Bruno-Built Granite and Silestone Blog

Why we don't template over existing laminate

2009-03-02T13:58:00.000-06:00

A potential client called with a few questions. One of her questions was, "My neighbors had their Silestone top installed by (competitor unnamed) and it cracked. We don't want that to happen to us. How do you keep it from happening?"
My answer was...if a Silestone top cracks, it is often due to templating over existing laminate (aka formica) or templating poorly (same thing really). We don't cut corners this way. We take the time and effort necessary to make sure the old tops are removed PRIOR to templating, the templates are checked and double-checked, and the new tops are shimmed if necessary. That way an egg or orange will not roll off. As discussed previously, most cabinets (90%) are not level underneath laminate tops. Sometimes they are 1/4" out of level and sometimes they are so badly out of level (over 1/2") that we require cabinets be pulled and reset. There is no way to know for sure that they are out of level, UNTIL you remove the existing tops. If your new granite tops are over 1/2" out of level and resting on small plastic shims and some person jumps up there, you could have a crack. Besides cracking, there are other disadvantages to templating over existing tops; mainly GAPS, especially if you are not getting a backsplash made of stone. Your tile setter will not appreciate skewed countertops, as he will have a hard time trying to disguise a huge gap with grout. And, last but not least, if you have a free-standing stove, it WILL be level due to the fact you cook with hot water and oil. BUT, what if the countertops are not level. It will be painfully obvious to everyone who looks at your stove. How embarrassing to have someone say, "Look, your countertop is tilted." Lesson learned, choose an installer that templates over bare cabinets and doesn't cut corners by templating over existing laminate.
Michelle Bruno, www.brunobuiltgranite.com

7 day leadtime

2009-01-26T09:13:00.000-06:00

It is currently taking about 7 working days to get Silestone in St. Louis from the time of template to the time of installation. Please be aware that you will be without kitchen counters for that long. Many people take advantage of our special "temporaries" offer. We will remove your old tops, sink and cooktop. Then place everything back after we template. We will also remove it all again when we return with the Silestone and perform the final hookups when the stone is completely installed. This avoids the problems associated with using multiple contractors.

15 year granite warranty claims

2008-11-10T18:00:00.005-06:00

One of the big box stores has introduced granite colors with a 15 year stain warranty. It's marketing genius at work. The granite colors are renamed to discourage consumers from price shopping. A similar practice is used in the mattress industry. But, since granite colors are more distinguishable than mattresses, it is easy to determine the true name of the colors and I have my secret decoder ring too!
I looked on the website that is promoting this new granite and found a copy of the warranty. You must follow their explicit care and cleaning guidelines or the warranty is void and certain colors are completely exempt from the warranty. If they have to replace the countertop because they cannot repair it, you have to pay for the labor costs.
One of the leading consumer magazines tested the material in Aug. of 2008 and also found no discernible difference in performance. In fact, Kashmir White performed worse. I'm surprised because usually granite colors with White in them have high absorbency rates.
Natural Stone will require some special care and there really is no way around that. If you would rather not worry about it, then choose Silestone instead.

Are my new stone countertops going to be level?

2008-10-27T14:32:00.000-06:00

The answer depends entirely on who is completing the work and the quality of cabinet installation. Many people who are getting new Silestone or granite countertops will assume that they will be installed straight and level and that all installers are basically the same. They are quite disappointed later when they find that their seams are wide and stair-stepped and eggs and oranges roll off their uneven countertop. Ask you installation company what their seam width and rise tolerances are. You may be surprised at what you hear. The "hurry-up" low-priced installer's response to the customer is usually always the same..."that's the best we could do with what we had." Not true. It's only the best they could do because they either weren't experienced enough to do better or simply wouldn't take the extra time.
It is completely possible to get a table-top level installation and nice looking seams for almost all kitchens if all parties involved do their jobs. And when it is not possible, the consumer should be notified and shown the defects in their cabinetry that will cause problems. We insure that the proper steps are taken by both cabinet maker and countertop installer to get the correct end result. We use a propietary checklist designed specifically by us over the years to help the consumer through the process. We also personally do all our templating and installations.
If you are installing stone over existing cabinets and there is no cabinet maker, then your cabinets are probably NOT level. Why? Because you most likely have laminate and its bendable. It easily hides cabinets that are not level. This is where the experienced installer can make the difference in the final product. He will need to spend extra time shimming and caulking to achieve the best possible outcome.
Tabletop level countertops are rarely the norm these days and there are many installers who won't shim very much, if at all, so take matters into your own hands and insist on superior quality of workmanship and project accountability.

2 CM Stone

2008-08-06T10:33:00.001-06:00

We only install 3cm (1 and 1/4" thick) stone, however, we have been asked our opinion of 2 cm (3/4") stone. First, understand that there are three different applications of 2cm stone. First, there is the 2cm with an edge buildup. From the picture, you can see that the build-up lamination lines are fairly obvious. So, this option doesn't look as good. Second option is to apply no lamination to the edge and just use 2cm thickness stone. it looks very thin and cheap and cannot accomodate upgraded edge treatments. Both of these above options require an application of a plywood underlayment prior to stone installation. By the time you pay for this, you could have bought yourself a much more durable 3cm top. Another option would be to purchase 2cm stone with a bullnose already applied. This also requires a plywood underlayment, but would not have a lamnation on the edge. A few years ago we were approached by a gentleman selling this type of stone. It was made in China. He said you could sell it for $45/SF. Since our sister-in-law is a granite fabricator in California and was interested in trying out this stone, we decided to hang back and watch how it went. They used it for a while, but they found that it had limited applications due to the fact that it only came in certain widths. They also found the bullnose to be of low quality and were rejecting many of the slabs they recieved. A few of their clients actually called and said their bullnose fell off and so they had to replace those countertops. You do get what you pay for in the granite business, and we have decided not to install products like this that are so problematic and we encourage you to seek out reputable fabricators who only install 3cm stone.

Caution on Faucets

2008-05-06T08:17:00.003-06:00

Sometimes people have ledges made of stone that sit in a window. If you are one of those people and you are buying a faucet, please be sure that the handle doesn't hit the ledge when it is in the open position. It is suprising to see how many people neglect this simple check.

I Cannot Make Judgement Calls

2008-04-17T13:44:00.001-06:00

A lady called today to say that she saw how many nice compliments our customers had given us and could she ask me a question about her stone installation done in Georgia, as she felt it had not been done as well as the ones in my pictures. I was sorry I could not help her. If you are having a problem with your fabricator or installer, the best thing to do is follow the normal channels for complaints. Write your fabricator a letter telling them the problems you are having. If your problem involves Silestone, contact Silestone directly following the procedures in your 15 year warranty documentation. Please do not contact me for my opinion on how your countertop should have been installed. For liability reasons, I cannot make judgement calls regarding someone else's work that I can only see in photographs. Even if your job is in St. Louis, I still cannot comment on someone's else's poor workmanship. All I can say is buyer beware. Know your installers experience level and credentials.

Microban

2008-03-06T12:45:00.000-06:00

Silestone incorporates Microban protection into the molecular structure of the product during the manufacturing process so it will not wash off or wear away. So, what good is Microban? It provides a proven deterrent to the growth of bacteria. No other quartz surface will have this feature, as Silestone and Microban have signed an exclusive agreement. You can find out more about Microban by visiting their website: http://www.microban.com/

Seam Locations

2007-12-20T16:31:00.000-06:00

Some people think that they can pick their seam locations regardless of the bid amount. And they can. But, it is necessary to realize that it could cost more. Why? Because when we bid a job, we usually bid it the cheapest way. This means we choose the number of seams and their location. If you want to dictate seam location, realize that you may be creating waste that you will most likely pay more for. Also, it is possible that your particular kitchen design will necessitate seam placement in areas that might cause waste, thus increasing your cost per SF. Sometimes it is not evident from a drawing that the seam location we choose is not appropriate. For example, you may have dishwasher placed in a location where a seam would normally go but due to the fact that the dishwasher is there, the seam will have to be relocated which could incur an additional cost. This is why proposals are always preliminary and based on information in the drawing. Alway estimate a little higher to take into consideration unforeseen circumstances such as the above mentioned situation.

Farm Sinks

2007-11-17T16:25:00.002-06:00

Usually all the sinks are required to be on site prior to templating, but not installed. UNLESS, you have a farm sink. In which case, you will have to make sure the plumber installs it prior to our arrival for templating. Or make arrangements for us to install when we come to template. Also, it seems that cabinet guys aren't always aware that you have a farm sink. So, babysit your cabinet-maker and if your farm sink doesn't fit, he may have to make cabinet modifications to make it fit. Double-check this because if it's discovered at templating, your templater will have to leave and return at a later date which often incurs a trip charge.

Can you get other quartz products?

2007-04-30T15:37:00.001-06:00

Yes, we are certified to install Caeserstone, Zodiaq, Cambria and Viaterra.
The reason that we highly recommend Silestone over others is because it provides the best value. We get superior colors and pricing in the quickest amount of time. Silestone also has the Microban anti-microbial technology, 70 years of quartz production experience, and continuing technological advancements. We have had an occasional warranty situation in our Silestone lifetime and we have been very pleased with the quick response. The warranty is good for 15 years. Silestone continually maintains a large majority of the quartz countertop market share in the St. Louis area primarily because of the reasons cited above.

Chopping Mats

2007-03-13T19:17:00.002-06:00

Many stone countertop customers have been happy with the plastic chopping mats (aka flexible cutting sheets) available at Bed, Bath & Beyond. You get two 12" X 15" sheets for about $4 and they last at least 6 months each. They sit on top of the granite or Silestone and allow you to chop without dulling your knives. Because they are made of a flexible plastic, they are not heavy like wood cutting boards and they make it easier to slide chopped ingredients into a pot. They can also be popped into the dishwasher for easy cleaning, but I find that warps them so I just hand wash.

Great Sinks

2007-02-21T12:31:00.002-06:00

What makes a great sink? How important is the brand name? We've looked at many sink models and styles and we've found that the Omni brand generic model is made equally as well as the brand name models and costs significantly less. We previously offered Blanco sinks at a discount to our customers, but even with those discounts they were still spending $500-600 for an 18 gauge stainless steel undermount sink. Our new line of Omni sinks have the same composition and structure of the Blanco sinks for 1/2 the price. These are only available to our customers that purchase countertops from us. Check out our sinks here: http://www.fidnet.com/~mbruno/omni.htm. If you know you don't want a stainless sink and have been thinking of a porcelain or cast iron sink, check out the new Silgranit sinks from Blanco. These sinks are 80% granite, still lightweight and hold up to staining and scratching far better than the porecelain cast iron sinks. You can find out more information on Blanco sinks by visiting their website.

What Seams are SUPPOSED to look like

2007-02-01T14:41:00.005-06:00

The question "What will my seams look like" can be difficult for many fabricators to answer. I have heard that it is an acceptable industry standard to have seams that are 1/8" thick. I would personally find that totally unacceptable in my kitchen. If your installer takes his time and makes sure that your tops go in level and straight and he uses a seam puller and colorized epoxy, you can make seams that look pretty darn good. It requires paying a little extra for shimming work from you installer and a willingness on his/her part to go the extra mile, but it is well worth it. If you cabinets are significantly out of level, there is only so much an installer can do. But don't let them use this as an excuse either. Have them show you how out of level your cabinets are when they come to template (with Formica removed, of course). Sometimes it's easier to just cop out and say to the customer that it's the cabinets fault when, really, the installer has 2 more jobs to do that day and doesn't have time to fiddle with yours. Also, if you choose natural granite with swirls and obvious color variations in it, then seams will be more visible due to your choice in granite and not your installers abilities.

Quotes should be Comprehensive

2007-01-01T13:29:00.000-06:00

Fabricators will often give you a written quote based on a rough drawing of your kitchen. The rougher your drawing, the rougher the bid. So if you don’t want to end up comparing apples to oranges, make sure that your drawing is correct and has all the measurements. This includes showing all the information discussed on my website: http://www.fidnet.com/~mbruno/st_louis_silestone_drawing.htm

Once you have your bids in hand, make sure that they show the thickness of the stone (2cm or 3cm), the edging type, the sink type, the backsplash, number of faucet holes, and number of outlet holes if needed. Also discuss radius corners and what sizes are included. We include up to a 1" radius or clipped corner at no charge. Check that the bid includes the costs of all plumbing disconnection, reconnection, cooktop connection and reconnection, old countertop removal and haul-away if you need those services. Discuss seam location and whether or not the seams are silicone or epoxy. As you can see, with so many variables involved, it's very important to choose someone to work with that you feel you can trust. Ask for 3 recent references and go check out the jobsites yourself if you have time. Finally, check to see that the installer has the proper workers compensation and liability insurance and will provide a lien waiver upon completion.

Leather Series is the same as honed finish

2006-09-28T07:47:00.000-06:00

We've now had the honor of installing a leather series countertop by Silestone. It was difficult to get it to look perfect. The leather series is basically a honed version of the regular series. When granite or Silestone is honed, it's a matte finish, not a shiny finish. The inherent problem with any honed finish is that it isn't quite as carefree as the polished version. From Silestone: "While Silestone Leather is easily maintained, it does require more daily cleaning to maintain an even tone on its surface. Because of the three-dimensional feel of its surface, daily living (such as fingerprints and interaction with cooking utensils) show more on Silestone Leather than on other Silestone products." This is especially true with dark colors of Silestone and honed granite as well. Silestone also recommends the use of a conditioner: "The use of a conditioner is purely temporary and will require either repeat applications to maintain a consistent luster on the surface or thorough cleaning to remove it." We have always been proud of the fact that Silestone is maintenance-free, so if you are still looking for that advantage, we recommend you choose from the regular finish of Silestone and skip the leather (honed)finishes.

Natural Granite Problems

2006-04-20T16:24:00.000-06:00

Natural Granite owners are having more and more problems with their granite as time goes on. I have to say that the blame lies in the granite companies that sell the granite and then don't bother to inform the customer as to how to clean and maintain their stone. The problems range from etching (white film) to water rings to stains that won't go away. Most of the problems are caused by using the wrong cleaning products, leaving spills sit, or not sealing the stone properly. Unfortunately, some of these problems are not easily remedied and some situations may require a stone restoration specialist. These guys are hard to find and they don't come cheap.
Bottom line, no matter what color you have, your natural granite requires a care and maintenance program. Each individual piece of granite has it's own regiment that needs to be followed. The best place to find out about your stone is from the place you bought it. Also, if you check the internet, eventually you will stumble upon the best website out there for granite advice. It is called www.findstone.com. You can search about 9000 advice answers to find out how to resolve your particular problem....if it's resolvable at all. Or you can search for the color of granite you are considering purchasing to see what kinds of problems other people have had with that same color.
If this all sounds too overwhelming to you, consider Silestone quartz. It requires no maintenance or special cleaning products. You can clean it with windex or 409 or soap and water and you never have to seal it. On top of that, you won't find a website that has 9000 requests on how to take care of it. Sounds like a winner to me!

What is countertop rodding?

2006-03-24T11:19:00.000-06:00

Silestone has twice the flexural strength of granite and requires no rodding. But if you are getting natural granite, you will want to make sure that your fabricator is taking the extra time and care necessary to rod your countertops. It provides 50% more strength to the stone. Typically, threaded round steel rods are installed underneath the granite at the sink area or other cutout areas because these are the weakest spots. It is sometimes recommended to apply a fiberglass mesh to the bottom of the granite also. It does not guarantee you won't get a crack, but it is the best precaution available. They even make a video for training installers called "Rodding and Repair of granite." Some fabricators cut corners and skip the rodding. Make sure that doesn't happen to you. If you want to learn more about this topic in-depth, check out the Marble Institute of America website at www.marble-institute.com.

Do your new appliances fit?

2006-03-15T21:28:00.000-06:00

Many people unknowingly purchase sinks, cooktops, refrigerators and dishwashers that don't fit into their desired spaces. These issues can be avoided by checking dimensions prior to purchase. One thing I've noticed is that sinks are getting bigger and bigger. Some older homes don't have the cabinet space for the sink sizes of today. So, your best bet is to measure and don't assume your sink will fit. Measure the entire cabinet up and down and side to side. Then, get the sink measurements from the manufacturer's website. Same goes for cooktops. Sometimes cabinet modifications can be made so that sinks and cooktops will fit. However, that can be hard to judge without looking at each situation individually. Refrigerators and dishwashers are no exception either. So, check those dimensions before we arrive to template and your job will go much smoother.

Accessibility in your home

2006-01-15T20:03:00.000-06:00

Some people are truely unaware of the large size and heavy weight (20# per SF) of their countertop pieces and fail to provide adequate access to their kitchen. It is important to keep in mind that such things as having your driveway paved on the day your countertops are being installed is not a good idea. Also, if you are supposed to have your driveway poured in order to provide access, please make sure it's done before you countertop installers arrive. It is very difficult to manuever large pieces of heavy stone through mud. Also, large pieces of furniture, tight doorways and basement steps are hard to maneuver through. We do occasionally charge for difficult access if steps are so numerous that it takes hours longer to install the job. This seems to be more prevalent in lake homes or waterfront properties which can have upwards of 30 or more steps just to get to the home.

To splash or not to splash...

2005-11-04T11:57:00.001-06:00

When it comes to backsplash with Silestone or natural granite countertops, you can splash with the same stone you have for the countertop or you can splash with tile. The biggest consideration should be water. After all, a splash is called a splash because things splash on it. So, think about where the water is going to go if it collects behind your sink or in other countertop areas. If you are considering a tile-only splash, be aware that water will come in contact with the grout line. This eventually causes fine cracks and will require yearly maintenance with caulking. If you have paint or wallpaper, the caulk will still need to be maintained and your paint or wallpaper will need to be washable. Many people do not like the look of caulk as it begins to wear and just really hate messing with it altogether. If this is the case for you, then I suggest a 4" backsplash of stone or Silestone. The silicone will be placed under the splash to create a water barrier and will not be visibly noticable. The caulk will be placed at the top of the 4" splash, will not be in contact with water and will wear much better. It could be 5 or 10 years before you have to re-caulk that area. You can put tile, wallpaper or paint from the 4" splash up to the countertops and not have to worry about water issues. I have this configuration in my kitchen and have had no problems for over 5 years. We use our kitchen everyday and the caulk above the splash still looks good as new.

Faucet Change After Templating...Not a good idea

2005-09-26T08:10:00.000-06:00

Today I added another item to be checked off the checklist that I send to all my customers prior to templating. "Do not change your faucets after templating without notice to your templater." We went to install a natural granite countertop for a remodeled kitchen on Saturday. The customer had originally chosen a one handle pull-out sprayer faucet. When we arrived, they had taken that faucet back and exchanged it for a 4 hole faucet with a separate sprayer and separate handles. Now, the configuration of the sink and the distance from the sink to the splash precluded placing the faucet in the originally chosen location (which was center). The faucet and it's handles had to be placed off center and far to the right of the sink. Is it functional? Yes. Does it look good? Well, my opinion....No. What else could they do? The other option was to run all around town trying to find another faucet while we waited and the clock ticked. So, if you really don't like your faucet choice or for that matter any other appliance, check in with your templater first before making any last minute changes.

Another Tale of Woe

2005-09-22T12:03:00.000-06:00

Today one of my customers , James, called to say it would be a little longer than they expected for the cabinets to be finished. Since we, the Silestone countertop installer, cannot template until the cabinets are set, we will have to wait. The interesting part of the story is WHY we have to wait. The carpenter hired to install the cabinets has not been showing up. I asked James where he found this guy and why he thought there was a delay. He said that the guy had done some work for a family member plus the guy had the lowest price of anyone around. He also said that he thought the guy realized that his price was too low and that is why he is not showing up. James mentioned that he was now looking for someone else to finish the job and had consulted an attorney to see what recourse he may have, since he gave the guy 50% down. This is a classic tale I have heard before and the lesson to be learned is that guys who give cheap prices may start out with the best of intentions, but once they realize they are not making any money, they oftentimes abandon the job. It's another case of "Buyer Beware."

Cheap Granite Prices, The Real Story

2005-09-17T14:45:00.000-06:00

How many times have you seen a sign or advertisment for granite for $38/SF? One company in particular has parachuted into the St. Louis area and is using this tactic to get people to call them. I had the opportunity to view an estimate of this supposed $38/SF granite and I was not at all surprised to see additional costs for cut-outs, template fees, edging, etc. When it was all said and done, the price was just about the same as mine. The only way they could make it cheaper was to offer a 2cm stone which is NOT the recommended way to install granite anymore. It's glued together and set over plywood. On top of all that, I got a call from a very respected President of a very respected local company who thought he was getting a deal from these guys and it turned out that the preliminary estimate was 50% short of the actual estimate. Now he is fighting to get his deposit back. Moral of the story, trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true.....you know the rest....

Do I really have to seal my granite?

2005-09-07T09:49:00.000-06:00

Silestone needs no sealing at all since it is 100% non-porous. Granite, on the other hand, requires sealing...or does it? It is a debate that has raged among industry experts for years. The controversy mainly surrounds the dark black granites like Labrador Green, Verde Buttefly and Absolute Black. Some granite experts say that these colors are so dense that they really don't need to be sealed. Other experts say that's crazy and that you are setting yourself up for disaster if you don't seal them. Many suggest what is known as the lemon juice test. You pour a drop of lemon juice or wine on an unsealed piece of stone and see if it makes dark stains. If so, it needs sealing. For lighter colors of stone that have white or cream color in them, you can pretty well plan on sealing the stone at least a couple of times per year. These colors just don't stand up to the lemon juice test very well. Sealing is a precaution, however, it is not a guarantee. So, if this all sounds too complicated for you to mess with, GET SILESTONE and forget about it.