Starting a project can be confusing. Not everyone knows where to start, what to look for, what questions to ask. This leads to mistakes being made, and more and more homeowners left with less desirable results.
We know how hard it can be to find the right stone. So we’ve created this list of typical mistakes for you to avoid so that you can achieve the style you really want.
- Failure to bring in samples
source: houzz.com
source: revuu.com
Most people surprisingly just guess at what will look good in their home. This can be a mistake that can be costly to fix. To avoid this, we highly recommend bringing in samples or pictures of cabinets, flooring, or even swatches of wall color or wood stain to hold up to the slabs. This will help visualize what will look best in your design.
- Searching for a true “one-stop shop”
You want to know the price of your granite slab outright, without any other costs or fees included. Knowing the price up front of your granite will help you determine whether or not you are getting a fair and excellent price. Often times companies that sell stone and conduct their own installations, don’t show the itemized costs and fees, and tend to wrap it all into one price. They may even keep the true price secret until farther down the buying process. This is something you should avoid.
- Settling for less
Transparency in a supplier is always optimal. You want to be able to compare the true costs with other suppliers to ensure that you are getting the best price for what you are purchasing. Another thing that you should pay attention to is the levels that suppliers often use to categorize their slabs. Most categorize by quality of the stone rather than the price, which can somewhat add to the difficulty of finding a stone that fits your budget and the level of quality you’re seeking. It also poses as an obstacle, as you may not think that you can afford a stone in a higher level when in fact you may be able to.
- Being set on a name
You may see a picture somewhere in a magazine or ad, you take down the name of the stone, and then search for it with every granite provider in your area. You mention the name of the stone and a few say they have it available. You order from what you feel is the fairest value. When your stone arrives and you take a look you are shocked to find that the stone isn’t what you expected. Indeed, it is a completely different stone.
Some suppliers change the names of their stones. At any time there could be 5 names for the particular stone you are looking for. Which makes it incredibly difficult to lock down. So, visit each site and fall in love with a stone that you are looking at face-to-face, and make sure that what you’ll be purchasing is that exact stone, not just something in the same color or name.
- Not thinking about options
source: hgtv.com
source: houzz.com
Most people think of a basic installation for their stone without considering features like back lighting, or the different cuts or edges. in addition, most fabricators will just assume a basic installation and will not go over any additional options or any extra costs associated. Be sure to ask about all your options to get exactly what you want, if not just the basic installation.
Don’t make the mistakes of others. Keep these things in mind when you shop, you may find you want more than you thought.