Countertops in Tiki Island, TX

Countertops in Tiki Island come with a set of conditions you do not find on the mainland. Most of the village's roughly 950 homes stand on tall concrete pilings, with living space a full story or more above the ground. That puts the kitchen up a flight of stairs, and it means outdoor kitchens often sit on a deck overlooking a canal. We plan every Tiki Island job around those facts, from how slabs get upstairs to which stone can live outside in salt air.

A village dug out of the bay

Tiki Island was built in the 1960s by cutting canals and using the fill to raise the land between four and ten feet above sea level. It grew from a fishing camp to a place for weekend homes, and incorporated as a village on August 30, 1982. Today about 70% of its area is water, and its homes sit mainly on the waterfront. That layout shapes how people use their kitchens: open plans that face the water, big islands for entertaining, and cooking areas that spill out onto decks.

Built to let the water pass under

When Hurricane Ike hit in 2008, it brought surges of 10 to 12 feet. Most homes lost their ground floors as breakaway walls failed the way they were designed to, while the living areas above held. Tiki's building standards go beyond FEMA's minimum, with reinforced concrete columns, no habitable ground floors and extra-sturdy materials. Village residents receive a 10 percent discount on National Flood Insurance Program premiums. For us, the upshot is simple: the kitchen is upstairs, and everything we bring has to go up with it.

Getting stone to an upper floor

A quartz or granite slab for a long island can weigh several hundred pounds. On Tiki Island we ask about the stair route, landings, any elevator and how close we can park before we quote. Long runs may be split into two pieces with a planned seam if a single piece cannot make the turn. We would rather work that out at the measure than discover it on install day.

Countertop services for Tiki Island

• Quartz countertops for indoor kitchens, islands and wet bars
• Granite countertops, especially for decks and outdoor cooking areas
• Kitchen countertop replacement in elevated homes
• Bathroom vanity tops for guest and primary baths
• Quartzite and marble for a high-end coastal look indoors
• Outdoor kitchen countertops built to face wind and spray

Outdoor kitchens on the deck

A grill station on a canal-side deck faces constant humidity, salt spray and strong sun. That rules out a few materials. Standard quartz can discolor under direct UV, and marble is too porous and soft for that kind of exposure. Dense granite with a sealed, honed or leathered finish is the usual choice, and some quartzites work well too. Before you add stone to an existing deck, have the deck's framing checked for the added weight; a run of granite and a built-in grill is a real load. Any sink or fixture hardware should be a corrosion-resistant grade, and the stone should be resealed on a regular schedule.

Indoor choices with a view

Inside, many Tiki Island owners pick quartz in light, sandy or white-and-gray tones that suit the water view and do not show salt haze. Quartz needs no sealing, which matters for weekend or part-time owners. If you want natural stone indoors, quartzite gives a marble-like look with more durability.

Start with a measure

Call (346) 521-5586 to schedule. Tell us about stairs, parking and any deck work, and we will give you a written quote that covers material, fabrication and installation.

Get a Free Estimate