Granite Countertops in Toronto
Quartz countertops lead most Toronto kitchen renovations we quote, but granite still wins in plenty of homes from Scarborough to Markham. It is natural igneous stone, formed slowly from cooled magma, which is why no two slabs share the same pattern. It handles hot pans, it handles Ontario sun and it has a depth of colour that some buyers simply prefer.
We fabricate granite and engineered quartz in the same 20,000 sqft Toronto shop. That means our advice is about your kitchen, not what we have in stock. If quartz suits you better, we will say so. If granite does, we will help you choose a slab, tag it, lay out the pattern on screen and seal it properly on install day.
Types of Granite We Fabricate
- Light granites. Whites, creams and soft greys with fine speckle or gentle movement. Popular for bright Toronto kitchens. They show oil stains more readily, so sealing matters.
- Dark granites. Blacks, deep greens and charcoals. They hide crumbs and stains well and look strong with a leathered finish.
- Movement granites. Slabs with flowing veins or waves. These need careful layout, so we bookmatch at seams where possible.
- Exotic granites. Rare colours and dramatic patterns quoted per slab after you choose one.
Finish options include polished, which deepens colour and reflects light, and leathered, a brushed texture that hides fingerprints and water spots.
Granite Countertop Cost Guide
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Installed granite | $70 - $140 / sqft | Templating, CNC fab, eased edge, one sink cutout, sealing, install |
| 45 sqft kitchen | $3,150 - $6,300 | Typical Toronto semi or bungalow |
| Exotic slabs | Quoted per slab | After selection |
| Fab only, your slab | $42 - $68 / sqft | Slab inspected on arrival |
| Old stone removal | $150 - $350 | Laminate removal included |
What moves your price inside the range: slab grade, edge profile, number of cutouts and seams and whether you add a full-height backsplash. Our edge profiles page shows which edges suit granite. You pay 25% at templating, 50% at fabrication start and 25% after the install walk-through.
Granite vs Quartz: An Honest Comparison
| Granite | Engineered quartz | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Natural igneous stone | 90-95% ground quartz + resin |
| Pattern | Unique per slab | Consistent per colour |
| Sealing | Every 1-2 years | Never |
| Heat | Very good | Use trivets |
| Outdoors | Yes | No, resin yellows |
| Installed price | $70 - $140 / sqft | $65 - $180 / sqft |
If you want zero maintenance and a specific colour, read our quartz countertops page. If you want natural stone that is even harder than granite, quartzite countertops are worth a look, though they cost more.
When Is Granite the Right Choice?
- Outdoor kitchens and barbecue stations. Granite handles UV and freeze-thaw where quartz cannot.
- Heavy-heat cooking. Bakers and serious home cooks who set hot pans down often.
- Natural stone preference. Buyers who want a top no neighbour can copy.
- Budget natural stone. Common granites sit at the lower end of our pricing.
How We Fabricate Granite
Slab tagging. Granite varies so much that the slab you saw must be the slab we cut. We tag it by number at the yard.
Layout on screen. After Proliner templating, we overlay your template on a photo of the slab. You see where mineral clusters, veins and colour shifts will land and approve the layout before cutting.
CNC cutting. Our CNC bridge saws use diamond blades with water cooling. Edges are profiled on CNC so the ogee or bullnose is consistent along the full run.
Seams and bookmatching. Where a seam is needed, we bookmatch movement granites so the pattern mirrors across the joint and place the seam behind the range or at an inside corner.
Sealing. We apply a penetrating sealer on install day and run an absorption test so your resealing schedule fits your actual stone.
Granite Care and Resealing
Wipe spills, especially oil, wine and citrus, within a reasonable time. Clean with mild soap and water. Avoid vinegar and harsh cleaners, which can wear down the sealer. Every few months, try the water-drop test: if water darkens the stone within a few minutes, reseal. Most granite needs resealing every 1-2 years.
Replacing Old Granite
Dated granite from the 1990s and 2000s is one of the most common tops we remove. Stone removal is $150-$350 and we can install new granite, quartz or porcelain the same day. Marcus L. in Rosedale replaced dated granite in his master bath with Calacatta Nuvo quartz in a single day. See countertop replacement for the full process.
Get a Granite Countertop Quote
Send us your kitchen size and the granite colours you like. We reply with a CAD estimate within 1-2 business days and can meet you at a slab yard. We serve Scarborough, Markham and the rest of the GTA with the same pricing.
