Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do I need to consider when buying marble or granite?

Because it is a natural stone, marble-and more recently granite-has been blessed with a remarkable natural beauty that has captivated humans throughout the ages. Inherent in such natural products is a certain lack of predictability that sophisticated architects and designers celebrate.  Consumers who are less acquainted with the material expect the marble  ordered to be identical to the picture or sample they were shown. Although  sample stones are intended to be representative of the quarry's product,  the material quarried at one time may differ slightly in color and veining  from the sample. Moreover, even a single marble or granite slab will  possess a certain amount of color variation from one end to the other.  Interior designers and architects have come to view this tendency of  natural stone as an advantage. Slight irregularities can be pleasing by introducing an element of the natural into human-designed spaces, whether  residential or commercial. Because of Marble's more porous properties, it is not recommended for kitchens or  bar tops. Marble applications include bathroom vanities, shower and fireplace surrounds.  Granite applications include kitchen countertops, bath room vanities, bar  tops and fireplaces. Although both  are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and  marble's relatives  limestone, onyx and travertine) are very  different from each other. Granite is formed deep in the earth's mantle  at extremely high temperatures, and is a very hard, resistant stone made  of crystallized minerals. The marble family - , limestone, travertine,  marble, onyx - starts out as sediment, animal skeletons and shells, plant matter, silt at the bottom of bodies of water. After millions of  years this solidifies (lithifies) into stone. Because its main component  is calcium, it can be affected by acids such as vinegar and citrus  beverages. In a word, yes. There has been some misinformation circulated by competing  industries attempting to raise concerns about issues such as bacteria and  radon. We would be pleased to share the research that shows that these concerns are not only unfounded  but granite actually ranks second to stainless steel in a study measuring  the bacteria resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. More on granite safety. Only if you want to ruin your good knives. Granite is  harder than your knife blades and will dull them very quickly, if you use  the countertop as a cutting surface. Always cut and chop on a wooden or  plastic cutting board Like any solid surface, high impact blows can harm granite.  Because of its crystalline structure, it can chip if subjected to sharp  hard objects. Unsealed, granite can absorb stains such as oil, which can  ultimately cause dark spots or discoloration. Heat from pots and pans or  burning liquids will not affect granite under normal circumstances. Granite, marble and other natural stone products are porous materials and therefore  require sealing. Every Stonecrafters top is sealed upon installation. For  residential use, it is recommended that the surface be sealed annually  using sealant designed for use with natural stone. The sealant is  available from Stonecrafters. The process is similar to waxing your  car.More on  stain removal. The process of purchasing custom stone is more detailed than, for example,  buying carpeting. As with any purchase, you need to determine what  criteria are most important to you. Are you searching for the absolute lowest price or looking  more for overall superior value? Is timely completion important? How  heavily do you weigh the quality of materials and workmanship of both the  fabrication and installation? Do you value  responsive service, integrity and the caliber of people that you deal with  and will have working in your home? Be  prepared to ask tough questions to determine the proper fit with a  reputable source. Our best customers are the most informed. To become an educated consumer, here is a list of suggested  questions for both yourself and your prospective sources. Thanks for asking! While are pricing is competitive, our best customers are  looking for something more. They value how we handle all of the details  that go into producing a superior quality product and our responsive  service. They don't want to be pressured to make a purchase. They want to  work with professionals in every step of the process especially with those  who perform work in their home. They want their  project completed on-time with minimum disruption to their home and their  lives. The DXS Granite Team has a proven track record for assuring these results. For the same reason that new cars are not priced by dollars per pound,  the most fair answer is: It depends.  While the amount of stone required for your project is a  significant part of the price, there are other variables. For this reason, we prefer to first understand the variables of  your project and then issue a prompt preliminary estimate. We are careful to avoid any appearance of bait  and switch marketing that can occur on the low end of our marketplace  with square foot pricing. They  include the complexity of your project, the type of stone required, the  edging design selected, the number and type of sinks, faucets and cook  tops used, the removal of existing countertops. We also offer services  that can make your project unique: fancy cuts, special features, scalloped  corners, clips and corbelled corners, radius arcs, additional installation  and removal services. At DXS Granite, we work to make it easy for you to participate in the  process of selecting your stone and your options. You will need to start by providing  us with some measurements. Read our Getting Started pages for information you will  need for a meaningful estimate and to help make your project a success. If  your surface exceeds the length of a granite slab, it is necessary to seam  the joints where two slabs are joined. Corian's (Acrylic composite)  surfaces are often able to avoid seaming. For large applications, Corian  also requires seaming. We  believe that superior seam quality is part of The DXS Granite difference. By combining superior cutting and  forming equipment with meticulous, well trained installers, DXS Granite provides the  cleanest seams available from a stone fabricator. Unlike some of our more cost conscious competitors, your  DXS Granite project manager will be happy to show you the planned  location of the seams for your project. Also, our layout designers  work to minimize the number of seams required for your project, another DXS Granite  difference All DXS Granite seams are hard epoxy bonded. We do use soft seam  bonds employed by less stringent installers. In addition, our advance fabrication  processes provide more flexibility for minimizing the need for seams  wherever possible. Once you have made your decision to proceed and have submitted your initial  (50%) deposit, we will schedule a field measurement within one week. From  there, your fabrication and installation typically takes two to three  weeks. This is where your cooperation makes a difference. In order for your project to  progress on schedule, we need your assistance in advance of two events: Field Measurement and Installation.  Missing elements will delay the process. Changes in specifications after  these events will definitely result in a delay. We need the customer's cooperation to get it right the first time  You can expect that our Project Managers will proactively request the following in pursuit of a smooth, successful  completion:

Field Measurement Requirements

Material Selection and location of material (if not in our inventory)

Edge detail selected.

Sink templates and/or sinks to be used (if applicable)

Cabinets installed and leveled

Faucets, soap dispensers, cook tops, etc.

Pre-Installation Requirements

All measurement requirements are met

Signed Proposal

Signed Order Confirmation Form

Signed Countertop Layout Sheet

Signed Additional Terms And Conditions

Slabs selected and tagged

50% deposit

We do! The purpose of our showroom is to educate, not to sell. Our staff will  assist you in making educated decisions on color, style and edge design.  In addition to the showroom, we have an inventory of 100's of stone slabs  for you to examine. When you're ready to buy, you can select the actual  stone slab(s) that will be used for fabrication of your project. Store and Showroom  hours.

For unique and hard to find stone colors and patterns, we will assist  you by working with our affiliated local distributors that  give us access to thousands of slab choices.

Our getting started page will point  you in the right direction. Or, contact us in the most convenient manner for you.