Beginning a kitchen or bath remodel, or any other type of home design project, can seem daunting. It doesn’t have to be. At European Stone & Tile Design, our project approach is designed to help our customers visualize and realize their dream outcome.
1) Contact us
European Stone & Tile Design offers a showroom equipped with the latest stone and tile products. Come in with a drawing and pictures for an in-house estimate. We also do free in-home estimates and design consultations for one’s kitchen or bathroom remodel project. Alternatively, clients can also email/fax us a copy of their layout for quote purposes too. For more information on how to prepare for your project and organize your thoughts and ideas, check out our “Getting Started” guide here.
2) Select your material
After we have submitted our proposal and you have chosen to work with us, will schedule an appointment to help you hand-select the slabs for their project. At our Kirkland warehouse we carry limited collection of stocked slab colors to choose from. Materials are typically selected from our list of vendors located in the Sodo district of Seattle.
3) Edge detail options
European Stone & Tile Design offers a full array of edge profile selections with four standards at no additional charge. Custom edge designs are also available. Please see our Countertop Edge Guide here.
4) Templating
Templating is the process of laying out wooden strips along the installed cabinets to create a skeletal structure of the future countertops. Then the custom-made template is laid upon the granite slabs in order to create the custom countertops with precision and accuracy. Prior to templating the following items need to be in place:
- Cabinets and finished end panels need to be installed, leveled and in their final locations. Upper cabinets must be in place if client has purchased full height backsplash.
- All of the appliances in the kitchen need to be on location, which includes the stove, dishwasher, fridge etc.
- The sink needs to be on location so that we may use it as a template for the sink cutout, or the exact box measurements must be on hand. Faucet fixtures need to be purchased and on site as well.
5) Template Placing
After creating the custom framework of your new counters based off the cabinets, you will have an opportunity to view which areas of the slab will be used in your home if the material chosen has movement and “exotic” characteristics.
6) Fabrication
The custom template is the framework used to cut the granite to the proper dimensions of the custom kitchen countertops. Once the granite has been cut to the template dimensions, the process of fabrication begins. Fabrication is the process of using heavy machinery with high volumes of water to polish the granite through a series of different polishing levels to bring out the beauty and natural shine of the material. The fabrication process is where 85% of the labor is expended. Once the process has begun, one piece can take 2-6 days to fabricate, depending on the surface.
7) Installation
Installation is the final phase of the project. The installation crew will bring the custom-made countertop to the project site, unload the piece(s) and begin the installation process. Each crew is specially trained ito nstall your custom granite or quartz countertop. To ensure quality and confidence in the project, adequate time is spent on each project to guarantee a successful installation. The time needed is determined on a project by project basis.
8) Maintenance care
Following the installation of a granite/quartz countertop or after a bathroom or kitchen remodel, many homeowners are curious to know if there are any requirements in maintaining the slab or tile product. Therefore, each customer is provided with a maintenance card following the completion.
9) Warranty
European Stone & Tile offers a 90-day Service Warranty for standard items such as caulking, chips etc coupled with a 1 year Craftsmanship Warranty for material and installation. Quartz installations are product-dependent based on supplier warranty.