NATURAL STONE PROCESS

When choosing a stone for your home, you should know that stones are like snowflakes: No two are ever the same. This is important because the slab you choose for your kitchen countertop, fireplace, or bathroom will be one of a kind, forever associated with you and your home.

Some customers are fine choosing the type of stone and color for their project, and leaving it at that. But many prefer to choose the exact slab that will be installed in their home. At Global Marble & Granite, we give you that option, understanding that you want a piece that reflects your taste.

CHOOSING YOUR STONE

Each slab has its own variations and patterns that flow throughout it. There will be similarities with others cut from the same quarry, but your slab will be distinct, having its own markings, lines, veins, and crystallization. Natural stone will not have a perfectly smooth surface: Some slabs may have very small chips that can be visible depending on the lighting.

That’s why we invite you to LeaMar Industries’ warehouse in Hyannis, after our initial consultation, to view individual slabs that can be customized to enhance your living space. Our staff will accompany you on your visit, assisting you in selecting the stone that best fits your project. We recommend you bring available design elements from your project (cabinet samples, color swatches, etc.) to ensure they blend perfectly with the piece you choose.

With many of our projects, we work closely with LeaMar because it provides a wide array of high-quality stone from throughout the world. The company’s roots are grounded in the Tuscany region of Italy, known for its majestic quarries that produce world-famous Carrara marble. Through a partnership with LeaMar, we are able to access only the best materials, ranging from granite to marble to quartz to limestone to slate to porcelain, to suit your needs, all at an affordable price.

CHOOSING YOUR EDGING

You have choices not only in the type of solid surface that will go in your home, but also in its actual design. That design is enhanced by the type of edging you choose. You can opt to go simple with a squared-off, linear cut or choose edging that’s more intricate, with curves and tiers, adding an elegance to the look and feel of your piece.

View the options available as edging for your countertop, island, or tabletop. Each offers an aesthetic that can serve to enhance your personal living space.

TEMPLATING

Perhaps the most important part of our entire process is the templating phase. A template is the measurement taken prior to installation of your countertop in your kitchen and/or bath. We ask that customers provide a 50 percent deposit prior to any onsite measurements.

Prior to templating, all other components of your room—cabinets, trim, appliances, framing, and walls—should be installed, level, and permanently in place. The following pieces must be available to our technician at the time of templating: cabinets; end panels; cabinet hardware; sinks (as well as manufacturer-supplied templates); plumbing fixtures; cooktops; exhaust vents (only when installing a full-height backsplash); roughed-in electrical outlets; and refrigerators.

Because of the precise nature of the fabrication process, measurements taken during templating must be exact. We use these figures to determine final project costs. And most important, these measurements are what the fabricator will use when cutting and designing your slab.

The template will show the exact details of your kitchen and/or bath countertop, including the layout of your stone; location and size of all seams; cutouts; edge treatment; corners; backsplashes; faucet holes; and any other necessary specifics relating to your countertop. Prior to fabricating your slab, we ask that the homeowner or a representative (a general contractor, architect, or designer) sign off on all templates.

INSTALLATION

The actual fabrication of your slab will take a minimum of 5 business days to complete. Depending on the complexity of your design and the type of stone you have chosen, it could take up to 10 business days. All deposits are nonrefundable once fabrication has started. We ask that final payment be made upon the delivery and installation of your material.

To ensure installation goes as smoothly as possible, please ensure there is a clear path from your driveway to your kitchen and/or bathroom. Crews should be able to easily navigate your home: Please remove any materials that could impede their progress. You should communicate with your general contractor to make sure no other work is being done in your home at the time of installation.

Global Marble & Granite follows industry protocols, dry assembling all stone pieces prior to applying any adhesive, to ensure they fit your countertop properly. Once we are comfortable with the fit, we will apply an appropriate construction adhesive (this will not damage your stone) to secure it in place.