See more about our granite countertops: http://adpsurfaces.com/
August Featured project
See more about our granite countertops: http://adpsurfaces.com/
Team ADP Wins Award
Team ADP wins award from the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando!
Well, OK… so it’s a bowling trophy! But, since there’s no such thing as an award for “Best Countertop Company in Central Florida”, we’re going to brag on taking the “Top Team” trophy at this year’s HBA of Metro Orlando’s Annual Bowling Bash! Pictured from left, Terry Fry, Polk County sales specialist, Steve Miller, commercial project manager and Kevin Fulp, President & Owner, made up team ADP at the event held at Colonial Lanes on August 19th. The guys had a great time smack talking at the other teams, and were as surprised as everyone else when they proved that they did in fact have the skills to back it up!
Drop by our shop to congratulate Team ADP and get a close up view of their prestigious “Top Team” pin award!
Many thanks to the great staff at the HBA, and the volunteer leaders of the Sales & Marketing Council for putting on yet another great networking event!
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ADP Surfaces, Inc.
841 Drive Buick Ave. Orlando, FL 32808
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See more about our granite countertops: http://adpsurfaces.com/
Countertops 101… from choosing, to using your new countertops. (Installment 1)
So, you want new countertops for your kitchen, bath, bar, summer kitchen, or any other space. Great! Decision made! Now what?
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
This is the first installment of what we’re calling Countertops 101. Sounds crazy right? You need an education to navigate getting new countertops?! “But they make it look so easy on HGTV & the DIY channel!”. Yeah, we know. There’s no question that the overwhelming majority of clients who walk through our doors think that they can just go to the store and pick out a pretty new countertop, and new ones will show up in a few days. We understand! It seems like it should be, but it’s just not that simple.
Now, don’t get us wrong… its your fabricator’s and your sales person’s job to manage the really complicated parts. But if you are handling this process for yourself (you don’t have a builder or designer that you are working with), you will be asked to think about a slew of things (that you had no idea had a thing to do with countertops), asked to make decisions, and be involved with the process from beginning to end. And here’s where we get to Lesson #1.: If you are working with a store or fabricator that simply wants you to write a check and never see more than a sample, run (don’t walk) away… NOW! You WILL be disappointed with the end result. Remember that in most cases, the purchase you have chosen to make is one that you will be living with for years to come. Even if your going through the process in order to resell your home, your involvement increases the potential for the end result to meet (or exceed) your, and potential buyers’ expectations.
Choose a fabricator that encourages your involvement (it should be really fun & fascinating), and gives you the confidence that they have the knowledge to help guide you through the process as pleasantly and simply as possible. It’s also a good idea to inquire about how long a fabricator has been in business, and how much experience their staff has. A “newbie” in the business, probably won’t have the skills needed to guide you through the process, or steer you away from any danger zones that you may encounter.
THE REAL DEAL
So, now you know some of the important factors in choosing what company you want to work with to get your new countertops. But let’s not kid ourselves. It’s not just what they know, and how they behave…. it’s how much they charge too! You’ll need to get an accurate estimate of your kitchen or bathroom to see what your total costs will be. Although this sounds incredibly simple, there are many factors that go in to getting an accurate countertop quote. I’m going to walk you through those items soon, but before I do, the extremely important Lesson #2: Know (more or less) what you want to spend on your new countertops. They can range in price from as low as $25 to as high as $200 (and upwards) per square foot installed. That means that the very same 40 square foot kitchen could have $1,000 worth of countertops, or $8,000 + worth of countertops, depending on the products and design elements selected. That’s a HUGE range, and if you’re not clear on what you want to spend, you’re likely to be very surprised by your quote. If you’re not comfortable telling your sales person what your actual $ budget is, that’s OK. You should at least give them an indication as to whether you are on a tight budget, middle of the road, or the sky’s the limit. This way, they can steer you towards products and selections that are more realistic for what you want to spend, and deliver a quote that will give you neither false hope, nor a heart attack.
Once you have a clear idea of what you would like to spend, you’re ready to request a quote. Whether you’ve already chosen your fabricator, or you intend to shop multiple companies, you’ll need to have several pieces of information ready to provide to them. Some are necessities, others are just helpful for an initial quote. Which of course, brings us to Lesson #3: Know what the fabricator needs to give you a quote. This is important not just to get as accurate of a quote as possible, but also so that you don’t get “snowed” if you’re shopping multiple fabricators.
There are a few vital factors needed for an accurate quote;
-How much square footage of countertops will you need?
There are three basic ways that you can get this information to your fabricator
1) Provide to scale architectural or cabinet drawings. (This is usually only possible if you are installing new cabinetry or have a new construction project.)
2) Provide a hand drawing of the layout of your kitchen and include detailed measurements of the length & width of all of your countertops. (Dont worry about it being to scale, but be sure to take the length measurements at the BACK of your countertops, or against the walls)
3) Have a countertop salesperson come to your home and take the measurements for you. (Most fabricators will do this free of charge for you, depending on where your project is located)
Example of a hand drawing for a countertop estimate
- How many cutouts are needed what type are they (sinks, cook top and other accessories)?
- Do you want your backsplash to be the same as your countertops, or are you using a different type of product (decorative tile for example)?
- What general product would you like for them to quote (basic granite, exotic granite, quartz product, etc.)?
- Where is your project located (physical address or general area of town)?
Once you provide a fabricator with this information, they should be ready, willing and able to give you an estimated quote! If you plan on getting multiple quotes, be sure to provide each company the EXACT same information. Any variation can change pricing, sometimes dramatically, and if you don’t ensure the same factors are used you’ll end up trying to compare apples to oranges. Which, if you’ve ever tried, can be a really frustrating process!
When you request your quote from fabricators, there’s a bit more information you should request that they send back to you with their completed estimate. The first is proof of General Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance. Both are required for a legitimate business, and are an important protection for you as a homeowner. Although most of us don’t ever want to think about it, and certainly hope it never happens to us, what would happen if someone were injured while working in your home? After all, we are talking about moving and lifting very heavy (and sometimes fragile) countertops. If a company does not have proper coverages, you (or your homeowners insurance) may be liable for any expenses or damages. It’s a scary thought, so be sure that the company you choose has the appropriate insurance policies in force.
Unfortunately, in most states, there is no specific licence or certification required for fabricators or installers in the countertop business. However, any legitimate business should have a business or occupational licence issued by the State or County in which they primarily operate. You should request a copy of this to be returned with your quote. Although having a licence may not give you specific information about the company, it does give you a good indication that they are operating on the up & up. Most companies that are licensed with their State are required to follow the basic principles of good business and employment practices, such as paying taxes and doing basic employment eligibility verification.
It also can’t hurt to check the companies record with the Better Business Bureau. One word of caution here though. Many companies advertise that they are members of their BBB. This simply means that they have PAID to use the logo and advertise that they are a member. It is not necessarily a reflection of their companies record. Be sure to check specifically for any complaints filed against a company and the resolution of those complaints. After all, anyone can make a mistake or have a legitimate disagreement, so it’s often more important to see how (or if) the dispute or mistake was resolved.
Both insurance & business licences can be a fairly large overhead expense for a fabricator. As a result, some companies may choose to make the (stupid) decision to forego these important items. By doing so, these fabricators can frequently offer a significantly lower price than their competitors that are operating properly and responsibly. Which brings me to an old adage, and our Lesson #4: If the pricing you are provided seems to good to be true… it probably is.
OK, so lessons learned right? Then, you’re ready to get out there now! Take your measurements, or send in your plans and get that quote! Then, come back here to check out your next steps…
In our next installment we’ll help you narrow down the sometimes daunting material selection process, and figure out which countertop product is right for your project!
See more about our granite countertops: http://adpsurfaces.com/
It’s a Great Day at ADP
We are looking forward to an exciting 2011. With years of experience in the stone and solid surface industry we look forward to your questions and comments; so please do not hesitate to post. We will be posting pictures of some of our past and present projects for all to see.
See more about our granite countertops: http://adpsurfaces.com/
