Q. Where do you
operate?
Our showroom and fabrication shop are located at 10 Commercial Drive in Cabot, AR (two
blocks behind the Mean Pig BBQ off Hwy 321).
Q. What is involved in the granite/quartz countertop
process?
A representative from Linco Countertops will schedule a time to visit your home and template your
countertops to get your layout.
After we have the measurements from your kitchen,
we can give you an estimate based on our typical slab sizes and colors. If you would rather select your
material up front, we have several samples in stock at our showroom. You may also visit one of our granite
distributors in Little Rock to select your slab. There are hundreds of slabs to choose from and each are
handpicked and imported from around the world.
After you approve your estimate, we will obtain
your deposit and begin the process by beginning fabrication on your custom layout. We will also give you a projected
install date at this time. Before we can complete fabrication, we will need
the templates or model numbers for any faucets, sinks, and/or stoves that will be involved in the process. Once
we have completed the fabrication, we will install the finished work.
Q. Can you give me an estimate if I e-mail or fax a sketch?
Of
course. We prefer for the measurements to be in feet and inches. We need to know where
any walls and/or overhang might be on your countertop as well as the material color and edge option that you have chosen.
Q. Do you accept credit
cards and what is your payment policy?
Yes, we accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. We require
a 50% deposit on all countertop orders to begin fabrication. We collect the balance upon installation.
Q. Is installation included
in the quote?
Yes. The quotes always include the material, fabrication, and installation.
Q.
What about sales tax?
Linco pays the sales tax on behalf of all of our customers, it will not be charged to the
customer.
Q. What edge options are available?
We have several edge options to choose from including our standard free
edges: eased edge, bevel edge, and waterfall edge. We also offer bullnose and ogee edges as well as laminated
edge options.
Q. What kind of sinks can I use?
Any undermount or drop-in sink, including stainless steel, cast iron, porcelain,
or solid surface. Farm sinks can also be used.
Q. What is the difference between an undermount sink and a drop-in surface mount sink?
A drop-in surface mount
sink sits on top of the counter and the lip of the sink is exposed. The undermount sink is mounted from underneath the counter.
There is no lip on top. The undermount sink gives you a little bit more depth in your sink due to the thickness of the granite.
Q. Can you re-connect my
electrical or plumbing connections?
We are not licensed electricians or plumbers. Therefore, we can not make electrical
or plumbing re-connections. We can recommend reputable and licensed individuals or companies to complete these tasks for you.
Preparing for an Installation:
Please be sure to keep all driveways
and walkways clear. Granite countertops are extremely heavy, and Linco installers need clear access to
entry ways.
Please remove any fragile items and cover anything that you would like to protect from dust.
Granite installation can create a lot of dust, but our Linco installers try to control the dust as much as
possible.
Any sinks, faucets, or other items that will be installed into the countertops will need to be
available to our Linco installers.
If any holes need to be cut on the jobsite, our Linco installers
will do this outside or in a garage when possible.
Granite
FAQ’s:
Q. Is granite natural?
Yes, granite is an all natural product
that is excavated from the ground in slabs, then cut down into workable sizes and polished on the tops.
Q. Will my granite look
like the sample?
Color samples on the computer will vary slightly from the actual colors due to computer screen
variations. There will also be a color variance between granite slabs of the same color because granite
is a natural material and can vary greatly in color from one lot to the next even though it is classified as the same color.
We always encourage our customer to select their actual slabs from our showroom or one of our granite providers in Little
Rock. The small sample you see may not accurately reflect the entire movement pattern you will see in a slab.
Q. How thick is the granite that you fabricate?
We have two options: 2cm (3/4” inch thick) and 3cm (1-1/4” thick). Most of our customers use the
3cm granite.
Q. How much does granite
weigh?
Granite tiles and slabs come in different thicknesses. The weight per square foot for
each thickness is as follows:
2cm (3/4”) thick slab: about 12.8 lbs per sq ft
3cm (1-1/4”) thick slab: about 18 lbs per sq ft.
Q. How do you clean granite?
We recommend
using any products made for natural stone or granite. You can also use mild soap and water.
Q. What maintenance is involved?
Upon installation, we seal your granite countertops. We now offer
a 15 year warranty option for sealer which is the most maintenance free option you can choose. Another option we still
offer is a standard sealer. We recommend that the granite be resealed once a year when using a standard sealer.
Q. Is it easy to stain granite?
With proper care and maintenance, sealed granite should
not stain.
Q. Is sealing a difficult
process?
Not at all. Most manufacturers have very simple and user friendly application methods.
Q. Can I place a hot pot or pan directly on granite?
Granite is
a natural stone that can withstand extremely high temperatures. Placing a hot pot on the granite countertop
should not affect the granite in any way. The only exception to this is going from one extreme temperature to another.
For example, do not put an ice bucket on one part of granite then remove it and immediately place a hot pot on the same
area. This can cause thermal shock which could crack the stone.
Q. Can granite crack?
It is very uncommon for granite
to crack once it is installed. Obviously, if you were to stand on top of the granite after it has been
installed, there could be some cracking.
Q. What happens if the granite cracks during installation?
We will repair the crack or replace
the piece at no additional cost to you.
Q. Can I have a granite bar adjoined to my countertops?
Yes as long as you use structural supports such as corbels
to support the weight of the granite.
Q. Will I have a seam?
We try to have as few seams as possible, (we prefer no seams if possible). Seams
will depend on the kitchen layout and granite slab size. If your kitchen does need a seam, we use the latest technology
and techniques to make the best seams possible (preferably less than the width of a business card). We have seams in
our showroom for you to inspect if you want to see an example.
Q. Will my seam show?
We will fit the two slabs together as tightly
as possible and fill the seam with colored epoxy to make it blend as much as possible, but it will be visible to some extent.
Q. Do granite countertops overhang the cabinets?
Most counters overhang by about 1", which is standard.
This may be changed for whatever reason due to cabinet configuration, cabinet installation, and/or personal tastes.
Quartz FAQ’s:
Q.
Is quartz such as Caesarstone, Silestone, Hanstone, Cambria, and Technistone 100% natural?
No. They are comprised
of 90-95% quartz. The other 5-10% is synthetic materials like dyes and binding agents. These materials are manufactured
into quartz slabs at a plant.
Q. What is the difference between quartz and granite?
Quartz does not have to be sealed whereas granite has
to be resealed periodically. Each slab of quartz will be exactly the same color and dye lot whereas there
will be color variation between granite slabs. Other than that, quartz has the same stain resistance, scratch resistance,
and heat resistance as granite.
Q. Are quartz slabs made or manufactured in a plant?
Yes. The manufacturing plants produce
natural quartz into slabs. They take pure natural quartz mined out of the earth and combine it with a small amount of pigment
and resin to create a slab.
Q. What are some benefits of quartz?
Quartz is very durable, stain resistant, and heat resistant.
Q. Will I have a seam and will it be visible?
We will fit the two slabs
together as tightly as possible and fill the seam with colored epoxy to make it blend as much as possible, but it will be
visible to some extent.
