Stone Installation FAQ
How do you handle removing existing countertops and disconnecting plumping and electrical hook ups?
Graniterra is dedicated to superior service always. Our highly trained team has the ability to perform tear outs, disconnects, and reconnects.
Do I have to call for an appointment to get an estimate for my project?
No appointment is necessary; Graniterra is open to the public Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Our sales associates will provide a free estimate when you bring in, or fax us your project blueprints, designer’s sketch, or even your own hand-rendered drawing with measurements. You can also fill out the contact form via our website and an associate will call you within 24 hours.
Can you describe the fabrication and installation process?
Stone Selection – The first step in the process of completing your project is selecting a stone material. Graniterra has hundreds of on-hand stones in our inventory. We recommend that our clients visit our INDOOR WAREHOUSE and personally hand-select his or her own slabs.
Templating / Field Measure – Templating will only be scheduled once all cabinetry receiving natural stone is properly installed. We then visit your home or jobsite to conduct an expert field measure of the project. We recommend your presence on site at time of Templating to approve and sign the final copies of template pieces. Precise measurements are taken of your prepared surface and are used to cut and fabricate your stone to an exact fit. Additionally, a copy of Template Field Report will be provided at the time of Templating.
Fabrication – A sketch of the project with the exact measurements is then given to our saw lead, who will cut the stone slabs to size on the diamond bladed table saw. The rough-cut pieces are now ready for fabrication. Every job is unique and customization such as special angle/radius cuts, sinkholes, and other details are cut out and polished using various tooling and/or by hand. All special details from the field measure are transferred to the fabrication crew and finished accordingly. Edges are laminated, shaped, sanded, and polished by our team of experienced fabricators.
Delivery and Installation (15 business days from Templating) – When you select from our IN-STOCK inventory of colors we guarantee completion of your home or office countertop project from Templating date to installation within 15 business days. The job is loaded onto our truck and delivered to your home or jobsite where our experienced installation crew installs your tops. All our field installers (no sub-contractors) are experts in their field ensuring correct fit of your stone and guarantying 100% satisfaction with the finished product.
How are seams made?
Seams are done where the granite joins with a smooth, straight cut during installation; a small bead of silicone is placed along the seam to seal it. Occasionally, in areas of stress or without sufficient support, the seams will be joined with epoxy, which must be supported temporarily until the epoxy cures.
Can granite seams show?
Because granite is a natural material and is mined from the quarry in blocks usually no more than 10′ long, you will end up with seams. Also, because granite is sold in rectangular pieces, you may want to use seams to reduce your costs, such as in an ‘L’ shaped corner. The visibility of seams will depend on the granularity, color and pattern. A small, uniform grain will not be as apparent as a larger varied grain. A dark color will be less apparent than a light color. A dramatic pattern with swaths of color will show more seams than a uniform pattern. Most customers have found that the beauty of natural granite outweighs the concern of seams.
How do you handle sinks and cook tops cut outs?
For Under mount Sinks ‘ A hole will be cut in the slab based on the shape of the sink provided by the client. Anchors will be built in bottom of stone to allow attaching of the sink to the stone. Our installer will mount the sink using our anchors upon installation. In certain circumstances, the sink cabinet may be too small to accommodate the specified sink. Upon client’s request, we may reschedule sink mounting to allow time to have the necessary carpentry work performed. Or our installer may undertake additional work to trim the cabinet to permit sink mounting. This additional work will be billed based on time and material.
For Drop-In Sinks ‘ The cut out for drop-in-sinks may be done in our shop or on site. If done on site, a Dry Shop Vacuum will be used to minimize the dust generated from dry cutting but some amount of residual dust is to be expected.
For Cook Top Cutouts’ In almost all cases, cook top cutouts will be performed in the field. Our installer will perform the cutout and dry fit the cook top to ensure a proper fit. As with the drop-in-sinks, a Dry Shop Vacuum will be used.