STONE and TILE are both used for Counters and Flooring but are sold through different types of outlets. Stone is generally sold in large slabs while Tiles are sold in smaller sizes. However, this distinction is blurring with the introduction of large slabs of Italian Porcelain purportedly suitable for countertops but at a much lower cost and in digital inkjet designs that replicate the patterns of much costlier stones.

COUNTERTOP COMPARISON CHART - Click to enlarge

Source: Great Lakes Granite & Marble

STONE

STONE WHOLESALERS: GRANITE/MARBLE/QUARTZITE:
•  Dente Trading Co., Inc., 30 Canfield Road, Cedar Grove, NJ T:973-857-4050
    E-mail: sales@dentetrading.com Showroom hrs: M-F 9–3:30 by appt; Sat 9-1pm
•  Everest Marble, 830 Bloomfield Ave., Clifton, NJ 07012 973-458-9622
    Josh Simmons josh@everestmarble.com

QUARTZITE: Slightly less stain/heat resistant than granite but better color. See: Natural Quartzite vs engineered quartzstone (e.g., Cambria) The principle flaw you'll find in quartzite is its tendency to etch in certain areas of countertops. Etching, or cutting and scratching into unprotected surfaces due to acid or other other substances, can be prevented by hone finished stone rather than polish finished. Honed countertops are not reflective, unlike polished, but it's more difficult to polish stone the harder it is. Because honed stone is smoother and flatter than polished, this can help prevent etching. While not as glossy as a polish surface finish, honed surfaces on harder materials are much more durable for quartzite kitchen countertops.

SOAPSTONE: See for example M. Teixeira Soapstones - Remnants

ENGINEERED QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS - make sure it is not made in China, e.g., Polar Stone; cheaper ones are thinner or have more resin content (should be <=7% resin)
DuPont Zodiaq: Color Selections
Caesarstone: Gallery
Silestone Colors
Cambria: Better "through-color" more expensive

TILE

New York Office - Italian Ceramic Tile Center 33 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10065
TILE SEARCH - ITALIAN TILE MANUFACTURERS
TILE SEARCH / US (& CANADA) DEALERS

ITALIAN PORCELAIN TILE: Ceramics are rated 1-5, with Class 3 the minimum for higher traffic residential uses. Porcelain, a type of ceramic, is generally rated at 5.
GranitiFiandre S.p.A appears to be a family of companies including Ariostea in Italy, and Stonepeak Ceramics which manufactures their products in Tennessee. Best Tile in East Brunswick carries a large selection of Stonepeaks line but has no residential fabricators. Jeff Batista, GF's NE Mgr, said "Once your designer is ready with your drawings I can have a local fabricator here in NY give you a price on installation and fabrication."
● Ariostea/Italy: http://www.ariostea.it/
   Catalog
● Jeff Batista, GranitiFiandre North East Territory Manager
   M:718.974.7157 www.granitifiandre.com
● Stonepeak Ceramics, TN, http://www.stonepeakceramics.com
   Srvc Questions: 312.506.2800 Tech Questions 646-703-1669<br>
   Rodolfo Panisi <rpanisi@stonepeakceramics.com>
   http://www.stonepeakceramics.com/download/2015-Product-Catalog.pdf
BRANDS:

LIST OF PORCELAIN TILE MANUFACTURERS (from Wayne Tile) https://www.msistone.com/countertop-installation-guide/

INFO-GRAPHIC: PORCELAIN - CERAMIC - GLASS TILE & ENGINEERED STONE
        
•  How to Seal Granite Countertops - Tenax Hydrex Impregnating Stone Sealer

NEW JERSEY TILE WHOLESALERS:
•  STANDARD TILE SUPPLY, CO., 255 Route 46, Totowa, NJ, 973-256-6412
    Dan, Lou, and Joanne - very helpful
•  DIESSE, Inc. - Tile Wholesalers of Newark, 659 Market St., Newark, NJ 07105
    Tel: 973-589-2080 E-mail: info@tilewholesalersnj.com www.tilewholesalersnj.com
    Contact: Stacy Serra, Manager; George Serra
    Selected: 200sf Iris Ecocrete Sage 12"x24" + 9 Bullnose 3"x24"
    1390.52=(4.9*205)+(6*9)+47.02tax +285 delivery
    13-45lb boxes delivered to door
•  WAYNE TILE
•  ONYX TILE & MOSAIC 484 Mulberry St Newark, NJ 07114
    Nihat Kilincoglu nihat@tilebyonyx.com 973-344-5545/Fax5512
    2015OnyxCatalogue
● Best Tile of New Jersey, 122 Tices Lane, E. Brunswick, NJ 08816
   T:732-238-7770 800-394-7770 jmcbride@besttile.com
   www.besttile.com Jean/Showroom - very helpful 732-390-7700
MARBLE & TILE
(SM) All Granite and Marble Corp in Ridgefield Park, NJ
1A Mt. Vernon St. Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - View Map
Phone: (201) 440-6779 Email: sales@marble.com
Online Estimate Tool

TILE RETAILER
•  Ann Sacks, 204 East 58th Street New York, NY 10022
    Marcia Specter, Design & Sales Consultant, T: 212-588-1920
    marcia.specter@annsacks.com
•  Creative Tile http://www.creativetilemontclair.com
    4 Church St. Montclair, NJ 07042 M0F 10-5 Sat 10-4
    Etty, 973-233-9300 F: 973-233-9392

NJ COUNTERTOP FABRICATORS
•  Scott Vicario Bellissimo Stone, LLC
    Email: bellissimostone@gmail.com Ph: 201.877.4998 Cell: 201.952.1295Gio, •  Giovanni Gentiluomo, Casa Bella Contractors LLC,
    169 5th Ave, Hawthorne, NJ 07506 T: (201) 954-4275 Rcommended by Bill
    Ramirez/SINGAC Plumbing

GLASS TILE BACKSPLASH: e.g.,
Ann Sacks, 3"x6" <$12/sf + shipping
Fireclay Tile $32/sqft

American Olean Glazed Porcelain Floor Tile options
● Bevalo MIST BV96
● Concrete Chic - Elegant Gray CC67<
● Fusion Cotto - Grigio CF15