Though Natural Stone is known to be durable, you still want to maintain its shine. As you know, most Professional Stone Companies will seal your stone to protect it from stains or discolorations. Unfortunately, harsh cleaning products can strip away the sealant material and penetrate the stone, causing etching and stains.
Natural stone slabs will fade if left out in direct sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation can cause you to get a sunburn, therefore, natural stone exposed to UV lights will cause discoloration. Some natural stones are treated with dyes to enhance their colors. The dyes in the stone will react to the UV rays and the color will fade rapidly. Also, natural stone has naturally occurring pits and fissures. At the quarry, “filler” material is used to fill in these pits so that the slab is nice and smooth. If kept outside, the filler will yellow and sometimes bead-up on the surface, giving a rough texture.
Our team outside our Las Cruces warehouse
Type in your search engine “countertop company” and you will have a large selection to choose from, but how do you know which one is right for you? Well here are some things to review when searching for the right countertop company.
First of all, I recommend choosing a company that is fully automated, from digital templating to having state-of-the-art equipment. This cuts down on turnaround time so much! Finding a company that has a digital templater, which is a laser that takes measurements, allows you to keep your existing countertops until the day of installation of your new tops.
Some companies, if they don’t use digital templating, will need to remove your counters before the measurement, meaning you are left without your counters for two weeks or more! I can’t imagine not having my home in order that long! Yikes!
Second, a turnkey company, meaning the company does all the fabrication and installation itself, eliminates a lot of delays and miscommunication. Some stores offer countertops, but they sub out the labor, which is not always easy for the consumer when you have specific instructions or questions and the salesperson has no idea.
It's good to ask how long the company has been in business, are they covered with the proper insurances, and always ask if they offer warranties!
Most important, ask to do a walkthrough of their fabrication shop. Sadly, some fabricators may end up fabricating at your home creating dust and more headache for you.
I myself care about our planet so a secular question is, does your company recycle its water? Fabrication shops go through more water than you can imagine. Choosing an environmentally friendly company makes you feel proud!
Whether you are a homeowner or a contractor needing countertops, you can be confident that ACE Granite checks off all these recommendations!
Quartz countertops are such a hot topic right now so I thought it should be something we discuss early on. Many customers come in not knowing what Quartz is so here's a 101 on this product…
