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Before You Make A Committment
An investment in marble or granite should last you a lifetime.
It's important to know what questions to ask so you can make an educated decision.
Here's a list of questions that you'll want to ask to help insure you'll be
happy with your investment:
1) What are my material choices?
Dixie has the largest and most diverse marble and granite warehouse in the area.
This not only gives you the best selection, it helps us to keep our pricing competitive.
2) How do I know what my slab will look like? Will I be happy with whatever part of the slab my top is taken from? Is it the right material for my purposes?
(This is crucial because many materials can vary in color from one side of the slab to the other. Some may have veins running through them. Although many consider the veins a natural beautyyou will at least want to be informed. Keep in mind that missing veins or areas that vary in color can waste material and therefore may be a customized cost.)
This material is Luna Pearl, a very easy material to work due to its consistency.
Here is a material with a lot of movement that is not consistent. The look of the finished product can vary depending on the size of your project and any imperfections in the material we have to stay away from during fabrication. If you choose a material with this much character you will want to make sure you like the whole slab. This is an example of material that would not be recommended for a raised top due to the lack of consistency, but would be great for a table or vanity.
This material is called Durango. This is a porous material that is not polished. A great material for a fireplace but not suitable for a kitchen. Due to the porousness of the material you could easily stain or chip this material. Due to the nature of the material, the quarry that took it from the ground put filler in it where the surface was not smooth. Be sure you know what you are getting and that it is a good material for your project.
Compare the color of these two slabs. They are the same material but vary in color. This is a good example why we recommend our customers pick their slabs.
3) How many joint and seams will I have? What will they look like?
(To avoid any unwanted surprises it is important to be educated on where the joints and seams will be. Choosing a different material or slab thickness may eliminate some joints.
Your sales associate should be able to identify approximate locations of seams.)
Here is an example of two pieces that were laminated together for the buildup around a fireplace. Notice the attention to detail in the book matching of the edge. This is an example of the craftsmanship that we pride ourselves on.
Here is a piece that will have a joint once it is installed. Notice how unnoticeable and tight the joint is. Imagine what it will look like once it is in a kitchen.
We can make very large pieces without joints, too. This island is a good example.
4) How do you protect from possible breakage around sink cutouts?
If you look on the top and bottom of the sink cut out you can see the steel rods that have been cut and placed into the granite. This adds additional strength and support.
5) How is the sink mounted? How is it being supported?
If you look on the yellow line you can see the notch into the granite that allows for a brace to be connected between the granite and your sink, as opposed to just being glued into place. In some cases like granite sinks, we will add a steel brace underneath for additional support. We will mount the sink on the job site so you will not need to pay someonelse to do it.
6) What supports and brackets will be used and are they visible?
This is a custom countertop. We can create almost anything your mind can imagine. Pictured, is the underside of the custom top. Steel bracing, precise woodwork, and color matching gives a quality look to even the bottom of your countertops.
If needed we will design a support structure to reinforce your top.
7) How is the dishwasher mounted?
The two yellow spots you see are cutouts to secure your dishwasher from rattling around. Just an extra step to make life easier for you and your builder.
8) Is my stone treated during fabrication with an impregnator for stain resistance?
After fabrication an impregnator is applied to the stone like fabric protection is applied to furniture. It does not guarantee against all staining but will slow the process down.
It is best to clean spills as sson as they occure.
9) What is scribing?
There is a notch in the corner of this granite. This is where a door trim piece might be. Instead of using a colored caulk or cutting your woodwork, we notch our granite. This is one of the details our templators pay close attention to. If the wall has movement, we will cut the granite for a snugfit instead of filling the gaps with caulk. This gives a very clean and natural look.
10) Do I have to buy a special sink for my granite top?
At Dixie Cut Stone and Marble we have over 350 sinks on file. If needed we will make a custom template to fit the exact measurements of your sink.
11) How large is your shop?
The cutting shop: Stone enters looking like a raw slab and leaves shaped to your desire.
The lamination shop: This is where the edge detail begins to take form. Have a special edge or thickness we'll do our best to accommodate you.
The finishing shop: The final touches are put on your countertop and all edges and corners and joints are finished with top craftsmanship.
12) How do I care for my stone once it is installed in my home?
When our installers complete your kitchen or project they will leave you with a care package
that will include care instructions and a can of cleaner. If you like the product you can order
more from Dixie Cut Stone & Marble Inc. For additional information on your stone
you can visit www.marble-institute.com
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