The 101 of buying a high-quality countertop

Ordering a countertop from Granitop is easy, but for a high-quality end result it’s good to remember a few tips.

We’ve been producing granite, marble and quartz countertops for years, and our experienced stonemasons are without doubt experts in their field. You might think that ordering a countertop early on, even before the kitchen furniture is completed, might save you time and money. Or it could be the other way around – it might seem like a good idea to finish the repair work first and when the countertop arrives, you can enjoy the cozy and beautiful end result right away. As always, the truth is somewhere in between.

Every person doesn’t have to know how to read a technical drawing or be familiar with the intricacies of installing sinks and faucets. It suffices when our experts know such things! “A stich in time saves nine,” as the saying goes, and it definitely applies when it comes to countertops. Thus, the first and most important tip would be to measure and plan carefully. Exact measurements are so important for us that we’ll do all the measuring for free of charge (Since January 2021, measuring is a paid service!).

A face-to-face meeting with our experienced staff is a good idea for several reasons. One, this means we can guarantee a great result – a marble, granite or quartz countertop that fits perfectly in the home, kitchen or bathroom, and has been made with all the characteristics of the location in mind.

Secondly, the exact measurements and the client’s requirements are important to produce a perfect production drawing. A digital model made using computer programs and machines that can cut stone with a tenth of a millimeter accuracy – that is our concern, but a centimeter that’s been accidentally rounded up can become a nightmare once we begin the manufacturing phase.

What if the kitchen cabinets, where to cooker is supposed to be installed, are significantly wider, should the opening be 10 cm to the right or to the left or exactly in the middle? Where is the kitchen hood and does the depth or the planned location of the sink fit with the existing kitchen cabinets without hindering the opening of all the drawers and doors? How will the wall be finished – will it be tiled, painted or made from the same stone as the countertop?

There are no irrelevant issues, everything is important, and almost everything is possible. If the client wants a gigantic countertop made from one large piece of stone, then our experts should visit the site solely to make sure the stone will fit. We might need a crane or extra men to deliver the countertop and lift it into place.

The people at Granitop have honed their skills and acquired new knowledge over many years. Every new project is another lesson. Thanks to these experiences, we know that a photo of a stone on a laptop or phone screen can differ a lot from the real thing. Usually, the real stone is, of course, much more beautiful than the image but lighting and overall interior design play their part. A stone that appears patchy and ordinary in artificial lighting or on the screen can come to life in the morning sun and start shimmering in a multitude of colors, and that is an experience in itself! That’s why it’s important to see the stone samples in person – often the material seen on a computer screen doesn’t appeal in real life and the right stone will only be determined by looking-touching the samples. In addition, our experts can help with choosing various solutions – a sink, water grooves in stone, countertop joints, material of the backsplash, etc.

Stone, especially granite, is a very strong material, and working it requires skill and the right tools. Stone, even the stunning marble, cannot be bent but precise measurements and cuts can be made – that is rather dogmatic position. When we measure, we don’t just sulk around the kitchen with a spirit level, an expensive device or a tape measure. It is an opportunity to talk, make changes and improvements to the project. For the best result and the client’s satisfaction!

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