Granite countertops in Dallas, or anywhere else in the country, are all the rage, and for good reason. Granite offers an unmatched combination of beauty and performance. The appearance of natural stone speaks for itself. Along with its elegance, granite is stain- and heat-resistant and all but impervious to scratching, cracking, and peeling. It's been around for millions of years and should last longer than your house itself.
Texas Granite for Dallas Granite Countertops
You may wonder why granite is so expensive since it's created naturally by Mother Nature. It may also surprise you to learn only a small part of the reason for the cost is the availability of the stone. More so, the high cost is created by the multi-step process of quarrying the stone, shipping it through a dealer to granite fabricator, and then on to the installer and your home. Naturally, the shorter the distance the stone must travel the cheaper the expense.
Fortunately, Texas has its own granite supply. In fact, the famous Granite Mountain is located just 300 miles from Dallas, not exactly a stone's throw but a lot closer than many homeowners around the country. Stone from Granite Mountain was used for such buildings as The Wyndham Hotel and the State Capitol Building.
Other Stone Countertops in Dallas Homes
Of course, Texas granite is only one option for a natural stone countertop. Granite in other parts of the country may offer a different texture and color. Marble, sandstone, quartz, slate, and other stones, many of which are here in Texas, also make for great countertops. Whichever stone you choose, make sure you know exactly where it's coming from. Different quarries have different stone densities and performance parameters for your day-to-day kitchen activity. Even the section within the quarry where the stone comes from will influence the quality of the stone. Stone from the top layers of a quarry, for example, often have reduced structural integrity. This can make for more affordable stone counters, but you may have problems with your counter down the road.
Cost of Dallas Granite Countertops
Your stone selection determines the price. Not including installation, granite typically runs in the neighborhood of $50-$150/square foot. ServiceMagic keeps tabs on all the home improvement projects we process to give you an even better idea of what you can expect. The national average for a granite counter totals about $4,500. Small countertop installations and homeowners who don't mind having rare stone shipped across the country create a wide price range of $1,500 to $20,000. Choosing a local stone quarry will probably save you a few hundred dollars when it's all said and done.
Project Length of Dallas Granite Counter Installations
The same project tracking that tells us about the cost of granite counters suggests it'll take about one to two weeks to get your counter installed. You can probably get your counter installed around a week if you choose local stone, but it's rare to see projects completed in under a week. Again, the stone must go through a fairly involved process before it's ready to be placed in your kitchen. Of course, many homeowners install a stone counter as part of a full kitchen remodel. This makes stone fabrication and delivery less of an issue, as full kitchen remodel tend to take four to six weeks to complete.

Marcus Pickett is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.