FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW MUCH DOES GRANITE/QUARTZ COST?

At the risk of sounding like a timeshare salesman, that really depends on several different factors.  To determine the cost, we would need to know the measurements and basic layout of your kitchen or bathroom.  Then, we would need to know the specific material you're planning to use.  Please allow us to come measure your countertops so that we can create an accurate proposal for your project.  We will not employ any high-pressure sales tactics steer you towards anything outside of your planned budget.  Our primary goal is to create a kitchen or bathroom that you enjoy.

We have one metro area competitor which send out mailers boasting "$28.00 per foot granite!".  That's a great price!  What does one get for that $28 per square foot?  Does this company work with the client on seam placement to minimize the visibility of an unsightly seam?  OR do they instead focus on extracting every last square inch of material from a slab?  Does the homeowner get to pick out their specific slabs?  Additionally, will the homeowner get to determine what features of their slabs they want to highlight or discard?  Our goal is to focus on aesthetics and quality over bottom basement pricing.  Most people get one shot at renovating their dream kitchen/bathroom.  If the end result is mediocre at best, but you saved a few hundred dollars, did you get any real value?

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IS ONE MATERIAL (QUARTZ/GRANITE) MORE DURABLE THAN ANOTHER? DOES ONE MATERIAL REQUIRE MORE MAINTENANCE THAN ANOTHER?

Both engineered stone (quartz) and natural stone (granite, quartzite, marble) have their pros and cons.  Both require some minimal level of care and maintenance.  The differences between the various materials is outlined HERE.  As far as care and maintenance is concerned, the short answer is use common sense and take basic precautions with your countertop investment.  Use cutting boards when chopping foods.  Use trivets or mats when placing hot pots or pans atop your counters.  Immediately wipe up acidic spills or liquids which could stain the material.  Care instructions for your countertops can be found HERE.

WHAT DO THE DIFFERENT "LEVELS" OF GRANITE OR QUARTZ IMPLY?

The stone industry relies on a rating system that classifies slabs from levels 1 through 10.  These are pricing tiers with level 1 being the lowest cost and level 10 being the highest cost.  These  levels in no way rank durability or longevity.  They are simply based on the rarity or cost of production.  Additionally, they take into account the number of natural blemishes or imperfections.  Granite starts at level 1.  Quartz starts at level 3.  Marble and quartzite slabs can be all over the map.  Level 1 slabs are widely considered to be "builder's grade" materials.  These are going to be common materials that are widely available.  You will often find these in lower level spec homes.  The higher up the ladder you go, the more rare the materials become.  If you shop for a level 5 or higher, you start to get into unique materials that are in relatively short supply. 
**Do not think that you need to break the bank or purchase a high level product to get a quality finished product. **

HOW MESSY OR INCONVENIENT IS IT TO REPLACE OUR COUNTERTOPS?  HOW LONG DOES THIS PROCESS TAKE?

We know that your kitchen is the hub of your home.  It's used for meals, entertaining, homework and more.  We understand that you cannot  be without a kitchen for an extended period of time.  With that in mind, we strive to make this as simple as possible.  Once you place a 50% deposit, we come to template your cabinets or existing countertops.  Once we have the templates and the material in hand, we begin the fabrication process.  This can take anywhere from 1-4 days, depending on our current work load.  On the scheduled day of installation, we ask that you have the sink plumbing (drain line and supply lines) disconnected.  We offer plumbing services if you are not comfortable performing this task.  We can remove your existing countertops for $4.00 per sq ft or you are welcome to remove it before our arrival.  We can typically have your kitchen countertops installed in 4-6 hours, depending on scale and features.  We ask that you avoid reconnecting the sink drain and supply lines for 24 hours.  This is to allow the adhesives and sealants to properly set.  Again, we offer plumbing services if you would like for us to reconnect these lines. 
In summation, the whole process, from the moment your water lines are disconnected until the time you are back to cooking and entertaining, should take no more than 2 days.

DOES ARTISTIC GRANITE OFFER INSTALLATION OF THE TILE YOU THEY SELL?