Where can I buy PHI by Aurea Stone in the United States?

Urban Stone Source is the exclusive distributor of PHI by Aurea Stone in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. Our showroom is located in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Contact us at sales@urbanstonesource.net or call (336) 407-9167.

Is Urban Stone Source a quartz distributor in Georgia?

Yes. Urban Stone Source is a premium engineered stone distributor serving Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. We carry PHI by Aurea Stone, Symphony by Aurea Stone, and QT Quartz — all crystalline silica-free options. Visit our showroom in Peachtree Corners, GA.

Does Urban Stone Source carry silica-free quartz countertops?

Yes. All three collections we distribute — PHI by Aurea Stone, Symphony by Aurea Stone, and QT Quartz — are certified crystalline silica-free, making them the safest choice for fabricators and homeowners.

What is the largest quartz slab size available at Urban Stone Source?

QT Quartz comes in Super Jumbo format at 139 × 79 inches (some colors up to 142 × 80 inches), making it one of the largest engineered stone formats available. PHI and Symphony slabs measure 126 × 63 inches.

Does Urban Stone Source serve Alabama and Tennessee?

Yes. Urban Stone Source is the exclusive distributor of PHI, Symphony, and QT Quartz surfaces across Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. Call (336) 407-9167 or email sales@urbanstonesource.net.

Where is Urban Stone Source located?

Urban Stone Source is located in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. The showroom is open Monday through Friday, 9am–5pm, and on weekends by appointment. Call (336) 407-9167 to schedule a visit.

Is engineered stone better than natural marble?

For most kitchen and bathroom applications, engineered stone outperforms natural marble on practicality: it is non-porous (no sealing required), highly stain-resistant, consistent in pattern, and available with lifetime anti-stain warranties. Natural marble offers unmatched natural veining depth and genuine luxury prestige but requires periodic sealing and is susceptible to etching from acidic foods and drinks. PHI and Symphony by Aurea Stone offer marble-look aesthetics with engineered stone durability.

Is engineered stone more durable than granite?

It depends on the application. Granite is harder and more heat-resistant than engineered stone and is often preferred for outdoor kitchens. Engineered stone is non-porous (granite is porous and requires sealing), more consistent in pattern, and available in silica-free formats. For indoor kitchen and bathroom countertops, engineered stone and granite perform comparably in everyday durability.

What is quartzite vs engineered quartz?

Quartzite is a naturally occurring metamorphic rock formed from sandstone under heat and pressure. It is a natural stone — quarried, cut, and finished. Engineered quartz (including PHI and Symphony by Aurea Stone) is a manufactured surface made from ground minerals, pigments, and resin binders. Quartzite is extremely hard and heat-resistant but porous and variable; engineered stone is non-porous, consistent, and can be made silica-free.

Does natural stone contain crystalline silica?

Yes. Granite typically contains 25–30% crystalline silica. Quartzite contains 80–99% crystalline silica — among the highest of any stone material. Marble contains minimal crystalline silica but still produces dust during fabrication. Traditional engineered quartz contains 70–93% crystalline silica. PHI by Aurea Stone, Symphony by Aurea Stone, and QT Quartz are independently certified at 0% crystalline silica — the safest option for fabrication shops.

Does engineered stone require sealing?

No. Engineered stone is non-porous — it does not require sealing. Natural stones (granite, marble, quartzite, travertine) are porous and require periodic sealing to prevent staining. PHI and Symphony by Aurea Stone also include NEOS Protection, a lifetime anti-stain warranty that provides additional surface protection beyond their non-porous composition.

Buyer's Guide · Surface Materials

Engineered Stone
vs Natural Stone

Marble, granite, quartzite, and engineered stone each have legitimate strengths. This guide compares them honestly — on durability, maintenance, aesthetics, silica safety, cost, and best-use cases — so you can specify the right material for any project.

Published by Urban Stone Source · Last updated: May 2026

Engineered stone

Non-porous · No sealing · Consistent pattern · Available silica-free

Natural marble

Porous · Annual sealing · Unique veining · Etches with acid

Natural granite

Porous · Sealing required · Extreme hardness · High silica

Quartzite

Porous · Dense · Very hard · Highest silica content of any stone

Full Comparison

Engineered stone vs marble, granite & quartzite

Property	Engineered Stone	Marble	Granite	Quartzite
Porosity	Non-porous	Porous	Porous	Low porosity
Sealing required	No	Yes — annual	Yes — periodic	Yes — periodic
Stain resistance	Excellent + NEOS warranty	Low without sealing	Good when sealed	Good when sealed
Acid/etch resistance	Excellent	Poor — etches easily	Good	Good
Hardness (Mohs)	6–7	3–4	6–7	7+
Heat resistance	Moderate — use trivets	Good	Excellent	Excellent
Pattern consistency	Consistent across slabs	Variable	Variable	Variable
Bookmatching	Available (select colors)	Yes — natural	Rarely	Yes — natural
Crystalline silica	0% (PHI, Symphony, QT)	Trace amounts	25–30%	80–99%
OSHA silica controls	Not required (silica-free)	Generally not required	May be required	Required — highest risk
Outdoor use	Not recommended	Limited	Excellent	Excellent
Unique per slab	No — consistent	Yes	Yes	Yes
Repair	Difficult — replace slab	Possible — polishing	Difficult	Difficult
Typical application	Countertops, vanities, walls	Countertops, floors, luxury	Countertops, outdoor, commercial	Countertops, high-traffic floors

Health & Safety

Crystalline silica across stone types

All stone materials contain some crystalline silica, but the concentration varies dramatically — and the health risk to fabricators cutting and grinding these materials scales directly with silica content.

Quartzite

80–99%

Silica risk: Highest

Primary cause of the emerging epidemic of accelerated silicosis among stone workers in the US.

Traditional Quartz

70–93%

Silica risk: Very high

Standard engineered quartz. The most common countertop surface — and the biggest silica exposure risk in fabrication shops.

Granite

25–30%

Silica risk: Significant

Common natural stone. OSHA silica controls required for regular dry-cutting operations.

Marble

Trace

Silica risk: Lower

Primarily calcium carbonate. Lower silica risk, but dust from cutting still requires PPE.

PHI, Symphony, QT

Silica risk: None

Independently certified crystalline silica-free. No OSHA silica dust controls required during fabrication.

For stone fabrication shops in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, switching to PHI, Symphony, or QT Quartz eliminates the OSHA silica compliance burden entirely for those slabs — no dust control engineering, no medical surveillance program, no respirator program for silica exposure.

Read: Full silica-free stone guide →

Recommendations

Which material for which project?

Project

Luxury residential kitchen — high use, family home

Recommendation: Engineered stone (PHI or Symphony)

Non-porous, no sealing, stain-resistant, safe for families with children. Lifetime NEOS warranty. PHI or Symphony offer marble aesthetics with practical durability.

Project

Ultra-luxury kitchen — aesthetics are the priority

Recommendation: Natural marble or PHI by Aurea Stone

Natural marble is unmatched in depth and veining. PHI's 4R+ Fullbody technology is the closest an engineered surface comes. Choose based on maintenance tolerance.

Project

Outdoor kitchen or BBQ area

Recommendation: Granite or quartzite

Engineered stone is not recommended for outdoor use — UV exposure and temperature extremes can affect the resin binders. Granite and quartzite are natural stone and unaffected by weather.

Project

LEED-certified or green building project

Recommendation: Symphony by Aurea Stone

Symphony holds an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) — required for LEED credits. 90% recycled content, zero water waste manufacturing, 0% crystalline silica.

Project

Commercial hospitality — hotel, restaurant, reception

Recommendation: QT Quartz Super Jumbo or engineered stone

QT Quartz's 139×79 inch super jumbo format minimizes seams on large surfaces. Engineered stone's consistency and durability outperform natural stone in high-traffic commercial environments.

Project

Stone fabrication shop — daily cutting and grinding

Recommendation: PHI, Symphony, or QT Quartz

Certified 0% crystalline silica. Eliminates silicosis risk and OSHA silica compliance requirements for your team. Standard equipment, no special dust controls required.

FAQ

Engineered vs natural stone — common questions

Is engineered stone as luxurious as marble?

PHI by Aurea Stone uses 4R+ Fullbody technology and NanoInk printing to achieve visual depth that rivals natural marble — with the practical advantage of a non-porous surface that never requires sealing and carries a lifetime anti-stain warranty. For pure visual authenticity and the prestige of natural material, marble remains unmatched. For everyday luxury with lower maintenance, engineered stone is the stronger specification.

Which stone is easiest to maintain?

Engineered stone is the easiest to maintain — non-porous, no sealing required, highly resistant to everyday staining. Marble is the most demanding — porous, susceptible to etching from acidic foods and drinks, requires annual sealing. Granite and quartzite fall in between — harder than marble but still porous and requiring periodic sealing.

Can engineered stone crack?

Engineered stone can crack under significant impact or thermal shock (hot pots placed directly on the surface). It is not more prone to cracking than natural stone under normal use. PHI and Symphony's NEOS Protection does not cover physical damage — use trivets and cutting boards as with any stone surface.

Where can I see PHI and Symphony engineered stone in Georgia?

Visit the Urban Stone Source showroom at 6670 Jones Mill Court, Suite E, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. Open Mon–Fri 9am–5pm and weekends by appointment. Call (336) 407-9167 or email sales@urbanstonesource.net. We also ship samples to showrooms and project sites in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Georgia · Alabama · Tennessee

Silica-free engineered stone — exclusive in the Southeast

PHI, Symphony, and QT Quartz — three certified silica-free collections exclusive to Urban Stone Source in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. Request samples or visit our Peachtree Corners showroom.

Request Samples View Collections

Engineered Stonevs Natural Stone

Engineered stone vs marble, granite & quartzite

Crystalline silica across stone types

Which material for which project?

Luxury residential kitchen — high use, family home

Ultra-luxury kitchen — aesthetics are the priority

Outdoor kitchen or BBQ area

LEED-certified or green building project

Commercial hospitality — hotel, restaurant, reception

Stone fabrication shop — daily cutting and grinding

Engineered vs natural stone — common questions

Is engineered stone as luxurious as marble?

Which stone is easiest to maintain?

Can engineered stone crack?

Where can I see PHI and Symphony engineered stone in Georgia?

Silica-free engineered stone — exclusive in the Southeast

Engineered Stone
vs Natural Stone