Granite Countertops in Charleston, SC

Changing a kitchen inside a historic Charleston house

Charleston created its Board of Architectural Review in 1931, with what the City calls the first preservation ordinance in the United States. Inside the historic districts, the BAR reviews new construction, alterations and renovations visible from the public right-of-way.

A new granite top in the kitchen is interior work; a new range-hood vent cut through a street-facing wall is a different conversation, so settle the venting plan early.

Some historic houses also carry preservation easements. The City's Permit Center names easements held by Historic Charleston Foundation and the Preservation Society of Charleston among the issues that keep a permit from same-day approval, so check your deed before demolition starts.

For many visitors, Rainbow Row on East Bay Street is the picture of this city: 4.6 stars from 7,314 Google Maps reviews (read October 9, 2026), with people praising the historic homes and the colors. Behind facades like those, the kitchen is where owners usually get to make the house their own.

Flood zones: when a countertop is part of a bigger remodel

If the house sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the City of Charleston counts what you spend on improvements. Its floodplain page says that a cumulative improvement cost of 50% or more of the building's value over the past year, such as a home renovation, means the structure must comply with current floodplain requirements.

That rule is enforced through permitting.

A countertop swap on its own rarely gets near that line, but a full kitchen with new cabinets, appliances and plumbing can add up quickly. Ask your general contractor how the City will count the whole project.

What the stone does well, and what it asks of you

• Heat. NSI rates it among the most heat resistant countertops; it still advises a trivet under appliances that run hot for hours, like a slow cooker.
• Scratches. It scores 7 on the Mohs scale, so few things scratch it. Cutting on it dulls your knives instead.
• Seams. NSI expects two or three seams in a typical kitchen and puts a typical slab around 9 by 5 feet, so large islands can often be done without a joint. Read about countertop seam placement before you approve a layout.
• Sealing. NSI's experts recommend sealing most granites. Their home test: leave a little hot water on the surface for 10 to 20 minutes; if the stone darkens, it is still absorbing. Some granites, Absolute Black among them, may need little or no sealer.

A Charleston stone restorer, Galen Roth of Roth Restoration, told NSI that granite is one of the easiest stones to care for and that most residential tops need very little upkeep. If you're still weighing it, read are granite countertops worth it.

Picking a granite slab with us

Our online materials pages currently feature quartzites and marbles; granite is chosen in person.

Tell us the color family you have in mind when you book, bring a cabinet door or paint chip, and compare full slabs rather than small samples at our North Charleston showroom. If you are drawn to a deep black stone, read our notes on absolute black granite first.

Four steps from first call to installed top

1. Call or send the form with the room, a rough sketch and your timing. Our site commits to a reply within 24 hours.
2. Showroom visit to choose the slab with a stone specialist.
3. Templating and cutting. Precise measurements on installed cabinets, then edge profile and finish. Our countertop template guide shows what gets measured.
4. Installation, with each piece scribed to the cabinetry, as our project pages describe.

Ready to measure? Schedule a granite consultation.

Why two granite quotes for one kitchen can differ

We don't print prices, since stone costs change and an old number would mislead you. Two quotes for the same room can still be far apart because of:

• the specific granite: common colors and rare, exotic ones sit in very different places;
• square footage and the number of slabs needed to keep the pattern consistent;
• edge profile, thickness, and cutouts for an undermount sink or a cooktop;
• backsplash pieces, a waterfall end or an extra-large island;
• tear-out of the old tops and access: stairs, narrow piazza doors, tight downtown parking.

If granite isn't the one

Natural quartzite gives a marble-like look with similar toughness; see quartzite in Charleston. For an indoor kitchen with a uniform color, read about engineered quartz in Charleston. The two natural stones are compared head to head in granite vs quartzite.

What we don't take on

We make and install new countertops. We don't repair chips in existing granite, refinish old tops or sell resealing as a separate service.

Granite questions from Charleston homeowners

Do I need a permit to replace a countertop in the City of Charleston?

Swapping the stone itself is interior work, but moving a sink or a cooktop involves plumbing, gas or electrical work, which the City permits through its Permit Center at 2 George Street. The Center lists interior non-structural demolition and standalone trade permits among its express options, and it can confirm what your address needs.

What should I avoid on a granite countertop?

Harsh soaps and cleaners not made for stone, and cutting directly on it. NSI's experts recommend a neutral, stone-safe cleaner for daily wiping.

Can a hot pan go on it?

Yes, according to NSI, straight from the oven. Use a trivet under appliances that stay hot for long periods.

How many seams will my kitchen have?

Usually two or three in a typical layout, with joints where an L or U turns the corner, per NSI.

Visit, call or write

Showroom and fabrication shop: 7389 Industry Dr, North Charleston, SC 29418 · (843) 284-7866 · [email protected]

We work across Charleston, from downtown and the peninsula to West Ashley, James Island and Daniel Island. Start your granite project.