Key Takeaways
- Quartzite at RDC starts at $100 per sq ft, near the top of the quartz range. Its hardness can add fabrication time.
- Some slabs sold as quartzite are really marble or dolomitic marble, so test the slab itself, not the label.
- RDC seals every quartzite countertop at installation.
- Phoenix water is hard, at 10 to 17.6 grains per gallon, so wipe up spills and moisture on quartzite quickly.
What Is the Difference Between Quartz and Quartzite?
Quartzite is a natural stone, and quartz countertops are an engineered product. Quartzite forms when sandstone is buried, heated and compressed until its grains fuse. Engineered quartz is factory-made from quartz particles, resin and pigments. The Natural Stone Institute's consumer site, Use Natural Stone, compares both in its quartzite and engineered quartz guide.
RDC Renovation & Design Concepts is a flooring contractor in Phoenix, Arizona, that sells and installs flooring, tile and countertops. It installs both stones, and its countertop installation in Phoenix page covers every slab material RDC carries.
| Factor | Quartzite | Quartz |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Every slab is unique | Consistent, repeatable patterns |
| Sealing | Depends on the stone's porosity | Cambria says not to apply sealers |
| Heat | Resistant to heat (Use Natural Stone) | Not heat-proof; use a hot pad (Cambria) |
Cream quartz on a raised pass-through bar, installed by RDC in a Phoenix kitchen (quartz shown, not quartzite).
How Much Do Quartzite Countertops Cost in Phoenix?
Quartzite countertops cost $100 to $200 per square foot installed at RDC in Phoenix. Quartz runs $50 to $120, so the ranges overlap only at the top. The slab, edge detail and cutouts set where a kitchen lands. A Use Natural Stone article notes that fabrication can cost a little more.
Worked example for 55 sq ft of countertop: quartzite is 55 × $100 = $5,500 up to 55 × $200 = $11,000. Quartz is 55 × $50 = $2,750 up to 55 × $120 = $6,600. Tearing out an existing countertop is priced on its own line.
Please note: these are typical ranges and can vary. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on the actual slab, edge and scope. Financing: see financing options.
Prices for every slab material are in RDC's countertop installation cost in Phoenix report. The service itself is on the Phoenix countertop installation page.
Want a price on the slab you like? Get a free written estimate or call or text (602) 788-1446.
Quartzite Countertops in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley
In Arizona, the local factor for quartzite is water. Hardness in Phoenix tap water ranges from 10 to 17.6 grains per gallon, per the City of Phoenix Water Services 2025 water quality data. A Use Natural Stone quartzite care article advises wiping up spills and moisture as quickly as possible. RDC's Phoenix hard water and heat guide covers the rest of the house.
In North Phoenix, RDC's showroom is at 1610 E Bell Rd Suite 101. It is open Sunday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and closed Saturday. Get directions, or see the Phoenix flooring showroom page.
"Customers pick the actual slab, not just a sample. You walk the showroom and choose the piece that goes in your kitchen."Eli Kovalev, Owner, RDC Renovation & Design Concepts
Scottsdale's 2026 Water Quality Report puts hardness at 13 to 17 grains per gallon citywide, with 13 to 15 below Indian School Road. The quartz waterfall island in the next photo is an RDC job in Scottsdale. More of that work is on the Scottsdale renovation page.
Paradise Valley work by RDC includes a poolside outdoor kitchen with a BBQ bar. If a Paradise Valley kitchen wants the marble look in a harder stone, the quartzite vs. marble vs. granite guide lays out the trade-offs. The town's own page is luxury flooring, tile and stone in Paradise Valley.
Further out, a Mesa kitchen got granite (Mesa renovation). A Peoria kitchen got RDC quartz counters and engineered hardwood (Peoria tile and showers).
A white quartz waterfall island RDC installed in Scottsdale (quartz shown, not quartzite).
Does Quartzite Need to Be Sealed?
Whether quartzite needs sealing depends on the stone's porosity, and RDC seals every quartzite countertop at installation. Use Natural Stone says porous varieties, such as White Macaubas, benefit from a sealer. Its definitive guide to quartzite describes Taj Mahal and Sea Pearl as highly metamorphosed stones with tightly joined minerals.
How often to reseal depends on the sealer, and Use Natural Stone says many modern sealers protect stone for 1 to 10 years. Watch the area around the sink: if the stone darkens there from water, the sealer may be wearing thin. Follow the sealer maker's schedule for the next coat. See RDC's countertop installation in Phoenix for the full process.
How Do You Tell Real Quartzite From Marble?
Real quartzite scratches glass, resists a knife blade and does not etch from lemon juice or vinegar. Marble and dolomitic marble fail those tests. Use Natural Stone's quartzite guide warns that marble is sometimes sold as quartzite. Some slabs carry the name "soft quartzite," but the guide says there is no such thing.
The tests are quick. Press a rough edge of the stone hard against a glass tile and look for a real scratch. Or leave lemon juice on a sample for about 15 minutes and check for a dull spot. RDC can help you look at the slab itself, not just the label.
To weigh quartzite against the other natural stones, see the quartzite vs. marble vs. granite guide and marble countertops in Phoenix. Every stone RDC installs is listed under countertop installation.
A white quartz counter during an RDC installation in Scottsdale (quartz shown, not quartzite).
Can Quartzite Handle Heat?
Quartzite handles heat well: Use Natural Stone describes granite and quartzite as resistant to heat, chemicals and scratches. Its quartzite care article still recommends trivets and cooling racks. Engineered quartz is different. Cambria, one of the engineered quartz lines RDC carries, says in its care guide that its quartz is not heat-proof.
For the quartz and granite side, see the quartz vs. granite countertops guide. Questions about your stone? Call or text (602) 788-1446, or see countertop installation in Phoenix.
Countertops, Backsplash and Flooring Together
RDC handles countertops, backsplash and flooring under one contract, with one point of contact. See kitchen tile, backsplash and countertops and backsplash installation in Phoenix. Browse the RDC project gallery, or request a free estimate for the whole job.