If you want the look of natural stone for a fraction of the cost of a granite slab, consider installing stone tiles. The resulting countertop will not have the massive appearance of a slab, but it will have all of the same visual interest. And, if properly installed, it will be nearly as smooth as a slab.

Choosing Natural Stone Tiles & Trim

Granite is the most popular stone choice for kitchen countertops due to its strength and stain-resistance. You can also use any type of stone tile made for flooring, but ask your dealer about its stain-resistance and whether or not you will need to seal it.

Polished tiles 12 inches square make a good choice for a kitchen countertop, which is typically 25 inches deep; check your base cabinets to be sure the countertop will overhang them by at least 1/2 inch. You may choose to install a fairly thick backsplash in order to bring the tiles out farther.

At the front edge you have a number of options:

1) You could cut 1-inch-wide pieces of the tile and tuck them under the edges of the surface tile. If you do this carefully, the appearance can resemble a thick slab. If the face of the tile is polished but the edge is not, pay a fabricator to polish the edges, or apply several coats of clear lacquer to the edges.

2) You could install decorative wood trim about 1/16 inch below the surface of the tiles. But be sure you have plenty of fastening surface in the countertop substrate. If possible, fasten the trim with a biscuit joiner so there will be no visible fastener heads.

3) Or, you could install ceramic or stone bullnose or V-cap tiles of a color that harmonizes with the field tiles.

Installing a Stone Countertop

Prepare the substrate as you would for a ceramic tile countertop (see How to Prepare for Tiling a Countertop). Plywood topped with concrete backerboard is a good choice, but you can also install tiles directly onto plywood. Take special care to install the subsurface so that it is very straight and level.

You can install the tiles in fortified thinset mortar, as you would a ceramic tile countertop. Use plastic spacers, and fill the joints with grout. If the surface is polished, keep the joints 1/8 inch or narrower so you can use unsanded grout, as sanded grout can damage the surface.

Another method, which creates a nearly seamless surface, is to cut all the pieces and set them in a dry run, butted against each other with no gaps for grout joints. Then, remove the tiles and, using a caulk gun, apply silicone sealant/adhesive in a pattern of closely spaced squiggles. Set the tiles in the squiggles. Continue working, pressing the tiles gently and wiping away the squeezed-out silicone with a solvent-dampened rag. Use a beater board to maintain a perfectly flat and smooth surface. The next day, apply granite sealer to the joints.

Photo courtesy of American Olean