The scope of your countertop will be essentially dictated by the choice and layout of your cabinets. However, you have some options beyond those dictated by the selection and layout out of your cabinets. Below, are some options you may want to consider when deciding on the scope of your countertop.

Overhangs – Overhangs on common on islands, breakfast bars and at the end of counters. Overhangs are most commonly 10 or 12 inches deep. It not advisable to go beyond 12 inches without support.

Window Sills – A window sill in stone, particularly if by a sink, is a great feature. It turns the sill into an easy to clean surface which eliminates the problem created by water splashing on painted or varnished wooden sills.

Backsplash – Beyond the traditional design of 4 inch high backsplash, you may want to consider a full height backsplash. A full height backsplash covers the entire height of the wall between your base and wall cabinets making your countertop unique and beautiful. Another backsplash height related feature is a backsplash that covers the height of wall between your base cabinet and the window sill.

The links below will take you to sites that discuss the various options of countertop materials. If you have questions after consulting these sites, call us and we will try to answer your questions.

Granite, marble and limestone

Engineered stone

Corian

The most common design for backsplash is the one where the thickness of the backsplash is 3 cm (since it is cut from the same slab as the countertop) and the edge profile is pencil (a slightly rounded edge essentially with the same curvature as a pencil). Unless told by our customers to do otherwise, Shoreline Stone prefers to reduce the thickness of the backsplash to 2 cm. In our opinion, this provides for a much more elegant look since the 3 cm thickness makes the backsplash look too bulky. Should you prefer a different thickness, please be sure to discuss your preference with us.

Our normal design for edge profile is pencil even when our customers decide on a different edge profile for the countertop. However, a backsplash edge profile that matches the countertop edge can be done and will truly give your countertop a distinguished look. Shoreline Stone offers several edges as standard edges. The price of these standard edges is included in the price of your countertop. Other edges, called specialty edges, are offered as an upgrade.
The breakdown is as follows:

Standard Edges – Pencil, eased, small bevel

Specialty Edges – Large bevel, double bevel, half round, half bull, full bull, ogee, Dupont.

See our “Edges” page and please call us if your choice is not shown.

One other item you need to select is the corner design for your countertop. Corner design can range from a nearly square design to a round corner design. In round corner design, you have the option of a radius that normally can range from 1 inch to 6 inches. On corners over cabinets you are limited to a short radius; however, on large overhangs you can have a large radius, normally up to 6 inches.

By the time customers begin to interact with us for their countertop, they basically know what type of sink they desire from a perspective of size, design and material of construction. However, it is not uncommon to have problems with the sinks purchased or sought by customers. We offer the following tips for selecting your sink.

Sink Dimension (Left to Right) – If you are planning to select an undermount sink, the inside width of your sink should be no greater than about 4 inches less than the inside dimension of your sink cabinet to properly allow the for dimension of the sink flange and the installation of the clips to secure the sink to the underside of the countertop. If you are planning to select a drop-in sink, the inside width of the sink should be no greater than about 2 inches less than the inside cabinet dimension.

Sink Dimension (Front to Back) – If you are planning to select an undermount sink, the inside front to back dimension of your sink should not be any greater than 6 inches less than the inside front to back dimension of your sink cabinet to properly allow the for the dimension of the sink flange, the installation of the clips to secure the sink to the underside of the countertop and installation of the faucet (for traditional position of the faucet in the back of the sink). If you are planning to select a drop-in sink, the inside width of the sink should be no greater than about 4 inches less than the inside cabinet dimension.

Specialty design sinks – Some sinks, called D sinks (one bowl design with an extra deep (front to back dimension) can be installed in a typical countertop. However, these types of sinks will require the faucets to be installed on the corners of the sink and do not permit installation in the center back side of the sink.

When selecting your faucet, be sure to address how well the faucet matches the design of your sink. For example, if choosing a D bowl sink, you should pick a faucet with a combination spout and handle, otherwise the spout will have to be installed in one corner of the sink while the handle will be installed in the other corner. In addition, if you desire a hot water dispenser or a soap dispenser, be aware that this type o f sink will make these installations very difficult.

If you are planning to select a double bowl sink with a one bowl being smaller than the other (front to back), be sure your faucet and accessories fit in the back of the shorter bowl and that the spout of the faucet reaches near the center of the larger bowl.

Once you have an idea of what features you desire, it is time to ask for a quote. Please fax, mail or e-mail a drawing of your countertop listing the features you desire. Be sure to include all the details discussed above. In addition, indicate whether your house poses any difficulties to the installation crew (such as the possible need to go up floors, maneuver around tight corners or have to park the truck with the countertop far from the house).

We will prepare your estimate. Should you want to add or eliminate features after seeing your estimate, please call, fax, mail or e-mail those changes. If you are thinking of a natural stone, confirm that the you are comfortable with the characteristics of the stone. Natural stone is not for everyone. If you like surfaces that are very uniformity and absent of any blemishes, natural stone may not be for you. You may, instead look at engineered stone or other types of solid surface. To help you in deciding if natural stone is for you read the section on FAQ’s. Click here to go to this page. If after reading this you are convinced you want to go with a natural stone, and you are ready to commit to have your countertop done by us, there is one more step you need to take. You must read and sign our Acknowledgment Form before we will fabricate you job. The purpose of this form is to confirm that you understand and accept the characteristics of natural stone. You need to sign up as one of our customers, if you have not already done so to acknowledge this form. Visit us or one of our slab suppliers for inspection and confirmation of your choice of material.

Once you have decided to go forward and you kitchen cabinets are about a month or so from being installed, it is time to select the actual slabs which will be used for your countertop. Contact us at this point and will inform you if we have your selection of material in stock or not. If we do, we will request you come to the shop to inspect the slabs. If not, than we will suggest you go to one of our slab suppliers to make your selection. Select the following link to go to our suppliers’ page. Confirm your choices of backsplash, edge profile, sink and faucet. Once you have selected the slabs for your countertop, please confirm your selection and your final selection of backsplash features, edge profile, sink and faucet.

By now, you probably have selected your kitchen appliances. If you have not done so, you need to finalize your selection of all appliances (except refrigerator) and purchase your sink and faucet so that they are available to us when we visit the job site to template your countertop. The other appliances are not needed at the job site when we template but we must have information on these items such as the make and model of the appliances or the owner’s manual at the job site.

It is advisable that you call us a few days before you expect your cabinets to be installed so that we can schedule your template on a tentative basis. Then, when your cabinets are completely installed and your sink and faucet have arrived, call us to make final arrangements for scheduling your template. The following is necessary to schedule the template. Please remember that lack of any of the elements below will likely result in delays in our ability to perform your work as desired and could also result in higher cost to you (if we need to came back another time)

Base cabinets (at a minimum) need to be completely installed and secured to the walls. If there are refrigerator panels and/or other panels, these must be in place as well. If not, or if you change the cabinet installation after we template you run the risk the countertop will not fit as intended.

Sink and faucet must be available and at the job site. If your kitchen has a cook top and/or downdraft, you must have information on these items as described in the previous section. If you have a dishwater or plan to have one, you need to review the installation manual for the dishwater to determine the possible ways to install the washer. Most new washers provide for either top mount (attached to the underside of the countertop) or side mount (attached the adjoining cabinet rails. Side mount is recommended because if so, the dishwater can be easily removed by removing a few screws. On the other hand, if it is top mounted, removal and installation of the dishwater is more complicated and will likely require a service call.

If your kitchen has a raised breakfast bar and you have asked us to install backsplash between the kitchen counter and the breakfast bar, electrical outlets (if any are planned) must have the electrical boxes installed so we know where to make the cutouts in the backsplash.

You and/or your construction contractor should look over the job site to determine if there is any trim in the way of your countertop or backsplash. One frequent problem we encounter is trim around windows (primarily by the sink) in the way of the backsplash. You and/or your builder should provide adequate space to install the height of backsplash you desire. Consequently, the distance between the top of your cabinet and the bottom of the trim should be equal or greater than the height of the backsplash you desire plus 1 ¼” for the thickness of the countertop. Some cabinets are supplied with a solid wooden surface on the top of the cabinets. If this is the case with your cabinets, you need to have your cabinet maker cut the openings for your sink and cook top.

Select the following link to print a checklist of the above requirements for templating.

Once you tell us that you are ready for us to template, we will schedule your template as quickly as possible (normally within 2 to 5 business days). We will call you to confirm the date and a window of time (normally 4 hours).
We will need the following information when we call to confirm the template:

Are all the items discussed in the previous section available?

Will you be at the job site?

If not, will someone else be there? Will this person be able to make decisions regarding any undecided features of your countertop? If not, you need to provide a phone number where you can be reached in case there are questions during templating.

Your kitchen countertop needs to be free of all building materials and any other materials so that our employees can easily get to the surface to be templated.

Normally within two weeks after we template, we will call you to schedule your installation. At this point, there should be no issues or questions pending and installation should go smooth. You need not be at home but need to provide access to the house.

We hope you enjoy your countertop for years to come. If you have chosen a granite or similar stone you should take heart in knowing that the material of your countertop took millions of years to make and will last millions of years (or perhaps forever).