Beyond quartz and granite
Other countertop materials we fabricate
Besides quartz and granite, Calder fabricates and installs solid surface, soapstone and dolomite countertops from our Henderson shop, and takes on smaller remnant projects from leftover slab. Quartz and granite go into most kitchens. Below is what each of the other materials is, where it fits, and where it doesn’t.
If you already know you want quartz, quartzite, or granite, start with those pages instead. This page covers the less common materials and smaller projects, which get the same care from us.
Other materials
Solid surface
Solid surface is a manufactured, non-porous material. Once it’s fabricated it has no visible seams, because the pieces are joined and blended into one continuous surface. People often choose it for bathroom vanities and anywhere a surface without visible seams matters more to them than the natural veining of stone.
The drawback: it can’t take heat the way natural or engineered stone can, so we wouldn’t suggest it next to a cooktop without protection. It also scratches more easily than quartz or granite. Light scratches can often be buffed out, which you can’t do with most other surfaces. That helps in a bathroom, where a counter gets a lot of everyday contact and far less heat than in a kitchen.
Where it fits best: bathroom vanities and secondary surfaces where one continuous run with no seams matters more to you than heat and scratch resistance.
Other materials
Soapstone
Soapstone is a quarried natural stone with a soft, matte look and a slightly soapy feel, which is where the name comes from. It darkens and develops a patina over time. Some homeowners want exactly that, and others find it unpredictable. Soapstone is non-porous enough that it doesn’t need sealing the way granite does, though many owners oil it now and then to even out the patina.
The drawback: it’s softer than granite or quartzite, so it scratches and dents more easily, and its color will change over the years whether you want it to or not. If you want a counter that looks the same in year ten as it did on install day, choose something else. If you like a surface that shows its age and use, soapstone’s changes are part of why you’d pick it.
Where it fits best: kitchens and bars where the owner wants that aged, lived-in look.
Other materials
Dolomite
Dolomite is a natural stone often compared to marble because it is pale and veined. It is harder and more durable than true marble. The look is quiet and close to the marble look designers often ask for, and the stone is less soft than marble.
The drawback: it’s still a natural stone, so it resists scratches and stains less well than engineered quartz, and it needs sealing from time to time. It is more durable than marble and less durable than quartzite. If low maintenance over the long run matters more to you than the exact marble look, quartzite is worth a look first.
Where it fits best: kitchens and bathrooms where the owner wants the marble look and is fine with the care natural stone needs, including sealing.
Other materials
Remnant work
Remnant work means building a smaller project from slab pieces left over from larger jobs, instead of buying a full new slab for it. It’s a practical option for a small vanity, a bar top, a fireplace hearth, or any project small enough for a remnant to cover.
The drawback: remnant availability depends on what’s left over in the shop at the time, so your material and color options are limited to what we have on hand. It suits a homeowner who is flexible on the exact stone and mainly wants a smaller project done well and quickly.
Where it fits best: small vanities, bar tops, hearths and other small pieces where you care less about matching a specific color. A remnant job also puts a usable piece of slab that’s already in the shop to work instead of letting it go to waste.
Before you decide
What about marble?
We fabricate marble when a project specifically calls for it. We don’t feature it as a main material because it stains and scratches more easily than the harder stones on this site. If you like the marble look, our marble alternatives guide covers quartzite and quartz options that come close to that look with less upkeep.
In the shop
How we fabricate these materials
Every material on this page goes through the same Henderson shop and the same crew as our quartz, granite and Dekton work. We measure with a laser and cut on a five-axis bridge saw, and water jets keep the shop clean while we cut. The crew that cuts your piece installs it, for a full kitchen or a single vanity built from a remnant. All of it is covered by the same license as everything else we cut: Brady Builds LLC, NSCB license 0092206 (C-19 Terrazzo and Marble). If you’re still deciding between these and the more common options, the materials hub compares them all.
Start my quoteAnswers
Solid surface, soapstone and dolomite questions
- What countertop materials are there besides quartz and granite?
- Calder also fabricates solid surface, soapstone and dolomite, and takes on remnant projects built from leftover slab. Each one suits a different kind of project, as described above.
- Is solid surface a good choice for a kitchen countertop?
- It can be, especially if you want a counter with no visible seams. It doesn’t hold up to heat and scratches as well as quartz or granite, so it’s more often used for bathroom vanities than for a main kitchen counter.
- Does soapstone need to be sealed?
- Not the way granite does. Many owners oil it now and then to even out the natural darkening it develops over time.
- Is dolomite the same as marble?
- No. Dolomite looks like marble, pale and veined, and it’s a harder, more durable stone. As a natural stone it still needs sealing from time to time, which engineered quartz does not.
- What is remnant work, and is it cheaper?
- Remnant projects use leftover slab pieces instead of a full new slab, which makes them a practical fit for smaller pieces like vanities or hearths. Material and color options depend on what’s in the shop at the time. We don’t publish remnant pricing. If you start a quote, we’ll go over what’s available and what it costs.
Specifying for a client? Visit our trade page.