If you are in the market for granite countertops for your home, you may have noticed they can be quite costly. In many cases, the bulk of the cost of a kitchen remodeling job is the granite countertops. This has many people looking for a way to save a few dollars on the granite counter tops they want as well as the work to install them. In many cases, this can be done, but you also need to be careful that you are not the victim of a rip off. Here are some things to look for in a stone countertop company.
Look at a Portfolio
Make sure the company you are considering can do the work they say they can. Ask for pictures and references of jobs they have completed in the past. Make sure those references are real. Give them a call. See what they thought about the job that was done as well as the service.
Check their License and Insurance
Before bringing a company into your home to do a kitchen remodeling job, make sure they have the proper paperwork. You need to make sure they are both licensed to do this job and insured. If something goes wrong during the job, you need to know you are protected and will not be out all of the money you have saved up to have the job done.
Good Supplies
One common rip off that is used on unsuspecting kitchen remodeling clients is to use less than quality materials for the job. This is usually more of a problem with unlicensed workers as they will promise you one material and then pull a bait and switch rip-off where they take your money and bring you less than equal materials, or no materials at all.
Another one of the rip offs that is similar to this one is a case where the person selling you the granite sells you remnant pieces. While you may not think this is a problem up front, if they are not from the same lot, they may not match up well and you could end up with countertops in different colors that don't match.
The key to avoiding rip offs in home remodeling is to do your homework. Know what you want done, what materials are supposed to be used and how the process should work. Also do your research on the companies that are out there and then choose the one that is best suited to your needs.
This article was written by Charlie Thiede, owner of Rock Tops Granite, specializing in creating and installing custom granite and marble countertops. Rock Tops Granite recently celebrated the grand opening of a new store in Maryland Heights, Missouri, in St. Louis County. They service Florissant, St. Ann, Chesterfield, Fenton and neighboring cities and communities. Visit http://www.rocktopsgranite.com to locate a showroom and learn more about granite kitchen countertops.
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