Shopping for new countertops is not like purchasing furniture, or a new computer or TV. Countertops have to be custom fabricated to fit the cabinet bases or other structure that the countertop will rest on, and no two kitchens or baths are alike. In addition, there is a wide range of choices for materials, overhangs, corner radii, edge profiles, surface finishes, sink and faucet cutouts, etc. Add to this the literally thousands of color and pattern options that are available and it can sometimes be a daunting task.

In addition to deciding what materials and options to consider, you must choose a fabricator. As with most every purchasing decision for any product or service, the cheapest price is not always the best answer (ie. you usually get what you pay for). The key is to find the best value for the money so that you receive a quality product that will last, at a fair price. Of course, we hope we can convince you to let us quote your project, and ultimately choose us for fabrication and installation of your new countertops.

So-called "big box" stores (Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, etc.) do not own or operate stone fabrication facilities. They put displays into their stores to make sales, then subcontract the work to a local commercial fabricator. The fabricator, in many cases, then subcontracts the installation. So you have three different business entities involved, and a 5-10 page contract that often results in a major runaround and time sink if anything goes wrong.

For the same prices, and usually less, you can go direct to a fabricator ... like American Granite & Stone. In addition to having just one business entity to deal with, we offer far better customer service and after sales support, along with other benefits that you cannot get at a big box store. These include:

1) The ability to inspect and touch the actual slabs that will be used for your job. It is often impossible to know what a full slab will look like from a small representative sample, and every slab of natural stone is different.

2) The option to help layout the templates on the slabs to choose which area of stone will be used for which part of the kitchen, bath, fireplace surround, etc. This is especially important for stones that have a lot of veining or flow pattern, or just a "wild" appearance that only can be found in natural stone.

3) In-depth knowledge of the various types of natural and engineered stones. The person helping you was not working in appliances last week ... stone fabrication is all we do and we know our business. We can help you make the decision on natural vs. engineered (quartz) surfaces with unbiased presentation of the facts, and we also offer one-stop shopping for sinks, faucets, cabinets, tile and other accessories to complete your project.

4) Fast turnaround times. Our time from template to install is typically 5-6 business days, and we can usually schedule a template with only 2-3 days notice. The cycle at a big box store is typically 3-4 weeks, or more. Contrary to what you may be told, we do not have to remove countertops to do a template, so you are not without a kitchen or bath for a week or more during fabrication.

There are several types of stone fabricators:

1) Commercial, high-volume fabricators. These companies focus on larger projects such as housing developments and townhouse projects, and they also do most of the fabrication for "big box" stores. You generally only see a small, representative sample of the stone that will be installed in your kitchen or bath, and cannot participate in template layout to choose which sections of a slab will be used in which area of the project. A common sales tactic is to offer 3-4 "loss leader" colors at a very low price, with the literally thousands of other colors offered at market, or higher, prices. Just walk to the countertop section of the store and check prices for colors not offered at the super low price on the 3-4 samples at the front door (and usually these door samples are not even the low priced stones! ... they are placed out front with a price that only applies to a different set of low-grade stones). These prices are also often only applicable to 2 cm thick material rather than the standard 3 cm thickness used for countertops (be sure to ask this question!), or for lower grades of stone with more fissures, pits, and fill, but with the same name and basic appearance as the premium grade version of the stone. ASK to be sure.

2) Mid-size fabricators who focus on residential remodel projects. American Granite & Stone falls into this category, although we also do a small amount of commercial work (mostly single projects for small builders and cabinet makers). We allow you to view the actual slab that will be cut, and to participate in template layout. Our prices are generally less than the commercial fabricators, with faster install times and much more personalized and knowledgeable customer service. We do only stone fabrication. We also do not subcontract any aspect of our work. Everything is completed at our 12,000 square foot facility here in Wilmington, NC and we'll work closely with you to make sure the stone you want is what you get. Lastly, we have top-end (Park Industries) stone cutting and polishing equipment which is essential for creating smooth seams, proper sink cutouts, and smooth edges. An experienced team of fabricators is also in place to ensure that this equpiment is utilized properly to produce a high-quality product.

3) "Garage shop" fabricators who often quote rock-bottom prices. It is possible to lay granite slabs on wooden bases and cut them with a modified tile saw, and roughly polish the edges to create a countertop. While cheap, this process does not produce a quality countertop with clean seams, smooth edges, and a proper fit. The templating process is also crucial to correct fit and finish, and these types of operations often do not have modern digital templating equipment or the ability to fabricate anything but simple rectangular shapes and simple edges. Ask to view the fabrication shop and equipment if you suspect you are dealing with a substandard company. Any legitimate company will be happy to show you their fabrication facilities and equipment subject to the usual safety issues around running equipment.