Questions, answered

For a hard-working kitchen we usually point people to quartzite, granite or engineered quartz. Quartzite and granite take heat straight from the stove and hold an edge for decades; quartz never needs sealing and matches perfectly across long runs. Marble is beautiful but softer and reacts to acids, so we recommend it for people who welcome a patina. Porcelain is the pick when you want a very thin profile or the counter continues outdoors.

Quartzite is a natural stone: it is quarried, cut into slabs and each one is unique. Quartz (engineered quartz) is manufactured from ground quartz, resin and pigment, so colour and pattern are consistent from slab to slab. Quartzite is harder and heat-proof but needs sealing; quartz is non-porous and maintenance-free but should not take sustained heat or direct sunlight.

Almost anything, because bathrooms see less heat and fewer knives. Quartz is the most popular vanity top for its stain resistance. Marble and other natural stones work well on vanities and floors when sealed. For shower walls and wet areas, large-format porcelain is the cleanest choice: near-zero water absorption, no grout lines and no mould.

Granite and porcelain are the two surfaces we install outdoors. Both handle sun, rain and freeze-thaw cycles. Engineered quartz is not rated for exterior use because UV light can shift its colour and the resin does not like sustained heat from a grill. Marble and most quartzites can be used outside but will weather and need more care.

It can be, with the right expectations. Marble is softer than granite or quartzite, so it scratches more easily, and acids such as lemon, wine and vinegar can etch the polish. Many clients love the way it ages; others prefer a marble-look quartz or quartzite that gives the same veining without the upkeep. We can show you both side by side in the shop.

Any of them. Natural stone, quartz and porcelain are all used on fireplaces; the choice depends mainly on the look and the size of the face. For large uninterrupted faces, porcelain slabs and jumbo quartz avoid seams. Very close to an open flame we prefer natural stone or porcelain, both of which are unaffected by heat.

Typically one to two weeks from template to installation for material we have in stock. We template with a digital laser measure, you approve the layout on a scan of your actual slab, fabrication runs on our CNC line, and installation is usually a single day. Special-order material adds the distributor's lead time.

A technician measures the space with a digital templater, confirms overhangs, sink and cooktop cut-outs, edge profile and seam locations with you. Cabinets need to be installed and level, and the sink and appliances on site, before we template.

Yes. Every slab is scanned at 12K resolution when it arrives, so you can see and approve the layout of cuts on your own stone before anything is fabricated. You are also welcome to visit the slab yard in Sterling and pick in person.

We remove and dispose of the existing tops on installation day. Plumbing disconnection and reconnection, and gas for cooktops, are handled by your plumber or contractor; we can recommend one if needed.

Most kitchens use 3cm material with an eased or mitered edge. We also cut bevel, bullnose, ogee and custom profiles, and we mitre waterfall ends and thick built-up edges. Porcelain comes in 6 and 12mm and is usually mitred to read as a solid block.