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Seattle step by step process to a successful countertop purchase.

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Sales Rep: Hello, my name is Ed and I’d like to thank you for visiting us today at Granite Marble W A dot com. We put together a short video for you, to give you an idea of what to expect as you go through the process of choosing new countertops for your home. Thanks so much and I hope you enjoy.

Sales Rep: Hello welcome to Granite and Marble Specialties, My name is Ed, how are you today?

Homeowner: I’m doing well. I’m Kressi, nice to meet you.

Sales Rep: Kressi? Pleassure. So what brings you in?

Homeowner: I’m looking for countertops.

Sales Rep: Sounds Good, What type of project do you have in mind today?

Homeowner: You know I’m thinking about doing my kitchen countertops, but I may consider doing my vanities as well.

Sales Rep: Okay, Sounds great! Have you considered what type of material you’d like to use for your project?

Homeowner: Umm… I’m not quite sure yet. I’ve heard a lot of good things about quartz, and that it doesn’t have maintenance apparently? Can you explain that to me?

Sales Rep: That IS one of the appealing things about Quartz. Quartz is an engineered stone, it’s man made. And the way that it’s manufactured it’s not porous, like granite and other natural stone will be so it won’t require periodic sealing. However there are a few other things to consider when comparing granite and quartz as well. For example one would be the appearance, Quartz tends to have a very uniform look to it. Since it’s manufactured any pattern that was put there was put there intentionally. While granite will have natural variation and natural flow to it as it’s not manufactured, it’s a natural product. Another thing I like to present about granite and quartz is that granite is still a little harder than quartz as it’s denser, so granite will be a little more scratch resistant than quartz will be.

Homeowner: Okay, How about Heat? What if I wanted to put a hot pot on my countertops?

Sales Rep: Granite is gonna be more heat resistant material than quartz will be. Inevitably the bonding agents that are used in the manufacturing process with quartz dont react well to heat. So we usually don’t recommend quartz to be around heat, particularly for use around fire places.

Homeowner: Okay. So how do I go about choosing my material?

Sales Rep: We have a selection of material here in our warehouse that you can choose from, most of which we offer a Per Square Foot pricing. Per Square Foot pricing is often attractive because you’re only paying for the material you need, you’re not paying for excess waste material that you’re not even using. However if you don’t find something that you like here at our warehouse we can also source stone from a handful of local distributors that you can go visit and select material from, in which case you will be purchasing material, however much you need to complete your project, Separate from your fabrication costs.

Homeowner: Okay, so I’ll be purchasing by the slab then.

Sales Rep: Correct!

Homeowner: Now, will those distributors give me pricing?

Sales Rep: Distributors don’t give the public pricing because they only sell to people like us with fabricators licenses, however they are open to the public because they want you to be able to go in there, see their selection of stone and find that perfect material for your countertop project.

Homeowner: So how do I go about getting an estimate from you?

Sales Rep: Well in addition to knowing what material you’re gonna use for your project, we’ll need a few other details as well. One of which is, we’ll need to determine the total square footage of your project. If you’re getting new cabinets, often you can just provide us with a cabinet design and we can calculate the total countertop space you’ll be needing. If you’re not getting new cabinets, a simple sketch with dimensions will usually do the trick as well and we can determine how much countertop space is involved in your project.

Homeowner: Is there any way you can show me how to measure?

Sales Rep: We do have a tutorial on our website that you can go to that will guide you step through step on how to measure your own countertops for your project and determine what your square footage is.

Homeowner: What if I don’t feel comfortable about taking my own dimensions?

Sales Rep: If you don’t feel comfortable measuring your countertop space we’d be happy to send somebody out to measure for you. We can provide an estimate that way as well. There’s a few other things we’ll need to know about your project as well to get you an estimate including; What type of sink you’re planning to have? What type of cooking surface you have in there? What type of backsplash you’re planning to have as part of your project? What edge profile you’d like on your stone? And also if there’s an existing countertops we need to remove as part of your project.

Homeowner: So what kind of sinks do you guys have available?

Sales Rep: We have a variety of sinks available, both stainless steel and quartz composite sinks and we offer competitive prices. Or you can also purchase your sink outside of our company we just need it provided for our template measurements and for fabrication.

Homeowner: Okay, I’ve seen installed underneath the stone, can you tell me a little bit about that?
Sales Rep: Primarily what we end up doing for most of our clients is an undercounter sink that mounts underneath the stone it is by far the most popular option chosen these days.

Homeowner: Okay I was also looking at the sinks that have the cool apron front or farmhouse sinks, can you tell me a little bit about those options?

Sales Rep: Apron Front and Farmhouse sinks often undermount as well, the difference is we’re gonna need a farmhouse sink installed during template so we can take your template measurements with that sink in mind exactly where it’s in place.

Homeowner: Okay, so what kind of edge details do you have available?

Sales Rep: We have several different edge profiles we offer at no additional cost for your project. We also have many different premium edge profiles you can choose at an additional cost. The options are nearly endless.

Homeowner: Well I hadn’t really thought about backsplash, What are my options for that?

Sales Rep: You can have a few different options as far as backsplash goes for your project. Some choose to do just a 4 to 6 inch matching stone backsplash, others will choose to do a full height backsplash typically out of tile. In some case people prefer to do a full height matching stone backsplash. You can also do a combination of the two. If you prefer to do a 4 to 6 inch backsplash with tile above it that’s perfectly okay as well. It’s just a matter of what your preference is.

Homeowner: Okay everything looks good. I put my deposit down, what’s next?

Sales Rep: Well now we gotta set you up for a couple of in-home appointments. The first appointment is going to be for us to come out and template. This is typically a 1 to 2 hour appointment, we will want you there on sight because there are some questions the template tech will have for you including; what radius you’d like on the exposed corners of your stone, may have questions about overhang both at the edge of cabinets and any seating areas and he’ll talk to you about what options we have available should a seam be needed in your project.

Homeowner: Well that makes sense, will my seam be visible?

Sales Rep: Often times seems will be visible, particularly if you are looking for it. When we join your seam we used specialized equipment to ensure your seam will be as inconspicuous as possible.

Homeowner: Is there anything I need to do to prepare for template?

Sales Rep: If you don’t have new cabinets that were just installed and you have existing countertops there we really need the countertops cleared off to give our template tech room to work. If you do have new cabinets installed, those cabinets need to be installed and leveled for us to come out and template. In the end the more level your cabinets are the less of the need for shims on each side of the countertops to make the countertops level and it will avoid having gaps in between your countertops and your cabinet.

Homeowner: What would happen if I had a gap?

Sales Rep: If you had a gap the best thing we could recommend is maybe to purchase some trim to trim that out and cover those gaps if needed.

Homeowner: Do my sink and faucet need to be on sight at template?

Sales Rep: If you’re not purchasing the sink through Granite and Marble Specialties one way or another we need that undermount sink at our shop for fabrication so that we can verify the contour and the shape of the undermount cut and polish. It’s a popular option to just have the sink on site when we come out to template that way our template tech can bring it back to our fabrication facility and save you the trip. Faucets we don’t need at our facility for fabrication. What we need is faucets and any other accessories which holes will need to be drilled for, on site during installation.

Homeowner: I assume I need to be on site for install as well, what else can I expect?

Sales Rep: We do want you or another decision maker on site at installation as questions do arise during the install process. If we’re not removing countertops and someone else is removing existing countertops, those countertops need to be removed prior to our installation crew arriving along with any plumbing, electrical or gas lines that are gonna be disconnected, that needs to be complete by the time our install crew arrives as well. It’s always recommended that you have your plumber come in the following day after installation. This will allow time for the epoxies and adhesives to cure on your undermount sink.

Homeowner: What can I expect when it comes to noise and dust during installation?

Sales Rep: Countertop installation is certainly a construction process and residual dust and some noise from equipment being used are to be expected. A few things we recommend weather you’re having countertops removed or have had new cabinets installed it’s best if all the top facing drawers and storage areas are cleared out. There will likely be some dust in those areas. In addition to that outside of the kitchen it’s recommended that you cover any valuables or furniture you might be concerned with getting dust on them prior to our installation crew arriving. Once your countertops are completed being installed we will leave the job site in broom clean condition.

Homeowner: Sounds great, how do I take care of my final payment?

Sales Rep: After your install contact your Salesperson to take care of your final balance on your order. Often times I find clients assume we keep your payment information on file but Washington state does not allow us to keep any credit card information or bank account information on file.

Homeowner: Great, I look forward to getting my new countertops installed.

Sales Rep: Absolutely, pleasure working with you!

Homeowner: Nice meeting you.
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Quartz vs. Granite

Measuring Your Countertop

Clean Granite Countertops

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> READ MORE REVIEWS

[/fullwidth][fullwidth backgroundcolor=”#f8f8f8″ backgroundimage=”” backgroundrepeat=”no-repeat” backgroundposition=”top left” backgroundattachment=”scroll” bordersize=”0px” bordercolor=”#e5e4e4″ paddingTop=”30px” paddingBottom=”5px”][one_half last=”no”] [title size=”2″]WHY CHOOSE US?[/title] [accordian][toggle title=”LOW PRICE GUARANTEE” open=”no”]We beat Home Depot, Ikea, and Lowe’s prices EVERY TIME! Large retailers tend to outsource countertop fabrication to other vendors. At Granite & Marble Specialties, you also get to pick your very own slab from our warehouse. If you are able to find the same merchandise at a lower advertised price, please provide us with a copy of the advertisement or written quote and we’ll be happy to meet or beat our competitor’s price.[/toggle] [toggle title=”NO MIDDLE MAN INVOLVED”] We are an importer, fabricator, and retailer all-in-one. While most fabricators are forced to purchase from distributors and must earn a mark-up, we are able to offer our customers a direct selection of the highest quality natural stone, including granite, marble, and quartz. There are no middle-men involved, so you get to enjoy the tremendous savings and the experience of dealing with only one company, from start to finish.[/toggle][toggle title=”PREMIUM QUALITY & SERVICES”] From our 3cm premium hand selected imported granite, marble and quartz slabs, to our state of the art fabrication facility and skilled workforce, we pride ourselves on procuring and building the highest quality products. [/toggle] [toggle title=”HUGE COLOR SELECTION”] Because we are also a wholesaler, we have one of the largest stone collections around. With hundreds of granite, marble and quartz slabs to choose from in our showroom, you are sure to find the color and pattern you are looking for![/toggle] [toggle title=”SAME-DAY COUNTERTOP REPLACEMENT!”] We know that your kitchen is a central part of your home and being without a kitchen even for one day is quite inconvenient. Once your countertop is fabricated (usually a 4 day process), we tear down your countertop and install your new granite, marble, or quartz countertop the very same day.[/toggle] [toggle title=”80% BUSINESS FROM REFERRALS”] Most of our business comes from referrals from happy customers who have selected us for their kitchen upgrade. We pride ourselves on quality work and customer satisfaction.[/toggle] [/accordian] [/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”] [title size=”2″]WHAT WE DO![/title] [accordian][toggle title=”PREMIUM GRANITE IN SEATTLE AREA” open=”no”] Granite & Marble Specialties is Seattle and the Puget Sound area’s one-stop-shop for an unprecedented variety of premium quality granite, marble, and quartz slabs. We retail, wholesale, fabricate and install natural stone countertops. Customers of most other fabricators find themselves traveling between stores and warehouses back and forth – a time consuming and frustrating experience. Our showroom and warehouse is conveniently located in the same building. This approach makes it easy for you to plan you kitchen and bath, choose your actual slab, and make your purchase, all in one location! [/toggle] [toggle title=”STONE PRODUCTS WE OFFER”] We have an extensive collection of high quality, hand selected and imported granite, marble, quartz, quartzite, onyx, slate, travertine, limestone, soapstone, and semi-precious slabs as well as remnants of all sizes. We also carry an extensive selection of tile.[/toggle] [toggle title=”FREE IN-HOME MEASUREMENT”] Measure twice, cut once is our motto. We offer free in-home measurement so you can rest assured that your countertop will be customized and precisely fabricated to the exact dimensions of your kitchen. [/toggle] [toggle title=”PROFESSIONAL FABRICATION”] Our staff has over 15 years of professional experience in commercial and home building projects. After two decades in the construction business, we are equipped to handle any kind of countertop fabrication project you throw at us! [/toggle] [toggle title=”DEMOLITION & TEARDOWN”] You can rely on us to cleanly teardown your existing countertop and recycle old materials so you don’t have to worry.[/toggle] [toggle title=”CUSTOMIZED TO FIT YOUR KITCHEN”] Our staff is skilled and experienced in handling complex, custom projects to simple kitchen upgrades. We have the capability to build your countertop to your exact specifications.[/toggle] [/accordian] [/one_half] [/fullwidth] [fullwidth backgroundcolor=”#D8D6D6″ backgroundimage=”” backgroundrepeat=”no-repeat” backgroundposition=”top left” backgroundattachment=”scroll” bordersize=”0px” bordercolor=”#f6f6f6″ paddingTop=”40px” paddingBottom=”40px”]

RENEW KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS STEP BY STEP

[content_boxes layout=”icon-on-top” iconcolor=”#303030″ circle=”no” circlecolor=”#D8D6D6″ circlebordercolor=”#D8D6D6″ paddingBottom=”12px” ] [content_box title=”1. SELECT MATERIAL” fontawesome icon=”search” circle=”no” size=”large” iconcolor=”#2d2d2d” circlecolor=”” circlebordercolor=”” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] Granite & Marble Specialties offers an unparalleled selection of granite, marble, and quartz available for your perusal at our showrooms located in Kent and Seattle, WA. Our professionals are ready to assist you through your selection process.

[/content_box][content_box title=”2. TEMPLATE” icon=”calendar” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ animation_type=”0″ animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] After you choose your stone, our team will contact you to schedule a day to come out to your home or business and create a custom template of your project.

[/content_box][content_box title=”3. TEMPLATE VIEWING” icon=”desktop” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] After creating your custom template, we will place your template on your slab, and identify the best possible layout for correct flow of pattern and grain, ensuring seamless end results and visual harmony.

[/content_box][/content_boxes][content_boxes layout=”icon-on-top” iconcolor=”#303030″ circle=”no” circlecolor=”#D8D6D6″ circlebordercolor=”#D8D6D6″ ] [content_box title=”4. FABRICATION” fontawesome icon=”cog” circle=”no” size=”large” iconcolor=”#2d2d2d” circlecolor=”” circlebordercolor=”” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] Once the template has been created, and pattern flow lines have been established, the stone and custom template is delivered to our fabrication department where the actual cutting and fabrication occur.

[/content_box][content_box title=”5. DELIVERY & INSTALLATION” icon=”truck” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] Granite & Marble Specialties’ heavy duty vehicles have been specifically modified to ensure safe delivery of your new countertop. Our installation team has over 20 years of experience in delivering and installing stone slabs in the greater Puget Sound region.

[/content_box] [content_box title=”6. CARE AND MAINTENANCE” icon=”wrench” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] Congratulations! You have made a significant investment in your home by purchasing natural stone that will last you and your family a lifetime.

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