Granite Countertop Quality: Is your granite installation top-notch?
Ready to redo the kitchen counters? Time to bring in the granite! Getting rid of your old, dated, or damaged countertops is a must these days. After all, keeping the kitchen safe and healthy makes for a happy home. But, how do you know your installers have done the job right? Keep reading to find out! We’re going to lay out everything you should look for in a top-notch granite countertop installation job.
The best Granite countertop installers in NEPA
When you hire a business to take care of your home remodeling, you do your research to make sure the people you’ve trusted know their stuff. However, no matter how confident you might be, there’s always going to be that little voice in the back of your head asking, “How do I know this is the best quality job?” And that’s okay. You’re no expert. If you were, you’d be doing the project yourself! That’s why we’re going to share with you exactly what you should be expecting from the best quality installation of granite.
-Rodding The Granite
If your installer does this, consider it a sign that you’ve picked the right contractor! Rodding is done to the cutouts in granite when adding a sinkhole. When your installer completes the rodding of your countertop, this means they’re putting in steel rods along the bottom face of the granite around the area of the sink and sealing it with caulk or resin. Since the sinkhole is a sensitive and complex area, this process ensures the protection and strength of your countertop. This virtually guarantees your granite will avoid cracks and damage over time.
-Level Countertops
This is almost a no-brainer. Why on earth would you want granite countertops that aren’t level? Exactly- you wouldn’t! Additionally, the term ”level” doesn’t only apply to the countertops themselves. When your installer is working on your kitchen, they need to level your cabinets, whether they’re existing or new, for your new counters. This means that they’ve properly measured and installed your countertops in a way that compliments your cabinets. What do you look for?
- Make sure there’s an even space between the surface of your counter and bottom of your cabinets.
- Not sloped or skewed either way. An easy way to double check is by taking any level from your own toolkit and see for yourself.
-Granite Seams
Depending on how much counter space you’re dealing with, granite seams are one detail you can never overlook. The seam is the part of your countertop where two slabs come together. Seams should be tight and practically unnoticeable so that they don’t cause any problems. Your installer should be using an epoxy that’s strong and matches your particular type of granite. The less seams, the better, and any expert will know that. You’re also going to want to check to make sure the seams are level with the counter. You don’t want the seams raised or sunken in because this can lead to other issues that you would otherwise never have to worry about.
-Know your pricing
Don’t get ripped off. Make sure you know the facts about granite prices so that you’re not caught off guard in the end. Granite is almost always priced by a dollar amount per square foot. This varies on a number of factors: quality of granite, how big or small your space is, how thick you want your slabs to be, etc. Fabrication and installation costs also come into play in the big picture. The best way to find out this information? Just ask! Your trusted installer should lay out all the costs for you from the beginning, so you know what to expect and to ensure you get exactly what you pay for.
Your home remodeling project is no joke; so don’t treat it like one. If you don’t know what to look for in a quality granite installation, just make a checklist of these tips and maybe some of your own concerns. That way you can stop worrying and get to enjoying your new kitchen!