If remodeling that kitchen is on your mind, then the first area that you will consider is probably that ugly old kitchen countertop! Naturally, you will consider many surface options, but most certainly you will set your heart on beautiful natural stone. There are other suitable options such as Quartz surfaces (a form of artificial granite slab), or you may be considering Marble or Travertine, but be sure that choosing granite for your kitchen tops, will be a decision you will be glad you made for many years to come. No other counter top surface offers the durability or luxurious appearance of granite.

After deciding on installing granite countertops, your next project decision will be to choose a professional to make sure the remodeling job is done once and done right. You need a quality craftsman who will be equipped to not only fabricate your countertops with care and skill, but will provide the highest quality material, the most competitive price and careful installation service to ensure your kitchen remodeling project goes as smoothly as possible.

The initial step is to plan a design for your new kitchen tops. Perhaps you are using the same cabinet pattern as you have now, or perhaps you are designing a whole new layout with radius, edges and overhangs, bars and new appliances. Your kitchen top professional should help you understand what is possible to achieve in terms of seam placement, backsplashes, sink and cook-top cut outs, overhangs, and custom features. A good way to do this is by using a digital template system that will allow the customer to see a finished template on a CAD screen, so that it can be manipulated before the kitchen top is cut. Once a design is confirmed, you may use this technology to lay the template out on any particular slab of stone. This is especially helpful if you have selected a natural granite with a lot of movement or veining in it.

To select the perfect granite slab, you must trust your project to a professional granite fabrication company who has the ability to purchase the best quality stone product from the quarries and overseas suppliers at the most competitive price. Your granite professional should offer you an extensive choice of the many beautiful colors and patterns in natural stone, from Kashmir Gold to Amazon Green and in polished or honed finishes.

Once the slabs go off for fabrication, it is time to prepare the kitchen environment for installation. A good installation professional will complete the project with the minimum of disruption or mess, but you need to prepare by removing existing tops and disconnecting the plumbing and electrical connections to appliances and accessories, such as sinks, that are part of the integral countertop. After your contractor has completed the install of the countertop, it should be professionally sealed and several hours should be allowed before the re-connection of appliances, to allow seam and under-mount caulking to dry. All that will be required after that is to sit back, admire and enjoy your beautiful new custom granite kitchen counter tops. Doesn’t that sound easy? So what are you waiting for? Give Artelye Marble & Granite a call now, and start planning your counter top remodeling project now!