FAQ

• Sketch a drawing of your project with accurate measurements and bring or send it to our office staff. With this information we can calculate the amount of material and labor it will take to complete your project. Now we just need a few more details before we provide you with a complete estimate and place your project on the schedule.
• Visit our staff in our comprehensive showroom to select  materials, sinks, and edge profiles that suit your personal style.

Granite is an igneous or metamorphic rock and is formed from pressure and magma cooling over time. It consists mainly of quartz, feldspar, and traces of other minerals. The combination of these minerals creates the effect of different colors and crystalline structures. The minerals are interlocked which makes it strong and durable and in turn makes it more desirable for construction applications such as counters and tiles.

Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite and dolomite. When metamorphic rock is subjected to heat and pressure, a profound physical and/or chemical change can occur.

Quartz countertops are an engineered stone product used in residential and commercial kitchen and bath applications. Quartz countertops are made by mixing and compressing 75 – 95% natural quartz, silica, mirrors, glass, and granite with 5 – 25% epoxy resins and 5% pigment to create a hard wearing and stain-resistant surface. Quartz countertops are molded and milled to standard sizes and thickness but can easily be manufactured to custom specifications.

An edge profile is a shape or design that is crafted from the exposed edge of a slab being shaped into a countertop. There are many different types of edge details. Call or stop by our showroom for some examples of popular profiles.

Pricing will typically range from $45 – $75 per square foot.  Some stone can cost significantly more.

Our pricing generally includes: consultation, measuring/templating, stone product, standard edge detail, fabrication, installation, and an initial stain seal application.

Availability, country of origin, slab processing and individual characteristics of any particular stone.

There is little to no maintenance with most granite and/or quartz products. There are, however, some types of granite and marble that need an application of sealer more often. We recommend applying sealer when water on the surface of the stone darkens its appearance. Applying sealer is very easy. Apply liberally with a towel, wait a few minutes and then wipe it off.

Granite is scratch resistant, heat resistant, and if sealed properly it will be stain resistant. It is possible that it can chip or crack but only with excessive force or pressure.

Multicolored stone can generally be repaired depending on the damage. The more homogeneous the color is, the complexity of the repair process increases. If there is surface damage to stone countertops, it can be successfully polished. Quartz surfaces, in most instances, should not be surface polished.

Seams are joints where two pieces of stone meet or join together. Although granite slabs are very big, larger kitchens sometimes need seams. Seam placement increases with countertop length, angles and walls. Hire a good fabricator and seams are barely noticeable.

Remnants are pieces left over from previous jobs. Remnants are a great way to do smaller projects with high-end material at a discounted price.

There are many who fabricate stone. Doing it well is another topic.  

A professional company provides: customer service with timely communication; on site slab selection; showroom with samples; slab processing equipment including but not limited to a bridge saw or water-jet, CNC and hand router, edge polishing machine, water recycling equipment, overhead crane, hand polishing stations, etc.; knowledgeable installers with the appropriate equipment to move and manipulate the stone and present a professional appearance and presence in clients’ homes.  

Once you pick out a slab and submit your down payment, we will give you a date for template. It is our goal to have your project completed within 10 business days from the time it is measured or templated. Occasionally, we can turn a project around sooner, but if we are experiencing a high volume, it could take longer.

You, your contractor or you could contract Living Stone, Inc.

A mild dish soap and water will work fine. Use “Barkeepers Friend” for those difficult jobs.  It is also helpful to use products made for stone, but  is generally not necessary.