Granite Countertops in Wichita, KS

Granite countertops are cut from quarried stone, so no two kitchens look alike. Granite tolerates heat better than engineered stone, holds up to everyday knives and pans, and comes in everything from quiet speckled blacks and tans to dramatic slabs with bold movement. It is also one of the more flexible materials on price: common colors cost less than many quartz designs, while rare stone sits at the top of the market.

Levels and price

Granite is sold by level or group, which reflects how common the stone is, not how strong it is. HomeGuide lists Level 1 granite at about $50 to $80 per square foot installed, Level 2 at $80 to $150, and Level 3 and exotic stone at $150 to $250 or more. Angi puts most granite installations at $2,000 to $4,000, with an average around $3,250. Square footage, edge profile, number of cutouts and how many seams the layout needs all move the number.

Choosing your slab

With granite, the sample is only a starting point. Two slabs of the same name can differ in background color, veining and mineral flecks. Before fabrication you approve the actual slab, and we plan which part of it goes where: the busiest movement on the island, a calmer section along the backsplash, and seams placed where the pattern can be matched.

Sealing and upkeep

Granite is porous to a degree that varies by stone. Some dense granites rarely need sealing; lighter, more open stones absorb oil and water faster. A simple test is to leave a few drops of water on the surface for 10 to 15 minutes: if it darkens, it is time to reseal. HomeGuide lists professional sealing at about $200 to $350 per treatment, and many homeowners reseal themselves with a store-bought sealer. Clean with mild soap and water and avoid vinegar and other acidic cleaners.

Replacing old laminate with granite

Many Wichita kitchens built in the 1950s through 1970s still have laminate tops, or laminate that replaced the original tile. Moving to granite adds a lot of weight, so we check that cabinets are sound and level and that the sink base has not been weakened by old leaks. Laminate tops usually come off in one or two pieces, and we can include removal in your quote.

Prefab versus full slab

Prefabricated granite pieces with a finished edge cost less up front, but they come in set sizes and often need more seams to fit an L-shaped or galley kitchen. Full slabs let us cut longer runs with fewer seams. We will tell you which approach makes sense for your layout.