Tile & stone
Granite is the natural stone you choose when traffic, grit and road salt are the enemy. Kitchener Prestige Flooring installs granite floor tile and slab for commercial lobbies, busy entrances and high-traffic homes throughout Kitchener and Waterloo Region.
Our crew has more than 16 years of experience and 1,700+ completed jobs. For stone this heavy, that experience shows up in structural checks, the right mortar and a finish that will not turn into a skating rink in January.
We are licensed, insured and WSIB covered, with certificates ready for commercial clients. Every granite floor comes with a written 1-year labour warranty.
Granite is an igneous rock formed from cooled magma. It scores 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, roughly twice as hard as marble.
It resists scratches from sand and grit, shrugs off most acids and absorbs very little water. That combination makes it one of the longest-lasting floors available.
In our experience, granite floors in busy lobbies outlast the buildings' second and third renovations. The stone rarely needs more than cleaning and occasional sealing.
Both are natural stone, but they behave very differently underfoot.
| Granite | Marble | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs) | 6 to 7 | 3 to 4 |
| Reacts to acids | Rarely | Yes, etches |
| Water absorption | Very low | Low to moderate |
| Sealing frequency | Every 3 to 5 years | Every 1 to 2 years |
| Best use | Traffic, entrances, commercial | Foyers, bathrooms, luxury rooms |
If you love a marble look but need durability, a granite with soft movement or a marble-look porcelain can bridge the gap. See our marble floor installation page for the other side.
The surface finish decides where granite can safely go.
Polished granite has a deep, glassy shine that makes colours and crystals pop. It is also very slippery when wet or dusty.
We install polished granite in interior lobbies and rooms protected by walk-off matting. We avoid it at exterior doors, in bathrooms and on any floor that sees snowmelt.
Flamed granite is blasted with a high-temperature torch that pops surface crystals, leaving a rough, grippy texture. Brushed or leathered granite is treated with wire brushes for a softer, textured feel.
Both finishes are excellent in entrances where boots bring in water and salt. Honed granite is a matte middle ground for interiors.
In Waterloo Region, granite floors are mostly a commercial product. Office towers, banks, hotels and institutional buildings choose it for decades of wear with little maintenance.
We plan lobby floors around traffic lines, door locations and walk-off mat recesses. Work is scheduled after hours or in phases so the building stays open.
For full commercial fit-outs, see our commercial flooring service.
Granite tile is usually 3/8 inch thick, around 5 to 6 pounds per square foot with mortar. That is similar to porcelain.
Full slabs are 3/4 to 1-1/4 inch thick and can weigh 13 to 18 pounds per square foot. On upper floors or older framing, that load needs an engineer's review.
For most homes, we recommend tiles. They are easier to handle, lighter on the structure and less costly to replace.
Granite is rigid and unforgiving. The floor beneath it must meet the natural stone deflection limit of L/720, twice as stiff as ceramic tile needs.
We set granite tile in a large-and-heavy-tile mortar with back-buttering for full coverage. Over wood floors, we add a second plywood layer or an uncoupling membrane.
On concrete, slab cracks are isolated with a crack suppression membrane so they do not telegraph into the stone.
Granite's tight crystal structure absorbs little water. Many granites need sealing only every three to five years.
We test before sealing by placing a few drops of water on the surface. If the stone darkens within minutes, it gets a penetrating sealer. If not, sealing would just leave residue.
Our floor sealing and waterproofing service can schedule this for commercial properties.
Typical 2026 ranges in Kitchener and Waterloo:
| Item | Typical cost per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Granite tile installation labour | $10.00 to $16.00 |
| Granite tile material | $6.00 to $25.00 |
| Flamed or brushed finish upgrade | $2.00 to $6.00 on material |
| Uncoupling or crack isolation membrane | $2.50 to $4.50 |
Every granite floor includes our 1-year labour warranty. For travertine, limestone and other stones, see natural stone flooring installation.
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FAQ
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. Still unsure? Call and ask.
Ask for a Free QuoteMost granites benefit from a penetrating sealer, especially lighter and more porous stones. Very dense dark granites may barely absorb sealer at all. We do a water drop test on your stone and seal only as needed, usually every three to five years.
Polished granite is slippery when wet, so we do not recommend it for entrances that see snow and rain. Flamed, brushed or honed granite gives much better grip and still looks refined.
Yes, with the right structure. Standard 3/8 inch granite tile adds weight similar to porcelain. Thick slabs are much heavier, so we check the joists and may recommend reinforcement or a thinner format upstairs.
Both work. Granite has a natural depth and can be re-honed if it wears, which gives it a very long life.
Through-body porcelain costs less and never needs sealing. We price both so you can compare.
Free estimate
Tell us about the floor. We will call to book a time, measure on site, check the subfloor and moisture, and leave you a written quote.
Prefer to talk it through first? Call and speak to a flooring specialist directly.
Kitchener Prestige Flooring
137 Glasgow St, Kitchener, ON N2M 5E3
Monday to Saturday: 7:00am to 9:30pm
Sunday: 9:00am to 9:00pm