FAQs

No, we do not charge for estimates. If you have a layout of your house, you can fax it to us or you could schedule an appointment and we could come out to your house and take measurements. You can also email us a drawing of your project and we will promptly get back to you.

In most cases, you will pay a square-foot price for what is used in your job, but there are some very expensive stones where you have to buy the slabs and then pay a fabrication charge. When laying out stones the cut man will always try to minimize the amount of waste and try to match veins as close as possible.

Most of the countertops are sold in 1 1/4″ and 3/4″. Sometimes we do laminating where we have two 1 1/4” slabs on top of one another with two different edges which gives the appearance of 2 1/2” thick for islands where a customer wants a focal point.

Once you have selected the color that is right for your project, we will supply you with an estimate based on the information we have. At that point, we will schedule a digital template to be done. Please contact us two weeks before the cabinets are being installed as our template schedule could be filled two weeks out. We will install within two weeks of the template date, provided we have all the information we need, such as color, sinks, faucets, and cooktops. Your job will not be put into production until all information is supplied. Try to give the template person as much information as possible for maximum efficiency.

We can order flooring, we do not actually do the installing, but we have close relations with installers that can help you complete your new home or renovation.

We have at least over 5,000 customers we have serviced from McMinnville, Lebanon, Smithville, Cookeville, Crossville, Sparta, Tullahoma, Manchester, Winchester, and Deckard. We will even travel out to Brentwood, Nashville, or even Huntsville. We will travel!

We have really good state-of-the-art equipment. All of our templates are done digitally. It allows a really precise fit. One thing that separates us from our competition is that we mill all the seams using our CNC equipment for a near-perfect fit. Your countertops are something you are going to be looking at every day, so having seams that look and fit as good as they can is very important to us here at CGI. As your countertops will last a lifetime, we want you to enjoy and to be proud of your tops for a lifetime.

No. With ordinary use, you cannot burn granite. It is OK to set hot pots or pans directly from the stove  onto the granite.

In general terms, no. You must do something out of the ordinary to stain most granite. A few colors may absorb some moisture after prolonged contact. Usually after it is wiped up, you will see no evidence of moisture.

On light colors if, for example, you were to leave a spilled glass of red wine overnight, there is a possibility for staining. Some stones are more porous than others. but most are very stain resistant in their natural state. We recommend you apply an impregnator, which closes the microscopic pores making your countertops even more durable. We do offer a 15-year sealer as an upcharge for those who would like the comfort of longer protection.

Granite is one of the hardest surfaces known to man. In order to scratch granite, you would have to do something out of the ordinary. Slicing things on the top of granite will not scratch granite, however, it will dull your knives. We suggest you use a cutting board when using electric knives.

Again, you must do something out of the ordinary to damage your granite. Like with any solid surface, a very hard impact with something hard could harm the surface or edge. We have never had anyone damage the surface of their stone.

Granite is crystalline in structure and always has tiny pits or spaces between the various mineral crystals. You do not see them on large pieces because of the mirror-like finish. Granite also has natural fissures. These fissures are not structural defects but are naturally occurring as a result of the immense heat and pressure by which it was formed. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and will not affect functionality or durability. All natural stones are a product of nature and would look man-made if they did not have the natural characteristic.

No. The samples on the website have been scanned in or taken from a digital camera. It is impossible to show perfect color in this manner. Granite and marble are a product of nature and have natural color and vein variations. The same color will change from one bundle of slabs to the next. 

Samples only give you a general idea of the color and vein pattern. We can email you a picture of the slab we will use or you may select your slab at our warehouse or one of our slab providers.

Due to size limitations of the slab, seams are necessary and sometimes unavoidable. Our seams will all be joined using an epoxy. We do not want to have more seams than needed, as we spend a lot more time in the fabrication process cleaning up the seams. The cut person decides where to put the seams. If you want to specify where seams go then this must be specified at the time of the order. Specifying a placement for a seam could result in an up-charge.

Yes, seams are always somewhat visible. However, we spend a lot of time on our seams and feel we have the best in the industry. Seams are subject to minor leakage and lippage. The visibility of the seams depends a lot on the granularity, color, and pattern of the stone.

The best way to clean granite is to use a natural stone cleaner which we can provide for you. Granite can be cleaned with glass cleaners that do not contain ammonia. Strong cleaners will not hurt the granite but may break down the impregnator which will result in less durability against staining. 

Clean granite the same as you would glass since it has a glossy finish. You should be more careful using anything other than soapy water or stone cleaners on natural stones other than granite. It is recommended to impregnate your granite when you notice absorption. This is only a recommendation, not a requirement. On darker colors such as Ubatuba, Absolute, Black Galaxy, etc., most people do not experience any need for re-sealing.

It is very hard to damage granite. But if it is damaged it can be repaired with a mixture of epoxy and ground-up chips.

Not under ordinary circumstances. Granite is most susceptible to cracks during shipping, fabrication, and installation. After installation, the granite is supported by shims and caulk which hardens and supplies a solid base to set. The only reason you would develop crack is if the cabinet or structure beneath moved due to settling or improper installation. This very rarely happens. Cooktop and sink areas are the weakest places and should not be stood on to change light bulbs, etc. It is best not to stand on your granite at all.

Granite is the most durable countertop product on the market. All other natural stones are more susceptible to scratching and staining. When comparing these to something other than granite, which is so characteristically durable, they are not so bad. If you keep the impregnators on them, they are also very stain resistant.

Etching happens when acid in some form comes in contact with a polished marble or limestone surface. A chemical reaction that removes the polish or roughens the surface occurs. Most types of green marble are resistant to etching. Granite will not be affected by the acids found in a home.

Natural stone that is honed has a matte or satin finish instead of a glossy polish. We are capable of getting most any stone honed for you. Honed material has the same characteristics as most matte finishes such as fingerprints, or more noticeable glass rings. Honed material still has a closed finish but is one step below a polished finish.

Some people do use these materials in their kitchens. However, we do not recommend this as they are susceptible to surface changes from kitchen acids. Unsealed, some of the more porous stones can be subject to stains. Their durability against scratching is not as good as granite.

Granite is an igneous rock composed primarily of feldspar, quartz, and mica.

Most of the granite is imported from Brazil, India, Norway, Finland, Italy, China, Turkey, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia.