What to Have Prepared Before Visiting a Slab Yard

When it comes to choosing the best slabs for your stone countertop project, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best way to find the perfect materials for your space is to consult with a professional, visit a stone yard or showroom, and take the time to compare prices and quality.

With careful planning and consideration, you can find the perfect slabs for your next countertop project. With this in mind, here are what you should have prepared before visiting a showroom or slab yard.

Things to Prepare Before Going to a Slab Yard #

This section includes preparing your preferred overall design, kitchen dimensions, budget requirements, and type of stone as well as questions to ask your fabricator:

1.  Finalize Your Preferred Overall Design #

Evaluating the overall style you want is important before visiting a slab yard as it will be where the majority of your decision will depend on. Determine the overall look and feel you’re going for along with your likes and dislikes.

Try answering these key questions as a guide and to easily narrow down your choices:

• Do you want a sleek, modern look, or a more traditional feel?
• Do you want an overall light or dark tonality?
• Do you want angles or straight lines?
• What type of sink do you prefer?

Answering these questions will help you refine your choosing process and eliminate options that don’t match your criteria. 

Deciding on Your Color Range #

In addition to the questions above, you need to determine your preferred color palette. Stone countertops come in a plethora of colors, so better narrow down your choices to no more than three colors to avoid overwhelming your kitchen.

But before you finalize your color palette, make sure to choose a countertop color that complements your cabinets and other kitchen features. You don’t want your countertops to look like it’s out of place.

Cabinets: The Most Important Deciding Factor for Your Countertop Style #

The best kitchen element you can base your countertop’s color on is your cabinetry. Decide whether you want your cabinets or your countertop to stick out.

Aside from your cabinetry, consider the colors of your flooring, backsplash, and walls too.

2. Know the Size of Your Counters #

Better if you can make an initial measurement of your countertop’s square footage to know how many slabs you will be needing.

A1 Stone World offers templating services to take the exact measurements for your countertop. Feel free to contact us before you visit our slab yard.

3. Set Your Budget Requirement #

Stone slabs come in different price ranges. It can range from $65 to $200+ per square foot (materials only) and even more for rarer colors and premium-quality materials. Make your visit to the slab yard and your selection process faster and easier by setting a specific budget range.

A1 Stone World can offer you different price ranges that can accommodate all budget needs. We sell affordable stone countertops in a wide range of colors and styles.

4. Do Your Own Research Beforehand #

Make sure to have an initial idea of what type of stone you prefer including the features you want it to have. Doing your own research will help filter out the type of material that best meets the aesthetics and functionality you want.

You might want to research on the stone types as well as your style, edge profile, and thickness options:

Stone Type #

There are different countertop materials available, so it’s important to pick the right one for your project. Each material has its own pros and cons and will perform differently. So, consider your lifestyle when choosing a material.

Below is a chart comparing the most popular countertop materials for your reference to help you decide what’s best for your project:

In summary:

• Granite offers the best balance between aesthetics, durability, and price.
• Marble is usually for aesthetic purposes rather than durability and is not ideal for heavily used kitchens, especially since it is a high-maintenance countertop.
• Quartz is becoming more popular than granite due to its better performance and wider color options. In fact, it is the top one leading kitchen countertop material used for remodeled homes in the United States followed by granite and marble.
• Many homeowners often choose quartzite due to its luminosity that is comparable to that of marble but with the durability of granite.
• Soapstone countertops are also common in country kitchens due to their rustic appeal. Plus, they don’t require sealing, unlike the previous materials except for quartz.

Stone Style #

Aside from deciding the countertop type and color, consider these questions:

• Do you prefer a simpler or more complex pattern (veining) and texture?
• Are you going for a muted or glittery look?
• What type of stone finish do you want? Polished, honed, or leathered?

Countertop Edge #

Edge profile is another important factor to consider – do you want sharp, clean lines or softer, rounded edges?

Also, familiarize yourself with the different types of countertop edges and choose one that will fit your decor and lifestyle. (There are some edges that are merely for decoration.)

Countertop Thickness #

Finally, think about the thickness. Thicker slabs will be more durable and longer lasting, but they may also be more expensive. Weigh all of these factors carefully to make the best decision for your project.

5. Prepare Your Questions #

Feel free to ask questions from the slab fabricator and be as specific as much as possible.

A few questions you can ask are:

• Types of stones available including color and finishing variations
• The pricing structure of the slabs
• Countertop installation pricing
• Warranty and return policies
• Templating services
• Other products and services (matching sinks, edges, etc.)

Choosing a countertop material is a big investment, so you need to clear your doubts before making a final decision. A1 Stone World has a well-equipped team that will be more than happy to answer all of your inquiries. We have been serving clients in the Jacksonville Metropolitan area including Green Cove Springs, St. Augustine, Saint Johns, and Ponte Vedra Beach for over 15 years. So, you can trust our expertise.

6. Take Samples of Interior Design Elements #

The color, type, and finish of your interior design elements will impact your final slab choice. So, better bring samples of your cabinetry, flooring, backsplash, paint colors, fabric, wallpaper, and other kitchen elements.

This will help you coordinate and match colors better once you visit the actual slabs.

7. Bring a Camera & a Notepad #

Narrowing down your options will be much easier if you have something to document your top choices. Fabricators will show you various slab options and it won’t be easy to retain a lot of details.

So, taking a photo of your favorite slabs and listing down every crucial detail you see will reduce your stress of making the final decision.

Final Step: Visiting a Slab Yard #

Once you’ve decided on the overall look and feel of your countertop, it’s time to start shopping for slabs. Your best bet is to visit a stone yard or showroom where you can see and touch a variety of options in person.

This will give you a better sense of each material’s unique qualities, such as veining, color, and texture. When you’ve found a few options that you like, work with a professional to get pricing information and compare costs.

Check out our blog on how to choose the best slab for your project for the next steps.