Granite Countertops

Elite Stone Countertop Design fabricates and installs granite countertops in Dallas and across Dallas-Fort Worth: kitchens and islands, bathroom vanities, bars, outdoor kitchens and commercial counters. We put in new granite, and we replace granite that has had its day. We come to you for measurements; call (469) 478-0220 for a free estimate.

What Granite Is, and Why You Choose the Slab

Granite is an igneous rock: molten rock that cooled slowly deep underground, so its minerals grew into crystals you can see. Quartz and feldspar make up most of it, with mica and darker minerals giving the flecks. It is quarried in blocks and sawn into slabs, and no two slabs are the same, even from one block.

That is why, with granite, you choose the slab and not just a color name. A sample is a few inches across, while a slab runs around 9 to 10 feet long, and its pattern can drift, cluster or change color along the way. Seeing the actual slab, or clear photos of it, shows where a dark patch or a strong vein would land: on the island, beside the sink or in an offcut.

Granite Countertops in Dallas, TX: Old Tops and New

The US Census (ACS 2024 5-year) puts the median home in the city of Dallas at 1981, with 48.1% built before 1980, and the median for Dallas County at 1983. Houses that age have usually had the kitchen redone at least once, and in the remodels and new builds of the 1990s and 2000s the upgrade of choice was granite. Many of those tops are now 20 to 30 years old, and they need one of two things:

• A replacement. The color dates the room, or the slab has a chip at the sink, a crack by the cooktop or across an unsupported overhang, or a seam that has opened. Small chips and open seams can often be fixed, and our countertop repair page covers what can. When the stone or the look is past saving, the old top comes off and the new one goes on the same cabinets.
• New granite. A kitchen going from laminate or tile to stone, a remodel with new cabinets, or a new home. Here granite wins where heat, sun and a natural look matter most.

The same turnover is starting in the newer suburbs, where builder granite from the 2000s and 2010s is coming out. We serve those towns too, north to Frisco.

Are Granite Countertops Dated?

Some granite is, and much of it never was. What dates a kitchen is usually one 1990s combination: a small, busy speckle in brown, gold, rust or pink, high gloss, a bullnose edge and a tile backsplash with a decorative strip, all at once. Granite itself is not out of style. The patterns that read current today:

• Light granites in white, cream and gray with soft movement.
• Dark, even granites in black or deep gray, which suit modern and traditional cabinets alike.
• Veined, flowing granites with long sweeps of color, laid out so the pattern runs the length of the island.
• Tight, even speckles in quiet colors, which hide crumbs and wear well in a busy kitchen or a rental.

When we asked our followers to pick a countertop style, granite was one of the three choices, next to gold and gray veining. It stays on the list because it is real stone, with a depth no printed pattern copies.

Polished, Honed and Leathered Granite

The finish changes the same slab a lot. Polished granite is glossy, shows the deepest color and takes stains least, since polishing tightens the surface. Honed granite is ground to a flat matte face: softer to the eye, but more open, so it takes in oil more readily and is sealed more often. Leathered granite is brushed to a soft sheen with a texture you can feel; it hides smudges well, especially on black stone, and keeps more color than honed.

Heat, Sealing and Everyday Care

Granite formed under heat far beyond any kitchen's, so a hot pan set down for a moment does not hurt most slabs. A trivet is still a good habit: a sudden hot spot can stress a cold slab, and some slabs have natural fissures filled with resin, which can mark.

Granite is porous, and how porous varies a lot. Most granite countertops are sealed, and a water-drop test tells you when yours needs it again: put a few drops on the counter near the sink and wait 10 to 15 minutes. If the stone darkens under them, it is absorbing and it is time to reseal; if the water beads, the sealer is still working. Day to day, warm water and mild dish soap are enough. Bleach, vinegar and harsh bathroom cleaners wear the sealer down over time.

Granite vs Quartz

It comes down to how you use the kitchen:

• You cook a lot and set things down hot. Granite forgives that; quartz wants a trivet every time.
• You want a bright, even white. Quartz does that more reliably, since its pattern is made. White granites exist, but each slab varies.
• You would rather not think about sealing. Quartz needs none; granite needs a test now and then and a reseal when it fails.

Sun is the other difference. Granite has no resin to yellow, which is why it is a common choice for outdoor kitchens and BBQ areas in Texas, where quartz is kept indoors. Our outdoor kitchen countertops page covers that work, and our quartz countertops page the other side of the choice.

Granite Thickness: 2 cm and 3 cm

Granite slabs typically come in two thicknesses: 2 cm, about three-quarters of an inch, and 3 cm, about an inch and a quarter. A 3 cm slab is stiff enough to sit directly on the cabinets and is the usual kitchen choice. A 2 cm slab is lighter and common on vanities; on a kitchen run it is often set on a plywood subtop, with a strip laminated under the front edge so it reads thicker.

A new slab laid straight over old granite rarely makes sense: it lifts the counter past the typical 36 inches, so the backsplash and appliances no longer line up, and it doubles the weight on the cabinets. The old top comes off first.

What Decides the Cost of Granite Countertops

• The slab. Common colors cost less than rare stones and slabs with a lot of movement.
• Size and layout. Square footage, the number of slabs, and how the pattern has to match across seams.
• Edges, cutouts and backsplash. A built-up or mitered edge, the sink and cooktop openings, and a 4-inch splash or full-height stone behind the range.
• The old top and access. Tearing out old granite or tile adds a step, and so do stairs or a long carry.

We price each job from what it involves, with over 14 years of experience behind the numbers. You work directly with the fabricator, no contractor in between, we work with your budget, and our prices are competitive. Call (469) 478-0220 for a free estimate, no obligation.

Choosing Granite for Your Kitchen?

Call (469) 478-0220 for a free estimate.

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