Most countertop decisions come down to three materials: quartz, granite, and quartzite. They can look similar in a showroom, but they behave very differently once they're in a busy kitchen.
Quartz is engineered from crushed stone and resin. It doesn't need sealing, resists stains well, and comes in consistent colors and patterns, which makes seams easier to hide. The trade-off is heat and sunlight: hot pans can mark the resin, and long exposure to direct sun can shift some colors over time, which matters in a bright Florida kitchen or a covered outdoor bar.
Granite is natural stone. Every slab is different, it handles heat well, and it holds up in sun. It does need periodic sealing, usually once a year or so depending on the stone, and lighter granites can show oil stains if the sealer is neglected.
Quartzite is the one people often confuse with quartz. It's a natural stone, very hard, and many slabs have the soft, marble-like veining people love, with better durability than marble. It also needs sealing and is typically the most expensive of the three to buy and fabricate.
Our usual advice: if you want low maintenance and a consistent look, choose quartz and use trivets. If the kitchen gets strong sun or you want a one-of-a-kind slab, look at granite or quartzite. Either way, the estimate is free, and we're happy to walk you through slabs before you commit.