You pick the actual slab at our Austin slab floor. Our crew templates, fabricates, and installs your island top with overhangs, cutouts, and waterfall ends as needed.
A kitchen island countertop is a large piece of stone that usually needs extra planning. The slab has to be long enough, the overhangs have to be supported, and any cutouts for a cooktop or prep sink have to be placed precisely. With ATX Granite King, you come to our slab floor in Austin and pick the actual slab you want. Our crew does the templating, fabrication, and installation from start to finish. We handle the whole job so the island top is one piece or a clean seam if the island is longer than the slab.
We work with a direct importer slab floor that has 299 lots on the floor. That means you have a wide selection of granite, quartzite, engineered quartz, marble, dolomite, soapstone, porcelain slabs, and even semi precious stone. For rental or flip grade stone, we have a partner that offers lower cost options so you don't have to pay for a showpiece slab for a rental property. The stone you pick is the stone you get. No substitutions.
Island tops have specific needs: seating overhangs need support from legs, brackets, or corbels. Waterfall ends require a separate piece mitered at the corner. Seaming a long island means matching the pattern. And cutouts for a cooktop or prep sink have to be templated exactly. Our crew has done these jobs across the I-35 corridor from Austin to Temple. We give you a written quote with dates, and we are reachable seven days a week at (512) 297-7493 or info@atxgraniteking.com.
Island countertops often have a seating overhang past the base cabinets. The amount of overhang that can be cantilevered depends on the stone type and thickness. Granite and quartzite are generally strong enough for a 10 inch overhang without support, but any overhang beyond that needs legs, brackets, or a corbel. Our crew will discuss your seating plan during templating and recommend the right support so the stone does not crack under weight.
A waterfall end continues the countertop down the side of the island to the floor. This is done by cutting a mitered corner on a single slab so the grain matches around the corner. It requires careful templating and fabrication because the miter must be tight and the slab must be long enough. Waterfall ends add cost and material use, but they give a clean, continuous look. Our crew handles the miter and seam at the corner.
Cutouts for a drop-in cooktop or a prep sink are done in our shop after templating. We cut the exact opening and reinforce the edges if needed. The sink cutout and sink set are included in our fabrication work. For a cooktop, you need to provide the model and dimensions so the cutout is precise. Keep in mind that cutouts create stress points in the stone. Natural stone can crack if the cutout is too close to an edge or if the stone has a natural fissure. We inspect the slab and position cutouts to avoid weak areas.
An island countertop is often the centerpiece of the kitchen, so the slab you choose matters for both looks and function. The size and pattern of the stone affect whether the island can be cut from a single slab or if a seam will be needed. Most slabs come in standard sizes around 9 feet by 5 feet, which fits many islands. But if your island is longer than the slab, your crew will seam the pieces. You can see the seam location during templating and decide if you want it centered or off to one side.
When you visit our slab floor in Austin, you can lay out the full size of your island on the slab to see where the pattern will fall. This is especially important for granite, marble, or quartzite with veining. You can also request to see the slab in natural light. Our crew can help you mark the approximate cutout locations on the slab so you see if any veins or fissures are near the cooktop or sink area. This is a free part of the selection process.
For rental grade or flip grade stone, we have a partner slab floor that offers good looking stone at a lower cost. Those slabs are still natural stone, but they may have more variation or minor surface imperfections. They are suitable for a rental property where you want a durable top without the high price of a showpiece slab. You can see those slabs and pick one just like with our main floor. The crew handles the same templating and fabrication regardless of the stone grade.
A kitchen island with a seating overhang is a common request. The overhang is the part of the countertop that extends past the base cabinets so people can sit at the island. The typical overhang for seating is 12 to 15 inches. However, natural stone is heavy and brittle. A granite or quartzite slab that is 3 centimeters thick can usually cantilever about 10 inches without support. Beyond that, the stone needs additional support to prevent cracking or breaking over time.
Support options include wooden legs, metal brackets, or stone corbels. The legs can be painted or stained to match the island. Brackets are hidden under the overhang. Corbels are decorative stone supports that match the countertop. Our crew will measure the overhang and the stone type at the templating visit and recommend the best support. We do not install the supports ourselves, but we can advise on what to buy and where to place them so the stone sits correctly.
There is a downside to large overhangs: even with support, the stone can be damaged if someone sits on the edge or puts heavy weight on it. The stone does not flex like wood. It is also possible for the seam to fail if the overhang is over a seam. For that reason, we recommend keeping the overhang on the same piece as the main island top if possible. If your island has a cooktop or prep sink, the overhang area should be clear of those cutouts to avoid stress concentration.
A waterfall end is a countertop that continues down the side of the island to the floor. It is made by cutting a 45 degree miter on the end of the top piece and a matching miter on the side piece, then gluing them together. The result is a seamless corner where the pattern wraps around if the pieces come from the same slab. This is a popular look in modern kitchens, but it requires precise fabrication and careful handling during installation.
The process starts at the slab floor. You pick a slab that is long enough to provide both the top and the side piece. The side piece is usually a strip cut from the same slab. The crew templates the island with the exact overhang and the floor clearance. In the shop, the miter is cut, polished, and dry fit before the final glue up. The seam is then sanded and polished to match the rest of the surface. The result is a clean corner with no visible seam if done well.
The downside of waterfall ends is that they add cost and material. The side piece uses part of the slab that could have been used for another project. The miter cut also requires skilled fabrication. If the stone has heavy veining, the pattern may not align perfectly around the corner, which is a limitation of the natural material. Also, the floor under the waterfall must be level. Our crew will note any issues during templating and discuss them with you before fabrication.
If your island is longer than the slab you pick, we will need to seam the top. A seam is a joint between two pieces of stone. The goal is to make the seam as invisible as possible. That starts with the slab selection. You can choose a slab with a flowing pattern that can be matched across the seam. Or you can choose a slab with a consistent grain that hides the seam. Our crew will help you decide where to place the seam so it is least noticeable, such as off center or in line with a cabinet door.
The seam is cut in the shop with a diamond blade and then glued with a color matched epoxy. The epoxy is sanded flush with the stone surface. A good seam is nearly invisible, but it is still a joint. Over time, the seam may become slightly visible as the stone expands and contracts with temperature changes. This is normal for natural stone. For engineered quartz, the seam is more consistent because the material is uniform, but the glue line can still be seen on close inspection.
We recommend that you look at the seam location during the templating visit. You can see the slabs laid out and mark the seam line. The crew will also check the alignment of the island base to make sure the seam is over a solid support. Avoid placing a seam directly over a dishwasher or sink where movement could stress the joint. For very long islands, we may need more than one seam. Our crew will discuss all options and give you a clear plan before fabrication starts.
To start, call us at (512) 297-7493 or email info@atxgraniteking.com. We will ask for the rough dimensions of your island and whether you need a cooktop or prep sink cutout. Then we schedule a time for you to visit our slab floor in Austin. You can also visit without an appointment during regular hours. We are reachable seven days a week. Bring your cabinet plans or measurements so we can help you pick a slab that fits the island size and shows the pattern the way you want.
At the slab floor, you choose the actual slab. We mark it reserved for your job. Then our crew comes to your home or site to do the templating. We measure the island base, note the overhang, and mark the cutout locations. We also check for level and support. After templating, we give you a written quote with the price and the dates for fabrication and installation. We do not promise same day or next day work. The timeline depends on the slab availability and our schedule.
The crew that does the templating is the same crew that does the fabrication and installation. There is no subcontracting. We cut the stone in our shop, polish the edges, and install the top on site. Sink cutout and sink set are included. For a cooktop, you need to provide the appliance before the cutout can be made. We do not install the cooktop itself, but we cut the opening to the manufacturer specifications. The whole process is straightforward. Call us for a straight quote.
$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.
Not for most natural stone. Granite and quartzite can usually cantilever about 10 inches without support, but anything beyond that needs legs, brackets, or corbels. The stone is heavy and can crack under the weight of a person leaning on it. Engineered quartz is similar. We recommend support for overhangs over 10 inches to prevent damage. The downside is that supports add to the island's look and cost, but they are necessary for safety and durability.
We give you written dates with your quote. The timeline depends on the slab you choose, the complexity of the cutouts, and our current schedule. It is not a fixed number of days. We do not promise same day or next day work. You can ask about the estimated timeline when you call. We will be honest about the wait. The crew works in the order of templating, so once you pick a slab, the process moves forward.
Yes. The sink cutout and the sink set are included in our fabrication work. You provide the sink, and we cut the opening and install the sink into the stone. This applies to a prep sink or a main sink in the island. We also handle the faucet hole if needed. For a cooktop cutout, we cut the opening but do not install the cooktop itself. The sink set is included in the price we quote you.
You can, but there is a downside. Engineered quartz is non porous and does not need sealing, but it can be damaged by direct heat from a hot pan or a gas cooktop. The resin in quartz can scorch or discolor. Granite is more heat tolerant and is a better choice near a cooktop. If you want quartz, use a trivet or avoid placing hot pots directly on the surface. For a cooktop with a backsplash area, quartz is fine as long as the heat is not direct.
Yes. Waterfall ends require more material from the slab, which increases the cost. The mitered corner must be fabricated carefully, and if the stone has heavy veining, the pattern may not match perfectly around the corner. That is a limitation of natural stone. Also, the floor under the waterfall must be perfectly level or the gap at the bottom will be noticeable. The crew will check this during templating. Waterfall ends look clean, but they are not a budget option.
Tell us the rooms, the rough square footage and what you have in mind for kitchen island countertops. You get a number for the whole job, in writing, before anyone cuts anything.