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.
