Project Planning

Great Lakes Granite & Marble offers a variety of educational tools to help you choose the best stone options for your home, as well as learn more about our company and process.
Explore our videos and helpful articles or contact our stone specialists with any questions.

Countertop Guides & Articles

Your Guide to Getting Started with great lakes granite & Marble

What to expect from your first visit to your finished countertops.

The Ultimate Countertop Guide

In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about choosing the right material for your countertop ranging from appearance, durability, cost, and even health considerations.

Countertop Comparison Guide

Can’t decide which countertop surface is best for you? Well, that is not surprising considering the numerous countertop surfaces available. Great Lakes Granite & Marble takes pride in helping you find a stylish surface that is perfect for your space.

Popular Countertop Options

From classic granite to low-maintenance quartz, these are the countertop stones Southeast Michigan homeowners keep choosing.

Love the Look of Marble? You may want to consider Quartz.

Marble and quartz are both gorgeous countertop material options that add luxury and elegance to any home. Let’s explore the various traits of both stones to help you determine which is right for you and your lifestyle.

2026 Design and Color Trends

2026 could be your year to embrace updated design and improved functionality, making the heart of your home a place you welcome spending so much time in. Let’s explore the 2026 trends we see for kitchen design, color palettes, countertop styles and materials.

Countertop Estimating Guide

Complete a preliminary measurement of your solid surface and stone countertops and obtain an estimate of your project.

Transform Your Space Without a Full Remodel: Smart Kitchen and Bath Updates That Add Value

Discover budget-friendly kitchen and bath updates that add style, function, and value without a full remodel. From granite countertops to smart storage solutions, learn how small changes can make a big impact.

Countertop Finishing Guide

When you are evaluating stones, keep in mind that the appearance of the natural stone can be modified by the finishing process you select.

Countertop Edge Guide

In any kitchen design it is often the details that set it apart, and choosing your countertop edge is not a detail you want to overlook. The edge can complete the style of your dream kitchen. Let’s look at the various options and understand how to complement the style of your kitchen, as well as your budget.

Templating and Seams

Once you have selected your stone, and more specifically your particular slab(s) for a project, you will begin working with your stone supplier on templating your granite, quartz, or marble. This is definitely a process that you want to be involved in as determinations will be made such as where your faucet will be located, how much of an overhang you would like, and the desired corner radius’, among other things.

Countertop Fabrication Process

The polished beautiful granite countertop that you install in your kitchen or bathroom undergoes an extensive process of stone fabrication to achieve the finished product. It is remarkable just how much occurs during this process and how important it is to getting the most from your countertop for years to come.

The Advantage of a One-Stop Shop

Many homeowners find themselves bouncing between suppliers, fabricators, and installers when they embark on a home improvement project. By keeping every step of the process in-house, from stone selection to installation, Great Lakes Granite and Marble provides a seamless, efficient, and high-quality experience for our customers.

Furnish Only Jobs

We know many of our customers are handy and have a project they would like to tackle on their own. We’ve created a checklist that will help maximize success in these DIY projects for you to accurately measure and prepare to install your own countertop.

Budget Conscious and Beautiful Countertops

You can still create the look you are going for, have a show stopping kitchen or bath, and not break the bank. Approaching a project with a budget means paying attention to all of the details, and ensuring you don’t have hidden costs or surprises that can turn your budget upside down.

Additional Uses For Natural Stone

The most common uses of natural stone may be in kitchen and bathroom countertop, but let’s get outside the ordinary and look at other uses for natural stone.

A Guide to Kitchen Island Designs & Layouts

Whether it is a remodel to your existing kitchen, a renovation, or you are building your dream kitchen in your dream house one of the major design features to consider is the size, shape, and functionality of your kitchen island. The kitchen island can add an element of style, not to mention provide additional storage, seating, and workspace.

Top 7 Kitchen Renovation Mistakes

Planning a kitchen remodel? Discover the 7 most common renovation mistakes—and how to avoid them for a smoother, stress-free project.

Kitchen Backsplash Guide

In this article we will explore the different material options and help guide you to the perfect backsplash for your kitchen design.

Choosing The Perfect Kitchen Sink

Choosing A Kitchen Sink Can Be Overwhelming. Here We Discuss Which Mount, Material, & Style Will Be Perfect For You & Your Kitchen.

Inspiring Outdoor Kitchen Ideas

As soon as it warms up, we all want to be outside as much as possible. We’ve got some some great ideas to inspire the outdoor kitchen of your dreams. From grilling, to entertaining, to relaxing around a fire we leave no stone unturned in planning the perfect outdoor oasis.

Uses For Natural Stone In A Bathroom

Let’s take a look at the pros & cons of using natural stone in a bathroom, and the various ways you can use granite, marble, and other natural stone in a bathroom.

2026 Bathroom Trends

Whether you’re planning a full remodel or looking to refresh your space, these top 2026 bathroom trends will inspire you to create a sanctuary that’s as beautiful as it is practical.

Countertop Etching, Can it Be Repaired?

There are a variety of options out there when it comes to kitchen countertops, many with unique attributes, one thing they all have in common though is that they will show signs of wear and tear over time. If there is one downfall to the practicality and functionality of the various stones used for countertops, it is the inevitable etching, chips, and cracks that go along with such a high-use area.

Repairing Countertop Chips

Let’s explore the ways you can repair a chip if you happen to find one, and how to protect your counters from future damage.

Repairing Countertop Cracks

Most countertops are durable but over time they still may experience some wear & tear, including cracks. Learn how to address such issues to keep your countertops looking beautiful.

An Experiment in Staining

In this article, we will explore the durability of countertop stone as it relates specifically to food stains. We will focus primarily on granite, with one marble surface included in our experiment for comparison.

Countertop Geology: Where Your Natural Stone Countertops Come From

Natural Stone materials have been utilized for construction and decorative purposes for a long period of time. However, man’s use of natural stones is microscopic when compared to the amount of time and energy that Mother Nature has put into these wondrous resources.

From The Quarry To The Kitchen: How Natural Stone is Quarried

Learn how natural stones like Granite, Marble, & Quartzite are quarried from the earth and make their way to a fabricator and end up in your kitchen or bath.

NEWS & ARTICLES

Explore our news and articles section to learn more about Great Lakes Granite.

FAQS

View our answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding granite and marble.

STONE UNIVERSITY

Get your “Natural Stone Certification“. Designed to educate our associates, partners and customers.