Questions to Ask Before You BuyWhat Should I Ask Before I Buy a Countertop
Are you MHIC licensed? Is it current and what is your number? Any contractor performing home improvements in the state of MD must be MHIC licensed to legally perform work on your home. Did you know that if you don't use an MHIC licensed contractor, your contract is considered unenforceable by the MD court system.
Are you Lead RRP certified? There is a new federal law in place that requires contractors to be certified to perform work on homes built prior to 1978 in order to ensure that lead laws and safety practices are followed. All contractors must have this certification; even if your house was not built prior to 1978, if your contractor does not have this certification, or worse, doesn't know what it is, you need to really ask whether or not your are dealing with an industry professional.
Are your slabs stored inside or outside? Outside slab storage can lead to damage of certain types of slabs including discoloration and in some slabs that have a high iron content, rusting. Inside slab storage is always the best choice.
Will I get to select the specific slab(s) that will be used for my kitchen? Stone can have variations that really can make a big difference to the individual homeowner; what you see in a sample is not always what you get in the actual piece that arrives in your house. So, pick your slab!
Do you use first quality slabs or commercial grade? There are “less than perfect” slabs of natural and engineered stone materials that can be used for counter top material. Again, make sure you pick your slabs. . .some “discount” fabricators cut prices by using 2nd quality slabs – and some even show you 1st quality slabs but use 2nd quality slabs. Yikes!
Do you stock your own slabs? Fabricators who stock and handle their own slabs typically maintain greater quality control than those who have to bring in individual slabs on a per job basis.
Do you fabricate slabs in house? It's always good to know if a contractor is just an installer or if the company subs out its fabrication. Almost all kitchen and bath showrooms sub out the work to another company that fabricates your stone. At Simply Stone, we handle it all in house.
Are your installers employees or subcontractors? In order to maintain quality control over the whole process, it's imperative that installers are company employees.
Do you turn the grain at seams? Granite has a grain pattern as well as a crystal pattern. If the grain is turned you will see a difference in light reflection even in a uniformly patterned slab! And many fabricators cut pieces in rectangles and turn the grain to maintain greater slab usage and decrease waste; this means unnecessary seams for you.
Is your free sink certified and warranted? You really do get what you pay for and there can be huge differences in the quality of stainless steel. Ask your fabricator the difference between a punched and molded sink as well as the difference between 18 and 16 gauge sinks. If you don't know, ask us!
What is your material and labor warranty? MHIC licensed contractors are required to offer customers a warranty.
Who is your service staff and what is their training? Service after the install is essential to answer any questions that come up or help you maintain your stone. Find out who will help you through any questions or concerns! Simply Stone's staff has a wealth of knowledge and are service industry experts after years of professional training and experience in the field.
Are your seams machine finished or saw cut? Machine finished seams give a smoother cut with less chipping than saw cut seams and therefore come together much tighter.
Do you seal the counter top? Your fabricator should seal your counter top with an impregnating sealer. Some cheaper sealers are silicon based "surface coaters". Why don't you want this? Because it won't last as long and it will yellow in sunlight! And if anyone offers you a sealing warranty, check it out! Many warranties state that they are voided if spills aren't wiped up immediately. Spills don't stain if they are wiped up immediately so the warranty is useless! Pay for quality, not an advertising gimmick!
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