Stone countertops come in natural and man-made (engineered) materials.  Natural materials include granite, marble, quartzite, and soapstone.  Typical man-made or engineered materials include quartz, recycled glass, and ultra-compact surfaces.

Each type of material is excellent for its intended use as countertops.  The differences among them often come down to buyer preference and perceived value.  Factors that do influence the decision include how and where they will be used, preference for regular versus more random patterning, color choices, and cost.

Visualizers give you the opportunity to see your kitchen or bathroom design in a more realistic setting.  You can select your preferred countertop colors and pair it with either matching or tile backsplash, then combine that with cabinet and flooring colors and styles to make your vision come alive.

We also have an edge profile visualizer that shows what the most common profiles look like on an actual countertop.  We even have a countertop replacement visualizer that uses a photo of your very own room.  That means you can see what a new color of material would look like with your cabinets, your wall color, your flooring, and more.

Common edge profiles for countertops are Eased, Bevel, Radius, Ogee, and Waterfall.  Other profiles include Full or Half Bullnose, Double Radius, and Triple Pencil.  Profile selection is largely a matter of personal preference, but factors like the overall size of the room, size of the countertop itself, and exposure to chipping also influence the decision.

Countertops typically overhang the cabinets by 1-1/2” to allow drawers to remain fully accessible when opened.  Greater overhangs are often seen on islands, peninsulas, and raised bars to provide for seating.  We follow industry safety guidelines that require overhang support for 3cm countertops with more than 10” overhang, and in no case should the cantilevered portion be more than one-third the total width of the countertop.

Backsplash may consist of the same color material as the tops themselves, in either a full-height configuration or (typically) a 4” rise from the countertops.  Alternatively, we can install a tile backsplash which is available in various colors, patterns, and sizes.

Homeowners usually want to replace or upgrade their sinks and faucets when they get new countertops.  You certainly don’t have to but when you’ve made a significant investment in countertops, you don’t want to diminish the look of it by re-using an old, scratched, dull sink or faucet.  It’s also sometimes difficult to remove an existing sink without damaging it beyond the point of being able to re-use it.

We can provide almost any type and brand of sink and faucet through our network of distributors.  You can also provide your own, but we need to know all of the details so we can fabricate the tops correctly.  If you’re replacing a cooktop, we need to know its make and model as well.

Our Measure Techs use the LT-2D3D Laser Templator, which increases the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of templating.  The whole process typically takes less than 1 hour.

We will take photos of important areas of the project to assist when verifying details.  We will laser measure to several points on the cabinets or existing countertops, mark centerlines for sinks and/or cooktops, and measure the stove opening.  The drawings are literally created as the points are measured.  Finally, we will ask you to review and sign the drawings.

• We know how difficult it can be to get a true sense of what a stone slab looks like when all you can see is a 4-inch sample.  We want you to be completely happy with the material and color you choose.
• The stone you have selected is either a product of nature or made from natural materials and, as such, will have natural inconsistencies. Pits, fissures, and variations in color, pattern, texture, veining, and shade are common and normal. The performance of your countertop will not be affected by these characteristics.
• Stone Interiors offers our customers several options for viewing:
  • We can send you a photo of the entire slab, but if your color has texture or pitting it may not be obvious
  • We can do a video ‘walk through’ of the slab with you using phones, tablets, or computers
  •  You can personally see your slab at our facility and touch and feel the slab to be used
  • We will schedule an appointment for you to see your slab at our distributor’s showrooms

We like to be sure that we have all of the details that will make your project go smoothly and ensure your complete satisfaction.  We take the extra time to review the information that may have come to us at different times and from different sources, and make sure all of it is correct and complete.  Sometimes that means a call or email to you to clarify a particular item, especially if your preference might have changed at some point in the process.

We have found that this final review before fabrication has caught missing or incorrect details that would potentially have delayed the project.  This is the time to be safe and not sorry!

If you are replacing countertops on existing cabinets, those old tops need to be removed in order for new ones to be installed. You can engage us to remove them, remove them yourself, or hire someone to remove them. 

If we remove the tops, our installation crew will remove the tops immediately prior to installation.  We will also haul away those tops and any debris that goes along with them.

This is the end product of all we’ve done.  Our installers will call you approximately 30 minutes prior to arriving.  They will confer with you as to the best path from their truck to the project site as well as define an area in which they can set up a temporary worksite.

Once they begin installing they will shim any tops as needed to ensure they are flat, set and secure the sinks in place, drill faucet and switch holes, and set seams.  They will also install any stone backsplash and caulk from stone to stone.

Before gathering up their tools and leaving, they will clean and visually inspect all countertops, verify that the sinks are water-tight, cabinet drawers are replaced, trash is removed and the area is swept.  At this point, we also ask you to visually inspect the tops, edges, seams, and holes to make sure you are completely satisfied.

Protection: Some stone types should be sealed upon installation. Ask your fabricator about the porosity of your stone, and what type of sealer (if any) they typically recommend. Engineered materials may not require a sealer at all.

Maintenance: Do some research, and find out what types of cleaning solutions are recommended for your specific stone. And as always, partner with your fabricator to fully understand how susceptible your particular stone is to staining, as not all granites or marbles behave in exactly the same way. With any stone, it’s essential to clean up spills quickly to avoid the risk of staining.

Repairs:  Even with the best care, chips, and stains do happen. If basic cleaning doesn’t resolve the issue, contact a trusted stone fabricator to take a look at the blemish. Any qualified stone professional will be able to advise you on how the issue should be repaired.

Take a look at our guidelines below for detailed care and maintenance of specific stone types.

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