FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A template is a replica of your new counter top that we create using digital laser technology. In most cases, existing countertops must be removed prior to templating. This is something you are responsible for. You should also be aware that you will be without a functional kitchen from template until installation. With RE, that’s about a week. With other companies you may wait 2-3 weeks or longer.

When we template, we’ll need on-hand anything that will touch the stone on site—sink(s), faucet(s), appliances, etc. Without these items we may not be able to proceed.

You may determine the following items when we template your project:

Overhangs — 1-1/2” is standard in the front of cabinets, but stone can overhang up to 10”, provided there is at least 20” of counter-balanced stone to act as a cantilever. Longer overhangs or shorter supports require further support.

Corners — We produce corners with a 1/8” radius unless otherwise specified, but your imagination is the limit! We can do fancy curves, clipped corners or odd angles, just let us know.

Edges — We offer many different edges, from slightly eased to “roped” to chiseled. This is a nice way to customize your design scheme.

Seams — We will work with your design to produce a top with as few seams as possible (or none!), while keeping in mind slab size and weight, and things like stairways and low ceilings that affect our installation crews. When we do have to seam material, we may use multiple colors of epoxy to distract the eye from seeing a straight line: this minimizes their appearance. We will often use a ‘Euro Seam’ at corners, which by its shape also minimizes their visibility. We use a state of the art seaming machine that allows us to produce very tight seams and to even remove slight humps that may exist in the slabs. We are proud of the craftsmanship we employ to make beautiful seams.

Finish — While polished is still the most popular, there are other finishes available for your countertop. (See the previous question about finishes.)

Every natural stone slab is unique. Some variations you might encounter and should be aware of include:

Pits—Pits appear as tiny divots or chips where grains were released during the polishing process. Pits are so small they often are not visible in certain light or from different viewing angles. They are very common in some stones. Pits do not in any way affect the integrity of the stone. Therefore, it is very important to feel your slab when choosing stone so you will not be surprised upon close inspection after installation.

The word granite derives from the root for grain, and because of its granular nature, it may include tiny pits on the surface. As the Marble Institute of America’s Design Manual, the industry reference manual, explains: “Granites are made up of several different minerals, each having a different hardness. … Biotites, the black minerals throughout the slab, are by contrast very soft and flake easily. All true granites have biotite in their composition. Because biotites are soft and flaky, the first few layers are removed during the polishing process, causing pits. … Pitting does not make the granite less durable or of inferior quality. Pits exist in all granites and should be expected when dealing with a natural, polished stone containing several types of minerals with different hardness.”

Veining—ALL types of stone can have veining; one slab may have none while the next looks like a metropolitan roadmap. This simply indicates the presence of a different mineral than the background composition.

Inclusions—This is a fancy way of saying a portion of the slab that looks different from the rest. They can be small, medium or large; barely noticeable or quite obvious—and beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Fissures—These look like hair-line cracks in the stone, but are just surface features, and will not widen or grow over time. They do NOT affect the structural integrity of the stone. Usually if you can’t feel it, it’s a fissure. If you can, it’s cracked. Fissures are not something to be repaired; cracks can often be repaired if necessary.

Fill—When slabs are cut from the large chunks of stone at the quarry, there are often voids in the surface. The softer stones, like travertines and limestones, sometimes have so many voids they look like a dense sponge. The quarries will fill these voids and then polish the surface smooth. Sometimes these voids are evident on the cut edges of the slabs. Colored fill is often a prominent feature in the stone. You may find slabs where the fill is not particularly well color-matched.

All of these characteristics of natural stone, although they add to its charm and uniqueness, illustrate why we suggest everyone view their slabs prior to fabrication. You can even locate your template on your slab to maximize or avoid specific areas.

Bedrock Granite Co. seals your stone with STAIN-PROOF, a permanent sealer for a care-free lifetime of use. We’re skill-certified by the manufacturer, and include this permanent sealing free of charge when we craft your countertop (others charge as much as $500 for it). Typically, other fabricators will seal your stone and advise you to reseal it every year.

The manufacturers of engineered stone often sell against natural stone by saying, “Granite (marble, limestone, etc.) is porous! It will stain!” This is true IF THE STONE IS NOT SEALED. In its natural state all stone is porous (except for soapstone), which is why it is critical to seal it before using it for countertops.

FYI, engineered quartz materials are designed to be non-porous and do not require sealers.