Fantasy Brown Marble, while harder than most marbles, is still a porous stone. It needs to be sealed in order to repel stains. However, the sealant will not prevent etching or scratches.
We recommend that you reseal your Fantasy Brown Marble every year or so. Always do the water test on it. If your marble countertops are soaking water, they will soak other liquids as well, so it is time to reseal them. Water should bead up on a well-sealed marble countertop.
Fantasy Brown Quartzite is a durable, reliable countertop choice. With proper sealing once to twice a year, you won't have to worry about etching or staining. Quartzite is scratch resistant, but we don't recommend cutting on your natural stone, as it will dull your knives!
It's the combination of durability and aesthetic that makes Fantasy Brown a solid choice for kitchen countertops. The neutral beauty it brings to your kitchen is a safe choice that will last for years to come. It works well with a range of decor, from farmhouse style kitchens to cottage charm to contemporary and more.
Regardless, Fantasy Brown is in big demand all over the globe. It has the elegant look of a brown marble, often with the durability of granite. There's no debate that it's more resistant to etching, scratching and staining than typical marble – usually.
While it is possible that these are actually different varieties of quartzite or granite that have been mistaken for Fantasy Brown marble, it's more likely that they are, in fact, marble. Why? Because Fantasy Brown is an incredibly distinctive variety of stone, so when you see it, you can rest assured, it is a marble.
Fantasy Brown can range anywhere from $60-75 per square foot installed, and that price point will put it higher than a stone than Uba Tuba Granite, Luna Pearl Granite, or Santa Cecilia Granite.
Fantasy Brown countertops can pair with a brick backsplash or subway tile very well and you can pull it all together with white kitchen cabinetry. Other great options that give an additional touch of luxury when paired with Fantasy brown are hand-painted customized backsplash tiles or mosaic inserts.
Dolomite is a sedimentary rock made mostly from the mineral dolomite and it's also known as dolostone. Sometimes, showrooms will label Dolomite as “hard marble,” and the reason for this is because it is denser than marble. Dolomite is porous, though not as susceptible to staining, etching and cracking as marble.
For daily cleaning, use a gentle, non-abrasive dish soap and warm water on marble countertops. Be sure to rinse well, and dry the countertop completely. Leaving water on the countertop can result in etching.
Although you will have to re-seal your leathered granite countertop, you will have to re-seal honed or polished countertops more often – especially honed.
Heat Resistance: Like granite most quartzite is very heat resistant and can withstand hot pots and pans. Beauty: Because of its similarities to sandstone and marble, quartzite provides an elegant and luxurious feel with its incredible veining and beautiful color.
So, what kinds of stones can be leathered? Granite is the most popular, but quartzite and marble can also carry this technique well.
Fantasy Brown Granite is a popular choice for today's kitchens and baths. Its beautiful veining, and color palette of cream, grey and light browns complement a wide variety of decor styles.
Fantasy Blue Satin is a marble from northern India. Fantasy Blue Satin is such a hard marble, that it needs to be cut using a granite gang saw instead of a marble gang saw. Due to its hardness, it is well suited for kitchen countertop use. This marble can have diagonal or linear movement depending on the block.
Even more, dolomite may not be as hard as granite, but it is harder than marble and is more scratch/chip resistant.
Long-Term Durability
Granite is a harder stone than marble and holds up better to chips and scratches.
Granite is an igneous rock known for being very hard. Quartzite, on the other hand, is a metamorphic rock composed almost entirely of quartz, the hardest material on earth. Basically, quartzite comes about when quartz-rich sandstone is altered by the heat, pressure, and chemical activity of metamorphism.
Fantasy Brown is a DOLOMITE. Dolomite is a sedimentary natural stone that is formed over time with magnesium-rich groundwater. Aesthetically, it shares many characteristics with marble, such as subtle, soft veins and light colors.
Some quartz makers sell exclusively through big-box stores; other slabs are available only through independent kitchen and bath showrooms.
Geology of White Fantasy Granite:
Geologically, it is quartzite rock with metamorphic in origin, not igneous as true quartzite or granite. During the metamorphic process, quartz sandstone heated in orogenic belts in the crust of Earth and turned into off white or light gray mass of rocks.
The biggest difference between quartz and quartzite is that quartz is a man-made material, while quartzite is a natural stone. A quartzite countertop begins as sandstone, which under a natural process of heat and pressure is fused with sparkly quartz crystals to form quartzite.
Hardness and longevity: Granite is comparatively harder and stronger than marble. It is mostly known as the most durable natural stone and compared to marble. It is resistant to heat and can easily withstand hot cookware therefore it is perfect for kitchen tops.
The Fantasy Brown you've seen online is a natural stone and not available as a quartz. But, don't despair!
Leathered finishes close the pores of the stone, hiding fingerprints, water spots and smudges well, but does not prevent etching and staining. Soft to the touch, it adds an extra sensory element and subtle texture.