Steve, east Yorba Linda custom home, Yorba Linda
Quartzite and Exotic Stone Countertops
- Material
- Sea Pearl quartzite
- Size
- 42 sq ft kitchen
- Est. investment
- $4,000 to $4,800
- Est. duration
- 1 to 2 days
Dated granite replaced with a soft grey quartzite
Quartzite and Exotic Stone Countertops in Riverside, CA
Riverside Custom Countertops works as Riverside County's top-rated team in natural quartzite countertops, specializing in Taj Mahal quartzite, Sea Pearl quartzite, and bookmatched exotic stone islands. We offer leathered Taj Mahal quartzite finishes and a waterfall edge drop on any island.
Etch-Tested Quartzite From Riverside Custom Countertops
Our team provides acid testing on a sample chip before any cut, delivering hard-wearing kitchens for homes and statement surfaces for both residential and commercial projects. With 12 years in business and a 1-year workmanship warranty behind every seam, we've completed over 1,870 projects, from a single quartzite vanity-height bar to full exotic stone kitchens.
From slab-yard etch checks and vein layout to penetrating sealer on install day, our team handles every detail. Serving Riverside and neighboring Yorba Linda, Villa Park and Chino Hills, we confirm every slab is true quartzite before a single cut is made.
Contact us for a free estimate, and bring the slab name you are considering so we can test a chip of it first.
What you can hold us to
The Shop Behind Every Top
12 yearsCutting and installing stone from our Riverside shop
1,870Kitchens, islands, bars and commercial tops completed
1-year1-year workmanship warranty on seams, fit and sink mounting
35 milesFrom Riverside to Yorba Linda, Villa Park and Chino Hills
True Quartzite vs Stone Sold as Quartzite
True quartzite is metamorphosed quartz sandstone, at least 80% quartz by volume, and it rates 7 to 8 on the Mohs scale, harder than granite and far harder than marble. The trouble is that some slabs sold as quartzite in Southern California yards are dolomite or quartz-rich marble, which are carbonate stones that etch when lemon juice or vinegar sits on them. Those slabs are priced like quartzite and behave like marble, and a homeowner usually finds out after the first spaghetti dinner.
A Quartzite Kitchen We Tested First
Investment and duration figures are estimates. Your written quote sets the final price and schedule.
Steve in an east Yorba Linda custom home had dated granite and a sample of Sea Pearl quartzite he liked, but the yard could not tell him whether it would etch. We ran an acid test on a sample chip before ordering, the chip passed, and we replaced his 42 sq ft kitchen with the soft grey stone. The scope, dated granite replaced with a soft grey quartzite, was an estimated $4,000 to $4,800 and took an estimated 1 to 2 days on site. The result was a passed etch test and a sealed quartzite kitchen with no dull rings by the sink.
The Etch Test: Our Process for Spotting Mislabeled Quartzite
The etch test is a two-step process we run on a sample chip before any quartzite slab is cut: a steel blade scratch, then a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar left for roughly five minutes. A true quartzite shrugs off the blade and shows no dull spot after the acid is wiped away. A stone that scratches is likely marble, and a stone that passes the blade but fizzes or dulls under acid is likely dolomite. Every quartzite slab headed to a kitchen in Norco, Eastvale or Temescal Valley gets the same chip test as one headed to Villa Park.
- Pick the slab at the yard and ask for an offcut or a corner chip from the same lot.
- We scratch it with a steel blade, which sits near 5.5 on the Mohs scale.
- We put acid on a clean area, wait, wipe, and look for a dull or rough patch at an angle to the light.
- Only a pass goes to the laser template and the saw.
Cutting is done wet in our Riverside shop, because quartzite is mostly crystalline silica and dry cutting releases the dust that causes silicosis. That is the part of the job a homeowner should never try in a driveway.
What a Quartzite Install Includes
- Slab thickness
- 3cm slabs set straight onto the cabinets as our standard; 2cm stone gets a plywood sub-top
- Templating
- Digital laser template at the site visit, before any slab is cut
- Seams
- Hairline seams under 1/16 in., color-matched epoxy, kept away from the sink cutout
- Edge profiles
- Eased edge included; half-bullnose, ogee and mitered drop edges priced per linear foot
- Sink mounting
- Undermount sinks mechanically mounted with clips and epoxy, not silicone alone
- Overhangs
- Up to 10 to 12 in. unsupported on 3cm stone; concealed steel supports beyond that
- Sealing
- Granite and quartzite sealed at install; quartz never needs sealing
- Lead time
- Typically 1 to 3 weeks from laser template to install day
- Crew
- 2 to 3 installers per kitchen, 3 to 4 for waterfall islands
- Payment terms
- Deposit no more than 10% or $1,000, whichever is less, then progress payments as the work is done
- Quartz price
- Engineered quartz typically runs $65 to $145 per sq ft installed, never needs sealing
- Granite price
- Granite typically runs $55 to $135 per sq ft installed, sealed every 1 to 2 years
- Quartzite price
- Natural quartzite typically runs $85 to $185 per sq ft installed
- Marble price
- Marble typically runs $80 to $195 per sq ft installed
- Solid surface price
- Solid surface typically runs $70 to $130 per sq ft installed
- Porcelain slab price
- Porcelain and sintered stone typically run $55 to $120 per sq ft installed
Quartzite Countertop Cost in Riverside
Quartzite countertops in Riverside are estimated at roughly $85 to $185 per sq ft installed, and slab rarity, finish and the number of seams move the price most. Exotic names like Taj Mahal and Sea Pearl sit higher in that band than common white quartzites, and a leathered finish or a mitered edge adds labor.
Kitchen countertop replacement (30 to 45 sq ft)
- Est. investment
- $2,100 to $4,800 per kitchen
- Est. duration
- 1 to 2 days
Tear-out, laser template, new 3cm tops, undermount sink and eased edge
Kitchen island top
- Est. investment
- $1,600 to $3,400 per island top
- Est. duration
- 3 to 6 hours
Standard 40 x 80 inch island, overhang support checked
Waterfall edge drop
- Est. investment
- $800 to $1,800 added per waterfall side
- Est. duration
- 4 to 8 hours
Mitered vertical panel with the vein carried down the side
Full-height slab backsplash
- Est. investment
- $600 to $3,000 per backsplash
- Est. duration
- 1 to 2 days
Slab from countertop to the upper cabinets or hood
Outdoor kitchen granite tops
- Est. investment
- $1,400 to $2,800 per outdoor kitchen
- Est. duration
- 1 to 2 days
Granite rated for sun and heat on a block or steel BBQ island
Wet bar or home bar top
- Est. investment
- $750 to $2,400 per bar top
- Est. duration
- 3 to 5 hours
12 to 20 sq ft bar top with a bar sink cutout
Old countertop tear-out and haul-away
- Est. investment
- $150 to $500 per project
- Est. duration
- 2 to 5 hours
Added to a replacement job; old tops removed and recycled
Investment and duration figures are estimates. Your written quote sets the final price and schedule.
| Job | Est. investment | Est. duration on site |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen countertop replacement (30 to 45 sq ft) | Est. $2,100 to $4,800 per kitchen | Est. 1 to 2 days |
| Kitchen island top | Est. $1,600 to $3,400 per island top | Est. 3 to 6 hours |
| Waterfall edge drop | Est. $800 to $1,800 added per waterfall side | Est. 4 to 8 hours |
| Full-height slab backsplash | Est. $600 to $3,000 per backsplash | Est. 1 to 2 days |
The kitchen line is the base range for builder-size layouts; a quartzite slab at the upper end of its per-foot band pushes a 42 sq ft kitchen toward the estimated $4,000 to $4,800 that Steve's job came in at. Resealing a typical Woodcrest or Corona kitchen later is typically estimated at $65 to $200 as a natural stone sealing visit.
Quartzite numbers shown here are estimates, and they can change as slab lots change. Your written quote after the laser template sets the final price and the install schedule, and it depends on the slab you choose, the finish and how many seams the layout needs.
Quartzite vs Quartz vs Marble
Quartzite beats engineered quartz on heat and sun, and beats marble on etching, but it is the only one of the three that needs a sealer and an etch test. The table compares the three by estimated installed price and upkeep.
| Material | Est. installed price | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|
| Natural quartzite | Est. $85 to $185 per sq ft | Sealed at install, then on a schedule |
| Engineered quartz | Est. $65 to $145 per sq ft | Never needs sealing |
| Marble | Est. $80 to $195 per sq ft | Etches with acids, the most care |
On a Riverside patio in August, quartzite also holds up where quartz resin can fade, so it is the stone we suggest for outdoor bar tops when a homeowner wants a light colour.
Sealing Quartzite in Inland Empire Kitchens
Quartzite is sealed at install with a penetrating impregnator, not a topical coat, and most kitchens typically need a reseal every 6 to 12 months depending on how porous the slab is. A quick water test tells you when: if a few drops darken the stone within a minute or two, it is time. Hard Inland Empire water leaves mineral spots on any stone, so we leave you written care notes along with the warranty. Granite, by contrast, is typically resealed every 1 to 2 years in Riverside kitchens, so quartzite asks a little more of its owner.
Other Countertop Materials We Install
If quartzite is over budget, our granite countertop installation team cuts the closest look at an estimated $55 to $135 per sq ft, and many Yorba Linda clients compare it against engineered quartz slabs or honed marble tops before deciding.
Why Quartzite Buyers Trust Our Shop
Our owner has checked seam layouts on more than 1,870 projects and still walks the slab yard with customers, and our estimator brings an acid kit to the yard visit when the slab is quartzite. The same crew of 2 to 3 installers that templates your kitchen sets the stone, and the 1-year workmanship warranty on seams, fit and sink mounting covers it.
Quartzite Service Areas
We set quartzite across a 35-mile radius of the Riverside shop, with most exotic stone work in Yorba Linda kitchens, Villa Park estates and Chino Hills remodels, plus Riverside, Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Woodcrest and Temescal Valley on our areas we cover page.
Related Stone Services
Quartzite is our most requested stone for a waterfall island with bookmatched drops, a full-height quartzite backsplash or a custom kitchen island top.
Quartzite Questions From Riverside Homeowners
How much do quartzite countertops cost in Riverside?
Quartzite is estimated at roughly $85 to $185 per sq ft installed in Riverside, and your written quote sets the final price after the laser template.
How can I tell if a slab is real quartzite?
Ask for a chip and test it: real quartzite resists a steel blade and shows no dull spot after acid, which is the test we run before cutting.
Does quartzite etch?
True quartzite does not etch, but dolomite and soft marble sold as quartzite do, which is why we test the exact slab lot.
Is quartzite better than quartz?
Quartzite handles hot pans and full sun better, while quartz at an estimated $65 to $145 per sq ft never needs sealing, so the choice comes down to heat versus upkeep.
How often does quartzite need sealing?
Most kitchens typically need a reseal every 6 to 12 months, and we seal it on install day.
How long does a quartzite install take?
Most kitchens take an estimated 1 to 2 days on site, typically 1 to 3 weeks after the laser template.
Do you install quartzite in Yorba Linda and Villa Park?
Yes, most of our exotic stone kitchens are in Yorba Linda, Villa Park and Chino Hills, along with Riverside and Corona.
Book a Quartzite Slab Test and Estimate
Schedule a free estimate, and we will test a chip of your slab, laser template your kitchen and give you a written, itemized quote.
Stone, Edges and Finishes
Start to finish
From Laser Template to Finished Counters
Site visit and laser template
We check the cabinets for level and take a digital laser template before any slab is cut.
Slab and seam layout
You pick the slab and approve where every seam and vein will fall.
Shop fabrication
The stone is cut wet, edged and polished in our Riverside shop, cutouts included.
Install day
A crew of 2 to 3 installers sets the tops, mounts the sink and walks the job with you.
Where we work
Where We Install It
Free estimate
Ready to Talk About Quartzite and Exotic Stone Countertops?
Call us or send the form, and we will book a site visit and a laser template.
Calls only, we do not receive text messages.