Countertops in Kemah, TX

Countertops in Kemah face conditions most inland kitchens never see. The town sits on the west shore of Galveston Bay at about 6.6 feet above sea level, beside the channel that links Clear Lake to the bay. Its name is said to come from a Karankawa word meaning "wind in my face," and anyone who has cooked on a Kemah deck knows why. That is why so many of our Kemah conversations start outside, at the grill.

Outdoor kitchens in salt air

An outdoor counter here deals with bay wind, strong sun, humidity and salt spray all at once. Clear Lake next door is a brackish harbor with one of the largest concentrations of recreational boats and marinas in the country, and that boating life spills onto patios and docks. Our approach for Kemah outdoor kitchens:

• Granite first. Dense natural granite handles sun and heat well. We seal it and explain how often to reseal.
• Be careful with engineered quartz. Many quartz products are not rated by their manufacturers for outdoor UV and can discolor in direct sun.
• Mind the hardware. Salt air is hard on ordinary steel. Ask your builder about marine-grade stainless for grills, doors and brackets that support the stone.
• Plan for wind. Overhangs on open decks get more stress from gusts and spray, so we keep them reasonable and supported.

Inside bayfront homes

Indoors, quartz is still the most popular choice for Kemah kitchens because it needs no sealing and is easy to wipe clean after a day on the water. Quartzite and marble fit well in homes with big bay views, where a natural stone island becomes the focal point. For vacation rentals and second homes, quartz in a mid-tone pattern is practical because it hides wear between guests.

A town shaped by storms

Kemah has rebuilt more than once. The Kipp and Bradford families came back and rebuilt after the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Hurricane Carla severely damaged the town in 1961. Then Hurricane Ike made landfall in Galveston County on September 13, 2008, destroying homes and businesses in Kemah and sending its storm surge hardest into the Kemah Boardwalk, where a waterline in a restaurant still marks the flood level. Homes rebuilt since then are often raised, with kitchens on upper floors. That affects install day: stone has to be carried up exterior stairs, so we plan crew size and access in advance.

A small town with a lot of empty bedrooms

Kemah had 1,807 residents and 860 housing units at the 2020 census, with 16.2% of units vacant. A vacancy rate that high in a waterfront town usually points to second homes and seasonal use. If you are a part-time owner, we can schedule template and install visits around when you are in town, and we keep you updated with photos while you are away.

Vanities, bars and boat-day kitchens

Beyond the main kitchen, Kemah homes often have wet bars on decks, outdoor sinks for cleaning fish and guest baths for weekend visitors. We fabricate vanity tops and bar tops in the same materials, and we can match an indoor island to an outdoor bar where the design calls for it.

A short drive from League City

Kemah borders League City on the west and south, so we are close by for site visits, measurements and follow-up. Call (346) 521-5586 to talk about your project. We will come out, look at sun exposure and access, and give you a written quote.

Call (346) 521-5586