Choose the surface, then the stone
A reception wall and a working kitchen island place different demands on a material. Start with exposure to food, moisture, cleaning products and wear. Then decide which appearance and maintenance expectations the project can accommodate.
Marble and acids
Marble can etch when exposed to acids. Etching is a change to the surface, not simply a stain. A sealer should not be treated as protection against acid etching. Review a finish sample and explain likely surface changes to the end client before approval.
Verify the quartzite
Natural quartzite and engineered quartz are different materials. Some stones sold under quartzite trade names are not geological quartzite. Request material identification and discuss a representative sample with the fabricator; do not choose on the name alone.
Compare actual selections
Ask for the same information for both candidates: full-slab photographs, thickness, finish, repairs or treatment, and any relevant testing. Include fabrication feasibility, usable yield and maintenance expectations in the comparison.
Make the approval specific
Approve an identified lot and a physical finish sample. Keep that approval with the quotation and drawings, so procurement, fabrication and the design team are working from the same reference.
Further reading: Natural Stone Institute / Use Natural Stone — Caring for Quartzite Countertops