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annac54

Granite templating process

15 years ago

The templating for our granite countertops will take place this coming week. We've figured out the edge and the sink reveal and have a rough idea where the seams will be. Anyone have any other items we should clarify with the fabricator? Is there something you forgot to ask and wish you had? Anything the fabricator said that should have been a red-flag for future problems?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Comments (8)

  • 15 years ago

    Will you be working with your fabricator to lay out the templates on the slab(s)? We did this and were glad we did. It allowed us to choose the exact parts of the slab for the island and other focal points in the kitchen. This may not be relevant for a granite with even coloration but ours has lots of movement which we wanted to highlight.

    Hope this helps.

  • 15 years ago

    Make sure you know where you want holes drilled for & how many you can do. With the size of our sink & countertop, we would have had a maximum of 3. If your range installation requires a granite bridge, make sure they are know about that. One forum member (footwedge) is upset that her fabicators were apparently unaware of that & didn't cut a bridge. Our fabricators took our new sink with them for exact measurement, and got the model numbers of our range, to be sure they got the right layout & sizing.

    We didn't work with our fabricator on layout or seams -- let them decide it all. It would have delayed our install considerably if we wanted to do that -- and we've had enough time without a kitchen! But our fabicator did an excellent job. They are the pros, after all. I have no complaints, except that the (only) seam is a little obvious to me (now -- just after installation) -- but I realize it's probably very difficult to match edges in a strong granite with lots of movement. In a few weeks, I probably won't notice it at all.

  • 15 years ago

    Our fabricators didn't need to know hole placement for sink accessories at templating. The holes were drilled on site. But we needed to discuss with them the exact positioning for the sink cut outs. For undermount, those are done at fabrication so the edges can be polished. And to know exactly where you want your sink, it is helpful to have an idea of what space your accessories - especially the faucet need. For instance, some handles need room to swing back behind the faucet body. We wanted our sinks pulled forward as much as possible.

    You mentioned edges. They should ask how much edge overhang you want in addition to the type of edge. Make sure that they also know whether you want an overhang at the end of a counter run - usually you do if the end is exposed and you don't want one if an appliance such as range or fridge is going next to the end.

    Are there any other special details that you want. For instance, our range top control panel is meant to stick out in front of the cabinets. We had the granite edge bump forward to make the transition to that more gentle.

  • 15 years ago

    Thanks to everyone for your replies. We will be checking the layout on the slabs before they are cut. The fabricator is very close, and said that lots of people do that, so it shouldn't hold things up much. We had already bought the slabs when the fabricator came to give us an estimate, so we discussed then approximately where the best places for the seams would be. The slabs are on the smaller side, so it was a little more difficult to figure out where they were going to be.
    The granite does not have much "movement" per se, but it does have some pattern to it, and is not an evenly speckled material.

    We've dry-fit the sink and faucet and think we have that under control. The range is already in, so they know what they have to deal with there. Love the little bump out on the cooktop. We don't have the same issue with the range, but it's a good idea to know in case we ever do this again. Really love that granite. What is it?

    Redhead, also love your granite. It was on our short list of possibilities when we were looking at slabs. One of my good friends has it in her kitchen, and I always just love to look at the patterns in her countertops.

    The cabinet frames have been refinished and the doors are in process. After they are hung and the granite is in, I'll be asking for help with the backsplash (I know, not another one....).

    Thanks again for your help.

  • 15 years ago

    Our granite is Azul do Mar. It is really quartzite.

    Our range top is a Blue Star. When it is over the range, the edge of the oven is suppose to be flush with the cabinets beside it so the oven door is in front of the cabinets and the control panel face lines up with that. That's why it is designed to sit out in front of the cabinets.

    I saw bump outs like that here for rangetops or apron front sinks and bumped out sink cabinets and copied the idea.

    It sounds like you are set.

    They templated our counters in the morning and we went directly from our house to meet them at their shop to do the layout of the templates on the slabs so it didn't delay the work at all.

  • 15 years ago

    Redhead47,

    You must be thinking of someone else. Our granite will not be cut until tomorrow.

  • 15 years ago

    I guess I'm confused. I was responding to whoever posted the following:

    Beautiful granite, whoever it belongs to.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Granite installed today

  • 15 years ago

    AnnaC54,
    You're right. That was my granite. Typhoon/Sienna Bordeaux, depending on who is naming it. Very happy with our choice. Love it.

    footwedge,
    Sorry... You're right, I was confused. Someone didn't get a bridge when they should have. You just asked about how it was done by our fabricators.

    To both: Hope all goes well with your granite installation & the rest of your kitchen work. Although I had a few moments of distress here & there, everything has actually gone remarkably well.

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