• Provides an extremely durable and scratch-resistant surface.

• There are hundreds of patterns and colors to choose from.

• Every block of granite that is mined is unique.

• Granite countertops last forever.

• Granite surfaces are completely heat resistant.

• Staining a granite surface is highly unlikely. Permanent staining is impossible.

• Granite is easily kept clean and sterile.

• Nearly impossible to scratch. The only surface harder is diamond. In the unlikely event that granite is scratched, it is entirely repairable.

Be forewarned: There is no shortage of FALSE information available about using granite in residential and commercial projects. The Europa staff is of the belief that no material matches natural stone in terms of value and beauty. We promise, however, to speak openly and honestly with you about your material selection.

2. Where is the best place to get samples from?

Review Europa Stone's gallery page on this website. You can also obtain samples from your fabricator. If necessary, Europa can provide you with a sample.

3. How long should I wait before I can come out and pick the material I would like and reserve my stone?

You can visit Europa Stone in order to select your stone type at any point in your project. In terms of selecting your specific slabs or tiles, we can reserve your choice for 5 days. That means that your fabricator must take possession of the stone by the end of that hold period. Typically, fabricators take delivery of our stone several weeks before installation is scheduled but speak to them about their individual policies.

4. My fabricator appears to have a broad inventory of their own, why is Europa Stone involved in the mix?

Wholesale distributors often carry 10 times the amount of inventory a fabricator carries. Much of your fabricator's inventory was sourced previously from a distributor like Europa Stone. The costs and man-hours associated with warehousing and with import management are better shouldered by distributors than by fabricators. We allow the fabricator community to focus on their core competencies: cutting and installing.

6. What are levels of stone and how do they work?

Levels refer to stone prices. The two main components of price are: availability and quality. Availability is simply how abundant the supply of that particular stone is in the market. Quality is based on how true the colors and pattern are to that particular stone type (like judging a pedigree). Quality also speaks to the finish of the stone and to its structural integrity.

7. Where does granite and marble come from?

All over the world. Europa Stone sources its stone from North America, Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia.

8. Why do the names change?

Names change because of language barriers and also because certain businesses in the industry attempt to label a stone type as their "exclusive" stone. Europa Stone Distributors will work with you to eliminate any confusion in this area. We can speak to most of the aliases that are being used for the hundreds of different stones being mined around the world.

9. How do I care for granite countertops?

Seal the countertops every 1-2 years, polish the countertops on a monthly basis (similar to waxing a car), and use soap and water or a professional natural stone cleaner for daily use. Do not use abrasive materials or cleaners that contain ammonia to clean granite countertops.

10. If my granite gets scratched or stained what should I do?

Granite is extremely scratch and stain resistant, however, should your countertops become blemished in any way, consult a professional for the proper remedy.

11. What are lots and bundles?

Lots refer to groups of slabs taken from a single block of stone. These slabs are typically identical in appearance. Different lots of the same stone type, however, do vary somewhat in color and pattern as they represent different blocks of stone harvested from different parts of a quarry at different times of the year. Bundles is a term used to describe quantity. Usually there are about 7 slabs to one bundle.

12. Do I need to pick a fabricator before contacting Europa Stone?

Most customers do already have a fabricator contracted before visiting Europa Stone, however this is not a requirement.

13. Can Europa Stone recommend a fabricator?

We work with hundreds of fabricators. While it is not our place to recommend any single fabricator over another, we are happy to provide a list of fabricators with whom we work.

14. Do I need to make an appointment with Europa Stone for selecting stone?

Appointments are required for visiting Europa's facility on a Saturday. Appointments are not required during the week (however calling ahead may limit your waiting time once here).

15. Is there sufficient light to make my selection?

Lighting in a distributor's warehouse is less plentiful than in a fabricator's showroom. We do provide ample lighting via skylights, overhead lighting, portable floodlights, and halogen lamps.

16. Where do you deliver?

We deliver anywhere.

17. Is there a delivery charge?

There is a nominal charge for any long-haul deliveries - more than 150 miles. Local deliveries carry no additional charge.

18. Do you sell tiles to only commercial customers?

We sell tiles to anyone, including homeowners.

19. Can I buy from Europa Stone directly?

You can only buy tiles directly. Otherwise, a homeowner can only purchase from us through a fabricator.

20. How does Europa Stone work with architects, builders, and designers?

We can lend our expertise to help you/your client select which stones should be used in a given project, bearing in mind important criteria such as cost, structural integrity, and project timelines.

21. What criteria does one consider in selecting stone?

Mainly color, pattern, use for the stone, quality, and price.

22. Who prices my project for me?

Your fabricator will price the project for you. Europa Stone only quotes materials pricing to its own direct customers - fabricators. These sorts of channel arrangements are common across most industries. AT&T, for instance, buys Cisco routers directly from Cisco at wholesale prices and packages them into their solutions for their own residential and commercial customers. Same concept.

23. Does picking a more expensive stone mean that my end-project cost increases linearly?

No. Raw materials is a minor component of the overall project cost. If there is a stone that you really like and it is twice the cost of say a "level one" stone, your project will likely not double in cost. Consider all your options. If there is some flexibility in your budget, judge your favorite stone and consult with your fabricator to understand the end-cost to you.

24. What are Europa Stone's responsibilities and what are the responsibilities of my fabricator?

Europa Stone is charged with providing quality material that passes our stringent quality standards. Once the end-customer and the fabricator have signed off on our materials the onus is not on Europa Stone to ensure successful installation and maintenance.

25. Should I go with natural stone for my project?

The benefits of choosing natural stone - particularly granite - are addressed above. There are those customers, however, who should consider only synthetic alternatives for their project. This type of customer is one who values consistency of pattern and consistency of color FAR above all other considerations. Mother Nature is not a cookie-cutter type of manufacturer. We feel this is a great attribute, but not everyone agrees.

26. What is the difference between using Europa Stone and using another wholesale distributor?

We have not seen any competitor who can beat us on our combination of friendly customer service, high quality inventory, and fair prices. If you do shop around, just please bear those three critical components in mind and we are sure the best choice will be clearly evident.

27. How quickly can Europa Stone deliver stone?

We ask that at least one week be allowed for delivery in order to help us maintain a delivery schedule that is reliable and efficient.

28. How long does installation take?

Ask your fabricator. We have seen timelines that average 4 weeks from the time you contract with a fabricator.

29. Can Europa Stone offer design advice?

We can speak to you informally on design matters, based on our years of experience. A professional designer should be contracted should you require extensive consulting in this arena. We are happy to work with any designer that a client has hired.

30. If Europa Stone is out of stock, how long until the next shipment arrives?

It takes approximately 4 weeks from the day we order stone until the day we store it in our warehouse.

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