Before You Buy Important points to consider when choosing a company to fabricate you granite countertops. We understand that there are many companies out there who sell granite countertops.  They range from some guy in his garage fabricating stone with small tools to large "big-box" retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe's. This wide variety of choices may make it difficult for the average consumer to know where to go for their granite countertop needs.  This page will give you several important points to consider when making this decision. Ten years ago the choices were easy.  There were very few options available, both in your choice of stone or who would fabricate it.  It was sort of like the original Model T Ford where you could have "any color you like, so long as it was black".  Cost was also very high as there were few quarries, expensive distribution and no competition in the marketplace.  All that has changed.  There are now 100's of different colors available and prices have dropped dramatically.  Stones that were $75/sf 10 years ago now are $45/sf.  Advances in transportation, fabrication machinery and tools have made it possible to produce a better product at a lower cost.  In most cases, granite is now less expensive than so called "engineered stone" or "quartz" countertops.  Granite countertops have become so popular that granite has become somewhat of a commodity.  Some people make the mistake of shopping for granite like they would a TV, decide what you want and shop around until you find the best price.  Granite countertops are not like TV's.  There are great differences in the quality of stone, quality of workmanship and customer service. Granite may seem like a commodity but the proven ability to deliver complete solutions, top quality, and unmatched customer service is not. You are not just buying granite.  You're buying the whole package:  The ability to help you make the right choices for your project; the knowledge of a professional sales, fabrication and installation team; the value of a company that stands behind what they sell.  Here is what to look for in your fabricator:       1.  Does the company specialize in granite countertops or are they just a "big-box" retailer or other "all-in-one shop"  selling countertops to be made by someone else, somewhere else?   These companies do not fabricate their own countertops.  Instead, they subcontract their work to others.  In most cases, you cannot deal directly with the fabricator to express your desires, you cannot view your own slab, you will not be speaking with knowledgeable sales people and, with all of that, you get the privilege of paying 40-50% more for your granite. 2.  Does the company own their own showroom and fabrication facility with a large selection of stone, tile, sinks, and related materials all under one roof? Be careful of anyone that doesn't actually own a showroom. Do they truly have the resources, experience, product knowledge and skill to guide you through the maze of decisions that differentiate a great result from a major disappointment? 3.  Does the company maintain a large selection of standard and exotic granite slabs on-site and indoors?  It is important that you have a large selection of slabs from which to choose the one that is just right for your project.  It is also important to view your slabs indoors for several reasons.  No one wants to choose their stone during cold, heat, rain or snow.  Additionally, slabs stored outside will generally be dirty (making it hard to view the colors properly) and the sunlight outdoors will "wash out" the coloring of the slab to the naked eye.  Your granite will not look the same in your kitchen as it will outdoors in a slab yard! 4.  Does the company have salespeople who really know the product and the process and guide you in your decision making rather than just trying to sell you something you don't want? 5.  Does the company own a clean and organized manufacturing facility utilizing the latest in "state of the art" equipment? A first class granite fabrication facility does not come cheap.  Modern fabrication equipment is computer controlled and can cost hundreds of thousands (if not over a million) dollars.   These machines can produce incredible accuracy in cuts and can produce a quality of edging and finishes that are impossible to replicate by hand, no matter how skilled the fabricator.  Be wary for fabricators who do all their work by hand with hand tools or utilize pre-cut granite "blanks".  Using granite blanks will always give you an excessive number of seems and mismatched colors.  A quality granite kitchen can only be accomplished cutting from full slabs by experienced fabricators with first class equipment. 6. Can the company provide you a full service, turnkey solution for your project?  Can they handle every aspect of your project from design to installation?  Can they provide you all these services in house without the use of sub-contractors eliminating any possibility of "finger pointing" among subcontractors? 7.  Does the company have a full office staff to help walk you through the process and answer any questions you might have?  Are they knowledgeable and courteous? 8. Does the company have a good reputation? Ask for a list of client referrals and call them.

What our customers have to say: “My husband and I would like to thank you for your superior treatment. From the time we walk in the door, to the gentleman measuring for our template until the moment your installers completed our kitchen, everyone was professional and courteous. We love our countertops and wanted you to know!” Kristy and Randy T., Brentwood, TN “I would like to thank you and your staff for doing such a wonderful job with my counters. Words can not express my sincere gratitude in the way your staff performed their duties to ensure the total success of my project. I can not pick one staff member over another because they were all wonderful. They all treated my job as if it was important to them. The installers showed pride in their work and wanted me to be happy too. You are to be commended in hiring such a wonderful staff.  My kitchen looks wonderful!” Charlotte D. Nashville, TN "Thank you for doing such a wonderful job with my countertops. The install team who came to install them was so very nice and professional. Obviously, they are well trained, hard working, and surely an asset to your company. I enjoyed them because they really took their time to explain what they were doing. I am so glad my Realtor found your company." Marilyn K. College Grove, TN