The following information is provided to assist you in understanding what to expect and how to prepare for your new countertops, and ultimately aid in the smooth installation of your new countertops!

1. To receive an estimate on new countertops, we invite you to visit our office, Monday through Friday between 8AM-5PM and Saturday between 9AM-1PM (appointments are recommended for Saturdays.) Bring in a rough sketch of your countertop layout with dimensions. After you view all of the colors and edge treatments and make your selections, we can give you an estimate on your new countertops.

If you already know which color and edge profile you would like, you can fax us your drawings with dimensions and receive an estimate via phone/fax. Please remember to include your name, contact numbers, and any other pertinent information.

2. We schedule our templates Monday through Friday, with the first appointment in the morning between 8:30-9:30AM (depending on traffic), the second appointment between 11AM-1PM, and the last template of the day beginning between 1-3PM. It is important for you to be present while our template maker is in your home as questions and/or potential issues may arise that will need to be addressed.

3. The amount of countertop overhang (over the cabinet frame) is usually between 1 ¼”-1 ½”. If you would like something different, please tell our template maker before he gets started.

4. If you are purchasing an undermount sink to be used with your new countertops, please have it available for our template maker to bring back to our shop as we will need to do the cutout and polishing for the sink cutout in the shop.

If you are purchasing a drop-in (top-mount) sink to be used with your new countertops, it will not be necessary for us to bring it to the shop, as we will do the cutout for this type of sink on site when we install your countertops.

If you have purchased an integral sink from us, we will take care of the cutout, installation of the sink, and polishing here in our shop before being delivered to your home. If the sink is a double bowl with one bowl smaller than the other, please be sure to specify to the template maker which side (left or right) the small bowl should be on.

5. An important detail to consider is the desired sink setback. The sink setback refers to the distance between the front edge of the countertop and the sink opening. At this point, you should also consider the size and placement of any faucets you plan to use behind your sink on the countertop. The sink setback is usually 3 ½” when there is no tilt-out tray involved. When there is a tilt-out tray, the setback will be larger (usually 4 ½”-5”) to provide room for the tray inside the cabinet.

6. When the template maker comes back to the shop, the final countertop details and measurements will be verified against the ones used to estimate the job. A new or revised proposal may be necessary to document significant changes in specifications and/or price and will need your authorization and signature before the countertop is put into production.

7. Normal turnaround time from template to installation of your new countertops will be approximately two weeks. We should have an installation date for you within a few days after putting the countertop into production. Installs begin in the morning on a weekday between 8:30-9:30AM and can last from half a day to a whole day depending on the size of the job. Please be prepared to be home during the installation. If it is not possible to be present during the entire install, please make arrangements to be present at the beginning and at the end of the install.

8. At the installation appointment, please have any existing countertops completely removed and out of the work area before we arrive to install your new countertops. If your contract with us specifies that we will remove an existing countertop, we will remove the old countertop when we install the new countertop.

9. If you would like us to disconnect your old sink, we will inspect the plumbing shutoff valves at the time of template to determine if we can successfully disconnect the sink without need of a plumber.

10. If we are unable to disconnect your sink, you will need to coordinate directly with your plumber to have the sink disconnected and removed before we arrive for the install. Our installers will not be able to reconnect the sink, as the reconnect needs to be done by a licensed plumber.

11. If you have an under counter dishwasher, we will drill the bottom of the countertop for the dishwasher mounting bracket screws if the dishwasher is in the kitchen when we install the countertop.

12. Cutouts for faucets, hot water and/or soap dispensers, etc. will be done at installation. Consider ahead of time where you would like the cutouts for each faucet to go.

13. Our payment terms are 50% deposit with the signed proposal and the balance at installation. The final check can be given to our installer to bring back to the shop.

14. CARE AND MAINTENANCE: Silestone countertops NEVER have to be sealed. Silestone can be cleaned with any normal household cleaning products including Formula 409, Lysol, Windex, Ammonia, Bleach, etc. Citrus products will not harm Silestone (unlike granite and marble). The only products that should not be used on Silestone are Draino, Liquid Plumber, floor stripper, and oven cleaner.

For general cleaning of both laminate and solid surface countertops, wipe with a damp rag using a mild dish washing detergent or cleanser. In the event of a stain on a solid surface countertop, use a Scotch-Brite pad (3M #7447/burgundy) and a general household cleaner such as Comet to remove any stains. Apply a light pressure with the palm of your hand and wipe in small circular motions. Wipe in an area larger than the stain to blend the polishing action with the rest of the top. Granite countertops require non-abrasive cleaners and must be sealed periodically. All countertops should be dried to avoid water spots.

Our goal is to make the installation of your new countertops as quick and painless as possible by arming you with plenty of information. The better prepared you are, the smoother the whole process will go! Please feel free to call our office if you have any other questions we may have left unanswered—(954) 917-3000.

Silestone is easy to clean and maintain with warm soapy water, glass cleaning products such as Windex®, or mild abrasives such as comet or Softscrub®. Silestone’s advanced stone technology makes Silestone’s surface extremely resistant to most chemicals. The following chemicals or brand name products may be used to remove difficult spots or spills:
Acetone
Ammonia
Formula 409®
Windex®
Mineral spirits
Lysol®
Rubbing alcohol
Bleach (use sparingly)

To clean difficult spots, soak the affected area with one of the above products for up to ten minutes and scrub with a scotch brite pad. Limit the use of bleach to less than five minutes.

Caution, the following products are not recommended for use with Silestone:
Products containing oils or powders may leave a residue.
Repetitive exposure to extreme heat may damage Silestone’s finish.
Oven cleaners, Drano®, Liquid Plummer® and floor strippers may damage Silestone’s finish.
Use of oven or grill cleaners may discolor Silestone and should be avoided.
Long-term exposure to direct sunlight (UV rays) may result in a slight discoloration of Silestone, especially darker colors.