Granite countertops order process useful tips

How to make the granite purchase process and to keep your counter tops looking beautiful for years to come.

When you will be selecting a slab keep in mind that slabs vary in size. Your counter top may be longer than the length of the slab. In this case it may be necessary to seam your counter tops together. This is fairly common. The effectiveness of the color match of your seam varies depending on the color pattern of the stone selected. Our artisans do the very best to hand match the seam color to your stone. Some variance can be expected.

Another thing to consider when choosing material is that some stone has natural fissures in it. These are perfectly acceptable and should be of no concern. Please note that fissures are different than cracks. Crack is a long break thru the stone and the stone countertops can split. Cracks are not acceptable and should be pointed out at the time of installation. Not all stones have fissures, if you are concerned that the stone you have chosen may have these, let your customer service rep know and they will be happy to clarify this.

Granite is not indestructable. Not often, but sometimes when cutting or during the install process tiny chips pop out of the bottom edge. If this should occur, this is commonly corrected with epoxy and should not be very noticeable.

There are a few things you can expect during and after your installation. Granite blocks are cut into slabs in many countries and different equipment is used to cut the slabs. Because of this you cannot expect each piece to be exactly an inch and a quarter thick. When installed this thickness variation is compensated. Overall, you can expect the top surface of your counters to be level in accordance with granite industry guidelines.

If we measure your countertops, please make the countertops accessible for easy measure. Your existing counters must remain completely free of appliances and other items in order to get a precise reading.

Before we come to install, please make sure that your cabinets are empty. This will aid the installers and guarantee that nothing of value will be damaged.

Finally, when we come to install, we are there to complete the job. You should take the time to make sure that you are satisfied with the final project. Sometimes other contractors make chips when they are finalizing their plumbing or tile jobs. If this is noticed at a later date it may become difficult to determine who did it. This is why we will have you sign a job approval after our work is complete.

Remember that you should never clean your granite with any harsh chemicals, as this may compromise the finish of your tops. Clean surfaces with neutral, mild household cleaners, few drops of Murphy's Oil Soap®" and warm water or use natural stone care products. After your countertops are sealed, you can clean them with dry clean cloth after two hours but do not clean them with any liquid for 24 hours.

Stone characteristics vary from color to color. Because of this, there is no “real” schedule for sealing. Basically, if you should ever see your stone absorbing water then your granite should be sealed. The sealer can be purchased at our shop or most hardware stores. Before sealing, make sure your counters are clean and dry. Following these rules will ensure that your granite stays beautiful.

Hopefully this helped clarify the install process. Additional information can be found on our website, or you can contact a customer service rep. If you have any questions or concerns, let us know.