Great Lakes Granite & Marble has been fabricating and installing custom stone countertops in the Redford area since 1989. Our team takes a genuine interest in your project, and guides you through the process. We know that a kitchen or bathroom remodel is disruptive to your daily life, and we know you are trusting us with a large part of that project.
This guide aims to remove the questions from the countertop replacement process. When does the measurement happen? How does pricing work – some places price by square foot, some by the job, what does that mean for my project? Do I need an appointment, or can I just walk in? Will the installers show up when they say they will?
If a question comes up that this guide doesn't cover, call us. We are happy to help!
Before you dive into the process, here's a clear picture of our scope.
Custom fabrication and installation of granite, marble, quartz, porcelain, and select specialty stone countertops
Kitchens, bathroom vanities, outdoor kitchens, and wet bars—all of it
Backsplashes, cut from slab material (not tile)
Faucet cutouts (included in your job)
Undermount sink mounting
Specialty items: pop-up outlets, custom edge details, integrated drainboards, window sills, thresholds, shower shelves
A stone slab you bought somewhere else: We can fabricate it, but with one honest caveat—we can’t guarantee the material or replace it if something breaks during fabrication.
Drop-in sinks: We test-fit them during installation, but the actual install (clips and putty) is your plumber’s job. Faucet and drain hookup on undermount sinks also goes to your plumber, after a required 24-hour wait once the sink is set.
You come to the showroom, look at material in person, and talk with one of our project managers. There's no commitment required at this stage, this is about seeing the stone and understanding your options. Finding something that really speaks to you!
We suggest scheduling an appointment so a project manager is ready for you when you arrive. Walk-ins are welcome, you just may have to wait for a project manager to free up to walk with you through the warehouse.
What to bring: Your kitchen or bathroom dimensions if you have them, along with a cabinet door sample and a tile sample if you've already chosen those. It's not required, but it helps us coordinate the stone with the rest of your design so everything works together.
FAQ: Should I know what material I want before I come in? No. Most homeowners come in undecided and work through it with a project manager in person. Bringing samples of your cabinets or tile helps, but isn’t required for your first visit.
What’s in stock: We carry a range of bundles, price points, and styles in the showroom at any given time—our inventory rotates, the best way to know what’s currently available is to come browse.
For most homeowners, this comes down to design – which color and pattern actually fits your kitchen. Durability is similar between the two, with one difference: natural stone (granite) handles heat better than quartz. Quartz is not indestructible though, that is a common misconception. We advise caution with heat and staining and recommend regardless of the stone type that clients wash after spills and meal prep.
Remnants are leftover pieces from larger slabs, often large enough for a vanity or a small kitchen island. They're priced by square footage and the specifics of your job, and the price break only applies to the material itself. Measuring, fabrication, and installation are priced the same either way.
Porcelain is another type of stone that is gaining residential popularity. Porcelain is often used in commercial kitchens and restaurants for its durability. We do not stock porcelain, but we are certified to fabricate it as a special order. We can direct customers to our suppliers to select their porcelain and then we can fabricate and install it.
We stock a few Quartzite slab options-based on consumer demand and design styles. Other speciality stones such as soapstone, reclaimed glass, etc can be special ordered and fabricated in house..
Edge profiles shape the front edge of your countertop. Our standard options (Flat Polish, Bevel, Quarter Round, Half Bullnose, and Full Bullnose) come at no extra cost. Premium profiles like Triple Pencil, Ogee, and Dupont run about $13 extra per linear foot. Most homeowners today are choosing the simpler standard edges.
We call this step "templating"—it's when a measure technician comes to your home and captures the exact physical dimensions of your project, as built. This is different from working off a drawing: templating accounts for the reality of your specific space, not just what's on paper.
The template captures the “as-built” details of your kitchen or bathroom exactly as it stands—if cabinets aren’t in yet, we can’t get an accurate read.
Can we work from architect drawings instead? We can quote based on plans, but templating gives the best fit. If you'd rather order strictly off your plans without an in-person template, we can do that—but we won't be able to guarantee the fit.
Planning on changing out the countertops & keeping the cabinets?
It is best to template once old tops are removed- but we know this makes it difficult to be without a sink for a few weeks.
We can template over existing tops, providing the backsplash is removed, or if you are replacing a backsplash. (we want to get the tightest measurement to the back wall)
If you have existing laminate tops that we template over– we will not be able to check how level the cabinets are… laminate tops will conform to unlevel cabinets- stone will not.
Once your template is complete and your first deposit is in, we process the final field measure dimensions and send the order for verification to you (the customer) to approve. We collect the second deposit and release the order to our fabrication shop.
In typical conditions, fabrication (cutting your tops and finishing them to be ready for installation) takes about 7 to 14 business days.
From a broader view: it currently runs about 3–5 days to get your project onto the measure calendar, one day to process the field measurement, and then roughly two weeks from deposit to installation. Peak season can push that out to around three weeks, depending on how many jobs are ahead of yours in the shop. We'll give you a specific timeline once your deposit is placed, so you're never guessing.
We give you a morning or afternoon arrival window, either 7:30am to noon or noon to 4pm, and our installers call you the morning-of to narrow that down further.
We need to have a responsible adult who has knowledge of the job at the location on the day of installation. We also need clear access to the installation location. This is especially important in the winter regarding snow & ice removal.
If you’re installing an undermount sink, we set it during installation, but you’ll need to wait 24 hours before your plumber can hook up the faucet and drain. For drop-in style sinks, we test-fit them on install day, but the plumber handles the actual install (clips and putty).
Faucet cutouts are included as part of your job – no separate charge.
Every installation carries a one-year warranty. If something comes up, call our office.
Granite and quartz are cared for mostly the same way—soap and water after meal prep is the best daily maintenance. Use a trivet or hot pad on quartz specifically; it’s not as heat-resistant as natural stone. Granite should be resealed roughly every 10 years, a DIY product like Stone Care International or Bullet Proof, available at Home Depot or Amazon works well.
Our approach is to quote projects based on layout with dimensions and details so the price you receive from us is realistic based on your needs and design style. We can give some guidance on “typical” costs, and we also always have in stock sale items and can offer remnants to meet budgetary requirements.
Here's what typical stone categories run, per square foot, installed:
Granite starts in the $40s
Quartz starts in the high $50s
Specialty stones and quartzites usually start in the $110s
We give you these numbers as general guidance, again the actual costs depend on your layout. We often show you two numbers side by side: an entry-level option, and whatever material you're actually leaning toward, so you can see the real difference before you commit to anything.
Stone tier, edge profile complexity, the number of cutouts, and whether you’re adding a backsplash.
That $38 figure covers our in-stock "sale" material, this is the fully installed price: measured, fabricated, and installed. What you will need to add: sink or cooktop cutouts, edgework on a backsplash if you want one, and a zone charge if your home is more than 60 miles from our Redford shop or the install isn't on the main floor.
Remnants work a little differently – the discount is on the material itself. Measuring, fabrication, and installation cost the same as a full slab job.
If you already know your square footage and you’re looking at in-stock, entry-level material, we can give you a basic quote over the phone or in the showroom. For anything beyond that, or for the most accurate number, bring your dimensions or cabinet drawing in, or send them ahead. This way, we can quote your actual job instead of an average one.
No surprises is the goal here. If a number changes between your first quote and your final invoice, we want you to already know why.
There are a variety of places you can get your stone needs met. Here are the things we believe set us apart. We would love for you to come in and see for yourself though!
We started in 1989 and we’re still at the same shop – 12275 Dixie, Redford, Michigan.
We have been in the community for almost 40 years and our business runs like a family business. Our project managers, fabrication crew, and installers take pride in their work and a genuine interest in our clients projects.
Our fabrication is done in-house, by our own fabrication crew, out of our own shop. This is not the norm in the industry, and one area that differentiates us.
Your project manager stays with you throughout your selection process to installation. Sometimes there is a lot of leg work in the beginning to find the stone that speaks to you. Continuity in who you are working with is helpful to narrow down the selection and ensure you end up with a stone you will love for years to come.
Call us, or stop by the showroom, we can’t wait to talk to you!
Address: 12275 Dixie, Redford, MI
Monday and Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm;
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:00am–6:30pm
Before you reach out: If you already have your dimensions and project details, it’s great to have those handy, or email to contact@greatlakesgm.com
Who to ask for: Any project manager on our team can help you get started.
