Natural Stone Countertops, SenSa® Granite Countertops, South Carolina, SC

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Installation Considerations

Granite tops require that a template be made for use during fabrication. This template can only take place after the base cabinets are installed and anchored. All ordinary cabinets with frames that are securely anchored to the wall will easily support the weight of stone countertops. Any sinks, faucets, cook tops, or any other item that may require a cut-out or a hole drilled in the countertop must be on site at the time of template. The template-maker may need to take some of these items with him to ensure proper fabrication and installation.

With all countertop installations there is a chance that some sort of cabinet modifications must be completed before the top can be installed. Cabinets must be completely installed and level before stone countertops can be installed. Cabinets should be level within 1/8" from cabinet to cabinet and from back to front. There is unfortunately no way to tell if your cabinets are out of level until the old tops have been removed. Sometimes this doesn't occur until the day of install.

Due to slab length most counter tops will require a seam. Seams will always be visible in Stone materials. The amount of visibility is determined by the color, pattern and granularity of the stone. Seams will be placed at our discretion based on slab size, material selection, edge selection, room location and customer preference. We try our best to take customer preference into account when placing seams however we have to take into consideration the previous factors first. To seal the seam a small bead of polyester stone adhesive and coloring will be placed between the material that will allow for natural expansion and contraction of the surface. This bead can be between 1/16" to 1/8" wide. If there is backsplash the seam between the countertop and the splash will be sealed with 100% clear silicon. We put clear caulk around all cabinets where it meets the stone but we do not caulk along the top of the splash between the walls and backsplashes.

Granite can extend up to 10" past the cabinets without additional support. This is only possible if it is a large piece with sufficient support on the fixed end. There should never be an unsupported overhang in an area where it might receive excessive stress; such as someone sitting or standing on the surface. To be safe it is always best to assume that this might happen and provide support for any overhang over 6". A support needs to be placed approx. every 2 feet apart.

Dishwashers should not be attached directly to the stone. Drilling into the bottom of the stone can cause stress cracks and discolorations in the surface of the stone. The dishwasher should either be mounted to the side of the adjoining cabinetry or attached to a dishwasher block. The installer will only attach the dishwasher to the dishwasher block if he had removed your existing countertops.

Home-owners should remove ALL lose items from the top of the countertops. Drawers will need to be removed from the cabinets and stored in another room for the install-day. It is recommended that cabinets be cleared out as well, but you can cover the contents with a drop cloth instead. Dishwashers should be empty and all lose-standing furniture should also be stored in another room.

Stone countertops do not lip-over the edge of the cabinets. If you change from a laminate top with a lip-over to a stone countertop it may be necessary to put up some sort of trim to cover any flaws that the lip-over on the laminate may have hidden. We do not provide or install this trim. In the case where chair-rails and other trimmings run up to the existing tops, it might have been cut to fit the edge and will not fit to the new stone edge and will have to be replaced. We do not provide or install this either.

The installer is not responsible for the connection of any plumbing, gas or electrical devices. Please make arrangements to have this completed after installation in complete.

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