Countertops are a necessity in any kitchen. They not only provide a sturdy and hygienic surface for preparing food but can also add visual interest to the room. However, the greatest challenge is ensuring that you choose the right material aside from finding an experienced kitchen countertop fabricator and installer that can meet your needs.
At A1 Stone World, we offer a wide variety of kitchen countertops in different materials and styles. Thus, we can cater to everyone’s unique needs whether you are looking for the perfect kitchen countertop for residential or commercial use.
Come see us today and let our experts help you find the perfect kitchen counters with our superior craftsmanship. Book a free consultation now!
Ensure the Success of Your Custom Kitchen Countertop Project With Our Unmatched Services
As a renowned countertop fabricator and installer servicing Jacksonville and surrounding areas, A1 Stone World can build your ideal kitchen with our first-class but low-cost products and services. We offer granite, quartz, quartzite, marble, and soapstone slabs in an extensive range of styles to suit every decor along with matching sinks and edge profiles.
From the design to templating and fabrication to installation, our skilled team will work closely with you to ensure that you get what you want. We have years of experience in the stone countertop industry with thousands of happy customers in the Duval Country. Thus, you can trust us to give you exceptional workmanship that you will be satisfied with.
Book an appointment now and let’s give your kitchen the grand makeover it deserves!
Other Services We Offer
Aside from kitchen countertop installation, we also handle other related projects to make sure that you’ll have a well-coordinated overall interior design. We also install:
- Backsplashes and walls
- Bar tops and table tops
- Desks and tables
- Bathroom vanity tops and tub surrounds
- Fireplace surrounds
- Remnants
5 Best Kitchen Countertop Materials
Granite: Best Value for Money
- Stain, heat, and scratch resistant
- Easy to clean
- Environmentally friendly
- Can be used outside
Quartzite: Unmatched Durability
- Perfect for outdoor countertops
- Resistant to acids
- High heat and scratch resistance
- Chip and crack resistant
Quartz: Design Versatility & Quality
- Customizable colors, styles, and shapes
- Scratch and chip resistant
- High stain resistance (doesn’t require sealing)
- Can be designed in any shape and size
Marble: Extraordinary Allure
- Luxurious appearance
- Stain-resistant when properly sealed
- Increases home resale value
- Available in premium finishes for any style
Soapstone: Antique Look
- Rustic look for traditional styles
- Won’t crack or chip
- High heat and stain resistance (no sealing)
- Ideal for DIY installation
5 Key Considerations When Choosing a Top-Quality Kitchen Countertop
1. Aesthetic Appearance
- The appearance of your countertops can make or break your kitchen’s overall design, so you need to decide what specific style you’re going for (traditional or modern).
- Stone countertops come in a wide array of patterns and colors and there are those that will best suit a specific style.
- Choose granite if you want a unique-looking natural stone, quartz if you want a modern look with customizable designs, and soapstone if you prefer an old-world style.
A1 Stone World’s professional designers will work with you to find the best styles and colors for your kitchen’s luxurious upgrade.
2. Usage
- Understand your countertop needs based on your lifestyle to ensure that you choose a material that can withstand your daily kitchen activities.
- Choose more durable countertops like granite, quartz, and quartzite if you cook a lot and have children. Also, if you are installing an outdoor countertop, consider granite, quartz, or soapstone as they can withstand environmental conditions well.
- You can use less durable options like marble if you just want something that will add character to your kitchen and don’t use it often.
3. Pricing
- Stone countertop prices will vary so make sure that you choose a material that will fit your budget.
- Find the best balance between appearance, durability, and price including long-term maintenance costs. Some materials may be cheap but if they have poor durability and requires a lot of maintenance, you’ll spend more in the long run.
- Granite offers the best value for your money as it is not only beautiful but also durable. You can also go for quartz if you prefer exotic stone styles but at more affordable prices.
How Much Do Kitchen Countertops Cost?
Stone kitchen countertops can range from $15 to $250+ per square foot (materials only) depending on the material and design. However, cheaper materials (like tile, laminate, and solid surface) can be as low as $1 per square foot.
We can give you an honest estimate of your kitchen countertop installation cost without any hidden fees. Request a quote now!
4. Durability
- Again, your kitchen usage will determine the level of durability you need. Consider the stain, heat, scratch, and chip resistance of the stone.
- Quartz and soapstone are best for stain resistance because they are non-porous countertops that don’t require sealing.
- Granite, marble, quartzite, and soapstone can handle hot pans and pots well.
- Quartz, granite, and quartzite offer the best performance when it comes to scratch resistance.
Below is a comparison of the different kitchen countertop materials for your reference:
5. Maintenance
- Some countertop materials will need more care than others, so you need to consider maintenance especially if you use your kitchen a lot.
- Choose low-maintenance materials like quartz if you have a busy kitchen.
- Granite, marble, and quartzite will require periodic sealing to maintain their durability while easily scratched options like soapstone might be challenging to restore. Quartz can eliminate these problems altogether.
Note: Durability doesn’t always mean lower maintenance.
Other Minor Factors to Consider
- Storage & Cabinetry - Choose a material that your cabinet can support. Stone countertops are very heavy so make sure that your cabinet material is strong enough to support it.
- Warranty - Stone countertops can last for hundreds of years, but they’re significant investments that you would want to make sure are made to high standards. Also, consider what the warranty covers.
Step-By-Step Guide: Shopping for and Installing the Perfect Stone Kitchen Countertop for Your Project
Step 1. Choose a Countertop Material
- Choose a material that meets your needs - based on the factors we mentioned above (including the stone color and style you want).
Step 2. Make Proper Preparations Before Shopping for a Countertop
Prepare the following:
- Your overall design preference
- Your counter’s rough measurements
- Your budget range
- Interior design samples
- A camera and notepad
Read a more detailed guide on our what to have prepared before visiting a slab yard here.
Step 3. Visit a Slab Yard
- After finalizing your design preferences, visit a slab yard to view your options in person.
- Shop by color and budget and make sure to check for quality and flaws.
- Ask for samples as much as possible and put your chosen slab on hold.
Read more on our how to pick the best slabs for your project guide.
Step 4. Choose an Edge Profile
- Edge profiles not only add style to your countertop, but your choice will also depend on the functionality you want and will impact the needed maintenance.
- The four most popular and affordable types of edge profiles are eased, beveled, bullnose, and pencil round. Beveled edges are often free of charge.
- Eased and pencil round edges are the simplest options while bullnose edges are softer but more expensive alternatives.
A1 Stone World offers eased, pencil round, full bullnose, half bullnose, demi bullnose, and beveled countertop edge profiles.
Step 5. Choose a Sink
- Sinks come in different materials, configurations, mounting styles, sizes, and shapes. Fabricators will have to cut custom holes for your sink, so better decide on your preferred option to ensure the best fit.
We also sell single-bowl and double-bowl kitchen sinks.
Step 6. Choose a Faucet
- Most faucets can work fine with any natural or manmade stone countertops because they have standard hole sizes. But, you need to have it prepared before installation to make sure that your faucets will fit with your sink and cabinet.
Step 7. Choose a Backsplash
- Backsplashes are important in every kitchen as they prevent any debris from spilling behind your cabinets to avoid the growth of mold and mildew.
- Choose whether you want a standard backsplash (an average of 4 inches high) or a full backsplash (starts from your countertop up to your ceiling).
A1 Stone World provides backsplash installation services.
Step 8. Countertop Overhang
-
Consider extending your countertop’s overhang, especially if you want to add more seating area to your kitchen. Below are the standard overhang measurements:
- Countertops: 1 1/2 inches
- Kitchen Islands: 12 inches
Step 9. Set an Appointment for Professional Measurements
- Your fabricator will need precise measurements of your kitchen to make sure that everything will fit well. So, you need to set an appointment with your countertop installer for this.
We provide templating services for our clients so we can provide you with more accurate pricing for your project.
Note: Having the exact square foot measurements will help you compare installation costs easier.
Step 10. Finalize the Layout of Your Kitchen Countertop
- After the measurements, finalize your kitchen layout with your fabricator.
We, at A1 Stone World, will be working hand-in-hand with you in planning out how your countertops will be cut to ensure that your favorite parts of the slab will be preserved. We can also plan the placement of the slabs on your countertops.
Top Kitchen Countertop Design Trends From the Experts
- Houzz’s 2022 kitchen trends study that surveyed 2,380 homeowners in the U.S. regarding their kitchen renovation projects found that granite and engineered quartz are the most prioritized countertops.
-
FIXR, a leading home industry resource, included the following hottest trends in their 2022 kitchen trends report:
- Stone countertops paired with wooden floors
- Stone countertops matched with a wooden island countertop - One of the highlights of Sarasota Magazine, a child company of SagaCity Media in Florida, in their 2021 kitchen trends is having a seamless merge between countertops and backsplashes for a more polished look.
Contact A1 Stone World For the Installation & Fabrication of Glamorous Kitchen Countertops in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Area
If you’re in the market for a new kitchen countertop, you’ll want to hire a qualified fabricator and installer. A1 Stone World is here to provide you a one-stop shop for all of your kitchen countertop needs while giving you the best balance between quality and affordability. Contact us now for a glamorous upgrade that is worth your investment!
Some of the areas we serve (contact us if you don’t see your area listed):
Green Cove Springs | Jacksonville | Jacksonville Beach | Ponte Vedra Beach | Saint Johns | St. Augustine
Reasons to Choose A1 Stone World
We are proud to have served so many satisfied customers over the last 15+ years. We strive to put our customers first and appreciate the trust they have shown in us to craft beautiful spaces together.
We have one of the largest sections of stones in the greater Jacksonville area. Our indoor slab yard will have something that meets your style and budget. We only work with suppliers that have the strictest standards when selecting stones from quarries so you can be sure every piece you see was chosen with care.
Our in-house team of fabricators and installers each have multiple decades of experience. They take great pride in their work and have the perfect blend of skill and artistic touch. We use the latest technology in our state-of-the-art fabrication facility.
We feel our ability to be honest and transparent with our customers is the main reason we have been able to serve thousands of people like you. We are upfront in our pricing and ensure there are no hidden fees. We communicate every step of the way and make it a point to educate you on the process.