Frequently asked questions
How much per sq ft do you charge?
We offer all inclusive pricing, so the price per sq ft takes into account the material, total square footage needed, how many linear feet needs profiling, how many and what kind of sinks you have, whether you have a cooktop or slide in range, all the fabrication and all the installation. A change in any one of these details can affect your per sq ft cost. For this reason we do not list sq. ft. cost on our quotes only totals for each room, area or full job depending on the details.
However we do understand that in the initial stages having a rough per square foot price makes it easy for you to budget and decide which level of material you would like to go with. So to help you out, we've listed the average price for each brand of stone we carry. Every brand has anywhere from 3 to 6 different price points, we've just given the average based on a very average kitchen.
Average Per Square Foot by Brand
Builder Grade
TCE - $77
Ace - $80
Fir Stone - $86
Entry Level
Omnia - $100
LG - $110
Mid Range
Han Stone - $119
Polarstone - $120
Caesarstone - $128
High End
Dekton - $133
Silestone - $150
Cambria - $160
I want light or white engineered quartz, what should I be aware of?
Just like anything white or light there is a chance of staining and marking on light colored and white quartz. The less pattern and texture the stone has the higher the chance of seeing those stains and marks is. Unlike natural stone (granite or quartzite), which you can use special products to pull stains out, once there is a stain on engineered quartz there is very little chance of getting it out without damaging the finish.
If you are set on a white or light and are concerned about stains, you may want to consider Dekton or a natural stone.
How much of an overhang can I have for my eating bar?
With engineered quartz you can go a maximum of 12" unsupported, and 10" for natural stone, anything beyond that will need support. We offer stealth bars at additional cost (pictured below), or you can work with your cabinet maker or builder to install decorative supports.
Sinks, Dishwashers, Taps and Cooktops
Sinks
When our templater comes, we will need all of your sinks on site and in the rooms they belong in. The templater will bring them back to the shop and the holes for them will be cut here. The only exception to this is farmhouse and apron front sinks, those need to be installed in the cabinet before the templater arrives.
We will install undermount, top mount and inset vessel sinks. We do not silicone in top mounts or inset vessel sinks, that will be the job of your plumber. We do not install or hook up any plumbing to the sinks. For vessel sinks we only drill the hole for the drain.
Dishwashers
We do not anchor dishwashers into your stone tops. Most new model dishwashers come with side mounts, this is what you will use and either yourself, plumber or builder is responsible for this.
Taps
All tap holes (or RO or soap dispenser or other) will be drilled on site at the time of installation and a decision maker must be on site to confirm where they would like the holes. We are not responsible for installing any taps or accessories.
Cooktops
Cooktops follow the same guidelines as sinks, we will need them on site at time of templating, will install them into the stone but we do not hook anything up.
Do I need to seal my new countertops?
If you have chosen engineered quartz for your countertops then, no you do not need to seal them as it is a non-porous material that does not need to be sealed.
If you have chosen a natural stone, you will need to seal it. We offer Bulletproof sealer for a $100 fee. One coat will be done here in the shop, one will be done on site after installation and then the last one 1 to 2 months after.
How do I know if my sealant is wearing off?
You can test the sealant’s effectiveness by dropping a bead of water on your countertop. After a few minutes, wipe it away; if the spot is now darker, your surface is absorbing the water and your sealant should be re-applied.
I've chosen natural stone, can I pick the placement of my tops?
If you've chosen a natural stone that has some very disticnt patterns and you would like a certain section in your island for example, you can come down once your slabs have arrive and we can look at picking where each piece comes out of. However, depending on the type of stone, there may be naturally occuing fiscures or cracks that may not be apparent until cutting has started. So while we will do our best to get the features of the stone you want in the places you want we cannot gaurentee any placement. We may need to move pieces to a stronger part of the slab which could potentially change the entire layout.
Should I be concerned if my natural stone countertop has fissures or pits?
Fissures and pits are a natural feature of stone. They are typically filled with resin during the manufacturing process, but can add character to a countertop.