1. How thick are granite slabs? The standard thickness of most slabs of granite is either 2cm (3/4" thick) or 3cm(1 1/4" thick).
2. How thick will my countertops be? At Abella Stone Ltd. the standard thickness of our countertops is 3cm(1 1/4"). The breakage rate and lack of quality in thinner products have made 2cm material an undesirable material to work with.
3. How much does granite weigh? Granite slabs come in different thicknesses, thus effecting weight. The weight per square foot for each thickness is as follows: *3/4" (2cm) thick slab: 12.8 lbs per square foot *1 1/4" (3cm) thick slab: 19.4 lbs per square foot
4. How much overhang do I need? From 1 1/2" to 2". Countertop seating overhangs can be 10" to 12" with proper support (as determined by Abella Stone, Ltd.).
5. Do I have to seal my new granite countertops after they are installed? No, not for 2 to 5 years.
6. Why do I have seams in my countertops and what do they look like? The raw slab size is usually not large enough for the tops to have no seams. The cabinet layout, cook top cutouts or sink cutouts may require seams. The tops may also have to be seamed in order to avoid extreme waste of material. The seam will be sealed with a moisture proof polyester epoxy that is color matched to the material to minimize visibility.
7. Can I choose the granite slab that will be used on my countertops? Yes, at Abella Stone, Ltd. we encourage our clients to visit our location to hand select their materials. Customers can select the exact slab that they desire for their installation.
8. How will my project be measured? By using a template system. A template is a pattern made of the cabinet layouts that will be used to produce the countertops to your specifications.
9. How will I know if my old cabinets can support a new countertop? Some stone countertops can weigh up to 30 lbs per square foot. When we come out to template, our highly trained staff will make sure your cabinets are structurally sound to handle the weight of your new countertops. The cabinets will also be checked to be sure they are level.
10. Can you disconnect or reconnect my plumbing or electrical items? While Abella Stone, Ltd. is a highly trained granite and natural stone fabricator & installer, we are not licensed plumbers or electricians. We therefore can not assist you in these areas.
11. What should I receive when buying granite? Not all granites and workmanship are the same, consumers must be careful when they are comparing different granite companies. The quality of the installation is just as important as the quality of the stone. An excellent installation consists of a job that fits well as a result of accurate templating, highly polished edges, timely installation with no hassles, and a quick response to all situations. At Abella Stone we believe that the overall job can only be as good as the environment of the facility. We feel our shop and manufacturing facility has first class, state of the art equipment designed to produce a superior product for our customers.
The article below is from "Consumer Reports" August of 2008 edition. They compared 11 different countertop materials and found that Granite is one of the highest rated materials in regards to performance.
Consumer Reports August 2008
Consumer Reports August 2008
5595 Auburn Road
Shelby Township, MI 48317 Phone: 586-739-1905 Fax: 586-726-0779
E-mail: info@abellastone.com
