Natural stone counter tops are an investment that is supposed to enhance the appearance and value of your home. Due to the popularity of TV channels such as HGTV and magazines like Better Homes & Gardens, the use of natural stone as a work surface has become very much en vogue.

This meteoric rise in popularity has caused a huge demand for natural stone - and also a huge increase in people claiming themselves to be fabricators and installers. Sadly, because there is no regulation in the stone industry, a huge number of these operators are in the business only to make a quick buck. They do not have the knowledge or capability to provide consumers with a quality product and a large number of consumers end up having stone problems caused by poor fabrication and faulty installation practices.

Due to the lack of standards in the stone industry, many consumers feel like they are left behind when it comes to after sales service and job quality. There is no set of rules dictating things like overhang, seam width, proper polish or even guidelines for quality workmanship. How would a person know then when they have a problem with their stone counter tops?

We will try to compile a list of things to be aware of when trying to determine the quality of your natural stone installation:

• Consistent edge polish: Does the shine on the edge match the shine on the surface of the stone?
• Consistent edge profile: Good edges should have a straight aris (the little line where the top ends and the edge begins) If you bring your eye down to the top and sight down the edge, there should see a straight line with a bare minimum of waviness.
• Consistent overhang: The tops should overhang the cabinets roughly the same amount everywhere. Sometimes the cabinets could be a little out of kilter and there would be natural variances, but the overall appearance of the counter tops should still be appealing. Wild variances in the overhang are unacceptable.
• Well crafted seams: A good seam will meet the following criteria - 1. Minimal chipping along the length of the seam. 2. A maximum width of 1/8” (but preferably smaller!) 3. Properly colour matched glue. 4. No discernable difference in level from one side of the seam to the other. 5. The two adjoining slabs should appear to have the same thickness at the front edge of the seam. 6. The colours of the slabs on either side of the seam should match as closely as possible (with wavy or heavily patterned stones this could be tricky, but a good fabricator would be able to pull it off!)
• Consistent colour: The materials used in the kitchen should be from the same slab or series of slabs. (Again this could be tricky with exotic stones, but a good fabricator will pay attention to this detail)
• Proper sink cut-out, placement and fastening: The undermount sink should fit the cut-out with even reveals (or overhangs for vanity sinks) The cut-outs should be done well, with no waviness in the edges. The hole should be shaped according to the template and the curves on the cut-out should match the sink. The sink should be mechanically fastened tot he stone (with clips and brackets) - NEVER JUST GLUED ON!
• Proper, neatly done caulking: Caulking should be done neatly and with the appropriate caulk. These should be no inordinately wide joints, shrunken caulk or big, messy globs and smears of glue anywhere.
• NO cracks: The tops should be installed level and the gaps between the cabinet and the stone should be filled and supported with shims and/or glue. Any difference in level of the cabinetry will eventually cause the stone to crack if the tops are not supported properly. ***NOTE: Some stones naturally contain fissures, and though some of them may appear to be cracks, they are not and should have no adverse impact on the performance of a well-installed and properly supported top.***
• For some examples of how your granite work is NOT supposed to look like, you can visit the Hall of Shame.

Tags: Quality granite work., Natural Stone, Granite, Marble, Limestone