People email me all the time asking how to choose a countertop company in their area for the best possible outcome.
Choosing the right countertop company is essential for a seamless upgrade and we all see and hear about horror stories with granite, marble and quartz countertop companies really dropping the ball and not providing a quality service.
In this article, I am going to give you the tools to choose the best countertop business in your area for your countertops.
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There are a few ways to go about this. First of all, I just want to say that I have the best solution for you but I will also give you other options to do this yourself. My solution is the best because there are things that protect you in case there is an issue.
If you click here you can input your zip code and some information about your project and you will get local providers in your area. They will all compete for your business but the best part is you can see their company name, rating, past reviews, and all of this in one place.
Click here to be taken to input your information. We will assist you throughout the entire process.
Researching the company you are going to use is very important. When they are all competing for your business they will likely come down some on the price because they know that this is what is happening.
This is a great time to start actually interviewing them. Write down a few questions to ask them and ask each of them these questions.
Don't worry I have all of this outlined in this article for you.
People always ask me what to ask a potential service provider. The answer is always the same but now I have a template I direct them to and people love it.
If they have been in business for at least 5 years then they are a great candidate. If they are just starting out this is not bad at all it just means you need to do a bit more due diligence before selecting a newer provider.
If they don't already have this prepared then you can almost always guarantee that they are unprepared to tackle even a small countertop job and it is a sure sign to walk away from this provider.
I don't install countertops anymore and I still have photos I could show you to convince you I am good at what I do. I am great at it and I have pictures to prove it right on my phone. Companies should have a portfolio of some sort that helps you decide their quality but it also helps you with design inspiration.
Knowing the process is crucial and if they are unable to answer this question quickly then you may want to move on. A good countertop company will have a process in place and a great sales rep will know this process to a T so that he can provide the best service for you.
The best saws give the most quality results but honestly, that is true and false. A good fabricator can use an old 3 axis bridge saw (like I did) and produce some of the best looking countertops you have ever seen. If they have a CNC or waterjet then that is a great sign that they have invested money into this business and have had some success.
This is positive but having a bridge saw is not bad either.
I prefer to recommend companies that have better equipment because the quality tends to be much higher than their competition.
This is a big one. Most granite companies who do great work will have hundreds of slabs to choose from. Even smaller options can be ok but can they quickly get you the slab you want through a source that allows you to come to see the material?
Having more countertop material to choose from is a positive sign, but do they store it inside?
This is huge in my opinion. Yes, I had stone outside but I also had a place to store lots of granite, marble, and quartz slabs indoors. This is crucial for quality. The elements tend to break down lots of countertop materials which lessens the quality of the slab.
If the company has countertop material stored indoors then you know they are serious about quality and this is a great sign that they will produce a quality job for you.
You know a countertop company is good if they have a booked schedule. Likely they are getting referrals and spending a ton of money on marketing which is all positive. Be sure to verify with the Google reviews but this is a great sign.
If you can be patient and work with their schedule then that is great otherwise I understand sometimes it isn't possible to wait that long. Closing on a house is one big factor. That is why it's best to start this process several months ahead.
This can be a bit tricky but if you want the best price just ask for it. Ask how they can help you save money on your overall invoice and they will likely point you in a great direction.
Also, ask about using remnants for small bathrooms and if they can give you a better deal. This is always something I was willing to do because these cut pieces are pure profit after labor and just sit around waiting for someone to love it.
Use their sinks! Sinks are cheaper when purchased from the fabricator. The reason is that they are normally not a name brand but usually made by the name brand factories. Also, they are just as good and sometimes better quality.
Definitely do this for bathroom sinks but if you must have this fancy kitchen sink then why are you even reading this section? 🙂
Countertops start out at about $30 per square foot and can go as high as $200 per square foot. The average cost of countertops is $40 to $60 per square foot based on typical selections.
If you are a house flipper or a builder then you will see much lower prices and this is usually based on volume and could involve contracts to ensure the numbers are good for both companies.
As you visit several countertop providers be sure to take pictures of your favorite slabs and write down the name of them to remember. Take a picture of the name too which is usually found on the side of the slab.
Compare pricing and your love for the slabs you like between the countertop providers and choose what is best for you based on price and quality.
Well, there you have it. How to choose a countertop company for your home project. Are there things you would love to see added? Please leave a comment below and let us start up some conversation.
