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Polishing edge of granite
kitchen counter top |
Avoid Disaster When Selecting
a Natural Stone Contractor
The popularity of granite and other natural stone counter tops is
skyrocketing. This popularity has attracted natural stone contractors
who are new to natural stone fabrication and installation and lack
the experience and skills to do the job correctly, or who cut corners
to keep costs artificially low. In either case, quality suffers,
sometimes disastrously, when the stone surface breaks during installation
or normal use.
| When interviewing fabrication and
installation contractors ask at least the following: |
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What type of training do your fabricators and
installers have? |
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How many installations have they done? |
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Can you show me photos or examples of your work? |
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What steps do you take to avoid breakage during
installation? |
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What do you do if the stone breaks during or
shortly after installation? |
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Please provide references |
Here are three key elements to look for that will
reveal whether natural stone has been correctly cut, assembled,
and installed.
Matched Grain and Vein – Natural
stone has a very visible grain and veins of color and texture created
by the arrangement of the crystalline formations in the material.
If the stone surface is made up of more than one piece, the pieces
must be laid out in such a way that the formations appear to blend
together most naturally and seamlessly. That takes a practiced eye
and careful attention to detail. A visual mismatch can also be caused
by a practitioner purposefully cutting costs by using a leftover
slab remnant to finish a surface area.
Matched Edge Detail – Kitchen
and vanity counter tops typically have a laminated edge to dress
the forward edge and conceal the counter sub-top. Anywhere counter
top pieces are joined, the vein and grain should be carefully matched
so the laminated pieces appear to be one stone. All slabs should
be exactly the same thickness so that when they are installed the
surface is smooth and appears to be one slab. Even a minute difference
in thickness is immediately noticeable by simply running your hand
across the adjoining surfaces.
The Fewer Seams The Better –
Even when the pieces of a counter top are joined well, the seams
where they fit together can detract from the overall visual appeal.
It’s best to lay out the counter tops in such as way as to
eliminate seams wherever possible. An experienced craftsman always
has that ideal in mind. Where seams cannot be avoided the master
craftsman will cut the slabs so the grain and vein match up to make
the seam unnoticeable.
Granite, marble, limestone, sandstone and slate counter
tops, floors and fireplaces can last a lifetime. It takes careful
attention during fabrication to make the most of their natural beauty.
Contact us to talk with
a specialist about your kitchen, bathroom or fireplace project.
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