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.
What's the difference between marble and granite?
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.
Is granite safe to use in a kitchen?
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.
Can I cut on my granite countertop?
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
Can my granite top be damaged?
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.
Are stone surfaces difficult to
maintain?
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.
How do I choose a stone fabricator?
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.
What questions should I ask a
fabricator to make a more informed decision?
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.
Why should I choose DXS Granite?
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.
What do you charge per square foot?
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.
What are the pricing
variables
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.
Where do I begin? How do I get an
estimate?
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.
Doesn�t granite require seams?
If
your surface exceeds the length of a granite
slab, it is necessary to seam
the joints where two slabs are joined. Corian�
(Acrylic composite)
surfaces are often able to avoid seaming. For
large applications, Corian�
also requires seaming.
How does DXS Granite handle seams?
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.
How long will my project take?
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.
I�m on a tight timetable. How can I
avoid problems and delays?
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.
What if I can't find the color I'm
looking for at DXS Granite?
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.