Terms of Service

General Information

Granite is a natural stone that is renowned for its beautiful variations in color, depth and individual characteristics. It is composed mainly of quartz, feldspar and mica, creating a surface that is very scratch resistance. No two pieces of natural stone are alike. They will vary in color, shading, porosity, marking, texture (pits & fissures), veining and pattern. This is the beauty of natural stone and is not considered a defect. Your samples may vary significantly in shading and color from your countertops.

Directionality

Many colors have veining or directionality, sometimes called movement or grain patterns. With these colors – seams, corners and backsplashes will show changes in pieces or direction more visibly than other stones. This will create a north/south, east/west orientation where two pieces are seamed together (similar to wood grain) and is part of the natural beauty of the color selected. If you do not want this feature you should select a more muted color pattern.

Natural Features

All stone has “fissures” which appear as hairline cracks. This is not a defect. Many colors have “pits” which appear like small chips or holes. This is not a defect.

Seams

The seams in a granite counter can be seen and can be felt. Every effort is made to limit this factor and minimize the visual impact. We aim to be both aesthetically and economically sensitive when designing seam location. Final seam placement will be determined during production however, seams are typically location near the corners. Because the width and depth of individual stone pieces may vary, the size of slabs will vary and therefore may require seams on large islands and long counter runs. Seam location and number is at the sole discretion of The Top Source. All seams are machined in our shop, however most slabs are rarely perfectly flat. We go to great lengths to get your seams tight and smooth, but there still may be slight variations across seams. Seams are typically 1/8″ wide and may have ledges the thickness of a business card. Differing crystalline structure can increase the likelihood of visible seams and lamination lines.

Slab Selection

Granite can vary widely in tone, hue, pattern, texture and color. As such, the sample is just a representation of the color you have selected. In order to achieve maximum satisfaction, we require you to make an appointment with one of our slab yards to select your particular slabs. Your design consultant will tell you where to go and how many slabs to select. You will need to select your slabs prior to your template appointment to ensure a timely installation.

Finish

Most granite is available in a polished finish only. While some stones are available in a “honed” or matte finish, we do not currently offer a “honed” finish through our program. The polished finish is done at the quarry and cannot be altered. As a result, the seam cannot be polished without damaging the polished finish.

Backsplash

Backsplash is made from the same material as the countertops and will be the same thickness as the deck. The edges and ends of the backsplash will be “flat polished” and have a slight (1/8″) radius. Splashes will be sealed to the countertop with a small bead of silicone. We will caulk the top of the splashes with paintable (white) caulking.

Sinks

The profile at finished cutouts for undermount sinks will be our “eased” shape. All undermount sinks are cut according to manufacturer specifications and will have the manufacturer’s suggested reveal. The actual mounting of the sink is included in the undermount sink charge. Cut outs, remnants or fall off are not supplied with any job.

Care and Maintenance

Since granite is a product of nature, naturally occurring fissures and porosity require that your countertops be periodically sealed. All counters are sealed at the factory prior to installation. You should reseal your countertops annually with a penetrating sealer.

Staining

The periodic sealing of your countertops will help to prevent stains. However, spills should be blotted up quickly to avoid staining. Avoid using harsh chemicals or acidic products on your countertops as this will damage them and break down the sealer.

Cleaning

A gentle, pH-neutral cleaner should be used to clean your countertops. Many people like to use a mild soap and water mixture. There are a variety of cleaners that are intended specifically for natural stone available for purchase at your local home center or hardware store. Be sure to use a sponge or a soft cloth to avoid etching the surface polish of the stone.

Scratches

Granite is composed of mainly quartz and feldspar; therefore it is incredibly hard and highly resistant to scratches. However, we highly recommend the use of cutting boards.

Heat

Although granite material has great heat resistance, we still do NOT recommend placing heat sources directly on the countertops. Use trivets or hot pads under any heated cookware such as pots, pans or other sources of continuous heat (griddles, crock pots, etc…). Subjecting natural stone to continuous heat can damage the polish and crack the stone.