Lic. No. 860286
Menu
Fax: (510) 574-1397
Hours: M-F 7:00a-3:30p
Sat: By Appointment only. Sun: Closed
4.5 Stars on Yelp
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do I need my sink set in place, in the plywood, for you to make templates?
First, if the sink you bought is not the size you wanted or if it is damaged, you will want to return it and get a new one. Some sinks are special order and can take eight weeks or more for its replacement. (Not too nice if your kitchen has already been torn out). Second, the templates we make will tell us exactly where to cut out your sink. (Save your sink template, because we will bring that back to the shop with us.) If the sink is not in place we will have to reschedule the template date, and the installation date.
2. Why do I need my stove in place for you to make templates?
Some stoves require a notch on the edge detail, so your stove will be able to slide all the way back. We fabricate these notches here at our shop. For top mount cook tops we will need that set in place (not hooked up), so we can template how much we need to cut out on your granite.
3. Why do you need drawings and measurements of my counters to give me an estimate?
When you provide us with your drawings, measurements, and contact information, and job location, we will have a quote back to you with in 24 hours. We will let you know how many slabs that you will need so you can begin shopping for your stone.
4. Are you going to cut my stone based on the measurements I am providing?
No, the measurements you give us are so you will know how much it will cost to fabricate, and install your granite. And to let you know how much material to purchase. We will go to your job site and make exact templates of the plywood you have on your counters. If your counters are smaller or larger than the drawings you provided, the cost of your job will change accordingly. If it is larger, then you might need to buy more material. It is always a good idea to have an extra slab, from the same bundle, on hold. Many places only hold slabs for about a week. If you think you might need an additional slab, purchase your slabs a couple weeks prior to Bracho coming out to make templates, and put an additional one on hold. Find out when the hold expires, and call to extend the hold, if we haven’t made templates yet.
5. Why do you need to have my material before you make templates?
We make our templates and decide where your seams go, based on the size of your slabs. When we come back to the shop with your templates we lay the templates out on the slabs. We invite you to our shop to view your layout. If your slabs are not at our shop, then your installation date gets scheduled once we have the slabs.
6. I want to have an overhang on my island/peninsula, but I don’t want to use corbels. What are my options?
You can use thicker plywood, a shorter overhang, or consult with us to find an alternate solution.
7. Can you clip or round the corners on my peninsula?
Yes, if you clip or round the corners on your plywood we will duplicate that on our templates.
8. How many slabs do I need for my kitchen?
We will let you know how many slabs/square feet needed based on the drawings you provide. The number of slabs also depends on the slabs' size. Some slabs can be as small as 30 square feet, and some as large as 65 square feet. The smaller the slab, the more seams you will have.
9. Can I use marble or limestone for my kitchen countertops?
Marble and Limestone are softer and more porous than Granite. That means that they are more susceptible to scratches and stains, and require more maintenance.
10. What are the steps I need to take to get my granite kitchen?
First, we need drawings/measurements of your counters. Second, we need to know what edge detail you would like. Third, what size granite back splash do you want (none, 4”, 6”, or full height)? Fourth, are you using a top mount, under mount, or farmhouse sink? Fifth, are you using a cook top or slide-in-stove? Last, but not least, we need to know the job location and your contact information, in case we have any questions as we are pricing out your counters.
11. How often do I have to seal/maintain my countertops?
We usually recommend to re-seal your kitchen every 4-6 months.
12. When you install my counter, do you seal my granite?
After every kitchen installation, we clean and seal your kitchen counter tops.
13. What do you do with the left over granite from my project?
You have the option of having us either drop them all off when we install your counters, discarding them, or holding them for a future job with a proposal and a 10% deposit.
14. Do you have any remnants that I can use for my project?
We have at our shop what people like to call the “Bone Yard”. These are all left over pieces that
either we bought or that customers gave to us.
