Classic Rock
marble & granite
Edges
The edge detail can have as big an impact as your color and stone selection, upon your whole design. Some options will look better with a large or small sweeping radius, while others are better suited with straight angles. When selecting an edge pay close attention to the finished enhancements that will be used on the cabinets and other millwork, it can emphasizes the styling of the doors or crown molding to set off the mood of the room. Edge detailing is what makes your project individual, and it can change the whole look of the stone. Edges will have a standard 1-1/2 overhang. Thickness will vary a little from stone to stone, but most of this is eliminated by milling of the edge detail. A 2cm stone will give you a 3/4 edge; with an additional 3/4 piece laminated you can have a 1-1/2 edge. Some designers feel a thicker edge gives a richer appeal, while others like the minimizing streamline of a thinner edge. Also available is the 3cm stone that will give you a 1-1/4 edge thickness. You may have noticed 3 or more layers of stone on some edge details, this is necessary to achieve a desired look for a chosen edge preferred, because a thicker edge will always accentuate the style of edge selected. All of our edges can be viewed on our web site under "Edge Details." If you dont see an edge you like, we would be more than happy to provide any accommodation of edge detail that you may desire to fit your needs.
Surface Finishes
When selecting a surface finish keep in mind the traction needed and the intended users. Natural stone has pores that improve traction over plastics and porcelains. Always remember soap & water applied to any surface can become very slippery, use caution in any shower. Great care is taken to maintain the natural characteristics of each stone when fabricating all finishes provided. OUR COMPANY cannot guaranty stone color to be an exact match to samples, as this is a natural product and subject to variations.
Polished: This surface is very smooth. Polished crystals bring out the brilliant colors and grains of natural stone. The shine comes from the natural reflection of the stones crystals. (Minimum traction)
Honed: Provides a flat, smooth low sheen. Common for high traffic areas. (Medium traction)
Antiqued: Has low sheen with a semi-smooth textured surface that can appear and feel similar to leather. (Medium traction)
Sand Blasted: This rough surface is the results of a pressurized flow of sand that provides a textured finish, commonly referred to as etched. (Maximum traction)
Flamed: A very rough surface that is developed during fabrication, the stone is wet and heated to cause only the surface crystals to pop loose from stone. (Maximum traction)
Sinks & Stoves
Top mount sinks rest on the top of the counter. Where as an undermount sink is mounted to the bottom of the stone, requiring the edge of the sink cut out to be polished, and will have an additional charge for that labor. The majority of all top mount sink cut outs, vessel sinks and cut outs for cook top stoves will be cut on the job site, however in some cases when possible some will be cut or partially cut in our shop. All sinks, faucets, sink attachments and stoves will be required to be on the job site at the time of templating so we can take accurate measurements of all items that interface with the stone. This procedure allows us to minimize time spent in the field for installation, which saves you time in construction and reduces the impact of our presence on the jobsite. It also helps us make sure all products you have selected will fit properly before fabrication starts; eliminating mistakes which are costly, not to mention the negative side affects of time delay. The day of installation is not the time you want to find out that one of you products will not fit according to planned. The process is simple; you can have products delivered to us or have them on site by the day of template. As far as undermount sinks, the cutting and polishing will be done in the fabrication shop. Please remember we will not make any cut outs based on templates or specification sheets; in the name of absolute accuracy a physical measurement is the only guarantee against the threat of costly error. Customer service is our middle name, so everything we can do to save time, saves you money. Cleaning up any and all messes we make during on site fabrication is of the utmost importance; however you can expect trace amounts of dust. With all undermount sinks you will want the stone to overhang and hide the area where they meet, similar to the edge of the countertop. With the stone hanging over the sink, the benefit of wiping into the sink functions better. The alternative of holding the stone back leaves a groove around the sink, which acts like a dirt trap that requires more maintenance and exposes the silicone which eventually becomes unsightly. And once finished you will see that it just plain looks better. On most undermount sink cutouts we recommend using a larger radius on the top edge to reduce the possibility of chipping when handling large pots and pans or other items that are prone to coming in contact with the top edge during normal use. Nothing is more frustrating than finding chips in your stone.
Sink & fixture wholesaler:
Keller Supply Co. (by appt. only)
1210 Carpenter Rd. SE
Lacey, WA 98503
360-491-0550
www.ferguson.com
www.kellersupply.com
Backsplash
The proper backsplash height can be determined by the kitchen layout, upper cabinets, windows, bar tops, electrical plates, material being used and things like budget can even play a factor. So when looking at these items your best option will become clear. 4 inches is standard, 6 inches can add a stronger presence, and full backs going up to the bottom of the upper cabinets will always make the largest statement. Paying close attention to the electrical plates, and how their location will affect the splash, is crucial. Often when full splashes are used it is best to relocate these items to walls with out splashes or under the upper cabinets. Another popular feature is under cabinet lighting that will enhance not only the countertops but also the splash chosen. Another question we hear is whether to use slab or tile on the splash, and once again all the previously mentioned factors apply. You will want to pay close attention to the thickness of materials being used when they meet each other and how it will look, this will always give you the look of a well planned project with out regrets. One option often not considered is removal of the sheetrock to allow the backsplash to recess back; aiding the problems associated with how products look when they meet each other, this can sometime give a flush streamline look when the splash meets sheet rock at the edge of the countertop. 4 inch and 6 inch splashes are generally the same cost for labor however may require more material which can be affected by the amount of material available in your slabs. You will want to consider the additional cost of purchasing another slab if more stone is required. The last thing you would want to do is incur unnecessary seams in order to have more splash material. One benefit of using slab for your splash is cutting the stone to allow the patterns in the countertop to continue up the wall, to achieve this in some cases an additional slab is required. Minimizing seams and waste are constant battle, but you must always consider the impact on your investment.
