Quartz Countertops That Look Like Marble

Featured Image: Calacatta Jubilee Quartz Kitchen Countertop from Arizona Tile

Mother Nature has given us the most amazing gifts; and sometimes her gifts are almost impossible to replicate. The natural beauty that surrounds us is truly worth admiring, with marble being no exception. Although some characteristics of marble are not for everyone, fortunately, a quartz that replicates marble can be a fantastic alternative.

Let’s explore the varying elements of marble vs. quartz, and what to expect from each surface for a deeper insight for your design decision-making process.

Brief History of Marble

Dating back thousands of years, marble was used for architectural purposes in Greece. The Greeks found marble to be durable and beautiful; however, the process to quarry this metamorphic stone was tedious. Therefore, marble was a true symbol of high-end sophistication. Over time, the process and expense to attain marble started improving.  In Greece and Italy, marble began being used in home design, mainly for the wealthy.

Fast-forward to present day and marble is often used in many places throughout the home. It is a very common choice for kitchens and bathrooms and lends itself to many design styles.

Image: Bianco Pearl Quartz Kitchen Countertop from Arizona Tile

What is Quartz?

Quartz is often made to emulate natural stone, with many beautiful marble-look varieties available ranging in color from whites and creams to dramatic black. While quartz can be mistaken for marble, the primary difference is that marble is a naturally occurring stone where quartz is man-made. Some varieties of quartz can be more affordable than marble while others are close in cost. There are also differences in durability as well as care and maintenance, as quartz is an easier product to maintain for some people.

Quartz slabs are made from crushed quartz in various sizes, mixed with pigments and resin to bind the material together.  Because quartz is man-made, a specific style can be replicated over many batches, whereas marble is created through a natural geological process.  More variation is to be expected in marble and each piece is truly unique.  If consistency through the veins and general coloring is highly important to you, quartz may be a better option.

Care and Maintenance

We’ve talked about the origins of marble and quartz, let’s touch upon the care and maintenance each of these products require.

Image: Palmeri Quartz Waterfall Kitchen Island Countertop from Arizona Tile

When doing a side-by-side comparison, marble is more heat resistant than our Della Terra^® Quartz. However, it is best to never place hot items (including constant heat sources like crock pots) on any countertop – simply use a hot pad or trivet.

Della Terra^® Quartz consists of up to 94% quartz, one of the hardest minerals in nature. Because of its high quartz content and density, it’s resistant to chips and scratches, as well as highly resistant to staining. It is important to note that quartz is not scratch-proof. In contrast, marble is a hard durable stone that will last a long time with the proper maintenance. However, marbles are softer than quartz, and may be more susceptible to scratching and chipping.

Quartz has very low porosity, therefore most quartz products do not require sealing. Marble on the other hand, is naturally porous and more vulnerable to staining. It is recommended that a sealer be applied soon after installation and re-sealed every six months. It’s also important to avoid acidic liquids from coming in contact with the surface of marble such as lemons, tomatoes, and vinegar as it can cause etching.

Della Terra^® Quartz gives you all the luxury of natural stone but at times can be considered less maintenance. Because of its resistance to staining, it’s easier to keep white quartz-like Bertoli looking timeless and beautiful.

Another benefit if you choose quartz countertops to emulate the look of marble is that they are low maintenance and can be cleaned with extreme ease.  For routine cleaning, simply wipe the quartz down with a damp cloth or paper towel. If more is needed, a gentle soap or pH-neutral cleaner is best. It is important to note that you should never use strong, abrasive cleaning products.

Cleaning marble surfaces is very similar. As with all stone products, it’s always good to clean up any spills quickly to minimize any “beauty marks” caused by usage.

Image: Bertoli Quartz Kitchen Countertop and Island from Arizona Tile

So Much Beauty!

Thinking back to the ancient Romans and their use of marble—a beloved choice was Calacatta. Calacatta marble comes from Italy and was greatly cherished because of its pure whiteness. Now, however, Calacatta marble’s beauty has been captured in quartz. Calacatta Jubilee quartz has all the beauty and elegance you may want, but with the ease of care of quartz.

A couple of other quartz countertops that look like natural stone to seriously consider are Palmeri and Bianco Pearl. Palmeri is similar to Calcatta Jubilee in its sophistication but it has some muted elements in the brightness of the white and boldness of the gray veining. Even softer yet is Bianco Pearl. This creamy white quartz has more delicate grey veining than Palmeri. Which gives it the appearance natural stone, while remaining soft and gentle.

Whether you choose a marble countertop or a quartz countertop that looks like marble, you’re sure to love the natural elements it will bring into your home. Stop into one of our locations and check out all of the marble and quartz Arizona Tile has to offer. Don’t want to leave the house? Check out our selection of natural stone on our online slab yard or see what your quartz countertops would look like in your space with our Just Imagine Visualizer. Contact us today and start creating your new space for tomorrow.