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1-866-618-2626 Vaman Enterprises Ltd.
7220 Barlow Trail S.E.
Calgary, AB T2C-2E1
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Contact Us
1-403-230-1045 Toll-Free
1-866-618-2626 Vaman Enterprises Ltd.
7220 Barlow Trail S.E.
Calgary, AB T2C-2E1
Installation
Installation of granite is a complex process due to the weight and unforgiving nature of granite. These factors lead to an emphasis on precision and detail. Another important issue to address, is the sub surface that the granite will be secured upon. This cabinet surface must be sturdy, level, and properly secured. If this is not the case, during measurement, the installer will inform the client of the problem. Any necessary adjustments, must be made prior to installation of stone. Adjustments and repairs should be made as soon as possible, failure to do so will result in delay of delivery.
Granite is vulnerable to breakage if it is unsupported over long spans. Granite does not conform to the contours of an unleveled surface. High spots can create a large amount of pressure in a small area and compromise the strength of the stone. Therefore, a level sub surface is vital. Once the granite is secured and level, it can withstand intense weight. If we are forced to deal with high spots, we employ the use of wood or plastic shims.
Mounting
Granite counters are secured with screws and adhesive. The method used depends on edge detail and cabinetry design. With 1 ½" edge counters, plywood is usually laminated to the underside of the stone and mounted to the cabinets with screws. The plywood we use is in the form of 2 ½" strips glued to the underside. We do not use full ply sheets. Full ply sheets are only applied to areas where the granite over hangs the cabinets by more then 1 ½", i.e. 12".
3cm or 1 ¼" counters are placed directly on the cabinetry and silicone is applied to the cabinet and the underside of the granite. Dishwasher should be mounted to the side cabinets by first contacting the manufacturer for guidance and making small holes for mounting screws to go through the outer edge of the door trim into the side cabinets.
Joints
After the counters are secured, the joints are then filled with a color-matched epoxy. In some cases, especially new homes, epoxy joints are known to separate due to settling of the building. This will cause the joint to open, thus will require a chargeable service call to repair. The width of a joint depends on the type of granite used and ranges from 1/32" to 1/16". When granite is cut, chipping always occurs along the edge. Some granite chip more than others and therefore may cause a slightly wider joint.
Seams
Raw polished slabs come in standard ¾" thickness or 1 ¼". In using the 3/4" material an additional 2" strip is cut and glued together to create 1 ½" profile. This lamination process creates a fine seam. This process takes place at the factory and is one of the more important parts of fabrication. Considerable effort is put into minimizing the visibility of seams. However, they are never invisible and some granite reveal seams more than others do. For example, Ubatuba is known for more visible seam lines because of its crystal structure. When it is cut, its crystals along the cut lighten up and become more visible. Other granites such as Paradiso for example tend to camouflage seams due to the speckled and varied colors of it grains. Seams are unavoidable and part of granite work.
In the case of 1 ¼" material there can also be seams in the front nosing when a customer requires a edge detail to be 2 ½" thick, however using the conventional 1 ¼" thick material gives a seamless appearance.
Cut-outs
All undermount sinks cut outs are done in the factory. This is necessary because of the need to grind and polish undermount holes to precise specifications. Most undermount sink pieces have fiber glass rods imbedded into the granite for extra strength. Granite pieces are vulnerable to breakage during transport. To avoid cracking or breakage we cut two slots in the stone and epoxy fiber glass rods to the stone along the length of the piece. This process is purely precautionary and provides the pieces with extra support.
All other cut outs are usually done on site to reduce the risk of breakage and ensure precision. Once the stone is level and securely in place, it is very sturdy. Many of these cut outs are performed inside the home after the installation is complete. We use shop vacuums to collect the dust. On occasion, with smaller pieces, cut outs are performed outside.
All cut outs are performed with the actual hardware present. We do not cut from templates unless the owner signs them off. Templates have been known to be imprecise or dead wrong. Once cut outs are complete, we dry fit all hardware such as sinks and cook tops.
Our Clean-up
We leave the site as clean as possible. On finished floors we use throw rugs to protect surfaces and our installers remove shoes when necessary. Often pieces are extremely heavy and our installers are forced to keep their work boots on. In certain areas of the home, the homeowner is responsible for protecting the flooring if they so desire.
Installation Time
For the average kitchen we allocate one full working day to complete a job. Often a standard kitchen will take four to five hours to complete. Larger, more complicated, and particular details of a job also may play a role in the amount of time required.
Remodels & Dismantling
Remodels pose several problems for granite fabrication and installation. In most cases the home owner usually takes care of removal of old counter tops, sinks, cooktops ect. We recommend that the responsibility be placed on the customer to arrange a sub-trades team to address this area. Plumber are skilled and licensed to remove the sink and deal with old plumbing. Electricians are licensed to deal with cooktops and often gas is involved. This hardware must be unhooked and removed before the old counters are removed. In most cases this is usually done just prior to the arrival of the new counters so the customers are not without a kitchen counter for too long. Upon removal of the counters, the cabinetry must be examined for level and damage during removal. All the necessary repairs must be performed prior to the installation of the granite counters.
Care & Maintenance
The high level of durability in Granite is determined by its hardness. The hardness of granite lies between six and eight with diamond being ten. Granite hardness makes it scratch resistant, but not indestructible. Granite by nature is porous, just like any other natural product such as wood, cloth, skin, etc. Granite is easy to maintain, just follow the guidelines listed below.
All granite counters are sealed with a special formulated sealer 314P premium impregnator by Vaman prior to installation. Resealing is a very simple process and does not require removing or stripping the previous sealer at all. You may obtain several different brands from you local hardware stores. Just make sure the product is formulated for granite, not marble, slate or any other natural or synthetic products. Just simply follow the instruction outlined on the product label. We can also provide a sealer with a life time warranty at an additional cost, please click on the links below to learn more about this service and product.
It is very important to know that a regular sealer is an inhibitor, not a preventative, designed to protect your granite counter top against staining, however, Granite Shield is the first and only product which can offer the beauty of natural true granite complete with a lifetime warranty against stains or discoloring. With Granite Shield you don't have to worry about rushing to wipe up spills, worry about acidic liquids, alcohol, using coasters, and placemats or use special cleaners ever again. Take the time to log onto the links below to learn more about this product.
View available information at these links:
www.graniteshield.com
www.graniteshieldcountertops.com
Granite Shield video demonstration:
www.graniteshieldstore.com/graniteshieldvideodemonstrations.html
Testimonials about the Granit Shield process:
www.pr.com/press-release/53608
Customer Care
Installation of granite is a complex process due to the weight and unforgiving nature of granite. These factors lead to an emphasis on precision and detail. Another important issue to address, is the sub surface that the granite will be secured upon. This cabinet surface must be sturdy, level, and properly secured. If this is not the case, during measurement, the installer will inform the client of the problem. Any necessary adjustments, must be made prior to installation of stone. Adjustments and repairs should be made as soon as possible, failure to do so will result in delay of delivery.
Granite is vulnerable to breakage if it is unsupported over long spans. Granite does not conform to the contours of an unleveled surface. High spots can create a large amount of pressure in a small area and compromise the strength of the stone. Therefore, a level sub surface is vital. Once the granite is secured and level, it can withstand intense weight. If we are forced to deal with high spots, we employ the use of wood or plastic shims.
Mounting
Granite counters are secured with screws and adhesive. The method used depends on edge detail and cabinetry design. With 1 ½" edge counters, plywood is usually laminated to the underside of the stone and mounted to the cabinets with screws. The plywood we use is in the form of 2 ½" strips glued to the underside. We do not use full ply sheets. Full ply sheets are only applied to areas where the granite over hangs the cabinets by more then 1 ½", i.e. 12".
3cm or 1 ¼" counters are placed directly on the cabinetry and silicone is applied to the cabinet and the underside of the granite. Dishwasher should be mounted to the side cabinets by first contacting the manufacturer for guidance and making small holes for mounting screws to go through the outer edge of the door trim into the side cabinets.
Joints
After the counters are secured, the joints are then filled with a color-matched epoxy. In some cases, especially new homes, epoxy joints are known to separate due to settling of the building. This will cause the joint to open, thus will require a chargeable service call to repair. The width of a joint depends on the type of granite used and ranges from 1/32" to 1/16". When granite is cut, chipping always occurs along the edge. Some granite chip more than others and therefore may cause a slightly wider joint.
Seams
Raw polished slabs come in standard ¾" thickness or 1 ¼". In using the 3/4" material an additional 2" strip is cut and glued together to create 1 ½" profile. This lamination process creates a fine seam. This process takes place at the factory and is one of the more important parts of fabrication. Considerable effort is put into minimizing the visibility of seams. However, they are never invisible and some granite reveal seams more than others do. For example, Ubatuba is known for more visible seam lines because of its crystal structure. When it is cut, its crystals along the cut lighten up and become more visible. Other granites such as Paradiso for example tend to camouflage seams due to the speckled and varied colors of it grains. Seams are unavoidable and part of granite work.
In the case of 1 ¼" material there can also be seams in the front nosing when a customer requires a edge detail to be 2 ½" thick, however using the conventional 1 ¼" thick material gives a seamless appearance.
Cut-outs
All undermount sinks cut outs are done in the factory. This is necessary because of the need to grind and polish undermount holes to precise specifications. Most undermount sink pieces have fiber glass rods imbedded into the granite for extra strength. Granite pieces are vulnerable to breakage during transport. To avoid cracking or breakage we cut two slots in the stone and epoxy fiber glass rods to the stone along the length of the piece. This process is purely precautionary and provides the pieces with extra support.
All other cut outs are usually done on site to reduce the risk of breakage and ensure precision. Once the stone is level and securely in place, it is very sturdy. Many of these cut outs are performed inside the home after the installation is complete. We use shop vacuums to collect the dust. On occasion, with smaller pieces, cut outs are performed outside.
All cut outs are performed with the actual hardware present. We do not cut from templates unless the owner signs them off. Templates have been known to be imprecise or dead wrong. Once cut outs are complete, we dry fit all hardware such as sinks and cook tops.
Our Clean-up
We leave the site as clean as possible. On finished floors we use throw rugs to protect surfaces and our installers remove shoes when necessary. Often pieces are extremely heavy and our installers are forced to keep their work boots on. In certain areas of the home, the homeowner is responsible for protecting the flooring if they so desire.
Installation Time
For the average kitchen we allocate one full working day to complete a job. Often a standard kitchen will take four to five hours to complete. Larger, more complicated, and particular details of a job also may play a role in the amount of time required.
Remodels & Dismantling
Remodels pose several problems for granite fabrication and installation. In most cases the home owner usually takes care of removal of old counter tops, sinks, cooktops ect. We recommend that the responsibility be placed on the customer to arrange a sub-trades team to address this area. Plumber are skilled and licensed to remove the sink and deal with old plumbing. Electricians are licensed to deal with cooktops and often gas is involved. This hardware must be unhooked and removed before the old counters are removed. In most cases this is usually done just prior to the arrival of the new counters so the customers are not without a kitchen counter for too long. Upon removal of the counters, the cabinetry must be examined for level and damage during removal. All the necessary repairs must be performed prior to the installation of the granite counters.
Care & Maintenance
The high level of durability in Granite is determined by its hardness. The hardness of granite lies between six and eight with diamond being ten. Granite hardness makes it scratch resistant, but not indestructible. Granite by nature is porous, just like any other natural product such as wood, cloth, skin, etc. Granite is easy to maintain, just follow the guidelines listed below.
- Do not use any abrasive cleaners, such as Ajax or any harsh cleaning products with bleach. Bleach will not harm the granite, but will break down the sealant sooner.
- Do not set hot pots on granite. Repeatedly placing hot pots on the same spot will cause fissures, much like exposing your skin to harsh elements causing them to chap.
- Do not use granite as a ladder, especially by the sink area. Excessive weight could cause granite to break or cause stress cracks. The sink and top mount-cook top areas are the weakest points.
- Use care around sink area when cleaning heavy pots and pans, so as not to chip out crystals.
All granite counters are sealed with a special formulated sealer 314P premium impregnator by Vaman prior to installation. Resealing is a very simple process and does not require removing or stripping the previous sealer at all. You may obtain several different brands from you local hardware stores. Just make sure the product is formulated for granite, not marble, slate or any other natural or synthetic products. Just simply follow the instruction outlined on the product label. We can also provide a sealer with a life time warranty at an additional cost, please click on the links below to learn more about this service and product.
It is very important to know that a regular sealer is an inhibitor, not a preventative, designed to protect your granite counter top against staining, however, Granite Shield is the first and only product which can offer the beauty of natural true granite complete with a lifetime warranty against stains or discoloring. With Granite Shield you don't have to worry about rushing to wipe up spills, worry about acidic liquids, alcohol, using coasters, and placemats or use special cleaners ever again. Take the time to log onto the links below to learn more about this product.
View available information at these links:
www.graniteshield.com
www.graniteshieldcountertops.com
Granite Shield video demonstration:
www.graniteshieldstore.com/graniteshieldvideodemonstrations.html
Testimonials about the Granit Shield process:
www.pr.com/press-release/53608