Policies

1. Lead Times:
The completion or installation date quoted is our best estimate of when your order will be completed. THIS IS NOT GUARANTEED. Backorders do occur. We will do our best to complete your project as quickly as possible, pending availability of slabs.

2. A job site is ready for template when:
All necessary Cabinets and appliances are on site and installed

3. Viewing and Approving Your Slabs:
Your slabs should be viewed and approved before template is created and before the contract is signed.

4. Template:
The home owner MUST be present during the entire template process. This person will be required to answer questions pertaining to seaming, corner radius, overhangs and “special designs” on island, etc; therefore it is recommended that this person is familiar with the project.

5. Pricing:
We have priced your order based on measurements that you have provided. If the field measurements are different, we will adjust accordingly.

6. Removal of old tops (Demolition):
Installation of natural stone surfaces does not include removal of old tops unless agreements have been made for us to do so. If we are installing your new top in an existing kitchen, there may be unfinished areas of your wall or cabinets that will be exposed and/or covered by your new top. We DO NOT finish these areas. If we do a demolition of an existing countertop and there is a mirror (bath area) that has to be removed, the owner has to remove that mirror – this is the customer’s responsibility.

7. Plumbing and Wiring:
Plumbing and wiring is not included in any installation. We are not plumbers or electricians by trade. We are NOT responsible for any leaks or damage. We will NOT reconnect sinks or cook tops. Under-mount applications will be cutout, polished and drilled to accept mounting brackets. Cutouts for drop-in sinks and cook tops will be completed on the job site and dust is to be expected.

8. Installation:
The home owner MUST be present during the entire installation process.

9. Incidental Damage:
Final wall preparation (painting, wallpaper, etc) should NOT be completed prior to installation if at all possible. Care will be exercised during the countertop installation; however, scrapes, punctures or digs are possible. These items are considered incidental damages and are the customer’s responsibility to repair

10. Seaming:
Placement of seams is at the discretion of the fabricator. Seams will typically vary from 1/16” to 1/8” and will be visible to the eye or touch. Color coordinated epoxy will be used to form the seam and blend with countertop. Even though a customer is consulted with respect to the seam location, the fabricator reserves the right to adjust if needed.

11. Installation Approval:
After the product has been installed the customer MUST be present to inspect the countertops. At installation a customer approval form will be provided to the customer for their signature, confirming they are satisfied with the quality, fit and damage free condition of countertop.

12. Clean-up:
Installation is considered a construction project and residual dust should be expected. The customer may want to cover adjacent areas to contain the dust to the construction area. The job site will be left in broom condition.

13. Warranty:
We do not cover damages caused by customer such as dropping something on the counter, scratching the counter, etc.

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FAQs

• What is Granite?
Granite is a naturally found stone composed of several large mineral grains tightly packed together. The main components include Feldspar and Quartz with a mix of other minerals including Biotite and Muscovite.The minerals Feldspar and Quartz, which are the major components of granite, are harder than steel. This is why throughout human civilization, granite has been used as a building material.

• Why is it so popular?
Granite has emerged as the most popular kitchen countertop material because of its natural beauty and durability. The elegance of granite countertops adds value to homes. They are heat, scratch and stain resistant.

• Where does granite originate?
Granite is naturally formed in most parts of the world, but it is quarried in significant quantities in Brazil, India, Italy, Africa, Norway, Finland and China.

• Is granite high maintenance?
In fact, granite countertops require very little maintenance. You only have to clean them with a mild soap and warm water.

• Does heat damage granite?
No, granite can withstand very high temperatures. Placing hot pans or a hot kettle will not cause any damage to the granite’s color or stability.

• Can knives scratch granite?
Knives cannot scratch true granite. The only thing harder than granite is diamond. For example, diamond is scored 10 on the MOH’s hardness scale and granite is scored 7.

• Is granite expensive?
Entry-level granite countertop prices have become very affordable thanks to an abundant supply of natural granite and modern technology.

• Can granite be repaired?
A granite fabricator can repair accidental chips and cracks.

• Does granite harbor bacteria?
No, the center for disease control did not find any evidence to suggest that bacteria could grow in granite.

• What is the thickness of the granite used for countertops?
The granite countertop industry uses 3cm (1 ¼”) thick granite for kitchen countertops application.

• What surface finishes does granite come with?
Polished: A shiny, glossy surface. This is by far the most popular.
Honed: A matte finish.
Brushed: A rough texture. Suitable for outdoor kitchens, though some designers like to use it inside as well.

• What are the pits in the granite?
It’s not uncommon to see some small pits on the surface of the granite slabs. These pits are formed during the polishing process, when some of the weaker components of granite, like Biotite, flake off from the surface. This happens at the granite processing plants in different countries where the granite is quarried and polished.

• How much can I extend the granite overhang?
Granite countertops can often be extended beyond the cabinets to give an added functionality to kitchen spaces. This is a question we are asked every day. The standard overhang is 1 ½” from the face frame of the cabinets. This gives a good visual appearance because it creates a ¾” overhang from the door fronts.

The actual overhang may slightly vary depending on how straight the countertops are installed. Having the cabinets not installed in a straight line is not an uncommon problem. Our measuring person discusses these issues with the homeowners to come to a clear understanding of what variances can be expected.

We can extend the 3 cm granite countertops up to a maximum of 8” from the cabinets unsupported. With strong granite verities like Tan Brown, Coffee Brown, Black Pearl, and other stronger stones.

We have to be careful when we install upper bar tops that sit on a 5” knee wall. These overhangs have to be supported by steel braces placed under the countertop and then screwed into the wooden studs in the knee wall.

Any granite countertops with more than an 8” overhang should be adequately supported by steel braces.

Extended islands, higher-level bar tops, and peninsulas are some of the areas of the kitchen that may have an extended overhang, up to 12”. The placement of wood or metal supports that extend from the cabinets, sometimes called corbels, can hit your knees and are not visually appealing. The ideal solution is to place steel bars, secured adequately and is permanent support that is almost invisible and does not hit your knees.

• What is the ideal overhang for my bar top or breakfast area?
12” is the ideal overhang for comfortable seating without hitting your knees on the cabinet, however, the overhang does need to be adequately supported.

• How is my dishwasher attached?
Dishwashers have to be attached to the undersurface of the kitchen countertop to prevent tipping the machine forward when the door is opened. The attachment also prevents vibration during the dishwasher’s operation.

• Can I keep my existing tile backsplash?
Yes. While replacing the existing laminate countertops, many of our clients choose to keep their current tile backsplash. However, you must consider the following points for better results:

The thickness of laminate countertops is 1 ½” and granite, marble, or engineered surfaces, like Ceasarstone, are 1 ¼” thick. The replacement causes a visible gap of about ¼” between the new granite countertop and the existing tile. This scenario applies in cases where the tile goes all the way down to the countertops. You can solve this problem by using one of the following methods:

Applying caulk in the gap with a matching color to the existing grout. The new caulk line will be about a ¼” thickness instead of the tile grout line of about 1/8”. It is barely noticeable and an acceptable compromise.
If you have kept the grout from the original tile installation, you can use that grout to fill the gap. This is the best-case scenario.

You can purchase and install a trim line from any tile supplier that fits between the tile and the granite countertop. This should be done by your tile installer.
Installation of a 4” backsplash of granite over the existing tile. This is another commonly used option.

In case the existing tile goes up to the 4” backsplash of laminate countertop:

4” granite backsplashes have to be placed between the granite countertops and the existing tile. You can choose to have 4 ½” height granite backsplashes to cover the rough area created by the removal of the existing laminate backsplash.

• Do I need to buy full slabs of granite?
No, you do not need to buy full slabs. We consider the cost of actual material used in your project. That is the advantage of choosing fabricators like Dream Counters that not only fabricate and install your countertops but carry a great assortment of granite slabs to choose from.

• Do seams in Granite show?
The answer is Yes and No.
Yes, seems are visible if you look carefully at the countertops. However, the goal of a good granite installation company is to make them as inconspicuous as possible.

• How much does granite weigh?
Granite weighs about 16 to 17 pounds per square foot.

• How do you attach the granite countertops to my cabinet?
The stone countertops are places on the cabinets and, after ensuring that everything is leveled, a bead of silicone is applied at the intersection of the cabinets and the underside of the stone. This is sufficient to hold the countertops in place in a normal situation.

If the cabinets are not leveled, which is not uncommon, we have to place shims underneath the countertops to level them. In this situation, our installers place small blocks of wood pieces rinsed in epoxy to stabilize the shims.

• Do I need to reinforce my cabinets for granite installation?
No. If you use 3cm (1 ¼”) thick granite, you do not need any special reinforcement. You may need some additional support in the corners of walls that our template specialist (the guy who comes to measure) will be able to explain to you.

• Can you level my cabinets?
No, we do not level your cabinets. You will need the help of your carpenter or your contractor for that.

• Do you sell cabinetry?
No. But we can refer you to a great cabinet maker whom we have worked with many times before.

• Can your company help me with granite color selection?
Yes, when you come to visit us you will get help making these tough decisions from our in-house designers at no additional cost. Having installed thousands of kitchen countertops, our project managers can also share with you their experiences to enhance your project.