Frequently asked questions
Still not sure about something? Call us and we will talk it through.
It varies widely with the material, the size and how complex the installation is. As a guide: laminate runs $20 to $50 per square foot, granite $50 to $100, quartz $60 to $120, marble $70 to $150 and quartzite $80 to $150. Fabrication and installation add roughly $30 to $60 per square foot on top of the slab.
It depends on how you cook and what you want the room to feel like. Granite is hard-wearing, heat-proof and comes in a huge range of colours. Quartz is non-porous and needs no sealing. Quartzite is tougher than most natural stone. Marble brings veining nothing else matches. We will bring samples of all four to your kitchen so you can see them in your own light.
Quartzite is generally regarded as the top of the range. It looks like marble but forms from sandstone under heat and pressure, so it is very tough, heat resistant, and hard to scratch or stain. Granite and quartz are close behind, both extremely durable with an excellent finish.
Quartz is the easiest by some distance. It is non-porous, so it resists stains and never needs sealing. Laminate wipes clean with mild detergent and water. Solid surface is also non-porous and can be sanded back to new if it picks up a scratch.
That is down to preference and purpose. Darker countertops against light cabinets create depth and drama, and they hide marks and crumbs more forgivingly. Lighter countertops sit more quietly against darker cabinets and make a room feel larger and airier.
Overlays are thin finishes applied directly over your existing countertop to change its look without replacing it. They come in laminate, quartz and granite. They are a cheaper and faster way to update a kitchen or bathroom when you do not want a full tear-out.
Height is usually about 36 inches from the floor to the top of the counter, matching the cabinetry below. Depth is typically a 25 to 26 inch panel. Thickness commonly runs between 1.5 and 2 inches, though some materials allow a little flexibility either way.
Most granite benefits from being sealed once a year, though some higher-quality slabs hold up for two to three years between coats. We apply a sealer as part of every installation, so your countertops leave protected on day one.
Yes. Granite adds a premium, timeless feature to a kitchen or bathroom that buyers recognise immediately, and with proper care a granite top can last over thirty years, so it reads as a long-term investment rather than a finish that will need redoing.
