Choosing a material
- Natural stone
Quartzite
White quartziteQuartzite is natural stone: sandstone transformed by heat and pressure deep underground. Its veining often looks like marble, but it's much harder. It resists scratches and tolerates heat well, though a trivet is still a good habit. How much it absorbs varies from slab to slab, so some need sealing against stains and some don't. It works in kitchens, baths, and fireplace surrounds. The surprise is your knife: cut directly on quartzite and the blade dulls before the counter scratches.
Quartzite care
Clean with mild soap or a pH-neutral stone cleaner, warm water, and a soft cloth. Skip vinegar, lemon, and abrasive powders. Some slabs never need sealer and others need it every year or every few years, so test with water rather than follow a calendar. Use trivets for hot pans and a board for cutting, which also protects your knives. Oily spills left sitting can darken absorbent slabs.
- Natural stone
Marble
White marbleMarble is natural stone known for soft, flowing veins, and no two slabs are alike. It's a beautiful fit for baths and fireplace surrounds. In a kitchen, expect it to show its life: it scratches more easily than harder stones, and acids leave marks. Sealing helps it resist stains, and hot pans belong on a trivet. The surprise is that sealing doesn't stop etching. A splash of lemon juice can leave a dull spot on sealed marble, and it won't wipe off.
Marble care
Clean with mild soap or a pH-neutral stone cleaner and a soft cloth. Avoid vinegar, citrus, and abrasive pads. Sealing slows stains but does nothing against etching, so wipe up wine, citrus, and vinegar right away. Reseal when a few drops of water darken the stone, which can be months or years apart. Use trivets and cutting boards. The most common damage is a dull ring from an acidic spill.
- Natural stone
Granite
Black graniteGranite is natural stone with visible mineral grains, though some slabs show flowing veins instead of speckles. It shrugs off everyday scratches and handles heat well, though hot pans still belong on a trivet. It works in kitchens, baths, outdoor kitchens, and fireplace surrounds. Absorption varies by slab, so some benefit from sealing, and cooking oil shouldn't be left sitting on it. The surprise: some dense granites need no sealer at all.
Granite care
Use a neutral stone cleaner or mild soap with a soft cloth. Avoid acidic cleaners and abrasive powders. Some slabs need no sealer and others go years between coats, so test with water instead of sealing on a schedule. Use trivets for hot pans and cut on a board. The most common damage is a dark stain from cooking oil left sitting.
- Engineered
Quartz
Pure white quartzQuartz countertops are made in a factory from crushed quartz bound with resin. Designs range from solid colors to marble-like veining. Quartz resists everyday scratches and resists stains without ever being sealed. It's a natural fit for kitchens and baths; outdoor and fireplace use depend on whether the specific product is approved for it. The surprise is heat: a hot pan can crack or discolor quartz even though it looks like stone, so keep trivets under hot cookware and heat-producing appliances.
Quartz (engineered) care
Wipe with mild soap, warm water, and a soft cloth, then rinse and dry. Avoid abrasive pads, oven cleaners, and other harsh chemicals. Never seal it: it doesn't need sealer, and sealer can leave an uneven film. Use a cutting board, and keep hot pans and heat-producing appliances on trivets. The most common damage is cracking or discoloration from heat, especially near cutouts and edges.
- Sintered
Porcelain
Concrete-look porcelainPorcelain slabs are made from clay and minerals pressed and fired at high temperature, and their designs can imitate stone or solid colors. They resist stains without sealing and work in kitchens, baths, outdoor kitchens, and fireplace surrounds. Heat and scratch resistance vary by brand and finish, so follow the manufacturer's guidance and use a cutting board. The surprise is the edge: a hard knock can chip it, even though the surface itself resists scratches.
Porcelain (sintered slab) care
Use mild soap or a neutral detergent, water, and a soft cloth, then rinse and dry. Avoid abrasive pads and harsh cleaners. It never needs sealing. Heat tolerance varies by brand and finish, so use trivets rather than assuming a hot pan is safe. Cut on a board. The most common damage is a chipped edge from heavy cookware knocking against it.
- Surface
Finishes
PolishedThe same slab can be polished, honed or leathered. The finish changes how the stone looks and how it wears.
- Polished: the most common finish. High shine, brings out the color and pattern, easy to clean
- Honed: smooth, low sheen, a more natural feel. Shows stains more than polished
- Leathered: honed, then brushed with diamond-tipped brushes. Between polished and honed, with more sheen and less porous than honed
Questions about materials
Quartzite and granite handle heat, knives and wear best. Quartz resists stains without sealing but does not like heat.
Natural stone (quartzite, marble, granite) is slightly porous. Sealer slows liquids down so you have time to wipe up; it does not make stone stain-proof. Quartz is engineered from quartz and resin and does not need sealing. Neither does porcelain.
Granite is quarried natural stone, and every slab is unique. It is moderately porous. Quartz is engineered from quartz and resin. It is more uniform and does not need sealing.
Yes, it can. All natural stone is slightly porous, granite included, and can stain or etch. Most serious stains can be pulled out, and etching can be refinished.
Dull spots or rings where acids hit certain minerals in the stone, usually from juice, alcohol or some cleaners. Sometimes you can feel it as a rough patch. Sometimes it only looks dull.
Only with heavy abuse, usually near the sink or an edge. Small chips are filled with colored epoxy and stone aggregate. If a bigger piece breaks off, save it so it can go back in.
It depends on the stone. Stone is scratch-resistant, not scratch-proof. Ask us which stone fits how you cook.
Yes. Minor damage is repaired with epoxy and ground stone. A badly cracked top may need replacing.
Natural stone does not fade.
Most kitchens need at least one seam. Slabs are big, but long runs, L-shapes and curves usually need a joint. We plan where the seams go with you before we cut.
Yes. Natural stone is chosen slab by slab, so you see the actual slab for your job before we cut.
Polished is the most common: high shine, easy to clean, and it brings out the color and pattern. Honed is smooth and low-sheen and shows stains more than polished. Leathered sits between the two, with more sheen and less porous than honed.
We source quartz, porcelain, ultra-compact and natural stone from global suppliers. Brands we work with: Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone and Dekton (Cosentino), MSI, Pental Quartz, LX Hausys Viatera, HanStone, Teltos and Crossville.
Rarity and how hard the stone is to get. The pricier exotic stones often come from Brazil, India and Italy. Quarrying and processing cost, availability, shipping and how hard the stone is to fabricate all move the price.
Yes, but pick a hard stone. Softer stones weather and stain faster, and outdoor tops need more care in a climate with seasons. Ask us which stones work outside.
Leftover pieces from other jobs, often discounted. You cannot special-order them: what you see is what you get. They suit vanities, laundry rooms, shelves, small desks and tables.