A leathered finish is a textured and non-glossy surface. It’s attributes resemble leather in that you can feel subtle ridges similar to an orange peel. The leathered finish does not require any different treatment at all for maintenance making it a popular choice for customers who prefer a non-gloss surface.

Granite, Marble, or limestone that is honed has a matte or satin finish, rather than a high reflective polish. One feature of honed marble is that it doesn’t show etching as readily, or wear patterns on floors. It is preferred by some because “honed” stone has a less formal, softer appearance than polished stone.

Granite can vary in weight depending on the density of the material. Usually, the darker the rock is, the heavier it is. On average a granite slab weighs 1500lbs.

Most of our granite is sourced from Brazil, Italy, Saudi Arabia, India, and Africa.

Availability, locations of quarries in the world (due to transportation expenses), the rarity of the color, and the amount of labor required to extract the stones all affect the price of natural stone. Higher price doesn’t mean higher quality. All natural stones that Kootenay Granite carries, regardless of price, are of the same high quality.

Buying slabs is similar to buying fabric. Like a seamstress or tailor, Kootenay Granite buys the raw material and sells you a completed installation. How much material needed is determined by the layout and the amount of waste. Kootenay Granite will lay out your job in a way that will minimize the amount of waste […]

Although both are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and marble’s relatives – limestone, onyx and travertine) are very different from each other. The greatest difference lies in the porosity, softness and durability of marble when compared to granite.