We’re happy to answer all questions about our kitchen and bathroom countertop installation services and you can find some of our most-asked questions below.
If you can’t find an answer below to your question, please feel free to contact us at 919-878-1988 . Our friendly team is standing by to provide you with information on every aspect of the products and services we provide. You can also get a quote on our services here.
That's who we are! We measure, cut, shape, and polish the edges of your stone. We can answer any of your questions on specific stones, guide you in choosing your stone type, and help you locate your stone of choice.
Once your stone and sink are selected, kitchen cabinets are set, if applicable, and your deposit is paid. If you work with a contractor, they will give you an estimated template date. If your project entails countertop and not cabinetry installation, we will give you a template date in the contract.
This depends on how large your project is, but typically creating a template for your project can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on how much measuring is needed.
We don’t handle gas or electrical disconnections/reconnections and recommend that this is taken care of prior to the installation date of your new countertops. We are able to coordinate the disconnection/reconnection of your plumbing though and use licensed plumbers to do this. If this is an additional service you require, let us know and we can add this to your project estimate
Installing your new countertops can take anywhere from 1 ½ hours to 6 hours depending on how large your project is. To get a more accurate timeframe please reach out to us with details on your specific project and our friendly team will be able to give you an estimate.
No. You are only charged by the square foot of the material needed to complete your project. Countertop spaces of 25 square feet or less are subject to a slab fee based on price group.
Granite, which is crystalline in structure, always has tiny pits – spaces between the various mineral crystals. You don’t see them on a larger piece because the overall appearance is polished and mirror-like. Granite sometimes has natural fissures as well, which may look like cracks, but are not structural defects and are a naturally occurring result of the immense heat and pressure which formed the granite eons ago. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and will not impair the function or durability of the material.
No more than 30 days prior to your scheduled template.
It’s not mandatory but it’s wise. Each and every piece of granite & stone is unique. The color tones may be lighter or darker from one slab to the next, the patterns vary, and the dimensions differ. You can pick from a small sample but this sample will never showcase the uniqueness of your slab.
We require slab layouts for customers who have inconsistent stones. Layouts are beneficial if you have a favorite area in the slab that you would like placed in a specific area (of your kitchen). Likewise, layouts are beneficial if there is a spot or area of the slab that you hope to avoid.
Remnants are smaller pieces of stone. You can’t special order remnants. What you see at your fabricator’s place of business are your choices. Remnants work great if you need a small piece of stone and you’re not set on a specific color. Think bathroom vanities, shelves, table tops, small desks.
Marble and Quartzite can be extremely sensitive. Scratching and staining should be expected. In our low-to-no-maintenance society with expectations of perfection, we do NOT recommend the use of these products in kitchens. However, if you understand the above limitations, accept that the material will scratch and stain, are okay with this, and cannot find another option with that striking natural look, then go for it.
Granite has the ability to stain. However, we will apply a sealer prior to installation to protect your investment.
Natural Gallery uses a commercial grade sealer on all of our countertops and natural stone products. We recommend that our customers check to make sure your countertop is still sealed every couple of years. To do this, select a frequently used and cleaned area. Next, drip or spray a few drops of water onto the countertop. Monitor to make sure the drops of water stay beaded on top of the countertop and do NOT penetrate the surface. If the water does penetrate the surface within 15 to 20 minutes, your countertops should be resealed.
Contact us for a price. We will reseal your countertops. We urge customers not to pick up a sealer from the store to do it yourself. Store-bought sealers are not a penetrating product like we use and the seal will wear off quicker.
There are many great and safe products on the market. In our home, we use Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner Spray or Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap. Dawn dish soap is commonly used by customers. A little soap and water goes a long way in keeping your countertops looking great. Another one of our favorite products is Pledge Multi Surface with disinfectant in the aerosol can.
Yes! If you’d like us to remove your old countertops as part of your installation, let us know and we will add this to your project estimate.
We don’t remove tile backsplashes however we are happy to recommend licensed professionals we have worked with that can help you with this part of your project.
Etching is where the polish on the marble starts to come off in certain areas due to regular wear and tear. Once the stone has been etched, you cannot re-polish it. You can find out more about how to care for marble here.
This centralized location in the heart of the North Carolina Research Triangle allows us to serve families throughout Cary, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Clayton, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Goldsboro, Greenville, Henderson, Wilson, Louisburg, Hillsborough, and beyond.
