Frequently Asked Questions

Granite is an igneous rock, which means that at one time during its development, it was melted like volcanic lava. Unlike lava, however, this melted rock never reached the surface, it remained trapped inside the earth, where it slowly cooled and crystallized. The end result is a very uniform, speckled stone that ranges in color from black and gray tones to pinks, browns, reds, greens, and whites. Granites are quarried throughout the world in the form of huge blocks and then reduced into slabs. These slabs are then carefully crafted by fabricators who process them into the final product.

Factory Plaza imports from and is affiliated with the following countries: USA, Brazil, India, Mexico, China, Norway, Madagascar, and Turkey.

The stone is available in two thickness sizes: 3/4'' and 1 1/4'' (2cm and 3 cm respectively).

Stones are a natural-honed or polished rock; they are not manufactured. There are many inherent variances in all stone - color and shade variations, geological flows, irregular markings, voids, pitting, veins, fissures and lines of minor separations. However, these characteristics are part of the natural beauty of the stone and will not impair the function of wearing qualities of the material.

Not necessarily. Some veins are strictly color variations in the stone. However, in some materials natural flaws can exist within the vein, which enhances the color and is characteristic of that stone.

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 demand for it 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.

There are many factors affecting the price of stone, mainly availability, supply, color and freight. Some stones are readily accessible, while others exist in remote locations. Due to weather conditions, some natural stones are only accessible during certain times of the year.

With a simple, regular maintenance program, natural stone will last far longer than the building in which it was installed.

We will provide you with detailed instructions but the bottom line is just soap and water. We seal all of the slabs before cutting even begins and this protects your stone from staining. You should re-seal after the first year and then every three to five years as needed.

According to a recent study conducted by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management in Minnesota (an organization that develops educational materials and research for the retail food industry), if bacterial contamination of the kitchen countertop is a concern, granite is a good choice. The study measured the bacteria-resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. Each surface was contaminated with E.coli (nearly 2 billion of the microorganisms), washed and rinsed with soap and water and then sanitized with a vinegar-and-water solution. The results speak for themselves.
Surface microorganisms eliminated by cleaning:
Stainless Steel: 85,113,804
Granite: 79,432,823
Laminate: 498,884
Ceramic Tile: 293,765
Concrete: 32,810
Wood: 2,080

Because it is a natural stone, granite has been blessed with a remarkable natural beauty. Inherent in such natural products is a certain lack of predictability. Clients who are less acquainted with the material expect the granite ordered to be identical to the picture or sample they were shown. Although sample stones are intended to be representative of the quarry's product, the material quarried at one time may differ slightly in color and veining from the sample. Moreover, even a single marble or granite slab will possess a certain amount of color variation from one end to the other.

We don't advise that you do any cutting on you granite countertops. Granite is extremely hard, which results in the quick dulling of your kitchen knives.

We remove old countertops for a small fee.

Old countertops, build-up, screws, nails, and backsplashes must be completely removed. If wall patching is needed after everything is removed, it will be easier to complete before the granite countertops are installed.

Yes, you can, but we don't recommend it. The countertop installation is the perfect opportunity to replace your existing plumbing fixtures. In addition, once the countertops are in place, it will be very hard to replace it later.

We have a wide variety of edge styles. We have several default edges as well as more elaborate, custom edges that you can upgrade to for an additional price. Please see our Edge Profiles for more information about the edges we offer.

We will do our best to get the most accurate dimensions and least amount of seams for your kitchen or bathroom. Our installers are artists and perfectionists who try to avoid seams as much as possible. When a seam is necessary, our installers will match the granite so it flows as if it was one piece.

Call us at: 1-708-338-1222 and ask to speak to our sales representative. He will ask you some questions about what you want to have done. Granite prices vary by color. See Granite Colors we carry. You will also need to provide us with the dimensions of the area that you would like the granite countertops fabricated for. The actual dimensions rather than total square footage will be necessary for us to give the most accurate estimate possible.

If we are installing the countertops, we will contact you to schedule dates for an appointment to get a precise measurements of your countertops as well as the date for installation. It usually takes from 7 to 10 days to fabricate and install the countertops.

If we do the fabrication only, without installation, we fabricate the countertops as soon as the payment is received and we ship them or you can pick them up.

Most cabinets should be strong enough to support the weight of granite countertops. Additional support will be needed for any overhangs larger than 10'', or if you are having granite installed on a half wall with overhang to create a sitting area. If at the measure appointment you do not have adequate support, your estimator will let you know what kind of support is needed and where you can get it.

1. Select your material. To select the color you can: A) click on Granite Colors. B) order a sample from us. C) visit our showroom.

2. Get a rough estimate. To get an estimate, we can either send a representative out to your home or business and measure your existing countertops or cabinets or if you have a layout drawing with measurements, you can fax or email it to us. An example of a Layout drawing.

3. Sign a sales order. Once we receive a signed Sales Order we can put you on our calendar. We usually have about a 10-day turnaround time.

4. Template. On the specified date, our representative will come out to your location and create an exact "template" of your countertop to ensure the best possible fit. You will need to be all ready by this date - all appliances should be on-site for accurate measurements. The home owner (or designated decision-maker over the age of 18) must be present during the entire template process.

5. Installation and completion. We will install you new countertops on the specified date. The home owner (or designated decision-maker over the age of 18) must be present during the entire installation process for walkthrough and signoff on the job. Installation of natural stone surfaces does not include removal of your old countertops unless agreements have been made to do so. After installation is complete, the crew will clean up the work area to leave your home or business as it was found before installation. During the final walk through, the crew will explain proper care and maintenance of your new countertops. Once you are fully satisfied, the crew will collect the remaining balance due.