Granite and marble slabs from GTA stone importers make
beautiful countertops. Keep reading to learn more about fine stone importers.
Granite and Marble Slabs in the GTA
Fine stone is gaining popularity
in the Greater Toronto Area. Many GTA homeowners are choosing to build or
renovate kitchens with granite or marble slab countertops because they realize
that quality stone adds to both the beauty and the value of their houses. A few
decades ago, granite or marble countertops were the purview of the very rich,
but recent advances in techniques and machinery for quarrying and finishing
stone have revolutionized the industry. Now, extraction and finishing of fine
stone is much more efficient, which means that marble and granite have become
affordable options.
Buying Stone Slab for Countertops
With the growing popularity of
fine stone has come a proliferation of places where you can source stone slab.
Even franchise hardware stores now offer certain types of stone countertops.
But, when choosing stone slab, it’s best to turn to a specialist in fine stone.
A marble or granite countertop is an investment, and like any investment,
should be made wisely, after getting advice from an expert. The GTA has some
well-established fine stone importers, and visiting the showroom of one of
these companies can help you learn about the types of stone available.
Knowledgeable staff should be able to provide you with information about where
the stone comes from, how it has been processed, finished and shipped, and how
it should be maintained.
You may be astonished by the wide
variety of fine stone available at better stone import companies! Marble and
granite range from neutral shades and subtle patterns to vivid colours and bold
patterning.
How can you find a quality stone
importer? There are a number of indicators that can help you select a company:
- Track
Record. Has the company been in business for more than a decade? Does the company come recommended by
your contractor? Have friends, family, neighbours or co-workers used their
services? Is the company willing to provide you with a reference from a
previous customer?
- Inventory.
Does the company advertise only a few types of stone, or do they
maintain a showroom with hundreds of types of stone for you to peruse? (And
avoid, at all costs, choosing a slab by looking at a small sample of stone!
It’s important to see the whole slab).
- Delivery.
Does the company have its own mode of delivery?
- Staff.
When you visit the showroom, are you welcomed warmly by staff?
Are your questions answered to your satisfaction?
- Importing.
Does the company have a relationship with the quarries where
stone comes from, or do they deal merely with middlemen? Better stone importers
send representatives to quarries and are knowledgeable about the slabs they
sell.
The Process
You won’t be able to buy the slab
you choose at a reputable stone importer-distributor’s showroom – you will need
to "tag” it (reserve it), and the company will sell it to your fabricator. A
fabricator will come to your home and measure all cabinetry, then create a
plywood template for your countertop. When the stone is delivered, the
fabricator will create your beautiful marble or granite countertop, then
deliver and install it.
A fine stone countertop is a
thing of beauty. Choose wisely and well, and enjoy your granite or marble slab
countertop for decades to come.