Pick a slab that looks good in listing photos and still pencils. One crew templates, cuts, and installs, no schedule holes.
A flip countertop has to do two jobs: photograph well and keep the rehab on budget. The slab you choose affects both. ATX Granite King works with a partner slab floor for rental-grade and flip-grade stone, so you don’t pay for a showpiece when a clean, neutral slab will do.
The same crew that pulls your template shows up to install. That keeps the schedule tight and the handoffs clean. Sink cutout and setting are included, so there’s no extra invoice for the plumber to wait on.
Below is how to pick the right material, sequence the work against cabinets and appliances, and avoid the common schedule holes that push closing dates.
Walk the Austin slab floor with the crew. They’ll point out which lots photograph well under warm and cool lighting, which have consistent veining for seams, and which are priced for flips. The floor has 299 lots, so there’s always a neutral quartz or granite that fits the budget without looking cheap.
The same two or three people template, fabricate, and install. No subcontractors, no schedule gaps between trades. The crew gives written dates with the quote, so the GC can lock in cabinet install and appliance delivery without overlap.
The template includes the sink location. The shop cuts the hole and sets the sink, so the plumber doesn’t have to wait for a second crew. That keeps the flip on track and avoids a separate invoice for sink work.
Flip counters need to look good in listing photos but don’t need to be museum-grade. The partner slab floor has neutral quartz and granite lots priced for flips. Quartz is non-porous, needs no sealing, and photographs well under both warm and cool lighting. It’s also consistent, so seams disappear in photos. The downside is that quartz can discolor under long UV exposure, so it’s not ideal for outdoor kitchens or sunrooms.
Granite is natural, so every slab is different. That can work for or against you: a busy pattern can look cheap in photos, while a clean, neutral slab can look high-end. Granite is hard and heat-tolerant, but it’s porous and needs sealing. The crew can seal it during install, but it’ll need re-sealing down the road. For flips, that’s usually the next owner’s problem.
Marble and dolomite photograph beautifully but etch from acids like lemon and vinegar. That’s fine for a flip if the buyer is warned, but it’s a risk if the market expects low-maintenance surfaces. Quartzite is hard and looks like marble, but some slabs sold as quartzite are softer and behave more like marble. The crew can help you pick a slab that’s genuinely hard, not just labeled that way.
Counters go in after cabinets but before appliances. The template is pulled after cabinets are installed and shimmed level. The crew marks the cabinet tops, then fabricates the slab off-site. That gives the GC a window to run plumbing and electrical before the counters go in. Appliances are set after counters, so the installers can scribe edges for a tight fit.
If appliances are delivered early, they can sit in the garage or a spare room. The crew won’t store them, but they’ll work around them if they’re on-site. The key is to avoid having appliances block the install path. The crew needs a clear walkway from the driveway to the kitchen, so plan appliance delivery for after counters are in or coordinate a storage spot.
For flips, the biggest schedule risk is cabinets not being level. The crew can shim the template, but if the cabinets are wildly out of level, the countertop may not sit flush. That’s a rework the GC has to handle before template day. The crew will call it out during the site visit, so there’s no surprise on install day.
The biggest schedule hole is waiting on a slab that’s out of stock. The Austin slab floor has 299 lots, but some colors sell out fast. The crew can hold a slab for a few days with a deposit, but if the flip is delayed, the slab may get sold to another job. The solution is to pick a slab that’s in stock and lock it in early.
Another hole is template day being pushed because cabinets aren’t ready. The crew gives written dates with the quote, but if the GC delays cabinet install, the template gets pushed. That cascades into fabrication and install, which can push closing. The crew will work around minor delays, but major ones mean rescheduling, which may not line up with the next available slot.
The last hole is appliances not being on-site when counters go in. The crew can’t install around missing appliances, so the GC has to coordinate delivery for the day after counters. If appliances are late, the crew moves to the next job, and the flip waits for the next available slot. That’s why the crew gives written dates: to lock in the schedule and avoid gaps.
The decision comes down to three things: how it photographs, how it fits the budget, and how it fits the schedule. Quartz is the safest choice for flips because it’s consistent, needs no sealing, and photographs well. It’s also the most predictable in terms of price and availability. The downside is that it can’t handle direct heat, so it’s not ideal for outdoor kitchens or homes with high-end buyers who want a natural look.
Granite is a good middle ground. It’s natural, so it photographs well, but it’s also hard and heat-tolerant. The downside is that it’s porous and needs sealing, which may not be a selling point for buyers. The crew can seal it during install, but it’s still a maintenance item. For flips, the key is to pick a neutral slab with minimal veining, so it doesn’t look dated in a few years.
Marble and dolomite are risky for flips because they etch from acids. That’s fine if the market expects it, but it’s a turnoff in areas where buyers want low-maintenance surfaces. Quartzite is a safer alternative because it looks like marble but is harder. The crew can help you pick a slab that’s genuinely hard, not just labeled quartzite. The downside is that quartzite is more expensive than granite or quartz, so it may not fit the budget.
Call or email to set up a slab walk. The crew will meet you at the Austin slab floor to pick a lot that fits the flip’s budget and aesthetic. They’ll give a straight quote on the spot, including template, fabrication, install, and sink cutout. The quote comes with written dates, so the GC can plan cabinets and appliances around the countertop schedule.
If the flip is still in demo, the crew can do a site visit to check cabinet layout and appliance locations. That helps avoid surprises on template day. The crew works seven days a week, so they can accommodate tight schedules. The key is to lock in the slab early, so there’s no delay on the back end.
For rental-grade or flip-grade stone, the crew works with a partner slab floor. That keeps the price down without sacrificing quality. The partner floor has neutral quartz and granite lots that photograph well and fit the budget. The crew will point out which slabs are best for flips, so you don’t have to guess.
$38 per square foot, cut, measure, and install included. Jobs over 1,000 square feet: $30 per square foot.
Sink cutout and sink set are included in the fabrication work. Non standard work is still quoted before work begins. Send the rough square footage and the rooms involved, or call (512) 297-7493 for a straight quote.
Quartz is the safest choice. It’s consistent, needs no sealing, and photographs well under both warm and cool lighting. Granite is a good alternative if you want a natural look, but it needs sealing and can look dated if the pattern is too busy. The crew can show you slabs that photograph well and fit the budget.
Lock in the slab early and stick to the written dates the crew gives with the quote. The biggest holes come from waiting on out-of-stock slabs or cabinets not being ready for template day. The crew can hold a slab for a few days, but if the flip is delayed, the slab may get sold to another job.
No. The crew needs appliances on-site to scribe edges for a tight fit. If appliances are missing, the crew moves to the next job, and the flip waits for the next available slot. Coordinate appliance delivery for the day after counters go in.
Marble etches from acids like lemon and vinegar, regardless of sealing. That’s fine if the market expects it, but it’s a turnoff in areas where buyers want low-maintenance surfaces. Quartzite is a harder alternative that looks like marble, but some slabs sold as quartzite behave more like marble.
Call or email to set up a slab walk. The crew will meet you at the Austin slab floor to pick a lot and give a straight quote on the spot. The quote includes template, fabrication, install, and sink cutout, with written dates for the schedule.
Tell us the rooms, the rough square footage and what you have in mind for countertops for a flip. You get a number for the whole job, in writing, before anyone cuts anything.