Frequently asked questions.....
Q: I’ve heard that stone counter-tops harbor bacteria, Is that true?
A: If you don’t ever clean your counter-tops, yes that’s true, however that’s also true of any other surface.
Simply put, regularly washing your counter-tops, like most normal people would do every day after use,
will keep your surfaces perfectly safe. In fact, a recent study showed that various surfaces, including
laminate, wood, stainless steel and granite, granite was the easiest for eliminating bacteria.
Even better than stainless steel!! The worst is.....Laminate!
Q: Does granite emit Radon Gas?
A: There are extremists on both sides of this subject. Many in the granite industry say there is absolutely no
risk, while others, especially those who promote other synthetic surfaces, say the risk is too high to even consider putting stone in your house. The truth is, any stone can emit radon gas. However, The Marble
Institute of America has done extensive studies and has found that, of the granites that do emit radon gas, the amount is so minute that is does not pose a health issue.
Find out more at: http://www.marble-institute.com/consumers/radon/
Q: What should I expect in the installation process?
A: Excellent information can be found at: http://www.marble-institute.com/default/assets/File/consumers/homeownersconsumer_countertop.pdf
From The Marble Institute of America. Feel free to call us with any questions.
Q: What do I clean my new counter-top with?
A: Cleaning really couldn’t be easier. Just use water and mild soap. Do not use harsh cleaners like “Soft Scrub” or “Windex”. These can leave a film that is difficult to remove. There are specific stone cleaners, which are ideal for keeping a brilliant natural shine. These items are for sale in our showroom.
Q: How should I choose my Fabricator?
A: Choosing a fabricator is much like choosing a contractor to build your home. You likely would never
think of calling a bunch of contractors and asking them how much they charge per square foot to
build a house, and then choose the cheapest one. Some factors you should consider: Are they actually
a fabricator? Do they have the slabs in stock and the machinery to cut and fabricate the stone? Are
they simply a middleman or an installer? What is their reputation? Have they been in business awhile?
Do you feel comfortable with them after leaving their showroom? There is a wide range in the quality
of workmanship as well as the quality of stone. In this industry, you absolutely “Get what you pay for!”
“At A-Z Granite, we stock over 300 slabs of Granite, we do not outsource any of our work, the same
Person who does the template will also fabricate and install your counter-tops.”
Q: Will the seams be invisible like in Corian?
A: No. Our skilled craftsman pride themselves in giving you the most even, clean seam possible, but
there is no such thing as an invisible seam in stone. Come into our showroom to get an idea of what
a seam will look like. We use the biggest slabs possible to eliminate as many seams as we can.
We’ll go over it with you at the time of template(s) where your seams, if any, will be located.
Q: Will I need to beef-up my cabinets to support the weight of the stone?
A: Not usually. Almost all newer cabinets will support the weight just fine. If your cabinets need more
supports, we generally can handle this at the time of template or installation.
Q: Can I put hot pots and pans on my stone?
A: Yes. If you’ve selected granite this is not an issue. On Quartz surfaces you absolutely cannot.
Q: Will my stone tops need a lot of maintenance?
A: No. All of your counter-tops will be sealed by us and other than occasionally resealing, there is
little or no maintenance you will need to do.
Q: How often will I need to seal my counters?
A: Granite tops should be sealed about every 5 years; marble and other stones should be sealed every
1-3 years. You can buy sealer and apply it simply with a soft rag, it takes just a few minutes to
apply and about an hour to dry.
Q: Will my stone be completely smooth and shine like glass?
A: There are no stones that are completely smooth. Although your counters will pretty much have a
glass like surface, natural stone has fissures, cracks, and pits within it that may be observable
depending on the lighting. You may also be able to feel these natural characteristics if you run your
hand carefully along the surface.
Q: What can damage my counter-tops or floors?
A: Although stone is very durable, you still must exercise some caution. Marble and other soft stone
can be damaged by acids like lemon juice or harsh cleaners and chemicals such as acetone, or
scratched fairly easily. Granite is very hard, but: if you were to drag a heavy item with a sharp
object underneath (say a screw or a pebble), you could scratch the surface. Scratches can be
refinished but it is fairly expensive. Oils are probably the only thing that can help to minimize or hide scratches and that’s only if allowed to absorb for a long period of time. Also it’s best never to stand on
any stone surface, especially if it has a sink or cut out in it. It could fracture.
Q: Are Stone counter-tops expensive?
A: Granite in comparison to other stones like; Marble, Onyx, Travertine, Limestone, and Sandstone, “Synthetics”, you will get far more value by having natural stone surfaces in your home. Price is greatly influenced by your color selection and application. For example, an exotic selection delivered to a second floor kitchen will be quite a bit more than a standard color selection on the first floor.
Q: How long will it take to get my counter-tops?
A: From the time of the template:
Kitchen: No longer than 2 weeks
Bathroom: Approximately 5-7 business days
Q: I got a cheaper price from another fabricator, will you match it?
A: Usually. Most people find that the price is cheaper because certain things have been left out from
the quote, such as: back-splashes, under-mount sink cut outs, outlet cut outs, bull-nose or special
edging, taxes, full 3 centimeter thickness, or various other things. We do not match “Square Foot”
prices. Bring us your quote and we’ll be glad to work with you!
Important Consumer Information:
Marble, Granite, Onyx, Travertine, Limestone, and Sandstone are products of nature. Each stone has
variations and characteristics such as pits, cracks, fissures, holes, rust spots, and differences in shading
and light refraction. All of these things contribute to the beauty of the stone and should not be considered
“flaws”. Customers should inspect each slab prior to fabrication to be fully aware of any unfavorable
characteristics. Since no two slabs are exactly alike, customers should be aware that seams sometimes will
not perfectly match in shading, grain, color, or light refraction. We strive to line up the seams in the best
way possible, however, not all slabs are exactly the same thickness even from one end to the other.
Please consult with us on these issues prior to ordering your stone counter-tops. Much more information
can be found at The Marble Institute of America website at the following web page:
http://www.marble-institute.com/default/assets/File/consumers/homeownersconsumer_countertop.pdf
http://www.marble-institute.com/consumers/
Click File to Download a Copy:
Stone Common Questions |
OTHER INFORMATION & PRICES
MATERIAL SELECTION
*SPECIFY IF: NEW OR RE-USING CABINETS*
SINK: KITCHEN
PRICES VARY:
INSTALLATION
Quote Information:
MATERIAL SELECTION
*SPECIFY IF: NEW OR RE-USING CABINETS*
SINK: KITCHEN
PRICES VARY:
- 18 GAUGE $180.00 - $200.00
- 16 GAUGE $380.00 - $400.00
- INCLUDED IN PRICE
- SEE UPGRADES
- CUT OUT SINK: $180.00
- FAUCET HOLES SET: $35.00
- REMOVAL: $150.00 - $180.00
- Cook Top Cut Out or Other: $100.00
- PRICES VARY: $100.00 - $160.00
- CUT OUT SINK: $90.00 - $120.00
- FAUCET HOLES SET: $35.00
- REMOVAL: $100.00 - $150.00
- Cook Top Cut Out or Other: $100.00
- OVAL W/B $50.00
- RECT. W/B $70.00
- CUT OUT SINK: $90.00
- FAUCET HOLES SET: $35.00
- REMOVAL: $100.00
INSTALLATION
Quote Information:
- Fabrication & Installation Level ? - Material
- Edge?
- Kitchen/Bar or Bath sink cut out
- Kitchen/Bar or Bath sink
- Cook Top Cut Out or Other
- Faucet Hole Set - Single Hole or 3 Hole...Spread?
- Measure: Width X Height / 144 = (add for backsplash)
AVERAGE PRICING...
STONE PRICE LEVEL STARTING PRICE PER SQ. FT.
(Check availability)
EDGES PRICING STARTING PRICE PER LIN. FT.
Price Includes:
STONE PRICE LEVEL STARTING PRICE PER SQ. FT.
- GRANITE LEVEL A $35.00 - $40.00
- GRANITE LEVEL B $50.00 - $55.00
- GRANITE LEVEL C $60.00 - $65.00
- GRANITE LEVEL D $70.00 - $75.00
- GRANITE EXOTIC $80.00 .........
- MARBLE LEVEL A (Check availability) $45.00 - $50.00
- MARBLE LEVEL B (Check availability) $55.00 - $60.00
- MARBLE LEVEL C (Check availability) $65.00 - $70.00
- MARBLE LEVEL D (Check availability) $75.00 - $80.00
- MARBLE EXOTIC (Check availability) $85.00 .........
- ONYX (Check availability) $85.00 .........
- QUARTZ (Check availability) $75.00 + .........
(Check availability)
- ENGINEERED STONE A $55.00
- ENGINEERED STONE B $65.00
- ENGINEERED STONE C $75.00
- ENGINEERED STONE D $85.00
- ENGINEERED STONE EXOTIC $95.00
EDGES PRICING STARTING PRICE PER LIN. FT.
- EASED/ STRAIGHT POLISH INCLUDED
- PENCIL INCLUDED
- BEVEL 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" INCLUDED
- HALF BULLNOSE $4.00
- BEVEL 3/4" $5.00
- DEMI BULLNOSE N/A
- FULL BULLNOSE $8.00
- O'GEE $12.00
- COVE $12.00
- DUPONT $12.00
- CHISELED $12.00
Price Includes:
- Material
- Fabrication & installation
- Inlayed steal bars as needed
- Use of brackets for sink mounting
- Underneath polish of the countertop near edges