What Is Granite Countertop Material?
Granite is natural stone, quarried in solid blocks and cut into slabs, so every piece has its own one of a kind pattern. We stock a full range of granite, cut it in our own Crestwood shop, and install across Chicago and the suburbs.
- See full granite slabs in person at our Crestwood showroom
- Colors from quiet neutral speckles to bold, dramatic movement
- Cut in our own shop, installed by our own crew
- Free estimate. Call (708) 362-7674
Why granite is still a top choice:
- Naturally heat resistant, so hot pots and pans will not hurt it
- Holds up to daily wear better than softer stones like marble
- With a proper seal, it resists stains and keeps its finish for years
Granite vs. quartz:
- Quartz: made in a factory, so the pattern repeats from slab to slab
- Granite: cut from the earth, so no two slabs are ever the same
- Granite has real mineral veining, flecks and depth that cannot be copied
Come pick your one of a kind slab before you decide.
Why Some Kitchens Still Choose Granite
If you’re weighing granite against quartz, the real question isn’t which one is better. It’s which tradeoff you’d rather live with.
Granite is quarried stone, cut from the earth and shaped by heat and pressure over millions of years, and it looks like it. No two slabs are alike, the mineral flecking runs deep instead of sitting on the surface, and it carries a weight and depth that manufactured material only approximates. It is also naturally heat resistant, tougher against a hot pan than most engineered surfaces. The tradeoff is upkeep: granite is porous, so it needs periodic sealing, and without that seal it can stain or dull over time.
Quartz trades that character for consistency. It never needs sealing, resists staining, and the slab you see in the showroom is the slab that lands in your kitchen. That predictability is why quartz has become the default recommendation for busy kitchens. But it’s manufactured, not mined, and it will never have the one of a kind depth that comes from real stone.
Al Jory Marble fabricates both, and we won’t push you toward the one that’s easier to sell. If you want a countertop that looks exactly like every other slab in the batch, get quartz. If you want one that no one else in Chicagoland has, because it genuinely doesn’t exist anywhere else, granite is worth the extra care it asks for.
If you’re looking to get a granite kitchen countertop in Chicago or any suburb, including Naperville, Schaumburg, Aurora, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Bolingbrook and more, contact us today.
Get Granite Countertops in Chicagoland Today
We stock a wide range of granite patterns, each with its own mineral flecking, movement, and depth, from quiet neutral tones to bold, dramatic veining. Every slab is fabricated in our own Crestwood shop, so what you see on the sample is what lands in your kitchen.
Our Granite Collection
Our Granite Collection
Absolute Black Granite Countertops — Deep, uniform black with a fine grain. A bold, formal choice that pairs with almost any cabinet color.
African Rainbow Granite Countertops — Warm tan and rust tones with dramatic natural movement. A statement slab with real depth.
Agatha Black Granite — Rich black base with subtle grey mineral flecking. Reads sleek without being flat.
Alpine Valley — Cool grey with soft, organic veining. A quieter natural stone look.
Amarello Ornamental — Warm gold and tan tones with bold veining. A striking, traditional granite pick.
Andino White Granite Countertops — White and grey base with dark mineral speckling. Adds texture and hides daily wear well.
Aspen White Countertops — Bright white with fine grey and black flecking. A clean, versatile natural stone base.
Astoria — Warm grey with subtle granular texture. A calm, neutral everyday choice.
Azul Celeste — Soft blue grey with natural mineral movement. A distinctive, cool toned option.
Azul Platino — Deep charcoal with silvery mineral flecking. A modern, dramatic surface.
Azure Mist — Light grey base with soft veining and cool undertones. Pairs well with white or navy cabinetry.
Bianco Antico — Warm cream with bold burgundy and grey veining. A dramatic, one of a kind pattern.
Bianco Frost — White and grey base with dark speckling and subtle veining. A textured, natural look.
Black Forest Countertops — Deep charcoal with dense grey and burgundy movement. A rich, dramatic slab.
Black Galaxy — Solid black with fine gold flecking throughout. A striking, luxurious finish.
Black Pearl — Deep black with a fine, uniform grain. A clean, formal alternative to Absolute Black.
Blue Pearl Granite — Dark blue grey with natural shimmer and mineral movement. A distinctive cool toned statement piece.
Caledonia — Grey base with white veining and fine speckling. A versatile, widely used natural stone.
Caravelas Gold — Warm cream and gold tones with dark veining. An earthy, traditional granite look.
What makes granite different
No Two Slabs Alike
Every granite slab is one of a kind, formed by the earth over millions of years. The mineral flecking and movement in your kitchen will not exist anywhere else.
Naturally Heat Resistant
Set a hot pan straight from the stove without a trivet. Granite handles direct heat better than quartz or laminate without scorching or discoloring.
Sealed to Resist Staining
A proper seal closes the natural pores in the stone, so wine, oil, and coffee wipe away instead of soaking in. We seal every granite installation before we leave.
Built to Last Generations
Granite has been a kitchen staple for decades because it holds up. With normal care, a granite countertop will outlast the cabinets around it.
Real Depth, Not Print
Granite's pattern runs through the entire slab, not just the surface. Light catches the crystal structure in a way manufactured stone cannot fully copy.
A Wide Range In Stock
From quiet neutral tones to bold, dramatic veining. Walk the Crestwood yard and see full slabs end to end before you decide.
Where Granite Countertops Work Best
Granite countertops work best wherever natural character and heat resistance matter most. Here is where they shine in Chicago homes and businesses.
Best spots for granite:
- Large kitchen islands, where bold mineral movement becomes the centerpiece
- Around the cooktop, where it handles hot pans better than most surfaces
- Outdoor kitchens and grill stations, with constant sun and heat
- Bar tops and reception desks, where a one of a kind slab makes a statement
Pick your look:
- Bold veining for a showpiece island
- Quiet speckled tones to keep the focus on your cabinets
- Colors from soft neutrals to gold and burgundy
Cabinets that pair well:
- White shaker for a light, airy kitchen
- Dark wood for warmth
- Black fixtures for contrast
Bring your cabinet door and flooring samples to our Crestwood showroom and hold them against the slab before you decide.
Choosing your material
Granite vs Quartz vs Marble
Granite is the original natural stone countertop. Here is exactly how it compares once it is living in a real kitchen.
| Granite | Quartz | Marble | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Natural stone, quarried | Engineered stone, manufactured | Natural stone, quarried |
| Sealing | Periodic sealing | Never needed | Regular sealing required |
| Etching from acids | Does not etch | Does not etch | Etches from lemon, wine, vinegar |
| Heat tolerance | Excellent | Use a trivet, resin can scorch | Good |
| Scratch resistance | Very good | Good | Softest of the three |
| Pattern | Every slab unique, natural depth | Consistent, sample matches slab | Every slab unique |
| How it ages | Holds its finish | Looks the same in ten years | Develops a patina, softens |
| Relative cost | $$ | $$ | $$$ |
| Best for | Cooks who want heat resistance and real stone character | Busy kitchens, anyone who does not want upkeep | Low traffic vanities, buyers who want genuine marble |
Al Jory Marble fabricates all three. Granite is quarried, sealed, and set by our own crew, with quartz and marble available for buyers who want a different tradeoff. Come see full slabs side by side at our Crestwood showroom.
Granite Kitchen Countertop Fabrication Process
Visit Our Showroom to Select Granite Slabs in Person
A two inch sample cannot show you how granite’s mineral movement runs across a full slab, and every slab is different. Visit our showroom and slab yard at 4711 135th St in Crestwood to see full granite slabs end to end before you commit. Someone will walk the yard with you, talk through which pattern suits your kitchen, and schedule a free measurement.
Granite Countertop Questions
Granite is natural stone, quarried in solid blocks and cut into slabs, so every piece carries its own one of a kind mineral pattern. Quartz is engineered stone made in a factory, so its pattern repeats consistently and it never needs sealing. Marble is also natural stone, but it is softer and more porous than granite, so it etches and stains more easily. Granite sits in between: real natural character, with better heat resistance and durability than marble.
It depends what you value. Granite wins on heat resistance and natural character, since every slab is genuinely one of a kind and it handles a hot pan straight off the stove. Quartz wins on low maintenance, since it never needs sealing and will not etch. For a cook who wants real stone and does not mind periodic sealing, granite is the better fit. For anyone who wants zero upkeep, quartz usually wins out.
We fabricate every granite countertop in our own Crestwood shop. Your slab is cut, edged, and polished in our facility, and our own crew handles the installation and sealing. Nothing is subcontracted out.
We template your space for exact dimensions, then plan the slab layout before anything is cut so the natural veining flows across your island and perimeter runs instead of stopping at a seam. Because every granite slab is unique, we lay out the cuts against the actual slab you chose, not a stock pattern.
Yes. We walk your kitchen or bath, talk through layout, edge profiles, sink cutouts, and budget, then give you a written estimate at no charge.
Yes. Once you choose a slab, we schedule a free in-home measurement so your granite countertops are templated to the exact dimensions of your space before fabrication begins.
Yes. A small sample cannot show you how granite's mineral movement runs across a full slab, and every slab is different. Visit our showroom and slab yard at 4711 135th St in Crestwood to see full granite slabs end to end before you commit.
Timelines vary by project size and current shop schedule. After your free measurement, we can give you a specific timeline for fabrication, sealing, and installation of your granite countertops.
Yes. Our installation crew removes your existing countertops, sets and seams the new granite tops, dresses the sink and cooktop cutouts, applies a full seal, and cleans up before walking the finished job with you.
Cost depends on the pattern you choose, the square footage, and edge profile. Granite typically falls close to quartz in price and below premium marble. We give every customer a written estimate at no charge so you know the exact cost before committing.
Granite needs periodic resealing to keep its pores closed against staining. Between sealings, clean with warm water and mild soap, and wipe up wine, oil, and acidic spills promptly. Granite is naturally heat resistant, so a hot pan straight off the stove will not damage the surface.
Most granite countertops need resealing about once a year, though it depends on the specific stone and how much daily use the surface sees. We seal every installation before we leave, and we can advise on a resealing schedule for your particular slab.
Yes. We fabricate in our own Crestwood shop and install granite countertops across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.