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Yes, Corian® and other solid surface materials can be cut with standard woodworking tools, such as a circular saw or a jigsaw. However, it is crucial to use the correct type of blade to avoid damaging the material.

For a circular saw, a tungsten carbide-tipped blade is required; a triple chip grind blade is highly recommended. For a jigsaw, you should use a fine-tooth down-cutting blade. Do not use blades designed for cutting wood, as they can cause microfractures that weaken the edges of the countertop. A diamond blade is also unnecessary, as those are designed for harder materials like natural stone, which Corian is not.

After cutting, the edge will be rough. It is essential to sand and smooth the cut edge to prevent microfractures, which can eventually compromise the integrity of the countertop.

Using water when cutting stone drastically reduces the amount of dust that comes off the stone. It’s beneficial to cut down on the amount of dust for respiratory and other safety reasons, such as keeping your vision clear while using an electric tool. Even with protective eyewear, the dust can still cloud your safety glasses. You should always wear protective gear when cutting stone.

There are many benefits of granite countertops, but it’s not unusual for them to have seams—especially if you’re working with small slabs joined together. Seams are common on larger islands where the installer needs to use more than one granite slab to cover the surface. Luckily, because seams are normal in granite countertops, pros know how to hide them properly, so you’d never know they were there.

Quartzite is more expensive than granite, largely because of its rarity. Granite is naturally more common. A granite slab generally costs $40 to $60 per square foot (excluding super-rare types), while quartzite slabs cost anywhere from $50 to $150 per square foot. 

With both materials, it’s usually more affordable to purchase stones that are readily available in your location. You may need to import other stones, which come at a higher cost.