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If you are planning to purchase countertops from Dutch
Brothers Granite, please take a moment to review the following guide
to ensure a smooth installation. Please
contact us for answers to additional questions.
REMOVAL OF PREVIOUS
STONE, TILE, OR LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS:
Every precaution
will be taken to limit the mess, drywall and cabinetry damage that
may be involved with the removal of your countertops, but
unfortunately, most demolition will create some dust and dirt.
Repairs by another party may be necessary. If we will be
removing your old countertops, we suggest that you remove everything
from the base cabinets. Some customers opt to remove the
countertops themselves, but you should only consider this if you are
100% sure you can complete the job yourself. Existing tile
backsplash must be torn out by customer prior to templating
appointment.
PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL:
You will need to
have a plumber come out and disconnect your sinks, disposals and
faucets before we can remove your old tops and install your new
granite countertops. If we are doing a full splash we will
have to remove the faceplates and pull the electrical outlet from
the wall. If it is necessary to have any outlets moved, you
will be informed, and it is your obligation to have them relocated
prior to your installation. We do not disconnect the cook tops
and at times, it may be necessary to pull the freestanding ovens
away from the wall. We do not reinstall any plumbing, electric
or appliances. Although some customers opt to hook up and
reconnect everything when we are done, we suggest that you call a
licensed plumber or electrician for your connections. During
templating, we will need to take any undermount sinks back to our
shop. We require you to have your undermount sink at
templating time, otherwise it will delay your installation date.
We do not need self-rimming sinks in the shop, but you must have
them on site prior to installation. Because damage may occur
with the removal of your sink, we do not recommend that you use your
old sink with the installation of new countertops. If damage
does occur, Dutch Brothers Granite cannot be held responsible.
SUB
TOP SUPPORTS:
Sub tops are
necessary for a quality installation of 2cm material. We use
three sizes (1/2”, 5/8” and 3/4”) depending on overhangs and cabinet
type. If you are installing your own sub tops, the templater
can advise you about which size is best, and what overhangs are
required. If you have an overhang larger than nine (9) inches,
you will be advised to obtain corbels. Furnishing and
installing corbels or additional supports are your obligation.
3cm material does not usually require a sub top, however if sub tops
are necessary, it will require scribe molding. The scribe
molding will need to be purchased and installed by others.
ON
INSTALLATION DAY:
We suggest that
everything be removed from your base cabinets prior to our arrival.
You will find that most of the detail work has already been done in
the shop however it may be necessary to do some cutting on site.
Do not expect to keep your cutouts, they will be rough sided and
they usually break during the cutting process. We do our best
to minimize the mess involved but please keep in mind that granite
countertop installation is part of remodeling and can be a messy
process.
SINKS, FAUCETS AND RELATED ACCESSORIES:
It is your
obligation to purchase sinks and accessories that fit within the
inside dimensions of your cabinet box. We will “loose set”
your self-rimming sink and have it ready for your plumber to mount
it and attach any clips, hardware and plumbing. Self-rimming
sinks are always cut on the job, in the house, with the top in place
to avoid breakage. When your plumber is done, it is his
responsibility to clean and caulk your self-rimming sink.
Undermount sinks are mounted under the granite and ready for your
plumber to attach the plumbing. Your installer will caulk the
undermount sink. Holes will be drilled if necessary, for your
faucets, soap dispenser, sprayer and reverse osmosis system.
Please know the location for these items before the installation
day.
COOKTOPS AND RANGES:
Cut-in type cooktops will be set loose in the countertop, ready for your appliance
installer to mount and hook up. The cutout for your cooktop
is done after the new tops are installed. This creates a
little dust, but prevents unnecessary breakage. Please be
careful when purchasing a new cooktop, making sure that it fits in
the space allowed by your cabinet box. Slide-in ranges will be
checked for fit and left ready to hook up and install.
SEAMS:
When we purchase and
lay out material for your project, the location of the seams, the
grain direction and/or patterns are considered. If you are
present for a template layout, we do our best to ensure that your
job is cut as you requested, however there are occurrences beyond
our control that will require that we use our professional
experience. We can assure you that we do the best job in the
industry in keeping seams to a minimum. When you have a seam,
it is filled with a polyester material, colored to match the stone
as close as possible. Our fabricators and installers are
trained to minimize seams; however, we strive to make them as
transparent as possible.
CAULKING:
Undermount sinks and
backsplashes are caulked after installation. Depending on the
stone, the caulk can be colored or clear. Here, in the dry
valley, caulk can sometimes shrink up. If this occurs, we will
be happy to re-caulk the areas. If this happens, please
contact
us and we will schedule a repair as soon as possible.
SEALING:
Your new tops are
sealed before they reach our facility, once again during the
fabrication process, and a third time during the installation.
We use only the highest quality impregnating sealers. These
will give you years of trouble-free usage. In the future, if
you feel resealing is necessary, we will be happy to advise you
where to obtain, and how to apply additional sealer. We can
also reseal the tops for you for a small charge. Never apply
any other type of sealer on your tops. We do recommend
resealing your granite countertops every 5 years.
NATURAL FISSURES, PITTING AND VEINS:
Fissures and pits
are prevalent in all natural stone; however usually pose no
structural anomalies. Whenever possible, we try to avoid any
large fissures by cutting around them. If it is necessary to
reinforce a fissure, it is customary to fill with resin filler
and/or reinforce with steel rods on the backside. Fissures are
often visible and can appear to look like “spider veins or cracks.”
If they do appear in your countertops, we do try to minimize their
appearance. After they are filled with resin, they are
structurally stronger than the granite itself. If you feel
that fissures,
pits or the natural characteristics of stone are defects,
you may want to choose granite that has fewer, or simply consider
choosing another countertop material.
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE:
Use ammonia-free
Windex, then dry with a Terrycloth towel. Never use abrasive
cleaners such as Soft Scrub. Avoid using harsh chemical
cleaners such as 409 or Fantastic. Be careful with cleaners
that contain alcohol, or those that dry faster than you can wipe
them off. They will often cause a buildup that can make your
tops look dull. Avoid chemical cleaners. Do not wax your
tops.
Natural stone tops
require almost no maintenance. They should remain just as
beautiful as the day they were installed with minimal upkeep.
As mentioned above, we do recommend resealing your granite
countertops every 5 years. Remember it is a natural stone
material, made by Mother Nature, and part of its beauty is in the
realization that every piece is different. Each piece has its
own personality. Appreciate it for its natural qualities and
don’t try to change or alter them.
We hope that this
has answered some of your questions about your countertop
installation. Please
contact us if you have any questions.
Professional
counter top installation in the Phoenix Arizona area, including:
East Valley: Ahwatukee, Apache Junction, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, Rio Verde, Scottsdale, Sun Lakes, and Tempe
West Valley: Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale, Goodyear, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise, and Tolleson
Professional counter top installation statewide in Arizona, including: Forest Lakes, Flagstaff, Heber, Overgaard, Payson, Pinetop-Lakeside, Prescott, Show Low, Sedona, and Tucson |
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