Quartz Overtakes Granite as America’s Top Countertop Choice
FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Quartz has become the leading countertop material choice among design professionals nationwide, according to new industry data, and Granite Maker is seeing that shift reflected in showroom visits and project requests across Northern Virginia.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2026 Design Trends Report found that 78% of design professionals now expect quartz to be the preferred countertop surface for new projects, while granite is projected to be used in about 43% of new installations. For homeowners searching for a quartz countertop in Virginia, the data confirms a trend Granite Maker’s own fabrication team has watched build for several years.
Why Quartz Continues to Gain Ground
Quartz is an engineered stone surface made from crushed quartz crystals combined with resins and pigments. Unlike granite, marble, and other natural stone, quartz offers predictable color and pattern from slab to slab, which makes it easier for homeowners to plan a kitchen or bathroom design around a specific look.
“Homeowners want consistency they can count on, especially when they’re matching a large island or a full-height backsplash,” said a Granite Maker fabrication specialist. “Quartz gives them that, along with a surface that holds up to daily use without regular sealing.”
Granite is still a strong performer and remains a popular choice for homeowners who want the natural variation that comes with a mined stone. But the shift toward quartz reflects a broader move in kitchen and bathroom design toward large, uninterrupted surfaces—waterfall islands, full-height backsplashes, and statement islands with bold veining—where consistent color and pattern matter most.
What This Means for Fredericksburg-Area Homeowners
Granite Maker, a family-owned stone fabrication and installation company based in Fredericksburg, has served homeowners, builders, contractors, and remodelers throughout Greater Fredericksburg and Central Virginia since 2006, with roots in stone craftsmanship dating back to 1975.
The company’s Fredericksburg showroom offers more than 1,000 stone colors and options, including an expanding selection of quartz surfaces in the warm neutrals and soft veining patterns that are shaping 2026 kitchen and bathroom design. Homeowners researching a quartz countertop in Fredericksburg VA can view slabs in person and get guidance on how a given color and pattern will look in their specific space before committing to a project.
Granite Maker’s process covers every stage of a stone project in-house: consultation, material selection, on-site templating, fabrication, delivery, and professional installation. That in-house control is part of what the company points to as it works with more homeowners moving toward quartz.
“A material shift like this is exactly why we walk every customer through the differences between granite, quartz, marble, and quartzite before they choose,” the specialist added. “The right material depends on the project, the budget, and how the space gets used day to day—not just what’s trending.”
Choosing the Right Material for Your Project
Granite Maker recommends homeowners weigh a few practical factors when deciding between quartz and natural stone:
- Maintenance: Quartz does not require sealing, while granite and other natural stones typically need periodic sealing to maintain stain resistance.
- Appearance: Granite and other natural stones offer one-of-a-kind variation; quartz offers a more consistent, repeatable pattern across large surfaces.
- Application: Large islands, waterfall edges, and matched backsplashes often benefit from quartz’s pattern consistency.
- Budget: Pricing varies by material, color, and project scope, which is why Granite Maker provides project-specific estimates rather than flat per-square-foot pricing.
Granite Maker offers free consultations for homeowners, builders, contractors, and remodelers who want to compare materials for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity tops, fireplace surrounds, outdoor kitchen countertops, and other custom stone surfaces.
A Timely Shift for Central Virginia Renovation Projects
The material shift comes as many Fredericksburg-area homeowners weigh renovation projects against current market conditions. Local real estate data shows updated homes are moving faster than those left as-is, and a countertop replacement remains one of the more visible, cost-effective upgrades a homeowner can make to a kitchen or bathroom before listing a property or simply enjoying the space themselves.
For builders and contractors managing new construction or remodeling projects across Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and the wider Central Virginia region, having a fabrication partner that can move from templating to installation without outsourcing any step of the process helps keep project timelines predictable, particularly during periods of higher renovation demand.
About Granite Maker
Granite Maker is a family-owned custom stone fabrication and installation company based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. With craftsmanship roots dating back to 1975 and service to Virginia homeowners since 2006, Granite Maker designs, templates, fabricates, and professionally installs custom stone surfaces for residential and commercial projects throughout Greater Fredericksburg and Central Virginia. The company’s Fredericksburg showroom features more than 1,000 stone colors and options across granite, quartz, marble, quartzite, porcelain, and soapstone. All projects are backed by a one-year workmanship warranty, and Granite Maker is licensed and insured.
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Media Contact:
Granite Maker
Fredericksburg, Virginia
www.granitemaker.com