Stone Dining Tables in El Paso

Built for real life in the desert. Heirloom-quality granite, marble and quartzite tables fabricated in our El Paso shop since 1985. Call (915) 345-3774 for a free estimate.

What Stone Tables Do Better in El Paso

Furniture in El Paso takes on a lot of stress, from low humidity (20% is normal) that stays like that for months, to a 30 degree range in daily temperature swings, to a non-stop barrage of direct sunlight that beats against every window. Wood will warp, veneers will peel, and laminate seams will split and fade. We've seen it happen to tables that cost thousands of dollars, sometimes in less than two years.

Stone dining tables don't have those limitations.

Natural stone is stable in all humidity conditions. Your stone top will not react to the 20% humidity, or a 30% humidity like wood will. It won't grow and shrink like wood tables when the evaporative cooler fires up in July, only to shut off in October. This makes all the difference, particularly to customers in our Borderland climate. Many have come in with their old dining tables "falling apart" that were made of wood, and it was because the humidity was so low.

This is why stone dining tables are better choices for desert living:

• UV Fade Resistance: Granite and quartzite won't fade, even with sunlight from the south window.
• Humidity Resistance: Natural stone doesn't crack, split, or fail from dry air conditions.
• Thermal Mass: The stone stays cool when it gets hot in the summer.
• Mildew Resistance: Sealed stone resists moisture damage from spills, condensation rings, and everyday use.

We import directly from Brazil, and we've made stone dining tables here in El Paso since 1985. We know exactly how the stone behaves in this climate over decades, rather than months. Families on the Eastside and near Cielo Vista have tabletops that we built 10 or 15 years ago that look like they did when delivered.

It's also worth considering, stone has thermal mass for desert homes. That means when the air is cool (at night), your stone will absorb it slowly. And when it heats up, it will slowly absorb the heat from the day. It's a small thing, but it makes your dining space feel more comfortable. That's not a selling point you'll find on a furniture store tag. It's something you notice after living with it.

In short, stone and desert is a match made in heaven. We see the results each and every week when customers come to the Gateway Blvd E showroom, holding a granite top, comparing it to particleboard options. But you'll really feel the difference as soon as you put your hands on it.

Picking the Right Kind of Stone for Your Dining Table

Every stone does not have to be the same at the dining table, and we constantly talk about this at our Gateway Blvd E showroom. There are certain stones that work great at a kitchen countertop but may not work at your family's main gathering point: the dining table.

How can you choose the best stone for a dining table? Think about how you use the space.

Granite is most popular as a dining table surface, particularly here in El Paso. It can withstand heat, is resistant to scratch, and is stain-resistant when the surface is sealed properly. We get most of our granite from Brazil, giving you an incredible array of colors to choose from. From dark black to warm browns and crisp whites with sparkles, it is perfect for families with kids running around, setting hot plates down, or dropping forks onto the floor. It can take it all.

On the other hand, we have marble, which is soft and stains with acidic food. It is more work, but it also looks great. We have made marble dining tables for homeowners in the Kern Place area. Often, clients in this part of El Paso do not use the dining table often for family meals. These tables are often built for entertaining and for special dinners. The idea is to make a statement. It's a great compromise between a beautiful stone that takes a little more time but can also be a real conversation starter. When people know this, they usually know if a marble stone is what they want for their table.

On the same note, is quartzite. While most people confuse quartzite with quartz, the difference is quite different. A quartzite table is natural stone and harder, giving a similar look to marble, though much easier to clean. We've been serving El Paso since 1985 as a family-owned shop, and quartzite dining tables have become one of our fastest-growing requests over the last few years.

When choosing the right stone, think about the following considerations:

• Are you using the dining room for meals often or mostly for working or kids' projects?
• Do you like easy to maintain or don't mind resealing?
• What is the color of your dining room, and how does sunlight interact with your space?
• Polished stone tends to be more formal, while honed is relaxed.

If you are unsure about the path you want to take, just come look at our slabs. Sometimes it is hard to see the difference through a photo, so you have to see the texture of the stones first hand. We have many great selections at our Borderland showroom. Take your time and look through them, and let us help you decide what works best for your space. That is why we are here to help you.

Finish Options That Actually Hold Up at the Dinner Table

Questions about finishes far outstrip questions about anything else. It's the right one. Of course the stone you select is critical to the look of your stone dining table, but the finish you choose determines how well it serves you on a daily basis.

On the stone dining tables we create in our El Paso shop, we generally use three types of finishes. Every one has different implications for the surface appearance, texture, and durability.

• Polished finish: High-gloss reflective surface. Brings out the full color range and the dramatic veining in granite or quartzite. Wipe it off easily, but you will see fingerprints and water spots more easily.
• Honed finish: Smooth flat surface, no gloss. This is our usual recommendation for families who are raising children since small scratches won't draw your eye. Provides a softer feel, more natural, less formal look.
• Leathered finish: Slightly textured surface with a muted sheen. Hides crumbs, conceals water marks, is comfortable to place your hands on. We source the slabs we use for our leathered finishes right from Brazil. We favor the darker quartzites for this type of finish as they are beautiful in this style.

It isn't uncommon for a person to come into our showroom on Gateway Blvd E asking for polished and leave having chosen honed or leathered finish. It's not because they are bad salespeople, but rather when you touch the stone and look at the table and can envision what you would see on an average weeknight, it changes your perspective.

One consideration that is less obvious to people. The Borderland region has a dry climate. This is good news for stone dining tables. With a low level of relative humidity there are fewer moisture issues, so sealers last longer. Finishes are also much easier to maintain. We have been a locally-owned El Paso business since 1985 and have seen the changes (or stability) in each type of finish over the decades and for local homeowners. Our polished granite dining tables from the early 2000s are still very nice in Coronado homes.

Finishes and sealing go hand in hand. You don't want just the finish you choose because that will protect you from red wine, salsa, olive oil, etc. We apply a penetrating sealer to every stone dining table before it ships to our customers. The sealer and finish serve different purposes, one for feel and the other for protection.

If you are not sure what finish is best for your home, come into our showroom and run your hands across each option. It is worth a ten minute visit over a period of years.

Sizing, Weight, and Placement Planning Before Delivery Day

A stone dining table is not like most other furniture deliveries. You can't just squeeze it in the front door and deal with it afterwards.

We say the same thing to everyone: measure twice, plan once. Most of our stone dining tables made at our Gateway Blvd E showroom weigh from 250 to 500 pounds depending on slab thickness and base type. That is actual weight that needs to make it from your driveway to your dining room without any roadblocks. We walk through this with customers to make sure nothing is a surprise before we book any delivery in El Paso.

Here is what to make sure you check before delivery:

• Measure all doorways, hallways and corners leading from your front door to the dining room. You need a minimum 36 inch clear width, maybe more if you have a tight corner on the way near the kitchen.
• Check what kind of flooring is there. Tile and concrete are good to go. Older wood subfloors in a few homes around Kern Place or the Lower Valley might need a peek behind to confirm it's still solid underneath.
• Clean out your delivery path. Move those area rugs, that hall table that always looks a little crowded, whatever shoe racks you have near the entrance. All of it has got to go before our guys get there.
• Have your dining room seating plan finalized. We will set the table one time. We don't really like to move a 400 pound stone top slab if we have to do it on a Saturday afternoon.

Most of the time deliveries are pretty straightforward because we review all of these details with you in our showroom. But occasionally, a customer forgets a narrow hall or a sunken dining room and we need to make some adjustments on the fly.

We also check seating configuration. A stone top dining table needs about 36 inch clearance on all sides of it so chairs have space to come out without hitting the wall or a buffet table. El Paso homes range widely in size and layout, everything from large open plan new builds on the East side to smaller adobe style floor plans in some neighborhoods closer to Five Points. We take that into account as well.

If you are getting rid of a table currently in the room, take a picture of it once it's gone and email it or text it to us at (915) 345-3774 so we can confirm your measurements on the phone. No one needs that headache. Since 1985, our family-owned team has handled hundreds of these deliveries across El Paso, so we know exactly what to look for before the truck ever leaves our shop.

Caring for a Stone Dining Table in El Paso's Climate

We get asked this nearly every week. "Who knew how little effort a stone dining table requires?" You'd be surprised. In fact, it's quite easy to maintain. El Paso's arid weather is generally quite gentle on natural stone since we don't suffer humidity fluctuations like coastal cities; our wood doesn't warp or our metal rust. It's the intense sun and constant dust of the Franklin Mtns. that can present a few issues for our residents. We have provided the people of El Paso with advice on stone care since 1985, and we have a good idea of what works for the Borderland home and what doesn't.

Daily and Weekly

This is pretty easy! Wipe down the table after each use with a damp cloth. Clean your table with a pH neutral stone cleaner once per week. That's really all that needs to be done to keep things in tip-top shape for most homeowners. Just stay away from things like vinegar, lemon juice and general-purpose spray cleaners as these eat away at the sealant over time, causing dulling which is very difficult to fix.

When you walk into our showroom on Gateway Blvd E you will hear us tell people the same thing:

• Clean up spills right away. Red wine and salsa do not sit well on stone as it does a laminate.
• Use coasters and trivets. This is not because stone doesn't stand up well to heat but it can cause thermal shock stress to your sealant.
• Don't scrub with abrasive pads. A nice soft microfiber cloth works fine and won't scratch the polished surfaces on your table.
• Reseal your granite or marble dining table on a yearly basis. Quartzite tables don't need it as often.

El Paso Dust and Sun: If your stone dining table happens to be placed in the vicinity of a window at your Kern Place or Sunset Heights home, the UV exposure may cause the sealant to wear a little quicker. We advise covering your window with a curtain or blinds during peak hours of the day. Dust is also an issue. If you keep your windows open in the spring (which is our windy season), you'll likely end up with a fine layer of desert dust to wipe each morning. This dust, which is slightly abrasive, must be handled with care. Never swipe a dry cloth across this type of dust; the abrasive will only grind harder. Wet down the cloth with some water so you can simply lift it off the table rather than grind it.

What we find on damaged stone dining tables is that these people are not being lazy when it comes to taking care of their stone. Most damage actually is done from the improper type of stone cleaner being used. The stone is quite resilient to the elements and will easily withstand the elements for several decades. We get our stone from a Brazilian quarry and these stones have a very durable finish. The problem that most El Paso homeowners face is simply the topcoat and the need to keep the surface protected with a stone sealant.

Not sure if your table needs resealing? Drop a few water beads on the surface. If they soak in instead of sitting on top, it's time. Give us a call at (915) 345-3774 and let's go over your options and set up a time to help you out.

Explore related services: Granite Countertops · Quartzite Countertops · Marble Countertops · All Countertop Materials

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about stone dining tables services in El Paso

Ready to Get Started?

Call now for a free estimate. Call (915) 345-3774 today.