All About Prefab Countertops

Open floor plans that merge family rooms with the kitchen continue to be very popular among homebuyers in 2019. According to national home builder Lennar, this preference for open floor plans makes the kitchen a strong focal point, which means we can expect interior design trends such as center islands and countertops made of natural stone. Care must be taken when professionals install these countertops, but they can be cut to specific measurements or prefabricated, which makes installation easier. In fact, major home builders such as Lennar usually order the latter in large quantities. Home remodeling projects can also involve prefabricated slabs, and in some cases entire counters can be purchased for simpler installation. Here are some interesting things you should know about prefabricated countertops. Convenience Is at the Heart of Prefabricated Stone Prefabrication isn’t limited to engineered stone. For example, granite and marble countertops can be cut to standard measurements and shipped to retail stores or furniture workshops. A home builder can order a batch of stone slabs to be placed on top of prefabricated counters for kitchens or bathrooms, which makes it more convenient to complete projects. Some home improvement stores even carry prefabricated kitchen center islands that can simply be slid into place. Prefab countertops made of granite and other natural stone are easy to care for. Here's a quick video explaining the crucial 3-step process: Prefab Doesn’t Mean Cheap The use of prefabricated slabs can translate into savings because they reduce labor. Installers don’t have to cut or join the slabs, and contractors will have an easier time during installation. There’s a misconception about prefab countertops made outside the U.S. being of extremely low quality. While this may be the case when you’re looking at bathroom vanities that sell for less than $100, some prefab models are topped with Carrara marble slabs that cost a lot more. Quality of Prefab Countertops Surface finish and edging options are generally limited with prefabricated countertops. The honed and polished finish is very common, and bullnose edges are virtually standard. However, these conventions don’t limit the quality of the stone. For example, a luxury home builder won’t take a chance on ordering prefab slabs that show seams or have cracked edges. When it comes to budget prefabricated counters, you cannot reasonably expect the stone to be of the best quality. Caring for Prefab Countertops Ideally, prefab natural-stone slabs will be sealed when you purchase them, and they should be sealed again by the contractors who install them, but you should apply a fresh coat of sealant to be on the safe side and continue to do so regularly. The only exception to this rule would be prefab quartz countertops, which only need to be cleaned and polished with a combination quartz polish and cleaner such as Granite Gold Quartz Brite®. If you’d like to learn more about caring for natural-stone and quartz countertops, reach out to Granite Gold® today. All of our products are safe to use on quartz and all types of natural stone, including marble, granite, and limestone. Call us today at 1-800-475-STONE (7866) for more information, and check our Store Locator for a store near you that carries Granite Gold® brand products.