Guide
Granite, marble, quartzite or quartz?
Start with how you cook, not how it looks. A kitchen that gets used every night wants granite or quartz — both shrug off heat and spills, and quartz never needs sealing. A kitchen that is mostly for show, or a bathroom, can take marble and wear its patina well.
Quartzite is the answer for people who want marble’s look and granite’s toughness, and it costs accordingly. Be careful: some stone sold as quartzite is really dolomitic marble and will etch. We test a sample with lemon juice in the shop, in front of you.
- Heavy daily cooking → granite or quartz
- Bathrooms and vanities → marble, quartz or a remnant of anything
- Outdoor kitchens → granite or porcelain; never quartz
- Marble look, no worry → quartzite or Calacatta-look quartz
Guide
How templating works
After you choose your stone, we come to your home and build an exact pattern of the counters — every wall, corner and overhang, the sink and cooktop cut-outs, and where the seams will fall. Cabinets need to be installed and level, and the sink and faucet need to be on site so we can template around them.
Templating is where the decisions get made: edge profile, overhang, backsplash height, whether the island gets a waterfall. We talk all of it through with you at the counter, then cut exactly what we agreed.
Guide
Seams: where they go and why
Slabs are roughly 110 to 130 inches long, so most kitchens need at least one seam. We place them where they are least visible and structurally safest — away from sink cut-outs, usually in a straight run rather than a corner — and we colour-match the epoxy to the stone.
On veined stone we lay out the seam so the pattern reads across it. A good seam is a hairline you have to look for; we will show you examples in the shop.
Guide
Sealing and everyday care
Natural stone is porous. We seal every granite, marble and quartzite top at installation, and the sealer wears with use. The test is simple: drop water on the counter, and if it darkens the stone within a few minutes, it is time to reseal. For most granite that is once a year; for marble, more often.
Day to day: wipe spills when you see them, use a pH-neutral cleaner, and keep vinegar, lemon and bleach off marble. Quartz needs none of this — just no hot pans straight from the stove.
Guide
Marble etching, honestly
An etch is not a stain — it is a dull spot where acid has dissolved the polish. Lemon juice, wine, tomato, vinegar and many cleaners will do it, and no sealer prevents it; sealer only slows staining. Honed marble hides etches far better than polished.
If you love marble, the answer is to accept the patina or to let us re-polish it every few years, which is a restoration job we do in place. If you hate the idea of a mark, choose quartzite or quartz and enjoy the look without the anxiety.
Guide
When a remnant is all you need
A remnant is the piece left over after a big slab is cut for a kitchen. It is the same stone at a fraction of the price, and for a bathroom vanity, a bar, a laundry counter, a hearth or a window sill it is usually the smartest way to get real stone.
Measure your cabinet, add the overhang, and come and walk the floor. We cut, edge and install remnants the same way we do full slabs — or cut them to size for you to carry out.
Guide
What install day looks like
We arrive with the finished tops, remove the old counters if that is part of the job, and set the new stone on the cabinets. Seams are joined and levelled, the sink is set and sealed, the tops are sealed, and we clean up. Most kitchens are done in a day; plumbing reconnects the next day once the silicone has cured.
Questions we get asked
Quick answers.
Do I need an appointment to visit?
No. Walk in during shop hours and look at the slabs and the remnant board. Bring a photo of your kitchen or bathroom if you have one, and a rough measurement.
How do I get a quote?
Send us your measurements and a photo through the quote form, call, or come in. For a full kitchen we will template before the final number; for a remnant job we can usually price it in the shop.
Do you sell remnants?
Yes — it is a real part of the business, not a sideline. The board changes as jobs are cut. Pieces are sold whole, or cut and edged to your size.
Can you fix my counter instead of replacing it?
Often, yes. Etching, dullness, light scratches and most stains come out with grinding, honing and polishing, done in place. Send a photo and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth doing.
Do you do the tile and backsplash too?
Yes. Our state license is a tile classification (C-54), so the backsplash, tub surround or shower comes from the same crew that cuts the stone.
Are you licensed and insured?
California State License Board license 895044, active, bonded, with workers’ compensation. You can look it up on the CSLB website before you call anyone.
Do you take commercial work?
Yes. Restaurants, hotels and public buildings on the Peninsula — we have been hired by Red Lobster, Olive Garden, the Marriott and the Redwood City Library.
What areas do you serve?
Redwood City, San Carlos, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Belmont, San Mateo, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley and Foster City. Ask about anything else on the Peninsula.