Eighteen questions we get asked at the shop, answered the way we answer them there.
See all the work →Our shop is at 10125 Pacific Ave in Franklin Park, Illinois. We fabricate and install across Chicago, the North Shore, the western, northwest and south suburbs, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana. See all service areas.
Yes, by appointment. The shop is open Monday to Friday 8 to 5 and Saturday 8 to 2. Call or text (773) 600-6748 to set a time.
Marble, quartzite, quartz, porcelain, granite, and soapstone: kitchen countertops and islands, full-height backsplashes, bathroom vanities, shower walls, fireplace surrounds, bars, and outdoor kitchens.
Yes. See our pages for interior designers, architects, builders and contractors, and kitchen and bath studios.
The shop is run by its owner, Constantin, who has 25+ years in stone fabrication and installation.
Call or text (773) 600-6748, or send plans and photos through the contact page. We reply within one business day.
Yes — marble is softer and more porous than quartzite or granite. Acids like lemon and wine can etch a polished surface, and it will patina with use. Sealing helps with stains; nothing stops etching entirely. Many people choose marble for exactly that lived-in character.
Honed is a matte finish that hides etching and small marks better and reads more relaxed. Polished is brighter and shows the veining more vividly but shows wear sooner. For a busy kitchen we usually suggest honed; for a bath or fireplace, either works.
It can be, if you're comfortable with a surface that ages. If you want a countertop that looks the same in ten years, quartzite gives you the marble look with far harder wearing.
Generally yes. True quartzite is one of the hardest natural stones we fabricate — very resistant to scratching and heat, which is why it's the answer for people who love the look of marble but need it to survive a real kitchen.
Yes. Quartzite is dense but still natural stone; we seal it at install, and it should be resealed periodically. Sealed properly, it resists staining very well.
Quartzite is a natural stone, quarried and cut from slabs — every one different. Quartz is engineered: ground quartz bound in resin, consistent and non-porous. Similar names, very different materials.
No — heat is quartz's one real weakness. The resin can scorch or discolor. Use trivets. For everything else, quartz is the most forgiving surface we install.
No. Engineered quartz is non-porous, so it never needs sealing and resists stains from everyday spills like wine and lemon.
Most engineered quartz is not rated for direct sun — UV can discolor the resin over time. For outdoor kitchens we recommend granite or porcelain.
Polished is the classic high shine. Honed is a soft matte. Leathered is a brushed, lightly textured matte that hides fingerprints and water spots best — a favorite on dark granites and in outdoor kitchens.
Yes, but not often. Granite is dense; we seal it at install and it typically only needs resealing every few years depending on the stone and use.
Yes — it's one of the best choices. Granite handles heat, weather, and UV without fading, which is why most of our outdoor kitchens are granite.
Very. Large-format porcelain is heat-proof, UV-stable, scratch-resistant, and non-porous — you can set a hot pan on it. It is hard but brittle, so the fabrication and edge work matter; done right, it lasts.
Yes — that's where it shines. Slabs are large and thin, so we can run a single surface up a full-height backsplash, wrap a fireplace floor to ceiling, or clad a full shower wall with almost no seams.
No. Porcelain is fired non-porous, so it never needs sealing and resists staining.
Yes — it's a soft stone and it will pick up marks. The difference is that scratches sand out and oil away easily, and most people who choose soapstone want the surface to age and darken.
Only if you want the deep charcoal look. Mineral oil or wax darkens it evenly; left alone it stays a lighter grey and develops its own patina. Either is fine — it's a preference, not maintenance.
Yes — soapstone is heat-proof and non-porous. Hot pans go straight on it, and it never needs sealing.