FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In
Design

Granite Countertops

An experienced fabricator explains the process from the templating to the final setting of the slabs.

By Joe Ranzoni Issue 100

Synopsis: Granite has emerged as an expensive but extremely popular material for kitchen countertops. In this article, a stone fabricator describes the process of making templates, cutting, and installing slab granite.

For most of the past 20 years, my company has been taking the rockbound coast of Maine and bringing it into the homes we work on. Our specialty is granite, both rough and refined. We transform thin slabs of the material into beautiful, functional kitchen countertops.

Our shop is located in Orland, an area that once thrived on the granite industry. We’re surrounded by such historic quarrying towns as Frankfort, Blue Hill, Franklin, Jonesboro, Mount Desert and Deer Isle, source of one of the most structurally sound granites available. Granite from Deer Isle was used in the memorial to Robert Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery.

I started working in the masonry division at Freshwater Stone & Brickwork in 1987 as a mason’s tender, later moved to the granite side of the business and now work as the company’s manager. I have found that there is something sweet in the smell of freshly split granite.

Not just a pretty face

Granite countertops are so breathtakingly beautiful that many people don’t realize what a practical choice they are. Granite is one of the hardest naturally occurring materials. It has a compressive strength of 19,000 psi (according to the non profit American Society for Testing and Materials). In other words, it takes 19,000 lb. of pressure in 1 sq. in. to break the material. A granite countertop will not scratch under everyday use; it can be used as a cutting board.

Dropping things on granite won’t damage the countertop, but I sometimes hear from customers who say I owe them a new coffee cup or dinner plate. Granite also withstands intense heat, so you can take pots right from the stove and set them on the countertop without fear of leaving burn marks.

When submerged in water, granite will absorb only 0.4% of its own weight in water, quite low compared with other building materials. What this means to the homeowner is that granite is naturally resistant to staining. Spilled liquids bead right up. And polished granite doesn’t promote bacteria growth. Warm, soapy water is all that’s needed for cleaning.

Color indicates composition

Granite is an igneous substance (formed by the solidification of molten rock) that contains mostly feldspar and quartz. The color in a slab of granite comes from minerals and organic matter, such as plant and animal life, present when the material was in the molten state. Shades of white and pink indicate a high proportion of feldspar. Gray stone contains a lot of quartz. High concentrations of biotite are present in black granite.

Granite blocks are cut from quarries with drills and wedges, huge cutting torches, wire saws and water-jet cutters. The quarried blocks are typically 5 ft. by 5 ft. by 10 ft. Blocks are trucked or shipped to processing plants where gang saws, a series of carbide-tipped blades spaced 1.5 in apart, often work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, slicing the blocks into slabs. The slabs are then polished on one side and put into a huge inventory.

For more photos and information about granite and its cost, click the View PDF button below. 

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

100-ft. Tape Measure

Laying out mudsills and foundations for new homes and additions requires a bigger tape measure than your everyday carry.
Buy at Amazon

Plate Level

A plate level allows to you plumb walls accurately because it registers off the plates without touching potentially warped or twisted studs. This one can reach the plates on 12-ft. tall walls.
Buy at Amazon

Anchor Bolt Marker

Quickly transfer anchor bolt locations to mud sill stock without measuring mistakes.
Buy at Amazon

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
View PDF

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Fast, Accurate Wall Framing

A rear addition provides a small-scale example of how to frame efficiently.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • A New Approach to Foundations
  • Prep Faster With Peel-and-Stick
  • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
  • A Modern Texture With Historical Roots

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All Videos
  • Adding Windows, Siding, and a Brick Lime-Wash Coating
  • Control Layers for a Remodel
  • Replacing Old Shingles with a New Metal Roof
  • Framing a Second Story on an Existing House
View All

Backsplashes and Countertops

View All Backsplashes and Countertops Articles
  • Strengthening Notched Floor Joists
  • Guide to Countertops: Wood
  • Guide to Countertops: Concrete
  • Guide to Countertops: Engineered Quartz
View All Backsplashes and Countertops Articles

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in