Choosing stone for a new countertop is more involved than just the type and cost alone. At CRS Marble & Granite, we strongly encourage our customers to make choosing a stone an in-person process, because it’s our mission to be a hands-on company dedicated to exemplary customer service. Just a few tips to make you a more informed consumer can help you rise above the crowd. Here are some things to consider when choosing the best stone for your lifestyle and your budget.
A name is not just a name. Be sure to choose your stone by sight, not by name. Our showrooms use natural lighting, wide aisles, and a climate-controlled environment so you can browse and hand-tag the slabs under consideration. Viewing the stones you are considering in person with a reputable and knowledgeable salesperson allows you to see if the colors are uniform throughout the stone sample or if they are clustered in one area. Choosing a stone solely by name may lead to a surprise when installation is complete.
A reputable supplier will offer hundreds of colors and styles. With so many choices, an in-person visit to a supplier is a must. CRS Marble & Granite, for example, offers more than 400 examples of stones, the largest selection on the East Coast, where you can peruse options at your own pace. CRS is also the sole distributor of LG Viatera quartz, a custom line of CRS quartz, and a collection of exotic stones including Alexandrita quartzite. Alexandrita is one of the most versatile quartzites in our collection. It may be installed in a kitchen, shower, or as flooring. With its hard, non-porous surface and heat resistance, Alexandrita is a top choice for kitchens and pool and fireplace surrounds.
Beware of color treatments. Ever wonder why the same black granite stone is less expensive from one supplier than another? Some factories use color-enhancing treatments to make the color appear uniform across the stone. The price may cost less on the front end, but the long-term wear of the piece may be compromised with color changes and incidental lightening happening as the stone is used over time. For this reason, CRS only buys from environmentallyfriendly quarries that do not use color enhancements.
Polishing is the finishing touch. Polishing can change a ho-hum stone into something spectacular. CRS Marble & Granite buys their slabs only from the best and the most modern factories that use twenty-seven diamond head tools to polish the slabs. Their inspection team visits every factory and inspects slab by slab before they are shipped overseas. Polishing can change the look of a stone, which may not be readily apparent without taking the opportunity to see the differences side by side in a showroom environment.
Overall, the most important thing to remember is that choosing a natural stone countertop is a hands-on process. Hand-pick the slab you want your fabricator to transform into a beautiful countertop that will please you for many, many years.
A trip around the world of natural stone... no passport needed. Sunny Surana is president of CRS Marble & Granite, with four locations in the US, including raleigh, and two locations overseas. He has been sourcing high-quality stones from remote international quarries for more than twenty years in this family-business-turned-international success model. the 60,000 square-foot raleigh showroom features more than 400 examples of natural stones. Visit the showroom at 7521 exhibit Court in Raleigh or call 919-784-9282 or visit www.crsgranite.com for more information.