Granite Countertops In NJ, PA & NY
Igneous natural stone extracted from the earth and cut into slabs
Alps Craftsman provides granite countertops to NJ, PA & NY, all of which are harvested from quarries throughout the world. Granite is the most popular natural stone being used in homes today. Large pieces of stone are extracted from the earth and cut into individual slabs for use in someone’s home. Granite is a type of igneous rock, meaning it started as magma or lava. Each color of granite is found in its own unique location in the world. The colors and patterns found in the stone are based on the mineral composition and geological environment of the particular quarry after the magma or lava cooled. Granite countertops come in a variety of colors, including white, tan, brown, gray, red, blue, and green. Normally, granite slabs come with a polished finish, but textured surfaces, such as honed or leathered, are becoming more popular.
Beautiful, High-Quality Material in Many Colors
Granite is a very durable countertop material that performs well both inside and outside the home. The dense composition of the granite minerals allows for a strong surface that is heat and scratch resistant. Chips may occur on the countertops, in particular along the edges, but repairs are often less visible due to the busier patterns that are normally found in these stones. As a porous natural stone, granite must be sealed to help it be stain resistant. Granite countertop pieces are joined together by seams, which will be visible. The degree to which a seam will be seen is based on the stone’s color and pattern, which help hide the seam.
Handcrafted from premium quality granite slabs, these stone countertops come alive with a burst of captivating colors, elevating any space into a beautiful and timeless haven.
Discover the enduring allure of granite, an investment that adds elegance and value to your home! Part of what makes granite so appealing is its affordability, providing a cost-effective alternative to marble countertops and other engineered stones.
With Alps Craftsman, you can explore an extensive selection of granite colors, ensuring you find the perfect match for your dream kitchen or bathroom. Count on our skilled professionals committed to delivering premium services, encompassing fabrication, installation, and expert design advice to help you find the perfect granite countertop that suits your requirements.
Benefits of Granite
- Least expensive natural stone available
- Some colors can be used outdoors
- Repairs are less visible than othercountertop materials
- Heat and scratch resistant
Considerations
- Must seal every 6-12 months for helpwith stain resistance
- Seams will be visible
- Porous material - small divots mightexist on surface
Benefits of Granite
- Least expensive natural stone available
- Some colors can be used outdoors
- Repairs are less visible than othercountertop materials
- Heat and scratch resistant
Considerations
- Must seal every 6-12 months for helpwith stain resistance
- Seams will be visible
- Porous material - small divots mightexist on surface
Granite Countertop FAQs
Granite often tops the list of countertop contenders due to its unparalleled natural beauty and enduring strength. If you’re considering granite countertops, here are the answers to our frequently asked questions about this material to provide you with all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.
Granite, although a durable countertop material, can be scratched by knives being used directly on its surface. It might not happen with all granite colors, but the risk is still there. Cutting directly on the granite countertop can also remove the sealer placed on the surface quicker than normal. Without a strong sealer, the risk of staining said countertop is greater. Also, cutting directly on such a hard surface can damage your knives. It’s recommended to always use a cutting board on your countertops.
Granite comes in many colors and from various regions of the world, containing different minerals and compositions. Certain granite colors are very dense, meaning they do not have many pores. On the other hand, some colors have larger pores or contain minerals that stain easier. The best way to answer this is to speak to a qualified fabricator when looking at a specific granite color to understand the specific recommended care and maintenance.
Granite is a type of igneous rock, meaning it started as magma or lava. The dense composition of the granite minerals allows for a strong surface that is heat resistant. At Alps Craftsman, we always preach caution when using countertops. Although granite is heat resistant, we recommend the use of a trivet, towel, or other surface that can help absorb the heat instead of putting a hot pot or pan directly on the surface.
Sealer is the common name for a chemical that is applied to the surface of your countertops to help prevent staining. There are two types of sealers: penetrating and topical. Topical sealers are the most common. The liquid is applied to the countertop surface, creating an extremely thin barrier that sits on top of the granite surface itself. This microscopic layer stops liquids from entering into any of the pores that exist in the natural stone. Penetrating sealers are applied in a special way, where a skilled technician applies the chemical in a manner that allows the sealer to soak into the granite. This method allows all the tiny openings to be waterproofed vs. just creating a thin film over the top of the entire surface.
It is not recommended that a homeowner apply sealer to their countertops. While there are many instructional videos available online that show how this application can be done themselves, undoing incorrectly applied sealer is not an easy task. Countertops are a huge investment in a house and should be treated as such. Alps Craftsman provides a service to clean and re-seal countertops. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
It is not recommended that a homeowner apply sealer to their countertops. While there are many instructional videos available online that show how this application can be done themselves, undoing incorrectly applied sealer is not an easy task. Countertops are a huge investment in a house and should be treated as such. Alps Craftsman provides a service to clean and re-seal countertops. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
The answer to this question is very subjective and hard to define equally for everyone. The reason is that the rate at which a sealer deteriorates is based on the degree of usage of the countertops, how often they’re cleaned, what cleaning products are used on the surface, and what type of sealer is being used. Products with more acid or harsher chemicals will break down the sealer quickly. Using cleaning products in general will break down the sealer versus cleaning with warm, soapy water on a sponge. Certain sealers are made to last longer, so once a treatment is applied, there is a longer waiting period between applications. The location of the granite countertop in your home also affects how often they need to be sealed. Kitchen countertops receive a lot more use than basement or bathroom countertops. Alps Craftsman can help recommend a trusted sealer that will perform within reasonable expectations.
Yes! Granite countertops require very little maintenance. They easily clean up with soap/water. Their hardness allows for them to last in the ‘new condition’ for years on end. Periodic sealing is required, but as with most things in the house, check-ups/tune-ups are often required to keep things working well. But daily, granite countertops are very easy to care for.
Chips do not occur on their own, so the best way to prevent chipping is by being careful around your countertops. Accidents do happen though. The good thing about granite is that chip repairs are often less visible due to the busier patterns that are normally found in these stones. Edges are the most prone to chipping, mostly around the undermount sink cutout.
Granite countertops come in many different colors and patterns and are sourced from around the world. The largest suppliers of granite are in Brazil, Spain, and India, but certain colors can come from other locations. At Alps Craftsman, we work with a handful of local suppliers that offer quality granite slabs. These trusted partners work with their overseas counterparts to source materials that are not only beautiful but can withstand fabrication, installation, and use in your home.
Alps Craftsman believes in letting the experts in each field do their own work. Some fabricators bring in their own materials and sell them directly to homeowners. While said companies may try and convince homeowners to buy slabs directly from the fabricator, that’s often not a good idea.
Alps Craftsman believes in letting the experts in each field do their own work. Some fabricators bring in their own materials and sell them directly to homeowners. While said companies may try and convince homeowners to buy slabs directly from the fabricator, that’s often not a good idea.
Alps Craftsman offers 2 types of granite pricing. We have a stock program, which is a curated collection of colors across multiple price levels. Said colors are sold by the square foot, meaning that a homeowner is only purchasing a portion of the slab that corresponds to the size of their job. Since this program is offered across many customers, we expect that we’ll use the leftover material from the slab on another customer’s project. Since we work with multiple trusted stone suppliers, we always have stock of said colors because we can purchase any needed material from a group of companies.
Customers are also welcome to select granite colors that are outside of our stock program. In this situation, the customer will visit our trusted suppliers to find the color(s) they love and want for their home. Based on the cabinet layout, design requirements, and other specifications, the Alps Craftsman team will determine how many slabs are needed for the project. Since these selections are custom, meaning they aren’t part of our stock program, whole slabs will need to be purchased in full. Said another way, if an additional slab is needed for a small countertop piece, that entire slab will need to be purchased as part of the job because we cannot guarantee that the rest of the slab will be used by another customer. In these situations, we often ask the customer if any other rooms in the house could use a new countertop so that more of the slab is being used. We’ve installed countertop material in some interesting locations, allowing for a fun, unexpected pop in the home!
Customers are also welcome to select granite colors that are outside of our stock program. In this situation, the customer will visit our trusted suppliers to find the color(s) they love and want for their home. Based on the cabinet layout, design requirements, and other specifications, the Alps Craftsman team will determine how many slabs are needed for the project. Since these selections are custom, meaning they aren’t part of our stock program, whole slabs will need to be purchased in full. Said another way, if an additional slab is needed for a small countertop piece, that entire slab will need to be purchased as part of the job because we cannot guarantee that the rest of the slab will be used by another customer. In these situations, we often ask the customer if any other rooms in the house could use a new countertop so that more of the slab is being used. We’ve installed countertop material in some interesting locations, allowing for a fun, unexpected pop in the home!
This is a very subjective question! Our personal opinion at Alps Craftsman is that your style is your style, and you should be proud of that! If you’re embarking on a project to sell your house immediately after the job is done, then we recommend designing around current trends. However, if this is not the case, you should love the space you’re designing, whether it speaks to others or not. If you have a certain theme you’re going for, such as modern, farmhouse, or classic, our design team can help put together options that fit said look. We’re also up-to-date on all current trends in home design, so we can always help guide the conversation to keep your home on-trend.
We don’t believe it does. We’ve designed ultra-modern kitchens for a 1700s farmhouse. Since the kitchen is often a distinct room in the house, you have more liberty to make it feel unique. That said, if you have a home with more of an open-concept floor plan, then other considerations need to be accounted for.
Each project starts with a design consultation. That can occur in person at our beautiful design center or over the phone. Once we get a good understanding of your requirements, we come up with options for your choosing. Specifically for countertops, we’ll quote your project in our stock program and provide information on our trusted suppliers, specifically on how you can view their current offerings both online and in person. The color selection process might take a few rounds because slab sizes and material availability might change the overall quote. Once a color is selected, we sign the quote, our warranty form, and any other necessary paperwork.
After a job is sold by the design team, it moves to our operations department, where a project manager will oversee the completion of the job. These experts work with the customer to get all the finer details, like corner radius selection and the placement of holes that need to be drilled into the countertop. The project manager will also schedule the template and installation appointments. After the template is complete, we review all in-home measurements and findings against what we quoted. In certain circumstances, we revisit the quoted amount with the homeowner if the in-field dimensions do not match the quote or if in-field realities, such as access to the room, affect the original design. Any change orders are figured out before the job moves to fabrication. At the installation appointment, we place, secure, and seal the granite countertops.
After a job is sold by the design team, it moves to our operations department, where a project manager will oversee the completion of the job. These experts work with the customer to get all the finer details, like corner radius selection and the placement of holes that need to be drilled into the countertop. The project manager will also schedule the template and installation appointments. After the template is complete, we review all in-home measurements and findings against what we quoted. In certain circumstances, we revisit the quoted amount with the homeowner if the in-field dimensions do not match the quote or if in-field realities, such as access to the room, affect the original design. Any change orders are figured out before the job moves to fabrication. At the installation appointment, we place, secure, and seal the granite countertops.
Granite countertops vary greatly in price. The cheapest granites are very speckled. There is no distinct pattern or veining, just a random assortment of colors combined in the brown, tan, green, or gray families. More expensive granites have an increase in the dramatic colors, patterns, or veins running through them.
Our design team at Alps Craftsman is happy to work with you to figure out how your countertops will be cut on the slab so it can be determined which slab sizes work best for your design. In some cases, picking a more expensive color in a larger slab size will actually make the job cheaper because you’ll be able to fit the countertops out of fewer slabs.
Our design team at Alps Craftsman is happy to work with you to figure out how your countertops will be cut on the slab so it can be determined which slab sizes work best for your design. In some cases, picking a more expensive color in a larger slab size will actually make the job cheaper because you’ll be able to fit the countertops out of fewer slabs.
Which is Better – Granite or Quartz?
We get asked this question all the time and we always say, they both have their pros and cons. It’s really about how you operate in the room you’re designing. Our website has a lot of information about each material, but here’s the short version.
Granite
- Material Description: This is a rock from the earth that has been cut into slabs and polished to get a smooth finish.
- Heat Resistance: The composition of minerals inside it allows for it to be heat resistant, which is very attractive to individuals who are active cooks who like the flexibility of pulling a pan off the stove or cookie tray out of the oven and placing it directly on the countertop surface. Since granite is harvested from nature, small divots, fissures, or other elements can exist on the surface. After all, it’s a large rock that has been cut into countertops for your home.
- Strength: It’s very strong and durable in a home. Overall, granite is resistant to chipping, scratching, and etching, but that does not mean these occurrences could happen based on homeowner use. Chips are often repairable and blend in to the stone because of the busier movement in the material than that of quartz which is often one background color.
- Porosity and Sealant: Granite also has to be sealed periodically to help protect it from staining. Some customers very much dislike the need to re-seal granite even though it’s an easy service to perform. For them, they want a non-porous surface so they are only interested in quartz.
- Expense: Granite countertops vary greatly in price. Certain colors are quite inexpensive, allowing most customers to be able to afford natural stone countertops. As patterns and veining become more elaborate in a slab, the more expensive that material becomes. Coupled with more expensive slabs, fabrication costs can also increase with more expensive materials because the tools, skills, and time it takes to make the countertop also increase. All this said laminate countertops are still often cheaper than granite countertops.
Quartz
- Material Description: This is a man-made product created by mixing quartz from the earth with different pigments, chemicals, and resin to create a mixture that is then poured into large molds and baked at a very high temperature to harden. We like to say it’s like baking a cake where a bunch of ingredients are mixed to create the desired outcome. Manufacturers can create different looks and designs by adding different pigments, particles, or veins in the slabs as they’re being made.
- Porosity and Sealant: The process of making quartz slabs allows them to be non-porous. Many people think that because they don’t need to be sealed, that they won’t stain. That is not the case. Many quartz colors will stain if interact with certain substances for a prolonged period.
- Strength: Quartz is also a very hard surface, like granite, but is not free from chipping or scratching either. Like granite, quartz chips can be repaired, but they are often more visible because the chip fill won’t fully match the quartz color.
- Heat Resistance: Because of the resin used in the production of quartz slabs, the material is not heat resistant. For some customers, this fact is a non-starter for using quartz, and for others, it’s something they’re able to look past. Again, it all comes down to how you intend to use the room.
- Expense: The starting price for quartz countertops is higher than for granite countertops. In our stock program, there is about a $10 difference per square foot between the entry-level colors for each material type. So between the two, granite is the cheaper option. On the higher end, natural stones can be much higher than quartz, but there are also some very expensive quartz slabs.
Begin Your Granite Countertop Journey
In navigating the landscape of granite countertops, armed with answers to your burning questions, you're now better equipped to make informed decisions that will transform your space. Whether you're ready to embark on a renovation journey or still pondering over your options, Alps Craftsman is here to guide you through every step. Contact us today to get started!
Benefits of Granite
- Least expensive natural stone available
- Some colors can be used outdoors
- Repairs are less visible than othercountertop materials
- Heat and scratch resistant
Benefits of Granite
- Least expensive natural stone available
- Some colors can be used outdoors
- Repairs are less visible than othercountertop materials
- Heat and scratch resistant
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