We’re happy you’ve decided to choose stone for your countertop project, but now what? We’ve been fabricating and installing stone countertops for a long time, so we’ve got the whole process down to a science. In this post, we’ll share our process with you so you know what we need from you, and what you can expect from each step.
MAKE A PLAN
There are some things it’s best for you to do before you come and see us to help speed up the process. First, decide on a budget and take some measurements. This doesn’t need to be exact, but if we know the sizes of the countertops you need, we can provide a more accurate quote. Taking a few pictures of your space is also helpful, so we can get a good idea of what you’re looking for. We have a printable Countertop Project Worksheet that you can use to help with the pre-consultation planning. Check it out!
CONSULT OUR EXPERTS
With your budget and basic measurements in hand, come down to our showroom and talk to one of our associates. Here you’ll be able to discuss the different types of stone, peruse samples, decide on an edge profile and talk costs and specifics. If you’re unsure of what you’d like, we’re happy to help you narrow down the options. Depending on the size of the countertops you’re replacing, we may need to discuss where you’d like any necessary seams to be.
If you need sinks or faucets as part of your countertop replacement, we can help with that too! We carry a variety of kitchen and bathroom sinks and faucets for a one-stop-shopping experience. Choosing a sink from us has benefits beyond convenience. With our selection, we have access to all the files and templates needed to accurately fabricate the sink and faucet openings for a perfect fit. If you do choose to use a sink or faucet from somewhere else, we’ll need the make and model number so we can find the cut-out specifications. If no specs are available, you’ll need to bring it in, so we can properly measure it before fabricating your countertop.
Whether you’re secure choosing from a sample, or you’d prefer to see the entire slab in it’s uncut glory, we’ve got all the options open to ensure you find the perfect stone. Because natural stone (granite, quartzite or marble) is unique from slab to slab, it’s best to take a look at the whole thing to ensure you like the colouring and variations. Natural stone can also have imperfections, and we take care to inspect your selected piece before we cut.
Manufactured stone (quartz or porcelain) is more consistent and less likely to have imperfections, but we can give you some options of how you’d like any veining or variation to appear in your space. Some people are really great at visualizing the finished product, but if you’re not one of them, we can help! Once you’ve chosen your slab, we can make a rendering using the actual slab image so you can see exactly how we’re planning on cutting the slab and what each piece will look like.
HAVE YOUR DIGITAL TEMPLATE MADE
We’ll schedule a day for a team member to come to your home and do the final measurements and create a digital template for fabrication. In order for us to to this quickly and accurately, we’ll need you to clear the area and remove the existing countertops.
PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR INSTALLATION
Stone countertops are large and extremely heavy, so for the safety of everyone involved, it’s important to clear a path from the door to the installation area. Carrying the slabs often require the coordination of a number of strong hands and tripping can be hazardous, so be sure to remove any loose rugs, errant shoes or general clutter to make sure everyone has secure footing.
The safety of everyone in your house is extremely important to us, so please be sure to keep children and pets a safe distance away while stone is being moved and installed.
In order to protect your space, we ask that you move any appliances out of the way. As we’ve mentioned, moving stone is a cumbersome task and sometimes involves some tricky maneuvers with very little extra space. The more room we have to move, the lower the likelihood that something might end up scratched or dented.
ENJOY YOUR NEW STONE!
That’s it! Your stone is installed and ready for use!
If you’re in the market for new stone countertops, we, at Solid Stone Countertops, serve Winnipeg and surrounding areas, and we’d be thrilled to get you on your way to beautiful new stone surfaces. Contact us for more information, or stop by our showroom at 1695 Sargent Avenue.