4.5 Stars for the following reasons, based on a recent granite purchase and install in Jan. 2011.
J&H is a terriffic fabricator of stone countertops (granite, marble, travertine, etc...) for kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor spaces, etc. ....and I found them at the recommendation of my cabinet maker, Madison Custom Cabinets. Madison 'sold me' on J&H since they are 'right next door' to each other (in the big industrial complex just WEST of the sprawling 'greater Hutto Hippoplex'). Better coordination. Better communication. Hmmmm. But to be honest, this was not actually a difficult choice since the J&H quote was at price parity with the quote I had from another popular granite fabricator you can find here on Yelp. IN general, here is how the process works! (If you just want J&H's details, skip to Step 4....)
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Step 1; Choose your stone. Go to 20 stone yards, discharge several metric tons of CO2 into the air driving around 3 counties. You'll want to kill yourself because you've spent so much time looking for that ONE rock that your spouse LOVES - and all along you would've been fine with Silestone in the first freakin place. Once you find said rock - and *TRUST ME ON THIS PEOPLE* put a HOLD/deposit on that mother RIGHT NOW! LIKE. RIGHT. NOW!!
Step 2: Getting a Quote; This is nothing like what I expected. These fabricators will send you a quote based on rough dimensions only. Like quick. Like over the phone. Like never met you. Like never even been to your house. "Um, I need like 80sq. FT, 1/2 bullnose edge, and the basic undermount SS sink".....and its like "BAM"!!! = "Here's your quote, sir". Um, OK.
The interesting thing is; They really DON'T WANT to come to your house until you get your cabinets installed. Why? You might be getting several quotes (as you should!). You might not go with them. You might not like them. Bottom line is that Fabricators do not want to waste time driving, quoting, etc...when they might NOT be your guy. Also, they cannot possibly make the exacting measurements needed based on your old cabinets. That would be D-U-M-B. YOur new cabinets WILL be different - so this makes sense...when you think about it!
So all this BS makes sense from their perspective - but I think it is terribly helpful if SOMEONE WOULD EXPLAIN THIS - and not assume that you understand why this process is not intuitive. I DO NOT have a Rosetta stone just to decipher your process...people!!! (said for dramatic affect).
Step 3; Next is the template process. This is where you might actually
get to meet someone from the fabricator!. Like a live person. And it is NOT the same person that you've been speaking with for the last 4 months. But this dude typically smart, a professional, and has high-tech laser instruments to measure the cab dimensions, levels, angles, etc. It's actually A LOT like the openning scene to Mission Impossible where Tom Cruise is breaking into a secure room full of lasers - but different. And it is very, very precise. This is where they provided a good discussion on stone design considerations and options. Once the measurements are completed, you get a picture of your slabs, with an overlay of how they will be cut. This is the first step to creating the illusive 'invisible seams' we all hope and strive for!
Step 4; Installation process. Call it Attention to detail. Call it product quality. Call it whatever you want. Grantite fabrication and installation is an ART and the finished product is amazing and absolutely transformative to your space! For J&H, Pablo Rojas-Diaz was a consummate professional. He was courteous and an excellent communicator. If something was in question, he asked. If something didn't look right, we discussed the issue, the options, and he remained cool as a cucumber throughtout the entire process. Pablo has excellent attention to detail and they really did make the seams invisible!
Overall, J&H delivered an incredible product and service. There was one instance where they could have communicated better / more thoughtfully in the early going, but I am confident that owner Kevin Ivy will get this resolved.
So if you want to tranform your kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor area with a quality countertop, J&H can do it, and you will be amazed with the results! read more