What Is Granite?

Granite is an igneous rock — formed deep underground from slowly cooling magma over millions of years. That slow cooling is what creates the interlocking crystal structure that makes granite so incredibly hard and durable. Every slab is genuinely unique. The minerals present during formation — feldspar, mica, quartz, hornblende — determine the colour and pattern. No two slabs are identical, ever.

When we say “natural stone,” granite is what most people picture. It’s been used in construction for thousands of years — think Egyptian obelisks, Roman columns, Aberdeen’s entire city centre. As a kitchen worktop, it brings that same permanence into your home. Fit granite once and you’ll never need to replace it.

Why People Choose Granite

Quartz might outsell it these days, but granite still has qualities that no engineered stone can replicate. Plenty of our customers look at both and end up choosing granite for very good reasons.

Heat Resistance

This is granite’s party trick. You can put a roasting tin straight from a 250-degree oven onto granite and it won’t bat an eyelid. No scorch marks, no discolouration, no damage whatsoever. It’s formed in magma — your casserole dish isn’t going to trouble it. If you’re the kind of cook who’s always juggling hot pans, granite is your worktop.

Scratch Resistance

Granite is harder than your kitchen knives. You could chop directly on it without leaving a mark (though we’d say use a board — it’ll blunt your knives faster than anything). Day-to-day, it’s virtually scratch-proof.

Unique Character

Every granite slab tells a geological story. The veining, the crystal clusters, the subtle shifts in tone — these aren’t printed patterns or factory designs. They’re the result of millions of years of geological pressure. Some people want that consistency that quartz offers, but plenty of our customers specifically want something one-of-a-kind. That’s granite’s territory.

Property Value

Estate agents know it. Buyers know it. A granite kitchen worktop signals quality. It’s a genuine selling point when the time comes to move, and it doesn’t date the way trends-driven materials can.

Popular Granite Colours

We source granite from quarries across Brazil, India, Scandinavia, southern Africa and beyond. Here are the stones our customers ask for most:

• Absolute Black (Zimbabwe) — deep, consistent black with a mirror-like polish. The go-to for modern kitchens. Pairs brilliantly with white gloss units.
• Star Galaxy (India) — jet black background scattered with tiny gold flecks that catch the light. Probably the most recognisable granite in the UK.
• Kashmir White (India) — soft white background with grey and garnet mineral deposits. Subtle, elegant, works in both contemporary and traditional settings.
• Baltic Brown (Finland) — warm brown with large circular feldspar crystals. A classic that’s been popular here for twenty-plus years and still looks handsome.
• Blue Pearl (Norway) — dark grey-blue with shimmering labradorite crystals. Genuinely catches the eye — visitors always comment on it.
• Tan Brown (India) — rich brown and black with golden highlights. Warm and inviting, especially with oak or walnut cabinetry.

These are just the most popular options. We have access to hundreds of granite varieties. If you’ve seen a particular stone online or in a showroom, chances are we can source it. Ask us — we’ll track it down.

Not Just for Kitchens

Most of our granite work goes into kitchens, but the stone is versatile enough for plenty of other applications:

• Kitchen islands — granite handles large spans well. We regularly fit island tops over two metres long from a single piece.
• Bathroom vanity tops — granite shrugs off water and toiletries. A polished black granite vanity top looks properly luxurious.
• Fireplace surrounds and hearths — heat-proof, obviously, and the visual weight of granite suits a fireplace perfectly.
• Outdoor BBQ areas and garden bars — granite handles frost, rain and UV without fading or cracking. We’ve fitted outdoor kitchen tops that still look perfect years later.

Looking After Granite

Let’s be straight — granite does need a bit more care than quartz. Not a lot, but some.

Daily cleaning is simple. Warm water, a drop of washing-up liquid, a soft cloth. Job done. Avoid anything acidic or bleach-based — it can dull the polish over time.

Sealing is the main thing. Granite is a natural stone with microscopic pores. A quality impregnating sealer fills those pores and stops liquids soaking in. We seal every worktop we fit before we leave your kitchen. After that, a re-seal once a year keeps it protected. It takes about fifteen minutes — you just wipe the sealer on, leave it for ten minutes, buff it off. Easy enough.

If you keep up with the annual seal, granite is remarkably low-maintenance. We’ve seen worktops we fitted a decade ago that still look as good as the day they went in.

Our Fitting Process

We handle everything from first phone call to final polish. Here’s how it works:

1. Initial chat — call us or send over photos and measurements of your kitchen. We’ll discuss stone options, give you a guide price, and arrange a home visit if you’d like to see samples against your cabinets.
2. Templating — our templater visits with a digital laser system and maps your kitchen to the millimetre. Every cutout, every angle, every edge — all recorded precisely.
3. Slab selection — for granite, this matters more than with quartz. Because every slab is different, we can arrange for you to visit the stockyard and hand-pick your exact slabs. This is especially worthwhile for heavily veined or movement-rich stones.
4. Fabrication — your worktops are cut, edge-profiled and polished in our workshop.
5. Installation — our fitters install, seal, plumb in your sink and reconnect your hob. Most kitchens are done in a single day.

Granite Worktop Prices

Granite worktops start from around £300 per square metre installed, covering the stone, templating, fabrication, fitting, initial sealing and VAT. Exotic or rare granites — the heavily veined Brazilian stones, for instance — can cost more. But a beautiful, hard-wearing granite kitchen is well within reach for most budgets.

We’ll always give you an itemised quote with no hidden costs. Get a free quote and see exactly what your kitchen would cost.

Why IP Stone?

We’re a dedicated stone worktop specialist based in Thame, Oxfordshire. Not a kitchen company that dabbles in stone — this is what we do, every day, and have done for over 15 years. Our own team templates, fabricates and fits. No middlemen, no subcontractors. Just a small, experienced crew who take pride in getting every joint tight and every edge perfect.

We cover London, the Home Counties and the wider South East. Whether it’s a compact galley kitchen or a sprawling open-plan space, the same care goes into every job.