The Timeless and Organic Look of Quartzite at Rubble Tile
When cultivating a living or work space, one primary design challenge is to create a room that’s both elegant and unique, that distinguishes it as one’s own. After all, to us our homes are one-of-a-kind places we know and remember like the backs of our hands.
With this in mind, many trends in contemporary design borrow from the natural world, with its infinite variety of patterns, striations, fossils, and other subtle, distinct details. No two stones look exactly the same in nature. The new Quartzite collection by Del Conca USA captures this effect by simulating the striations found in natural quartzite with incredibly realistic touches. The result is an organic look with natural flow.
A Porcelain Tile Inspired by Brazilian Quartzite
Humans have been using quartzite since prehistoric times, when it was carved to make stone tools. It is a metamorphic rock formed by tectonic compression over long periods of time, a geological process that gives the rock its distinctive, gorgeous banding patterns.
Del Conca USA’s collection is specially inspired by a quartzite formation located in Brazil, with four colors drawn from the natural color variation of the formation: Bianco, a sophisticated white; Sand, a textured beige; and two minimalist shades of Gray. All four colors are neutral, so they work with almost any design vision.
The Quartzite Collection at Rubble Tile
The collection includes four field tile sizes, two mosaics, and a bullnose trim piece. The field tiles come in a 24 x 48 inch, a 12 x 48 inch, a 12 x 24 inch, and a 4 x 12 inch. These larger tiles are rectified, which gives them precision-cut edges that allow for the tiles to sit close together, with super thin grout lines. This creates a clean, smooth look that would be great for walls or as plank flooring, and can give a spacious, open feel to spaces like entryways and lobbies.
You can use the 4 x 24 inch bullnose tile to cover corners, or as trim pieces. The rounded edges give a more finished look and help to eliminate sharp angles and hide tile edges. They can also be placed in a row to create a perimeter or frame for a design—for example, to line a soap and shampoo shelf set into the shower wall.
The mosaic options consist of a traditional 1.4 x 1.4 inch square mosaic, which is great for a classic look on a bathroom or shower floor. The Murreto 12 x 12 inch sheet mosaic is another option for more of a random linear pattern look, also good for smaller details and features.
The Advantages of Selecting Porcelain Tile
These quartzite-look porcelain tiles are made from clay that’s been high-fired in the kiln. There are a number of benefits to going with a porcelain tile rather than natural quartzite:
- It’s is a time-tested material known for its durability and ease of maintenance.
- It stands up well to potential scratching, chipping, and staining, whereas natural quartzite is more vulnerable to those sources of damage.
- It also comes at a lower price point, and you’ll save time and money in the long term with less cleaning and maintenance costs.
Responsible Material Sourcing with Del Conca USA
Like all of Del Conca USA’s products, Quartzite collection tiles are designed in Italy and manufactured in the United States. In choosing to use a made-in-the-USA tile in your design, you can be confident that these materials are responsibly sourced.
It’s important to have the assurance of knowing that the products you’re using in your installation were made under fair working conditions, and without disruption to overseas communities and ecosystems. This can sometimes be a worry with internationally quarried stone. By choosing a porcelain tile that is manufactured domestically, you avoid that issue altogether.
US-based production also helps you avoid logistical hurdles when scheduling your project, as you won’t have to deal with international manufacture and shipping delays or supply chain problems. Such problems are common for just about everyone in the home building and design industry. At Rubble Tile, all of our products are either stocked or made domestically, so you won’t have to worry about any of those headaches.
If you’re interested in learning more about this new collection, contact the Rubble Tile showroom to set up appointment or to order some samples. We’d love to consult with you about your project.