Make sure the sink has an actual anchoring system and that they aren't just using adhesive to hold it up. Also look at your overhang and make sure it is consistent all the way around. If you aren't doing a granite BS, make sure the fit is tight to the wall (that's where our installer blew it, and he had to send a drywaller out to float the wall before we could do out BS).

Thanks, errant.. PS it is a light granite (white romano).

I don't know that I would spend that much on the sealer. And it's also my opinion there is no such thing as a "lifetime warranty" especially on a product like that... I sealed my granite years back with something much cheaper and never had any issues. My granite is busier and on the darker side though...

After they are done, just carefully look over everything, run your hands over the surface and make sure there are no cracks, chips, or other areas of concern.

I'm sure it will turn out great! Enjoy :) (and don't worry yourself too much)

White Romano is very pretty, you will love it. My River White has similar tones :)

Make sure you watch them with the sink! and make sure you like it. I had problem with my granite around my sink and I made them remove the slab and recut it!! They were not happy...but they did it.

Ooops...realizing this may be too late, but hoping everything goes well with your installation! From beginning to end, I would take lots of photos...of everything, every phase -- before, during, after -- as many angles (close up and from a distance) as you can. You can't take too many. If, at the end of it all, your crew does a terrific job, then you can delete the pics. If not (as in my case), you'll find you may need many of the photos as before/after scenarios. Good luck!

Check for level. A straightedge placed over seams should not rock.

We would love to see pics! I hope it turned out the way you wanted.

Thank you to all! Installation went great I think. Pictures coming soon!

Yay!!

So the installation went great, but, I'm learning from this that a kitchen is just a kitchen... The counter decision was not easy; this was one of my top two options that were in two different locations, and I settled on this after trying to compare photos and showing them to my designer and others. We didn't have a sample to bring back to the house. The overall effect is darker and grayer than I prefer; I had expressed that fear to her before finalizing. Anyway, next task is getting the right lighting - that should help; I liked the granite better in natural light when slab was near the entrance of warehouse. Any thoughts on how to lighten it up? I think UCL will be tape LED 3000K and fairly bright. Backsplash will be nearly white tile, I think.

Thanks again!

Here's one thing - a little imperfection in the granite I found after the fact - about 1/4"x1/8". Probably just part of the deal with granite? Good news, it's in part that will see little direct use, on peninsula under the wall cabinet.

I like your granite. I find it the perfect balance of interesting without being busy, subtle but definitely not boring. What you point out as an imperfection, to me, looks like an interesting variation. I would want to see what some tiles with a bit of light/subtle color look like with the granite before settling on white.

marg143:

I got a call from a woman who had purchased a similar stone. She complained of orange spots appearing; I told her this was from natural iron in the stone that was rusting. Be ready; don't be surprised if you get a consistent outbreak of orange. I'd plan for it in my subsequent decorating.

It's beautiful I think the white backsplash will help lighten the space with good lighting.

It doesn't look dark to me - but I didn't have any expectations. Give it some time to grow on you - it's beautiful!

I think it's very pretty. What granite is that? Colonial cream?

That does seem heavier on the black and lighter on the garnet than other White Romano I've seen, but it's still lovely! I think the stark white walls is what's making them feel dark to you. Once you have a BS up and some lighting, it will look entirely different :)

I think it is beautiful, too. I mostly appreciate the reminder that "it's just a kitchen". I am trying to remind myself repeatedly about that on the front end...but it's easy to get sucked in.

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the feedback. Expectations do play a part and I'm getting a little more used to it, and hopefully lighting and backsplash will really help too.

Alley, it is White Romano. There really is only that one orangey place - I've seen Colonial Cream with a little more of the orange. Errant, Bianco Romano for sure has less black/more garnet, but I was told that White Romano was a little different. I liked the Bianco one in photos and samples, but couldn't find any slabs that looked good these days. What's coming from the quarries (at least to MN) is different than from a few years ago, I guess. And I'll go with the 'it's still in process and will look better when it's finished!'

Steph, yes, it's soooo easy for me to make it huge and also to compare to what I see as the results of others. I was not willing to reduce the process to being really quick, I did spend a lot of time (probably too much), but was still faced with the fact that I couldn't get it all perfect (despite the fact that some other kitchens seem to be closer to perfect than mine!), and the need to move forward and enjoy what's there and make it good from the new starting point. So I'm going to take that as a little life lesson - hopefully more valuable to me than a perfect kitchen. :-)