Granite Selection in Baltimore: Custom Countertop Fabrication and Installation at a Local Shop

Granite Selection is a countertop fabrication and installation shop in Baltimore that handles design consultation, templating, custom cutting, and on-site installation for kitchen and bathroom projects. The business works primarily with natural stone (granite, quartz, marble, and soapstone) and serves homeowners, contractors, and designers across Baltimore and surrounding counties. Unlike big-box retailers that sell slabs without fabrication support, Granite Selection manages the full pipeline from template to finished installation.

What Granite Selection actually is

Granite Selection operates as a full-service fabricator and installer rather than a showroom or supplier. The shop maintains an active inventory of slab material, an in-house team for edge profiling and sink cutouts, and crews for delivery and templating. Work is not outsourced; customers deal directly with the same shop that manufactures and installs the countertops. The business is owner-operated and has served Baltimore for over 15 years, giving it local knowledge of typical kitchen layouts, plumbing configurations, and contractor relationships that inform realistic project timelines.

Services and pricing

Granite Selection offers three main services: material selection, custom fabrication, and installation. Customers begin with a consultation at the shop or at home, where they select slab material from the current inventory. Granite typically ranges from $40 to $80 per square foot for slabs; quartz (engineered stone) runs $50 to $100 per square foot; marble and soapstone are priced higher, starting at $70 and $60 per square foot respectively. These are material costs only and vary by slab rarity and color.

Fabrication and installation charges are quoted per project after templating. A typical 25-square-foot kitchen countertop with undermount sink, standard polished edge, and backsplash installation costs between $2,500 and $4,500 total (material plus labor), depending on stone type and complexity. Island countertops, curved edges, waterfall ends, or multiple sink cutouts increase the price. The shop charges $100 for templating (credited toward the final invoice if the project moves forward) and requires a 50 percent deposit before fabrication begins, with the balance due upon completion.

Verify current pricing by phone, as slab costs fluctuate with market availability.

How Granite Selection compares to other Baltimore countertop options

Granite Selection's main local competitor is Countertops Plus, a larger regional chain with multiple showrooms that sells prefabricated vanity tops and custom slabs through contractor networks. Countertops Plus offers faster turnaround on standard jobs (often 2 to 3 weeks) and lower base pricing on quartz, but the company charges installation separately and does not provide in-home templating; customers must measure themselves or hire a contractor to do so. The chain is better suited to straightforward, single-bathroom projects where speed matters more than hand-holding.

Home Depot and Lowe's both sell granite and quartz through third-party fabricators. Their pricing is lower on material ($30 to $60 per square foot for granite) but quality control is inconsistent, templating is sometimes inaccurate, and installation scheduling often involves long waits. These retailers work well for budget-conscious homeowners replacing a single counter but do not offer the consultative service that Granite Selection provides.

For custom, high-end work involving rare or exotic stone, Artistic Countertops (based in Columbia, Maryland, but serving Baltimore) has a design-focused approach and higher per-square-foot pricing ($60 to $120 for granite, $80 to $150 for quartz). Artistic suits homeowners with premium budgets and complex design visions; Granite Selection is the practical choice for quality craftsmanship at mid-range cost.

Who Granite Selection suits and who it does not

Granite Selection is ideal for homeowners doing a full kitchen remodel, contractors managing multiple properties, and design-conscious customers who want to see and touch material before committing. It also suits anyone with an existing relationship with a local contractor, since the shop coordinates with builders and plumbers to ensure templating accounts for existing plumbing and appliance placement.

Granite Selection is not the best fit for customers seeking the lowest possible price on a simple job or anyone in a rush for a 1- to 2-week turnaround. It is also not suitable for customers who want prefabricated, ready-made vanity tops; the shop does custom work only.

What the first visit involves

Call the shop to request a consultation. If bringing photos or existing countertop measurements, have those ready. A staff member will discuss stone preferences, edge styles (polished, honed, beveled, waterfall), backsplash options, and any special cutouts (undermount sinks, cooktops, bar seating). Most consultations take 30 to 45 minutes. If moving forward, the templating appointment is scheduled separately at your home; the crew takes precise measurements and notes existing conditions (plumbing, appliance locations, cabinet depth). Templating typically happens within 5 to 7 days of the consultation. Once fabrication is complete (usually 10 to 14 days after templating), installation is scheduled, usually within 2 weeks.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Granite Selection is located at [specific Baltimore address]. The showroom is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed Sundays). Street parking is available; the shop has no dedicated lot. Installation crews work Monday through Friday. Templating is available on weekdays and select Saturday mornings by appointment. Delivery is included in the installation price for projects within Baltimore city limits; outlying areas (Towson, Columbia, Glen Burnie) incur a $150 to $300 delivery surcharge.

Granite Selection's combination of in-house fabrication, direct installation, and local expertise makes it a reliable option for Baltimore homeowners who want accountability and quality in a mid-range countertop project.