Granite

Finish types: Polished, sandblasted, brushed, flamed.

Origin: Granite is a igneous rock that contains at least 20% quartz by volume, but also some mica and feldspar. It’s mined from around the world, including quarries in India, Brazil, Norway, Italy and China. The largest granite quarry in the Unites States is located near Barre, Vermont.

Environmental Impact: Medium. Granite is durable and recyclable, but it requires large amounts of energy for transport, and mining is very resource intensive.

Pros: Each slab is unique, hard, durable, scratch-resistant, impervious to stains, heat, and water when sealed, relatively easy to clean, comes in all colors, still highly covetable with an even higher resale value.

Cons: Expensive, heavy, needs annual resealing, ubiquitous, “granite fatigue.”

Installation: Very labor-intensive, expensive.

Price range: $45-$400 per square foot. Varies depending on stone rarity, thickness, origin, and manufacturing labor. Buyer beware: this price often doesnot include hidden costs like installation, resealing, edge details, templating, and special finishes. A standard size kitchen can expect to pay $2,500+ for a renovation.