Guide to Selecting, Installing & Maintaining Natural Stone Countertops

Step 1: Figure Out What You Really Need—and What You Can Afford

Before you fall for that gorgeous slab, take a hard look at your kitchen habits and budget. Here’s how to break it down:

• High-heat cooking or heavy chopping? You need a rock-solid slab.
• Kids, pets or frequent spills? Opt for easy-wipe, spill-friendly stones.
• Outdoor bar or sunlit powder room? Choose granite or quartzite to resist UV and freeze-thaw cycles.

• Granite: $40–$60 per sq ft installed; marble: from $50 up past $100; quartzite: often higher-end.
• Edge profiles (bevel, bullnose, ogee) and tricky installs can add hundreds.
• Get three quotes from companies such as Countertops and More, compare inclusions (sealer, cut-outs, haul-away) and pad your budget by ~10%.

Natural stone pays off at resale—often recouping over half your outlay. Modern sealers last 5–10 years, keeping maintenance low. If you finance, consider splitting costs between a 0% intro credit card and a small home-equity loan to ease cash flow.

Step 2: Size Up Granite, Marble and Quartzite (Plus a Quick Quartz Rundown)

Not all stones are created equal. Compare hardness, aesthetics and pros & cons:

• Granite: Mohs 6–7; quartzite: 7–8; marble: 3–4.
• Both granite and quartzite shrug off knife tips; marble can nick or etch under acidic spills.
• Always apply a penetrating sealer at install for long-term protection.

• Granite: speckled “salt-and-pepper,” wide color range.
• Marble: dramatic veins (Carrara’s gray lines, Calacatta’s gold ribbons).
• Quartzite: marble-like striations with rock-solid heat resistance.
• Finishes: polished (mirror gleam), honed (matte), leathered (textured).

• Marble: acid-sensitive—wipe spills immediately.
• Granite: highly heat-resistant and durable.
• Quartzite: pricier but combines beauty with strength.
• Engineered quartz: non-porous but can yellow in sun and off-gas VOCs briefly.

“Use trivets, clean up messes fast, lean on sealers—and rest easy.”

Step 3: Live with Samples Before You Commit

Small tests save big headaches. Here’s your hands-on checklist:

• Request a 12″×12″ tile or mini-slab from your fabricator.
• View under different lights and beside your cabinets and fridge LEDs.
• For waterfall edges or backsplashes, get mock-ups to see full effect.

• Test coffee, red wine, olive oil and lemon juice—let sit 5 minutes, then clean.
• Heat-test with a warm pan or kettle.
• Feel finishes for slip resistance and texture.

Once you pick a slab, confirm availability, lead time, seam guarantees, edge integrity pledges and any color-match promises. Then schedule your installation.

Step 4: Measure Twice, Cut Once—Literally

Precision is everything. Avoid guesswork with these steps:

Measure cabinet footprints, corner angles, overhangs and fixtures. A simple sketch helps fabricators avoid surprises.

Fabricators use rigid strips or laser scans for on-site templates. This ensures vein continuity, level overhangs and accurate cut-outs. Mark seam lines, edge profiles and hole positions clearly.

Schedule plumber, electrician and appliance installer to complete rough-ins before the countertop arrives. Don’t let a missing stub or inspection delay your install.

Conclusion & Final Tips

Installing natural stone isn’t a one-afternoon project, even for teams like Countertops and More, but with solid planning—defining needs, budgeting carefully, sampling and testing, precise templating and a smooth install—you’re on track for a countertop that looks stunning from day one and only gets better with age.

• Order an extra 5–10% slab footage for pattern matching or future repairs.
• Save a leftover piece for perfect color matching on touch-ups.
• Test your sealer every few years with a quick two-minute water-drop test.

Frequently Asked Questions