This is a guide on how to buy countertops, simplifying the buying process and outlining insider tips on the best places to source for countertops in New York.
Buying factory direct countertops in Albany, NY or from a fabricator is much easier than what most people think, all you need is the right information at hand and you are good to go.
A guide on how and where to buy granite countertops should leave you with enough education so that you make better decisions. Therefore let us start shopping.
How to buy factory direct countertops
Are you remodeling your kitchen or bathroom or building a new house? Or you just want to upgrade your existing countertops with new countertops? If so, there are quite a number of decisions that you have to make. With countertops, you have a lot of options to choose from, it all depends on your budget and taste.
When purchasing factory direct granite countertops or modular granite countertops, your color options are limited to just a few standard popular choices associated with large supplies and the most consistent names. Also, the slabs are inspected, boxed and sold according to the consistency of their colors and patterns.
Therefore if you are planning on purchasing New Venetian Gold granite countertops for example, you will find that each bundle of slabs is from the same brand with the same name and each slab in there has the same veining, patterns and colors. This means they were all mined from the same area, and from the same parent rock.
This will be the same case when you purchase prefabricated marble countertops. Your primary concern here should be to get all your slabs in one piece so that none of them is chipped or broken.
If you are buying from a fabricator however, you will need to be more focused and have all your attention on the little details.
Let’s see how purchasing countertops from a fabricator differs from buying factory direct countertops in Albany, NY.
How to buy countertops from a fabricator
When buying countertops from a fabricator, it would be pointless to ask for specific patterns or brand names. You might have come across a perfect pattern and color of countertops online, but with more than 2500 countertop colors out there, naming a specific color or pattern will leave both you and your fabricator confused, and chances are you will never find that exact pattern. Here are tips on buying countertops from a fabricator
– With millions of color variations for engineered and natural stone countertops, it is not practical to shop for a specific pattern or color
– Do not shop based on a small slab you got from a showroom, the outcome might be completely different from your expectations
– Carefully inspect each slab for imperfections. Ask your fabricator to help you spot unsightly veining.
– If you get one bundle of slabs from the same source at a showroom, buy multiple slabs from the bundle. This is because each bundle contains slabs from the same parent rock.
– Ask your fabricator to help you test each slab for acidic sensitivity before you buy
You might find that the slabs available at the local warehouse are very different from the ones listed online. You might also be lucky enough to find a similar color, with a different name, at the local warehouse.
Do not worry, everybody starts out with a list of countertop colors and names at the beginning of their search. However, at the end of the day, you will find yourself going to a local warehouse in person, picking out a random slab you like from their collection, having it fabricated and installed (all this without even consulting the list you started off with).
Looking for more tips on buying factory direct countertops in Albany, NY and purchasing from a fabricator? Distinctive Surfaces Countertops Supplier in New York, to get free advice, free estimates and a courtesy visit to your home by one of our home design experts.