FAQ
Q. Where do I select slabs for my project?
A. You can come view our selection of in stock slabs or select at any of the Portland area slab distributors. We can source material for you from outside the Portland area if needed.
Badlands Granite
Q. Should I be using 2 cm or 3 cm slab granite material?
A. Generally, there is no real difference in the finished appearance or functionality of your countertops. This issue is mostly driven by fabricator preference as to the tradeoff between heavier, more expensive material, & lighter material that requires more labor to fabricate. One fabricator may prefer the 2 cm because it is lighter & therefore less strenuous to install. Another fabricator may prefer 3 cm because it fabricates faster due to no need for lamination of the edge detail.
Q. Does Alpha prefer 2 cm, or 3 cm material?
A. We are not strongly for one or the other, & work with both.
Q. Is the 3 cm stone more expensive than the 2 cm?
A. Well it is however quite often the finished cost is very similar. This is due to the fact that the added cost of the 3 cm slabs is offset by added labor cost for the laminating process used on the 2 cm. With most stone types, whether it is granite, marble, travertine, soapstone, limestone, onyx, or any of a number of others, there are many price ranges in each stone type. As we go up in material cost, the spread between installed 2 cm counters & installed 3 cm tends to become more apparent as the added slab cost outstrips the laminating labor cost.
Q. Is there a standard size for stone slab material?
A. No there isn’t.—I have seen slabs as small as 36”x60”, & as large as 80”x135”.
Q. What is “lamination”?
A. This is when we cut a narrow strip about 1 1/2″ wide at all finished edges & epoxy it underneath the main piece to create a double thick edge. On 2 cm (3/4″) material, this creates a 4 cm (1 1/2″) thick edge.
Q. Does Alpha Stone Works “book match” the laminations on their countertops?
A. Yes. This provides the best appearance possible on the finished product.
Q. What is “book matching”?
A. This is where we cut the “lamination” strip of material from the main countertop piece immediately adjacent to the edge where it will be epoxied in place. This procedure makes the grain of the granite flow thru the edge, creating the book matched look.
Q. How noticeable are countertop seams on Alpha Stone Works projects?
A. Several factors determine this question. First of all a joint in a granite slab that has a lot of movement in it will be more visible if the grain is set at opposing angles at the joint. On the other hand, a movement material can provide a very discreet joint if the grain runs the same way on both pieces at the joint & if the color of the grain is well matched there also. Secondly, the gap between the two pieces plays an obvious role also. Third, the color match of the epoxy used at the joint is important. Last but not least is whether or not the surface of the countertop is ground smooth & re-polished at the joint.
In our shop we grain match in the best possible manner with the available material. Our installers place the slabs tightly together & as flat as possible relative to each other, color match the epoxy, and in 99 cases of 100 we surface polish the joint for the best slab granite countertop joint available.————- No one does better joints than Alpha, & few do as well.—————–
Q. Can we look at the actual slabs you will use on our project before you cut them?
A. Yes, we encourage this & in many cases we insist on it. We also are happy to show you the template lay out on your slabs if you would like. This is especially important on movement types of stone. This we call a layout review.
Q. What is “Movement”?
A. This is a term used of granite & marble that has directional veining in it. A piece is said to have no movement, a little, or lots of movement.
Q. What is your typical lead time for a kitchen project from start to finish?
A. From the time that we template (get accurate working dimensions) your job until the time we install is usually two weeks. We do our best to accommodate your needs in this regard.
Q. In a remodeling situation, how long can I expect to be without a working kitchen?
A. Assuming all you are doing is replacing the countertops; we will only need 3 days from tear out to new sink hookup. We template without disturbing your kitchen, then come back about two weeks later on a given Monday(Usually) to remove the old & prepare for the new. Tuesday we put in the new counters & Wednesday our plumber hooks up the sink.
Q. Do you work with any products besides natural stone?
A. Yes. See our “Quartz” pages
for other materials we work with.
