Countertop questions, answered

Engineered quartz is made from roughly 90% natural crushed quartz blended with pigments and a small amount of resin, then formed into slabs. Because it's nonporous, it never needs sealing and resists stains, bacteria and moisture.

It's the most popular choice for a reason: consistent color, stunning marble looks, excellent scratch resistance and almost no maintenance. Brands we carry include Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, Levante, Raphael Stone and Kiva Stone.

Porcelain slabs are made from natural clays fired at very high temperatures into a dense, through-body surface. They're thin, lightweight and extremely hard.

Porcelain's big advantages are heat, scratch, stain and UV resistance — it won't fade in the sun and shrugs off hot pans. That makes it ideal for waterfall edges, cladding, high-heat zones and outdoor kitchens. It also convincingly mimics marble, stone, cement and even wood. We carry XTONE by Porcelanosa.

Sintered stone — such as Dekton and Ascale — is created by compacting natural minerals under extreme heat and pressure, essentially fast-forwarding the way stone forms in nature.

The result is an ultra-dense, nonporous surface with maximum resistance to heat, scratches, UV and stains. It's one of the very few surfaces stable enough for full outdoor and even vertical exterior (facade) use.

There's no single "best" — it depends on how you live:

Quartz is the best all-around indoor choice: nonporous, low-maintenance, never needs sealing. Porcelain & sintered stone win for heat, UV and outdoor use. Granite is a tough natural stone but needs periodic sealing. Marble is unmatched for beauty but is softer and can etch or stain. We'll help you match the material to your real-world use and style.

Quartz handles everyday warmth well, but it contains resin that can scorch or discolor from very high heat — so always use a trivet or hot pad. If you want a surface you can place hot cookware directly on, choose porcelain or sintered stone (Dekton), which are built for high heat.

All of these surfaces are highly scratch-resistant, with porcelain and sintered stone among the hardest available. Still, we recommend using a cutting board — not because it will scratch easily, but to protect your knives. Chips are rare and usually only occur from a sharp, heavy impact on an edge or corner.

Yes. Quartz, porcelain and sintered stone are all nonporous, so they don't absorb liquids and they resist bacteria and mold. Wine, coffee, oil and citrus wipe right up. Many of our brands carry NSF and GREENGUARD certifications for food contact and indoor air quality.

No. Quartz, porcelain and sintered stone never need sealing. Only natural stones like granite and marble require periodic sealing to resist stains.

Easy: for everyday cleaning use warm water with mild dish soap or a pH-neutral cleaner and a soft cloth. Wipe spills promptly, use cutting boards, and use trivets under hot cookware.

Avoid harsh abrasives, scouring pads, and strongly acidic or alkaline cleaners (like oven cleaner or bleach-heavy products), which can dull the finish over time.

Polished is glossy and reflective, deepening colors and veining. Honed / matte / suede is a soft, low-sheen finish that's understated and hides fingerprints and water spots well. Textured (like Silestone Volcano or Dekton Grip) adds tactile depth and slip resistance. We'll show you samples in South Florida light so you can compare.

Most kitchen tops are fabricated in 2 cm or 3 cm. 3 cm gives a substantial, premium look and often needs no build-up; 2 cm can be edge-laminated to look thicker or used where a slimmer profile suits the design. Porcelain and sintered stone also come in thinner formats for cladding and vertical surfaces.

Popular profiles include eased (softened square), beveled, bullnose, ogee, and mitered for a thick or waterfall look. We'll walk you through the options and recommend an edge that fits your style and material.

Most kitchens need at least one seam because slabs have size limits and layouts have corners and doorways to navigate. Our digital templating lets us place seams discreetly and color-match the epoxy so they're as inconspicuous as possible.

Start by browsing our color gallery and saving a few favorites, then consider your cabinet color, flooring and lighting. Warmer whites and golds pair beautifully with warm woods and brass; cooler greys and crisp whites suit modern, high-contrast kitchens. Bring your picks to us (or we'll bring samples to you) and view full slabs before deciding — no two slabs are identical.

Yes — choose the right material. Porcelain and sintered stone (Dekton, Ascale, XTONE) are UV-stable and won't fade, making them ideal for South Florida outdoor kitchens and patios. Most quartz isn't recommended for prolonged direct sun, so for outdoor projects we'll steer you to porcelain or sintered surfaces.

Four simple steps: 1) choose your color from our gallery or showroom; 2) we prepare a per-job quote covering material, fabrication, edges and installation; 3) we digitally template your space for a precise fit; 4) we fabricate and install — usually within days of templating, then clean up and walk you through the result.

Because an honest price depends on your specific material, square footage, edges, cutouts and installation details. Rather than post a misleading online number, we quote per job so you get an accurate figure for your kitchen or bath. Request a quote and we'll take care of the rest.

Yes — we can remove and haul away your existing countertops as part of the project. Just let us know during the quote so we include it.

Warranties vary by brand — several offer strong coverage, from Cambria's full lifetime limited warranty to Silestone and Dekton's 25-year warranties (typically when installed by an authorized fabricator). We'll confirm the exact warranty for whatever material you choose at quote time.