Our Guide to Countertop Selection, Fabrication and Installation.
At Bob's Granite Place we want your kitchen, bath or corporate countertop shopping experience to be as simple and hassle-free as possible. This is why we put together the selection to installation guide below. There's really no need to go countertop shopping unprepared!
Step 1: Countertop Selection.
Countertop slabs awaiting selection.
The most important part of countertop selection is to determine what material and color(s) will work best with all the other components in your home or business.
To figure this out you can try our kitchen and countertop design visualizer, speak with an interior designer, or you can discuss your ideas directly with us. With over 30 years in the business, and tens of thousands of installations we also can recommend top local interior designers, flooring specialists, and cabinet professionals.
While shopping for the ideal natural or engineered stone countertop, you may find a material quickly, or you may end up wanting to see a wider selection of a particular type of material. In the latter case, we'll be happy to schedule a viewing with one or more of our many importers.
This is important for some shoppers because importers have far more available inventory than ANY kitchen and bath store, chain home store, or countertop showroom. Top importers literally have thousands of engineered and natural stone slabs in-stock.
As a general rule, the more complex a countertop color pattern is, the more important it is to select an entire slab (or slabs).
Once you have decided on a slab, it will be assigned to you. From this point on, it will be used for custom fabrication - and ultimately be installed in your home or corporate space.
Step 2: Estimates and Quotes.
For most accurate estimates, countertop and base cabinet dimensions/drawings should be provided. We also need to know if there will be any non-standard edge overhangs and/or countertop overhangs in excess of 10-inches. If such information is not provided, we'll follow industry standards regarding countertop overhangs and use one standard edge treatment in an estimate.
After accepting an estimate, we will complete a fabrication and installation contract. This will detail all edge treatment types/locations and sink/faucet cut locations.
Below are other factors impacting estimate and final quote accuracy:
1. Do not expect an accurate estimate by simply measuring/providing your existing countertop size and inputting this into a square footage estimator. There are simply too many variables not considered with these online toys.
2. To get the best final price (and warranty), use a nearby local vendor who will be responsible for not JUST the sale but also the fabrication and installation of your countertops, backsplashes, sinks/faucets, and/or cabinets. Try to avoid purchasing countertop material from one vendor and having other vendors conduct templating, fabrication and installation This WILL result in a higher overall price and likely warranty issues. This is exactly how all the big box chain stores operate.
3. Make sure to ask if you get a sealant with natural stone counters. Many companies charge $500.00 for the best nano-sealants. We include it at no charge when available on our natural stone slabs. Since engineered quartz countertops use polymer resin binders, they actually come pre-sealed. However, some engineered quartz countertop manufacturers only provide 10-year countertop warranties.
4. Make sure that a countertop supplier is not "doctoring" material and install pricing by quoting thinner (cheaper) countertop materials (like 2-cm vs 3-cm). We always quote 3-centimeter thick counter materials (~1.25-inches). For longer length runs, 2-cm thick counters require additional underside support - which will end up costing you more.
5. If you wish to specify an edge treatment, be sure to inquire about available edge types up-front. Many edge treatments may be included in "special offers" that might be of interest to you.
6. Before a countertop can be installed, all new cabinets must be in-place, and existing counters must be removed. Countertop removal fees are a typical extra. This is because all contractors must pay to remove and properly dispose of countertops at a recycling facility.
Step 3: Templating.
The idea behind templating is to develop a digital means to accurately fabricate the countertop you've chosen and to ensure a smooth installation process.
We conduct the templating process with existing cabinets/countertops in-place or with only cabinets in-place. However, if neither exist (like in new construction situations) then we must depend upon any dimensions we can take from your home along with your cabinet designer's drawings.
Conducting countertop templating.
Templating is carried out using one of two methods (and only after you've decided upon your countertop material), edge type(s), sink type(s), sink location(s), a backsplash, and after you've signed-off on a final quote. We'll work with you to schedule a convenient time to come and visit your home or business.
Templating is listed as a separate line item in the final quote and provides a final opportunity to confirm all dimensions and the countertop features you want. It also allows us to see if any other issues need to be addressed prior to installation. Note: If you decide to add or remove features/options at this point, that's okay. Your final cost will simply be adjusted higher or lower based on what options you wish to add or remove.
Step 4: Countertop Fabrication.
Our goal is always to minimize/eliminate seams and take best advantage of all color and textural patterns. Some natural stone and quartz slabs may have complex color and textural patterns that require us to optimize the color flow across multiple surfaces.
Although seam elimination is always the goal, they are sometimes required if there are slab cut size limitations exist. Probably the biggest reason for one or more seams is the total size of your counters defined by your project. Larger jobs can require the use of more than one slab. Fortunately, with most durable countertops, seams can be hidden quite masterfully.
Step 5: Installation
After countertop fabrication is complete, we will contact you to schedule an installation date. Installation typically occurs between 1-3 weeks after fabrication.
Our installation crews are all fully insured and bonded. They will arrive on-time and be dressed appropriately for your countertop installation.
Our crews will communicate with you clearly and courteously at all times and ask and/or answer any questions or concerns you may have. They are also responsible to protect your property during and after the installation, and they will leave all work areas free of any installation debris.
Below is a video that shows the granite quarrying to installation process. We hope you enjoy it.
