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Finding Stone | FAQ

Specifying custom STONE COUNTERTOPS

Selecting your stone  |  Edges  |  Surface finish  |  Sink Placement  |  Backsplashes | Client suggestions

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CHOOSING YOUR Stone 

In Seattle, choosing stone for custom fabrication begins at the slab warehouses where you'll find hundreds of slabs and even some fabricated pieces on display in showrooms designed for the end user--homeowners and designers. There you can learn from experts about the characteristics of various stones, where they come from, what would be most appropriate for your application, and so on. Here are some of the things you'll want to discuss with them... 

First:  A note about stone samples. DO NOT plan a color scheme around a 3" x 3" piece of stone! Natural stone is cut in huge blocks from mountains, slabs of a given type can vary considerably in color and appearance within a block and from one block to another. Though it's remotely possible you could find slabs that match your sample exactly, success is extremely unlikely.

       Instead, bring a sample of your cabinets & flooring with you when you go to the slab showrooms so you can choose from full slabs that are available. Often, you'll be able to take home a stone sample from the same block as your slabs to use when you choose tile, wallpaper, paint & furnishings.

Quality: Seattle is fortunate to have many suppliers offering a wide variety of stone slabs from all over the world.  We use only the best quality stone we can find from our trusted wholesalers and always suggest our clients do the same when shopping for slabs. Custom stonework is very labor-intensive, the raw materials account for a small percentage of the total cost.  The little bit of money you might save by using other sources will likely be a false economy.  Check here for a list of some wholesalers we can recommend.

Suitability:  Although all stone slabs produce durable results, issues such as maintenance & acid sensitivity mean some stones are better suited for certain applications than others.  See our page on Natural Stone Countertops for information and help with comparisons .

Thickness: Stone slabs used for interior surfaces are typically 2cm (3/4"), called 'dimensional' stone, or 3cm (1-1/4") thick, 'structural' stone.  Either is appropriate for interior surfaces. Thicker stone costs more, but it often eliminates the need for lamination to create the more desirable thick edges.  Depending on the price difference, the extra cost for the 3cm stone may be outweighed by the savings in edge finishing. (Read more about edges below)  We frequently price projects two ways--with laminated edges and with 3cm slabs.

Slab Size: Stone is typically sold by the full slab.  Because of the variation in slab sizes, the number required for your project may vary depending on your selection.  

Color and Pattern: Stone varies considerably in its texture and patterns (called movement). Stones with a lot of movement can be very beautiful, but may add to the cost because your project could require an additional slab to match the veins at seams.

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Edges and edge Profiles

It takes a great deal of skill and experience to produce a perfect edge and a virtually invisible seam. Your selection of an edge detail will likely influence the cost of your countertops more than any other decision you make. Following are a few examples of the many possible edge details. For an illustration of some popular profiles, go to Edge Profiles Illustrated.

EDGES
Self-edge:  Exactly as it sounds, the edge you'll see is the same thickness as the stone used for the countertop. Selecting 3 cm (1-1/4") thick stone will yield a nice, beefy edge without the need for lamination. $

Laminated:  Additional strips of stone are attached to the edges of the cut pieces using very strong epoxy that is actually stronger than the stone itself. The edge is then profiled, giving the appearance of thicker stone. Laminated edges are frequently used to create a 1-1/2" edge when using 2 cm (3/4") slabs. You can also create even thicker edges by using multiple layers, thicker stone, or by mitering an apron strip. The process is very time-consuming and requires specialized equipment, but the results can be stunningly beautiful!  $$ - $$$

PROFILES  

Simple eased edge:  A simple eased edge is usually the least expensive alternative. After the stone is cut to the proper dimension, the sharp corners are ground off and the edges are finished to match the countertop surface without any further contouring. $

Standard profiles:  Bullnose, Beveled and Demi-bullnose are three of the edges commonly used on both 2cm and 3cm stone that add style without huge cost.  $$

Premium Profiles:  There are many other options, many similar to the details you see in custom wood furniture.  Some complex profiles require multiple laminations and edge finishing steps.  Other projects may have special curved corners or other features.  Labor costs to produce the special design you have in mind can vary a great deal, but we will be happy to produce it for you if we can.  $$$ - $$$$ 

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Surface Finish

Most stone slabs come from the warehouse with either a honed or polished surface finish and your preference will be part of your discussion with your designer or the folks at the warehouse.  We match your finish by hand during fabrication.  We can sometimes change the surface your slabs have when they come from the warehouse, but it's much more cost-effective to make this decision ahead of time.

• Honed:  Very smooth but not shiny.  Where polished stone can feel rather cold, honing gives a warmer and friendlier feel to the surface. Honed surfaces are ideal for desks, fireplace surrounds, shelves and other applications where water and staining are less likely to be a problem.  They are more porous and should always be protected with a quality sealer at installation and periodically afterwards. Honed stone colors are not as vibrant as a polished stone.
   

• Polished:  A glossy surface that is very smooth. The finish is not a coating, but a glossy sheen created on the surface by polishing bricks and polishing powders that are used before and during fabrication. The shine comes from the natural reflection of the stone's crystals that brings out the brilliant colors and grains of natural stone. Depending on the type of stone, exposure to acids can dull the shine which must then be restored by re-polishing.
   

• Flamed:  A rough surface that is developed through intense heat. During fabrication, the stone is heated up and the crystals begin to pop, thus forming a rough surface. This surface is very porous, sealing is important to maintain the original color.
   

• Other custom surfaces.  There are many available. You can see a fine display of various surface finishes in the showroom at OTM, 5964 6th Ave S, Seattle.

OVER- OR UNDER-MOUNTED Sinks

• Over-mounted:  A standard drop-in sink installation. We make a simple unfinished cutout, then your plumber installs the sink when he reconnects the plumbing & installs the faucets.  $
   

• Under-mounted:  Under-mounting sinks is only an option with solid countertops. From a user's perspective, they're easier to maintain and live with, just sweep the water back into the sink! Appearance-wise, they give a much cleaner, less complicated  look. We finish the edges around the hole, usually with a simple eased edge because it's easier to maintain, and we permanently install the sink.  $$ 
   

• Faucet holes:  We will drill holes in the stone at the time of installation according to the 'rough-in' the plumber has done for your faucets.

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Backsplashes

They are commonly specified in one of the following heights:

• Standard:  4" high with eased edges.
• Full Height:  Full height splashes to from the countertop up to the wall cabinets, range hood or whatever else creates the upper boundary, and are polished on all exposed edges.  But the entire length doesn't have to be full height. Some homeowners extend the backsplash up to the range hood behind the stove and retain a lower profile for the remaining length of the splash.
  
  A NOTE ABOUT RECEPTACLE CUTOUTS:  Mount electrical boxes so they extend out of the wall by the thickness of the stone or purchase longer screws that will reach through the cover plate plus the thickness of the stone and into the electrical box.
   
• Custom Heights:  It's very common to make backsplashes in custom heights to meet design and other goals. Often the height will be specified to exceed the height of the old backsplash by a little to conceal damage to the walls during demolition. Sometimes the height of the backsplashes will be determined by the elevation of a raised eating bar.

Edge profiles:  Most people order backsplashes with eased and polished edges, the most economical option. They can also be ordered with a profile (beveled, rounded, ogee, etc.) but they can get quite expensive because we have to scribe them to merge at the corners.

Thickness options:  Most backsplashes are cut from the same slab as the countertops. If you used 3cm (1-1/4") thick stone, it's possible you'll want to install a 3/4" backsplash to preserve some countertop space. If you'll have a full-height backsplash, it may be cost efficient to purchase another 2cm slab. We can also mill your 3cm splashes down, but that can be time-consuming (read: expensive!)

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other PROJECT DETAILS

Schedule:  What's your best guess about when your cabinets or other surfaces will be ready for us to template? 

      If you're a first-timer, you should know that the world is still waiting for the construction project that proceeded exactly on schedule!  Our work occurs concurrently with plumbers, electricians and flooring contractors--all expensive and hard to find.  If you have a “stone emergency”, of course we'll do our best to help you keep your project on time, but there are only so many ways to hurry stone fabrication!  Be prepared that sometimes this can involve overtime costs.

      Keep us informed about any delays and be sure your contractor does the same.  You'll save money & help us keep your schedule.

Location:  We're centrally located in Seattle, most locations in Snohomish, King, & Pierce Counties and even some of the islands are local for us.  Some job sites that are too far away mean we may have to include travel time in our cost estimates.