Choosing a Material
How do I choose between quartz and granite?
Ask what you want to stop thinking about. {{LINK:material:quartz}} is 90 to 93 percent silica bound in polyester resin and comes out of the press non porous, so it never needs sealing and resists discoloration better than anything else. {{LINK:material:granite}} is natural igneous rock, takes far more heat, and needs a sealer every five to ten years. Quartz for low maintenance, granite for hot cooking and outdoor runs.
Is marble a mistake in a working kitchen?
Not a mistake, a trade. {{LINK:material:marble}} is calcareous and sits near 3 on the Mohs scale against about 7 for engineered quartz. It scratches more easily and it etches when acid touches it, because etching is a reaction with the stone rather than a stain on top. Households that accept a lived in patina love marble. Those wanting it pristine should choose honed quartzite.
What is quartzite and why does the name confuse people?
{{LINK:material:quartzite}} is metamorphosed quartz sandstone, at least 80 percent quartz by volume to qualify, and orthoquartzite often runs near 99 percent silica. Its crystals interlock so tightly it fractures through the grains. The confusion is real: much of the slab sold as quartzite is actually dolomite or dolomitic marble. Compare the lineup on the {{LINK:archive:material}} page.
Measuring, Templating and Lead Times
How long from estimate to installed?
Most kitchens run about one to two weeks from template to install, though slab availability and cutout load move it. The sequence matters more than the calendar: estimate first, then old tops out and cabinets set and leveled, then templating, then fabrication. We give you both key dates at the estimate.
Why can you not template before the cabinets are in?
Because the template captures the room that exists, not the room on the drawing. Walls bow, cabinet banks sit low on one end, corners miss ninety degrees. {{LINK:service:countertop-templating-and-measurement}} uses laser measurement against the installed cabinetry, which keeps the backsplash gap tight. Templating early and hoping is how re cuts happen.
Installation Day and What to Expect
What happens on installation day?
Our crew arrives in marked vehicles, lays drop cloths and protects floors and cabinet faces. Old tops come out if that has not happened already. New pieces are set, shimmed and leveled, then seams are drawn tight and color matched. Natural stone gets a sealer pass where the material calls for one. The day ends with a walkthrough.
Do you handle the plumbing and the old countertop removal?
Removal and haul off are part of our scope unless you want to keep the old material. Plumbing disconnect is coordinated ahead of time so nothing is live during demo. {{LINK:service:undermount-sink-installation}} covers the countertop side, including the finished cut edge on an undermount bowl.
How much dust and mess should I expect?
Far less than most people fear, because almost all cutting happens at our shop, wet, not in your kitchen. Cutting engineered stone releases respirable crystalline silica, a recognized human carcinogen, which is why we wet cut in a controlled shop rather than on a driveway. On site work is limited to setting and seaming.
Care, Sealing and Warranty
How do I care for my new surface?
Warm water and a mild, non abrasive cleaner handles daily work on every material we install. Skip acidic cleaners on calcareous stone like marble, limestone and travertine, and abrasive pads on resin bound surfaces. Use a trivet under hot cookware on engineered quartz, which is stable below 150 C but dislikes thermal shock.
| Material | Daily cleaning | Sealing schedule | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granite | Mild cleaner, warm water | Impregnator every five to ten years | Harsh alkaline strippers |
| Engineered quartz | Mild cleaner, soft cloth | Never, non porous | Hot pans direct, abrasive pads |
| Marble | pH neutral cleaner only | Regular impregnator | Lemon, vinegar, wine |
| Quartzite | Mild cleaner, warm water | Light, mainly on paler slabs | Standing oil on a light slab |
| Soapstone | Soap and water | None, mineral oil is cosmetic | Dragging heavy cast iron |
| Solid surface | Mild cleaner, soft cloth | Never, non porous | Hot cookware, heavy impact |
| Porcelain and sintered stone | Mild cleaner, warm water | Never | Point impact on an unsupported edge |
How often does natural stone really need sealing?
Less often than the industry suggests. Modern oleophobic impregnators have pushed sealing out to once every five to ten years on most natural stone, not annually. Unsealed stone can harbor bacteria and stain, so it is worth doing, just not on a subscription. {{LINK:service:countertop-sealing-and-polishing}} is booked when your surface needs it.
What happens if a seam opens or an edge chips later?
Call us. If it is work we installed, it is ours to sort out, and {{LINK:service:countertop-repair}} covers chips, cracks near cutouts, failed seams and loose sections. We would rather come back and fix a seam than have you live with it. We are fully insured and bonded.
{{LEAD_FORM:mid}}
Estimates and Scheduling
How do I book an estimate?
Call {{PHONE}} or send the form with your city, the room, rough square footage and the material you are considering. We schedule a free in home visit, measure the real footprint, check cabinet condition, and talk through edge profile and sink type. You leave with a written scope rather than a number over the phone.
What does a countertop project cost?
Cost is driven by slab tier, square footage, edge profile, the number and type of cutouts, how many seams the layout forces, and how hard the pieces are to carry in. A tight stairwell changes the labor picture. We do not quote that sight unseen. The in home estimate is free, so call {{PHONE}}.
Do you serve my town?
We cover Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties, from {{LINK:location:georgetown}} in the north to {{LINK:location:san-marcos}} in the south, and from {{LINK:location:elgin}} east out past {{LINK:location:dripping-springs}}. Full detail is on the {{LINK:archive:location}} page. If your address sits just outside a town we list, call and ask.
Where do I go if my question is not answered here?
The {{LINK:archive:service}} page breaks down every service we offer, and the {{LINK:page:about}} page covers how the shop is run and how we handle silica dust. For the whole operation from first call to final polish, start at the {{LINK:home}} page. Or call {{PHONE}} and ask a person.