Austin's Romancing The Stone knows there are difficult decisions when trying to decide which service will best suit your needs. We believe it’s important to be informed with what we can offer you. Here we have provided answers to our most frequently asked questions to assist you.
What is the cost associated with purchasing new countertops?
There are many factors that determine the final cost of new countertops: The type of stone, stone finish (honed, antiqued, sand blasted), intricacy of the job, sinks, edge style, range style, downdrafts, travel distance, over-sized pieces and backsplash. Extreme movement in the stone may involve the purchase of more slabs in order to properly match the movement across your countertops.
What is the difference between Natural stone and engineered stone?
Natural stone such as granite, marble, travertine, soapstone, onyx, slate and sandstone come from quarries all over the world. It is cut and polished in different styles for use on your project. Engineered stone is a man made product made with 93 percent quarts and 7 percent epoxy resin. It is also available in different finishes and fabricated for use in your home or office.
How does the layout of my kitchen affect the final product?
If your kitchen has long runs of counter space and many angles there may be a need for more seems. The type of stone that is chosen also contributes to the final product. The more movement and color variation within the stone may affect the seam placement and the overall look of the project. It most cases, we are able to use book-matched slabs to match the movement and color across the seams. Engineered stone and natural stone with no color differences do not affect the final product nearly as much.
How long does it take to fabricate and install my project?
Generally it takes 1 to 2 weeks to properly digitize, cut and fabricate your project, however, smaller projects such as vanities, table tops, and fireplace hearths can take less time.
How can I make the fabrication/installation process run smoothly?
Austin's Romancing The Stone asks that you have the sink and cook top ready and available for the templator to measure or take with him along with the templates. We also ask that all cabinets are level, ready for our arrival for installation and that the faucet, soap dispenser and other sink hardware is on site. We would also like the work area to be clean, free of objects, construction equipment, tools and debris.
What will my seams look like?
Seams can differ between types of material. More consistent grained granites and engineered stones seam very well because the grain pattern and color is identical across the seam. Granites with more color variation, larger crystal structure and movement may show the seam a little more due to the inconsistency across the seam. We do our absolute best to match up those inconsistencies during layout. Romancing The Stone uses the best seam setting equipment available on the market. With this equipment, seams are pulled as tightly as possible together and then leveled so that a razor blade will not catch on either side of the seam.
Do I get to pick where my holes will be drilled for sink accessories?
Yes. Please be present at the completion of the job to determine where you would like the holes drilled.
How often do my countertops need to be sealed?
Your natural stone will be sealed upon completion of the job; however, it should be resealed one to two times a year depending on how much use the counters get.
For more information, please contact us.
We look forward to serving you.
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