FAQs

Granite and marble are both natural stones that are strictly cut and quarried from the earth. Quartz is a manufactured stone containing crushed quartz and about 7% resin. In comparison to granite, marble is the most sensitive to acidic liquids/chemicals and the most porous. Quartz is a non­porous option, however, it does not contain the natural characteristics such as veins and patterns like granite and marble.

You can either come by our facility or contact us. The first step is to find out the square footage of your project. If you don’t know the square footage, we can send someone to your house to give you a free estimate. Please contact us to find out if we provide free estimates in your area. We can also guide you on how to measure (please see home page). Once we know the square footage, we can provide you with an estimate over the phone, via email or in person.

We accept all major credit cards, cash and checks. We also offer financing for 6 months with no interest (subject to approval). We require a 50% (non refundable) down payment on the day that you sign the contract and the remaining amount is due after the installation it is completed.

Yes. In order to get accurate measurements, it is important that the cabinets are installed, especially for the template, which is the final measurement before cutting the countertops.

Depending on the size of your project, a template may take anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours. The average time length is about an hour. We use a laser machine, so you do not have to remove any items from the counters and the time for a template has been reduced significantly due to this new system.

You must have a decision maker on site on the day of the template. This is a very important step of the process.

If you are using your own sink, it can be picked up on the day of the template. You will need to provide either the sink or the template that comes with the sink. Drop­ in and vessels sinks are cut on site.

Countertops are normally installed within 7-­10 business days after the template is complete. Templates can be scheduled within 2­-3 days after request.

Depends on the size of the project. Most installations take approximately 2­-4 hours to be completed. Please take the following into consideration: the size of your project; the challenges our installers may encounter (due to cabinets not leveled); tear out (how the existing countertops were installed); and a series of other issues. Sometimes an installation cannot be completed on the same day. Any issues unrelated to the countertops, for example, unleveled cabinetry, will not be fixed by Legacy Granite Countertops. Customers have to provide us conditions to proceed with our work. We will accommodate you on the schedule for the next available date. We recommend you to take the whole day off on the day of the installation.This it is a remodeling process, not a simple delivery.

Yes. We drill the faucet holes and make the cooktop cutouts on site, on the day of the installation. Drop in sinks are also cut on the day of the installation. Undermount sinks and cut for slide in stoves are done at the shop.

Dust should be expected to do the cooktop and/or faucet hole cut outs. Our installers use a vacuum and they will clean up after any dust/mess,however, if customer is concerned about the dust they should talk to their sales representative and they installer prior to the cut outs.

We recommend customers to remove all the drawers from the cabinets and all of the items inside the cabinets and sink area, as well as the cooktop area.

We recommend 24 hours after or at least overnight.

According to the Marble Institute of America, corbels or structured support should be used when an overhang exceeds 10” for 3cm material or 6” for 2cm material. Specific support may be needed for certain islands or bar tops. Customers are advised after template is completed. Legacy Granite Countertops will provide the support for an additional cost.

It will depend on the size of the slab and how much room installers will have (i.e. size of your door or elevator). A typical slab size is somewhere between 7 and 10 feet long by 5 to 6 feet high. Therefore, your countertops may not require a seam. Many people do not have a problem with seams, but if you are concerned about them you should discuss this with your sales representative and templater. Seams will always be visible and felt at a touch of a finger.

Remnants are the smaller remaining pieces of stone from a previous job. They can be used in a any stone application, size allowing.

3cm granite weighs approximately 19 lbs. a square foot. An average kitchen of 80 sq. ft. will weigh approximately 1450 lbs. Quartz usually weigh a little less than granite. Typical cabinet construction is sufficient to handle the distributed weight of your stone, however large free­standing islands may require extra corner bracing.

Legacy Granite Countertops sells mostly 3cm countertops which is equivalent to approximately 1 1⁄4”. It may vary from 1 1⁄8” to 1 3⁄8” depending on the type and color of the stone.

Yes. A standard overhang is approximately 1 1⁄2” however if you would like a bigger overhang, it can be requested on the day of the template.

It depends on the granite. Availability, color and country of origin are major factors that affect the price of granite. If the supply of a particular stone is short and the demand is high, the price will reflect that. Given that stone is a natural product imported from all over the world, the price spectrum is wide. However, many granite colors are offered at the same price or sometimes less than man made products.

Granite and marble does need to be sealed. Quartz does not require sealing. Some sealers may need to be applied annually while others only need to be applied every 3-­5 years. Check the information on the back of the sealer and follow the recommendations or ask our sale representatives for more information.

Placing a hot pot on the granite will not affect it, however, we recommend customers to use a cutting board.You should not place a hot pot on a quartz surface. Cutting boards are highly recommended to be used for any type of countertops.

Cutting on your granite countertops will not ruin your countertops, but it may ruin your knife, causing it to dull over time. We always encourage customers to use cutting boards. We have them available upon customer’s request.

Yes, granite can crack or chip. However, this is usually caused by severe settling, excessive impact, or abuse. Most minor cracks or chipping in natural stone can be repaired by a specialist in the stone renovation business or by qualified fabricator.

Most granite has some degree of pitting, whether microscopic or visible to the naked eye. With today’s advanced processing, the natural pitting or tiny craters in a granite finish are greatly reduced. These natural pits pose no maintenance or wear issues. The depth of these pits is virtually immeasurable.

It is best to use a cleaning product made specifically for natural stone. You may also use soap and water. DO NOT use any bleach or any other high acidic cleaning products.

A fissure is not a crack. They are a result of heat and pressure that formed the granite. Fissures are one of the natural characteristics that are part of the beauty of the natural stone and will not impair the function or durability of the material.

No. The installers will not connect or reconnect the plumbing or gas line. We offer plumbing and tile services upon customer request. Please talk to your sales representative if you are interested in getting a quote.

Like any other remodeling, it may result in minor scratches especially on the walls and minor touch ups by the homeowner or a contractor may be needed.

Sometimes you are able to keep your existing tiles depending on the thickness of your existing countertops and how they were installed. It is always best if one of our specialists take a look and confirm with the customer. If you have a question that is not listed in our FAQ, please contact us and we will be happy to answer it.

Sincerely,
The Legacy Granite Countertops Team