We install quartz, granite and marble countertops in Miami kitchens and bathrooms. The old top comes off first, so the template is taken on the bare cabinets. Then the stone is set level, the seams are filled, and granite or marble gets sealed. AP STONE INC. is family-owned, and our own crew does the install, in English or Spanish.
Quartz, Granite & Marble
Countertop installation in Miami follows the same order in a condo tower or a single-family house. You choose the stone. The old top comes off. The new one is measured, cut, set and sealed. Each step depends on the one before it. Rushing one is how a top ends up with a gap at the wall, or a seam where one side sits higher.
The template is taken with digital laser measurement after the old countertop is removed, right on the bare cabinets. An old top can hide a cabinet that sits out of level or a wall that bows. Measuring on the cabinets catches both before any stone is cut. The downside is real: you have no counter until the new one is in. Set up a small prep area in another room.
The exact slab is chosen before it is cut. We go with you to the slab yard, because two slabs of the same stone can differ in color and vein, and you want to see the one that will be cut.
Next, the slab is cut to that template on CNC saws, and the sink, cooktop and faucet cutouts are made by waterjet. This is when the seams and the openings are fixed for good. An opening can sometimes be made bigger on site. It can never be made smaller.
On install day, each piece is set, shimmed level and glued down to the cabinets. Seams are filled with color-matched epoxy and pulled tight so both sides sit flush. An undermount sink is fastened to the underside of the stone. Then a licensed plumber reconnects the sink, faucet and disposal. Granite and marble are sealed last; quartz does not need it.
A countertop installer can shim small gaps, but stone will not bend to fit a cabinet that rocks. So the cabinets must be set, level and fastened together before the template. If one cabinet sits low, the stone that bridges it can crack the first time it carries weight.
Pick your sink, faucet and cooktop before the template, and have the sink on site. Each opening is cut to that exact model, so a later swap may not fit. The range and refrigerator spaces should be at their final widths too, so the stone ends where the appliances need it.
In a condo tower, the building is part of the plan. Brickell, Downtown Miami, Miami Beach and Aventura have many high-rise condo towers, and many condo associations set work hours and require elevator reservations. A full-length slab may not fit in the elevator cab. Measure the door, the depth and the height of the cab before the template, so the seams can be laid out for pieces that fit.
Each seam should sit on solid cabinet support, away from the sink and cooktop openings, where the stone is narrowest. The honest downside is a seam you might not need in a house. If that bothers you, choose a stone with a busy, even pattern. It hides a seam much better than marble with long, bold veins.
The steps above stay the same for every stone. What changes is the upkeep, and how much the surface forgives. Quartz is engineered stone held together with resin. It never needs sealing. But a hot pan set straight on it can scorch the resin. Direct sun can fade it too, so it is a poor pick for an outdoor kitchen.
Granite is natural stone and handles heat well. It needs a sealer, and some slabs soak up more than others. Ask to see the full slab before it is cut, not just a small sample. Two slabs sold under the same granite name can look very different.
Marble is the softest of the three. Lemon juice, wine and vinegar leave dull etch marks, and sealing does not stop them. Choose it if you like a surface that shows its age. Skip it if you want a kitchen counter that looks new for years.
Stone rarely fails in the middle of a run. It fails where it hangs past the cabinets, or where a hole is cut through it. A short overhang at the front edge carries itself. A seating overhang at an island often needs hidden steel bars or corbels underneath. How far the stone can reach on its own depends on the material and its thickness, so settle it before the slab is cut. A deep overhang with nothing under it can hold for years, then crack the day someone sits on it.
Sink openings should have rounded inside corners. A sharp inside corner is where a crack likes to start. Cooktop openings need a little clearance around the unit for heat. In a heavily veined slab, place the openings so the pattern still runs across the counter.
An eased edge, which is a square edge with the corners softened, is the easiest to live with. It chips less and wipes clean. A mitered edge makes a slab look thick, which is why it shows up on waterfall islands. But it is a glued joint on the most exposed corner. In a busy family kitchen, the eased edge is the safer pick. Choose the edge before the stone is cut, because changing it later is hard or impossible.
Air near Biscayne Bay and the ocean often carries salt, and humidity is high for most of the year. In an air-conditioned kitchen, that matters less. On an outdoor kitchen, a balcony bar or a counter by the pool, it matters a lot.
A penetrating countertop sealer soaks into granite or marble and slows down how fast spills sink in. It buys you time to wipe up oil, coffee or wine. It does not make the stone stain-proof. On marble, it does not stop etching either.
To check your sealer, put a few drops of water on the stone. If they bead up, the sealer is still working. If the stone turns darker, it is time to reseal. Test near the sink and the stove first, because that is where sealer wears off soonest.
Seal only clean, fully dry stone. Wet stone does not take a penetrating sealer well, and in humid weather it dries slowly. Run the AC and give it time before you start. For daily cleaning, use a pH-neutral stone cleaner, since vinegar and many all-purpose sprays wear sealer down. Outdoor stone near the water needs more care: rinse salt film off with fresh water, and reseal more often than you would indoors.
Call us at (754) 202-0447 or use our contact page to book a free estimate. We measure first and quote after.
Why Choose AP STONE INC.
AP STONE INC. is a family business. Your countertops are set by our own crew.
We measure first and quote after. The estimate costs you nothing.
Countertops and slab backsplashes are templated with digital laser measurement, right on the bare cabinets.
Our base is in North Miami Beach, and we work across all three counties.
Our team brings more than 20 years of experience setting stone and tile.
Bilingual team ready to assist you in English or Spanish from consultation through project completion.
"AP Stone fabricated and installed a Calacatta waterfall island for our Brickell apartment. Working in a high-rise with limited elevator access was no problem for their team — they brought the slabs up in pieces and seamed them perfectly on-site. Incredible work."
Andrea M.
Brickell — Waterfall Island Countertop
"We chose Super White quartzite for our Coral Gables kitchen. AP Stone brought three slab options to our home for viewing in our actual lighting — that made the selection process so much easier. The final install is exactly what we pictured."
Fernando & Lucia R.
Coral Gables — Quartzite Kitchen
"Had quartz installed in our Pinecrest kitchen and master bath. AP Stone's mitered edge on the island perimeter is razor-sharp. They also did the backsplash in the same quartz, no grout lines, and it looks seamless. Will use them again."
Karen S.
Pinecrest — Quartz Kitchen & Bath
The price moves with the stone you choose and the square feet you need. The edge profile and the number of sink and cooktop openings count too. A condo tower can add steps, like elevator reservations and set work hours. We quote after measuring, and the estimate is free. Call (754) 202-0447 to set it up.
It runs in steps, and each one waits on the one before. You choose the stone. We go with you to the slab yard to choose the exact slab before it is cut. The old top comes off, and the template is taken on the bare cabinets. The slab is cut to that template, which is usually the longest wait. Then comes install day, a licensed plumber reconnects the sink, and granite or marble gets sealed. Don't use an undermount sink until the adhesive under it has cured. In a condo, the elevator reservation goes into the plan too. Ask for the date of each step before you book, so you know how long you will be without a counter.
Often, yes. Many condo associations set work hours and require elevator reservations, so check your building's rules before you book. A full-length slab may not fit in the elevator cab. Measure the cab before the template, because that decides where the seams go. If your building or city asks for paperwork, we prepare the submittal and handle permitting as part of the job.
Go by the stone, not the calendar. Put a few drops of water on it. If they bead up, the sealer is working. If the stone darkens, reseal it with a penetrating sealer. Apply it only on clean, fully dry stone; humidity here is often high, so let the stone dry with the AC running first. Outdoor counters near the bay or the ocean usually need sealing more often. Quartz never needs it.
Only if a run is longer than the slab, or a piece can't get into the building whole. Long runs and L-shaped counters often need one. A good seam sits on solid cabinet support, away from the sink and cooktop, and is filled with color-matched epoxy. You will still see it up close. A busy pattern hides it better than bold veins. Ask to see where the seams fall before the stone is cut.