This guide compares three options for kitchen countertops: granite, quartz and sintered stone. It does not name a winner, because the right surface depends on your kitchen. Instead it sets out the decisions that separate them, and what to bring or decide for each one, so you can build a shortlist before you ask for a quote.
If you would rather start the conversation now, request a quote, or contact a branch. Durban: call 031 837 2848 · WhatsApp 072 978 0293; Verulam: call 032 533 0007 · WhatsApp 079 559 3813.
| Granite | Quartz | Sintered stone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Natural stone | Engineered surface | Engineered slab surface |
| Look | Natural variation: no two slabs alike | Engineered pattern | Slim surface and format options |
| Named StoneCo range | Granite colours; see our granite page | Lumina Quartz | Luxen |
Lumina is quartz and Luxen is sintered stone. Each has its own technical sheet, care instructions and supplier terms, so ask for the sheet for the exact product you are considering.
Granite is natural stone, so each slab has its own colour, pattern and any natural features. If you like that individuality, you will want to see the actual slab, not only a small sample.
Quartz offers an engineered pattern. If you want a more consistent look across a long run or a large island, look closely at the quartz range, but check how the pattern behaves across the pieces for your layout. We do not promise seamless colour consistency between pieces.
Bring: photos of your cupboards, floors and walls, and a note of whether you prefer variation or consistency.
A sample shows colour and finish. For a large island or a long run, the proposed slab layout also shows the joints and the direction of the pattern. Review the actual slab proposed for your job before its layout is agreed. Natural veining varies, so exact continuity can't be promised, and we lay out the pieces to carry the pattern as closely as the slabs allow.
Catalogue sizes and colours are selection references, not a live stock list, so ask us to confirm current availability. Ask about a worktop sample; availability and arrangements are confirmed for the selected material.
Bring: your colour shortlist, and where in the room the light falls.
Lumina Quartz is our named quartz range. Before you choose a colour, check the exact product, its current technical sheet and its permitted uses. Indoor use is the normal kitchen situation. Kitchen suitability is not outdoor approval, so for a braai area or outdoor kitchen, ask us to confirm the exact product before you decide.
Luxen is our named sintered range. Sintered stone opens another set of finish and format options, including slimmer surfaces, but slim does not mean simple. Thickness, support, cut-out and edge requirements are specific to the product, so we confirm them for the job. Ask early if you want a mitred, thicker-looking edge, a waterfall end or a large undermount sink.
Think about finish as well as colour. Polished, honed, leathered and flamed finishes look and feel different, so ask which finishes are available for your selected stone and which we can complete in our workshop. Ask, too, whether the stone needs sealing and what care routine suits it.
The edge profile should suit the material, its thickness and the look of your cupboards. See edge profiles. A thicker-looking edge, a waterfall end or a large undermount sink all change what the stone and its support must do, so decide them with the fabricator before the layout is agreed.
Bring: sink and hob models if chosen, and a sketch of the layout with rough sizes.
An outdoor kitchen or braai application requires confirmation for the exact product. Do not assume a material that suits an indoor kitchen also suits outdoors. Tell us where the surface will be used and we will confirm the product.
Care instructions differ by product, and so do technical data. Ask for the technical sheet and care information for the exact product, and follow the ones for yours. As a general habit, use a board for cutting and a trivet for hot pans, whichever you choose.
These are hypothetical, to show how to shortlist. None is a customer job, and none declares a winner.
Tell us whether you want supply only, cutting and finishing, or supply and installation. Your quote lists the included stonework and any separately arranged work, and sets out which stages and documents apply to your job. If you choose supply only, we quote the stonework for your own fitter; agree who takes and confirms final sizes, and who collects or receives the tops. Where fitting is included, see how installation works. For the stone side of the job, see Kitchen worktop fabrication and fitting.
Tell us whether you also need cupboards or support work, so the quote can identify the stonework and separately arranged work. For stone-faced doors and island panels, see BOUNDLESS stone-faced cabinetry.
For cost drivers and quote comparison, read our Durban granite worktop cost and quote guide. To see the wider range of materials, compare all stone material families.
See more on our selected projects page.
Tell us your location, your layout and the look you have in mind. Optional: when you would like the work done, and whether you want supply only or supply and installation. Describe your project and mention the drawings or photos you have; we will confirm how to share them, including through WhatsApp.
Request a quote · Ask about a worktop sample
Durban: call 031 837 2848 · WhatsApp 072 978 0293; Verulam: call 032 533 0007 · WhatsApp 079 559 3813.
Branches: Verulam, MRA Industrial Park, 8 Garland Street: 032 533 0007 / 031 837 2847. Durban, 18 Westmeath Avenue, Bonela: 031 837 2848.
Contact us before visiting to confirm the location and the material you would like to see.
None suits every kitchen. Granite offers natural variation, quartz an engineered pattern, and sintered stone a different set of finish and format options. The exact product, thickness, edge and support are reviewed for your layout and use.
Compare the product name, material family, thickness, finish and permitted uses, alongside the current technical sheets and care instructions. Two colours that look alike on a small sample can differ in all of these.
A sample shows colour and finish. The layout shows where joints fall and which way the pattern runs across your worktop, which matters most on a long run or a large island.
It depends on the exact product. Suitability for an indoor kitchen is not outdoor approval, so ask us to confirm the product for your application.
Ask about a sample first, and contact us before visiting to confirm the location and the material you would like to see. For delivery and fitting scope, see our kitchen worktop service.
For a fitted granite worktop, the quote depends on the stone, fabrication, delivery and installation scope. This is a quote-comparison guide rather than a price list. It explains what a worktop quote should show and how to compare two quotes for the same kitchen, so the number you plan around covers the job you actually need.
Two kitchens of the same size can carry quite different quotes, and a per-square-metre figure on its own says little unless you know what it covers. Ask for the scope in writing, then compare like with like.
Request a quote for your layout, or read on first. Prefer to talk? Durban: call 031 837 2848 · WhatsApp 072 978 0293; Verulam: call 032 533 0007 · WhatsApp 079 559 3813.
Your StoneCo quote lists the included stonework and any separately arranged work. Use this table to read any quote, ours or anyone else's.
| Line in the quote | What to check |
|---|---|
| Material | The exact stone and colour, and how many slabs the layout needs. |
| Thickness | Whether every quote you compare uses the same thickness. |
| Edge profile | Eased, bevelled or mitred. Each involves different work. |
| Cut-outs | Openings for the sink, hob and taps, and which fixture models they are cut to. |
| Splashbacks and upstands | Included or not. |
| Joints | Where pieces meet, and how the layout was planned around the slab size. |
| Measuring and drawings | Whether measuring, drawings and templating are included or separately arranged, and who approves what before cutting. |
| Delivery | Who delivers, to where, and what access the piece needs. |
| Fitting | Supply only, or supply and installation. |
| Removal and lifting | Whether removal of old tops, disposal and any special lifting are included or separately arranged. |
| VAT and validity | Whether the figure includes or excludes VAT, and how long it is valid. |
| Exclusions | Who arranges plumbing and electrical connections, cupboards and supports, and waterproofing. |
We make worktops to your layout, with the material, edges and openings agreed before cutting. For what we make, fit and leave to other trades on a kitchen job, see our kitchen worktop service and fitting scope.
Treat these as questions to put to every supplier, not as a ranking.
No material is automatically the cheapest. The questions differ.
Range, colour, thickness and detailing all affect the comparison, and Lumina and Luxen have different technical data, care instructions and supplier terms. A quote for one cannot stand in for the other. For the choice itself, see our Durban kitchen countertops comparison, or compare all stone material families.
People search for a granite price per square metre because it feels simple. A flat rate rarely is. It might cover the slab alone, or it might include fabrication and fitting. It might include an edge and cut-outs, or not. It might include VAT, or not. It might refer to the finished worktop or to the slab area used.
If you are given a rate per square metre, ask:
We do not publish a current price list on this page. A figure only helps once the scope is clear, so we quote your actual layout.
Questions on any of this? Contact a branch with your location and a rough layout. Durban: call 031 837 2848 · WhatsApp 072 978 0293; Verulam: call 032 533 0007 · WhatsApp 079 559 3813.
Price matters, and the lowest figure on a page is only the lowest for you if two quotes cover the same job. Check exclusions before treating the lower figure as a saving: edge, cut-outs, delivery, fitting, removal and VAT can each sit inside one quote and outside another, and a different thickness or stone changes the comparison again.
To keep the comparison fair, compare these across every quote:
An example, for illustration only, of two quotes for the same layout. It is not a completed customer job and carries no figures.
| Quote A | Quote B | |
|---|---|---|
| Stone and thickness | Same stone, same thickness | Same stone, same thickness |
| Edge | Eased edge | Mitred edge |
| Cut-outs | Sink and hob | Sink, hob and tap holes |
| Splashback | Not listed | Included |
| Delivery and fitting | Supply only | Supply and installation |
| Removal of old tops | Not listed | Listed separately |
| VAT | Not stated | Stated |
The two figures cannot be compared until those lines match. Tell us your budget and ask which stone and edge options we can quote for the same layout.
You do not need final drawings to begin. Start with your location, rough layout and required scope; add fixture details if you know them.
Describe your project and mention the photos or drawings you have; we will confirm any further details needed. For fabrication and fitting, we plan the applicable stages with you; your quote sets out which stages and documents apply.
Ask which care guidance applies to your slab, including whether it needs sealing and how often. Ask for the technical sheet and care information for the exact product. A trivet for hot pans and a board for cutting are good general habits whichever material you choose.
Tell us your location, rough layout and the scope you want.
Durban: call 031 837 2848 · WhatsApp 072 978 0293; Verulam: call 032 533 0007 · WhatsApp 079 559 3813.
Branches: Verulam, MRA Industrial Park, 8 Garland Street: 032 533 0007 / 031 837 2847. Durban, 18 Westmeath Avenue, Bonela: 031 837 2848.
Contact us before visiting to confirm the location and the material you would like to see. You can also look at our selected projects.
It depends on the stone, thickness, edge, cut-outs, splashbacks, measuring, delivery and fitting. A single price per square metre would mislead, so we quote your actual layout.
Compare the same material, thickness, edges, openings and installation. Check delivery, removal, VAT and plumbing and electrical connections separately.
Not automatically. Range, colour, thickness and detailing all affect the comparison. Compare quotes only when the scope is the same.
Yes. We can quote the stonework for your own fitter to install. Tell us who takes the final sizes, who collects or receives the tops, and who installs them.
We are based in KwaZulu-Natal. Share your project location so we can confirm supply, delivery and installation arrangements.
A stone vanity top changes how a bathroom feels. It is also easy to order wrongly, because the top has to meet the basin, the taps, the wall, the plumbing and the support beneath it. This guide covers the stone side of that decision: the vanity top, integrated basins and the surfaces around them. It helps you measure and choose, so you can brief the fabricator clearly and compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.
Request a quote for your bathroom, or contact a branch. Durban: call 031 837 2848 · WhatsApp 072 978 0293; Verulam: call 032 533 0007 · WhatsApp 079 559 3813. You can do the checklist below first, or send a rough plan and sort the detail later.
A complete vanity unit can include the cupboard or frame, the top, the basin and the fittings. This guide covers choosing the stone components: a bathroom vanity with a stone top, or an integrated basin made from the same stone, plus the stone around them. It also helps you confirm who supplies the rest.
Confirm who supplies the cupboard or frame, basin, taps, support and stonework before comparing quotes. For what StoneCo agrees to make and install in stone, see vanities and bathrooms.
Rough sizes are enough to start a conversation. Agree who takes and confirms final dimensions before fabrication, especially for supply-only work. Gather these first:
For two basins, each waste outlet and tap position is needed.
The basin arrangement shapes the top more than almost any other choice.
Choose with cleaning and drainage in mind, as well as appearance. Whichever you choose, settle the basin and tap models before any opening is cut.
Options to discuss include granite, marble and quartz (Lumina Quartz) for vanity tops, basins, shower walls and bath surrounds. Natural onyx and Engineered Onyx are different families, so ask about each one separately. Luxen sintered stone is a separate family again, so ask whether it suits your design.
Not every family suits every top, basin or wet-area use. Look at the exact product for water exposure, cleaning products, repeated wetting and finish, and remember that a product chosen for a top needs a separate check for a fabricated basin. Ask for the technical sheet and care information for the exact product, and use the care instructions that come with it.
Compare all stone material families.
A stone top is only part of the detail. Separate what you must establish from who provides each part.
| Item | What to establish | Who confirms |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Whether walls, brackets or cupboards carry the top. A floating vanity needs a support and fixing detail. | Your builder, designer or cupboard maker. We give you the stone dimensions and weight for your chosen detail. This does not mean StoneCo supplies the supporting cabinet or frame. |
| Water | Stone cladding is the finish, not the waterproofing. | Your designer or installer provides the waterproofing system; we plan the stone fixing around it. |
| Plumbing | Wastes, taps, pipe access and drainage slopes. | Your plumber. We cut openings to your final basin and tap details. |
| Stone fixing and joints | What the quote lists as our installation and joint work, plus any adjacent wet-area work. | Your quote. |
| Room readiness | Access, and when the room will be ready. | Agree it with the installer. |
Use this with your cupboard maker, plumber and fabricator. Fill in what is already chosen, mark what is still undecided, and name who must confirm it before anything is cut.
| Item | Already chosen? | Still undecided | Who confirms before cutting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cupboard or frame | |||
| Basin type and model | |||
| Tap models and positions | |||
| Stone and edge | |||
| Final dimensions | |||
| Support and fixing | |||
| Waterproofing and plumbing |
You do not need final drawings. Start with these, and add the rest as you have it:
Mention the drawings and photos you have, including the plumbing wall; we will confirm any further details needed and how to share them, including through WhatsApp.
Your quote sets out which stages and documents apply to your job. For how fabrication, delivery and fitting are planned, see installation.
Building several bathrooms or repeated layouts? Add unit types and quantities, and use the developers and contractors or commercial projects routes rather than the homeowner enquiry.
Browse more on selected projects.
Tell us your location, the bathroom layout, your basin choice and the surfaces you want in stone.
Durban: call 031 837 2848 · WhatsApp 072 978 0293; Verulam: call 032 533 0007 · WhatsApp 079 559 3813.
Branches: Verulam, MRA Industrial Park, 8 Garland Street: 032 533 0007 / 031 837 2847. Durban, 18 Westmeath Avenue, Bonela: 031 837 2848.
Contact us before visiting to confirm the location and the material you would like to see.
Not necessarily. Confirm who supplies the cupboard or frame, basin, taps, support and stonework before comparing quotes, and tell us what you need so the quote can identify the stonework and anything separately arranged.
Confirm the condition and construction of the existing cupboard or frame, the basin and tap positions, and who takes and confirms the final dimensions. We cannot say an existing cupboard or basin can be reused without assessment.
We need each waste outlet and tap position, with the basin and tap models if chosen, and the plan or sketch of the bathroom.
Yes. We make integrated stone basins and check the design and support for your stone and your room.
No. Stone cladding is the finish, not the waterproofing. Your designer or installer provides the waterproofing system, and plumbing is a separate trade.
