone (Quartz)

Do's

Don'ts

Quartzite

Do's

Don'ts

FAQs: Selecting the Right Countertop Materials

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