Granite Grannies

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY! Lori Hethmon cannot be trusted. The service was a disaster. Broken countertop and all. If you don't believe me, go to the State of Maryland website and look up her court cases. She got sued by the IRS for $31k. She got divorced recently. She sued her partner, a co-owner of the company. Basically, she's an ugly person, which you don't want to deal with. Last but not least, she FORGED my wife's signature in order to get paid by credit card. AVOID! If you need a countertop, you'd be best served to go to a different merchant. Take my word. Buyer's beware! There are MULTIPLE NEGATIVE reviews on her and her company on many different sites. Stay away from her or you'll regret it.

Lori and everyone at Granite Grannies are pure pleasure to work with. We had a very difficult project. Our builder, Wes Construction Inc., could not ever give firm dates for installation -- Lori just worked around him. We had to accommodate European cabinets -- not a problem! Townhouse is located on a one way street in the city, with very steep stairs to carry heavy slabs -- no worries, she just sent more people to help. In addition to being very flexible, she has an artist's eye. She worked with us to achieve just the effect we wanted.

Granite Grannies is a great place to visit for exploring different types and colors of stone for your home decor projects. Lori and her daughter were very friendly and helpful with our granite selections from many of their suppliers that we visited. Lori responded quickly to our Emails and phone calls, and was very attentive throughout our search to find the right granite for our home. Thanks Very Much Granite Grannies!

Installation of larger vanity with two sinks went without problem.  Smaller vanity had to be recut (at no cost to me) because it needed stronger supports beneath the granite.  Granite Grannies provided excellent recommendations as to granite color and resolved installation issues with additional structural support below and side backsplashes at no extra charge.  End result far exceeded my expectations.

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9:00 am

Our experience went something like this:
- contacted Granite Grannies for a countertop quote in late May.  We selected two pieces of quartzite for them to use.
- in early June they collected a down payment of 50% for the work.
- early July they were scheduled to measure and fabricate the stone.  They missed the first appointment and had to reschedule.
- at the next appointment they took the measurements and had us sign a receipt for the work to be performed.  Notably the receipt included several new terms that were not part of our initial contract or discussions with them, including:
"Final payment is due at installation.  Payment signifies customer satisfaction.  A 1.5% interest charge per month may be enforced on all accounts not paid by terms of this contract as well as attorney fees which may be included to collect unpaid balance." (emphasis is mine).  Note this is all prior to them performing any work.
- about a week later they installed the pieces.  The work on the actual pieces was ok - the cuts were pretty basic with no seams but that part was fine.  They did not complete the work as they did not have the final measurements for the fireplace surround (they forgot to measure for it) and had to drop those pieces off later.
- after the work was complete I noticed the patterns and seams of the stone looked to be almost entirely from a single slab of stone, despite the fact we had selected two for them to use.  When I then contacted Granite Grannies to ask why only one slab was used, they responded by saying we had only paid for the amount of stone they cut and the rest was their inventory.  Furthermore, when I contacted my credit card company to file a dispute against the charge, they submitted an altered receipt to attempt to prove that I had only paid for the amount of stone used.
I definitely would not use them again or recommend them.

The marble vanity top delivered by the Granite Grannies crew on 12/23/2014 was not the correct size and after trying to set it, said it would have to be altered since the shop cut it to an incorrect length. I thought when they scheduled me, they would arrive before 5pm. Since no one called, I called around 4pm to check the status of my scheduling. Was told they would be at my home very soon. Called again around 6pm and they actually arrived at 7pm. They didn't have the tools to make the alteration probably because they didn't expect it to be incorrectly cut. As a result, they asked to come back again the next day which means I would have to take another day off.

Once Granite Grannies arrived the next morning, they altered the marble to make it fit. When they were done, the house is filled with a powdery substance from the grinder or whatever was used. It would be nice if Granite Grannies would use tarps or some kind of covering so that I don't have to clean and wipe down surface, especially all over the master bathroom. My oldest has asthma and that powder would cause a problem to him. If the marble fit in the first place, I wouldn't have any of these issues.

Our total experience from start to finish with Granite
Grannies was excellent.  Yes, on Saturdays they can be busy and you may
have to wait, but the personal attention you receive is worth the wait. 
When we first went in, Lori did greet us although she was working with other
customers.  I was on a cane so she brought out one of her office chairs
for me to sit in while we were waiting.
Although she was very engrossed assisting other customers, she made sure to
acknowledge us every so often so that we did not feel at all ignored or
neglected.
They had a very large selection of smaller slabs which is
what we needed.
Her son came in shortly after we arrived and was extremely
helpful for the remainder of our visit. (My mother wanted to take him home with
us J )
He pulled out several slabs we were looking at and then
helped us finish the purchasing process including choosing the finishing style.  He also took time to discuss future projects
and options for selection.
We went back a second time to take the template for the slab.  This time we dealt directly with Lori.  She was extremely personable with us.  We talked about how she got her start and how
she continues to want to give the best service to her customers.
Our contractor ended up having to leave town on the day the
slab was to be ready.  So my husband
called to see if there was any possible way to get the slab cut and finished
earlier so our contractor could put in the slab before he left.  They had the slab ready on Wednesday when it
was scheduled to be ready on that Friday. 
A full two days early our contractor was able to pick up the slab!!! 
The finished project was lovely!!
Granite Grannies is a family business with an atmosphere that
lends to a personal family feel and we are glad we found it. 
We love her dogs too!!!!

The group at Granite Grannies was great.  We stopped by, met with Daniel, and selected a remnant for use in our den.  We needed 2 pieces - one for a cabinet top and one for a bar.  He was extremely helpful.  Laurie worked with us to determine where the cuts should be placed once the measurements were taken - she even stayed after hours to ensure we could review the template.  Installation was a breeze and the quality was great.

Last September 2013, I was remodeling my kitchen and 2 bathrooms and the contractor I was working with, sent me to granite grannies to pick out the granite for the counter tops and breakfast area.  I thought the service was great, Lori was helpful and very knowledgeable.  Lori was also familiar with the contractor I was working with.  Before I signed the contract and paid 1/3 down on the work, I specifically confirmed with the contractor that golden sparkle granite is included.  The answer was YES.   A few days after I signed the contract, I was contacted by the contractor and asked to go somewhere else and pick out something different, because this granite is out of my budget.  I won't quote any pricing due to the conflict with the contractor and really not knowing if what he told me was accurate.  The contractor asked me to go to this big warehouse in Fairfax, Va and select something else in the low end section.  In my opinion, the difference between going to one of these big warehouses that has slabs and slabs of granite, is the experience and service.  Much better experience at granite grannies.  After several conversations back and forth with the contractor and explaining to him that the discrepancy in price is between him and Lori, not to mention I signed a contract that included the granite from granite grannies, the contractor agreed to pay for the golden sparkle.  In conclusion, if I didn't have this granite installed in my kitchen, the work completed by the contractor may still not have been completed.  I was very unhappy with the contractor, but let a lot of his errors and bad work slide, due to me getting this granite.  No problems by granite grannies and would definitely use them again and refer others.

unknown

Things turned out great...a few bumps along the way but no one died. We stopped in on a Saturday and only Lori was there and she was busy. We stuck around for about an half hour before she could get to us but it was worth the wait. We discussed what we wanted and I had brought a layout to go over. She showed us our options etc. and my wife quickly found a stone she liked. Lori walked us though the steps, showed us some options she had on had and even the type my wife wanted. She provided us a price and we set a date for someone to come out and make a template.

Due to crazy schedules we had to push back on the template date which would mean that Lori would be out of town while our job was being worked on. She ordered the stone and setup a date to layout the design before she left with us. She took the time to personally go over what cuts would go where in our kitchen.

Rusty came out for the template and he made several suggestions that we hadn't thought of and included them into the design.

Due to vacations Rusty wasn't working the day our stone was cut and when it came out to be installed it was done incorrectly. Kimmy talked to us on the phone and said they'd figure something out. Our biggest concern was how it would end up looking like as we had a specific layout. While they had set a couple of pieces the big section was taken away. They returned the very next day after Rusty worked some magic "stretching" the stone to make it the correct size. What ever he did we couldn't find a seam or anything showing where the work had been done. During the installation we asked that a piece that was set the day before be reset to match the overhang of the "new stretched" section. They pulled it off, reset it and then rounded and buffed the corner to give it a finished look. Once all the stone was installed and sealed, they cleaned up and it couldn't have been more professional.

The kitchen ended looking amazing. The layout and design Lori discussed worked and looks fantastic. It clearly changes the look of the kitchen to more of a model home.

I will use them when updating my other home in the area.

I contacted GG in late 2013 for a specific, hard to find stone and installation. They had what I was looking for and agreed (enthusiastically!) that they serviced my area, which is Northern Baltimore County. I made the drive down to look at the stone I wanted. The person I spoke with on the phone was running late so someone else showed me the stone. I decided to move forward and purchase. By luck, GG text a picture of the stone they were about to cut for my kitchen. This was absolutely not the stone I wanted or saw. GG said the stone I saw was already sold and sorry pick a new one. Come installation day they never showed up. I called and they apologized for never calling to cancel the appt, they were not able to cut the countertop in time due to weather. Installation was fine, no problems yet. About 3 weeks after installation the seams (2) were cracking and in some spots completely void of filler. I called to have them fix it and was told no problem but since I live so far away, I'd have to be scheduled at THEIR convenience. They fixed the seams and now, 6 months after initial installation, the seams are cracked and void of filler again. I scheduled another appt at THEIR convenience which was canceled day of because the appt before me canceled so whats the point of driving all the way to my house. Rescheduled for a few weeks out and they never showed, never called. I called and they didn't even have me written in the schedule. Promptly rescheduled and they were here on time to do the work, which was subpar. The seams look terrible only 2 days later. Weird color variations (it's grey. how hard is it to match grey?), completely obvious, and already missing filler in some places. Not to mention the epoxy used was all over my counter and wood floors. They do not clean up after themselves or take care not to smear it everywhere. So I'm going to have to call them back out here to fix it yet again, I'm sure at their convenience getting reminded yet again how far away I live. I understand where I live, if it's to far for you to service adequately then tell me no you can't do it. I would have moved on to someone else. So in total I had to take off 6+ days of work to have countertops installed and it still is sub par work although the stone is very nice. Don't believe them when they say they are the best at hiding seams. Also, don't count on the lazy susan they promise from your sink cut out. I never got it. But maybe it's because I live so far away.

Lori, who owns Granite Grannies, was a delight to work with. We visited her at her site to see all the granite remnants for our fireplace. She helped us focus on our design and made great suggestions of her own. When we picked out the two stones were wanted to use, she gave us an estimate shortly after, and then sent her designer out to measure. He made some refinements to the design which we felt were great improvements.
The job went forward and the installation had no issues. We are thrilled with the results.
My only nits are that it is sometimes hard to get Lori to respond. She is a busy lady and does try, but sometimes it takes several days to get a response. The folks she has working for her are polite when you call,  don't seem to have the knowledge or authority to provide responses,

Granite Grannies is a hidden gem. Everyone who works there has exceptional knowledge and was excited when asked to think outside the box. As an artist, I was very particular that the colors in my studio worked together without being "matchy matchy". 'GG' embraced the idea of two different granites in the same room when other companies strongly recommended against it.

As far as price, punctuality...they are on par with the larger, more impersonal companies.

This is a small locally owned company that I strongly urge everyone to visit....you won't be disappointed! I only wish I had more of a need for granite!

Wow. I love my countertop. It's simply gorgeous and the stone is only
enhanced by the excellent craftsmanship and creativity at Granite
Grannies.

They are definitely a different kind of granite fabricator. They are
smaller so you get more individualized service, attention, and
follow-up. They weren't the cheapest, but I definitely felt like Lori
and Katie were partnering with me in finding the perfect stone for my
new kitchen. They gave me very sound advice and didn't waste my time.
Lori stayed late one evening so my family and I could come to the shop
and be sure the stone I picked was truly "our" stone.

The installers went way above and beyond, too. My stone turned out
to be very slow to cut, and even though it got late and rush hour
traffic was terrible, they still came out on their appointed day. They
had to strategize, problem-solve, and use brute strength to get my very
large island-top through the door and up the stairs. They installed it
perfectly and then even managed to make polite small talk with us,
despite the fact that it was the end of a clearly long, tiring shift.

I would definitely recommend Granite Grannies.

From beginning to end our counter top experience with Granite Grannies was impeccable. Lori took plenty of time with us to get everything perfect, we never felt rushed or pressured. We had originally picked out a more expensive slab but when we returned for our lay out appt. we noticed a different slab that we fell in love with, Lori didn't bat an eye when we asked if we could change our minds and in addition we recieved credit because it was a less expensive slab. Lori spent a lot of time with us finding out what we liked most about the piece and where the focal point of our kitchen is  she paid attention, where we look the most, our favorite section is located and the artistic flow and workmanship has been astounding! Also at the last minute I asked for an additional back splash to be made and without hesitation my request was taken care of and ready by  install the next day. Needless to say we love our new counters and are very pleased with the whole proccess. We didn't get just counter tops, our kitchen literally looks like a piece of art.
The Granite Grannies team was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end as well. Katie and Kimee were always pleasant, professional and helpful. Rusty did a great job with the measurements and Tony and Moe did a very beautiful and professional job with installation! Thank you each and everyone. Be watching for us when we are ready for our next project ; ))

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. WORST EVER!! After several requests, I never got a detailed estimate for the cost. They failed to show for the first date that was agreed due to some illness among her workers. The second time they were to come at 7am, and after waiting one hour, I called the owner who told me that no one would be available until late in the afternoon, giving the same excuse about 'worker illness'. When I explained that we had agreed to 7am, that I had to pay someone to sit around for the next 6 hours waiting on them to show, she gave a totally arrogant response with NO consideration for my time. I wanted to cancel the order and get a refund, which was refused. The situation got so bad that I had to threaten to file suit before they showed to install my cabinets. DO NOT HIRE THIS COMPANY UNLESS YOU WANT A MAJOR HEADACHE.

We will definitely be calling Granite Grannies in the future! We absolutely loved working with them because they were affordable, responsive, professional and had an incredibly quick turn-around time. Our master bathroom looks beautiful with the updated counter top!

It was an Angie's List Big Deal that we purchased. They were great. They did a real good job. We had a problem with the hot water coming out of the hose line not as forceful as the cold. It was a minor thing and they came out twice to fix that. We were very pleased with them and we referred them to other people. We would absolutely use them again.

We had some granite left over from another job they did for us and so we had it cut down to the size that we wanted it for another table. We've used them 3 different times and I would recommend them to anybody. They have been great. The first time that we used them we had the counter tops in our kitchen replaced. That was the biggest job we've used them for. We had a very, very, very positive experience with that, from picking out the granite to having it delivered and measured and the actual installation. The guy they sent to do the installation was very, very good. He had to come back a second time and he was going to be away and we called and asked if we could just wait until he came back to work and have him. They said that was fine. That's how much we liked him and what he did. They were very responsive to that. We didn't want somebody else to come in after the first guy and mess anything up. He did a great job and we really, really liked him. We were very impressed with him and his professionalism and the way he did his job. The whole company has been great actually.

Very simple, really. GG sent someone out to measure, then another visit to install, both after about 2 in-shop consultations. The tops look fantastic. No delivery holdups and confusion. I am pleased with the look of my ktichen. For 300 bucks, GG also sold me a nickel-gauge sink and a faucet with a sprayer attachment. Everything "worked" as a kickoff to my kitchen overhaul, including the backsplash shelf and some custom edging I requested.
I would recommend GG. Nice selection of slabs in-shop, from traditional to avant-garde. Very knowledgeable and style-savvy proprietor. I am not exactly certain where they stand competitively on price. Yet, I think I got a pretty good deal on quality and the peace of mind that I had plenty to choose from.

I have had two dealings with Granite Grannies and they could have not been more different.  About three years ago I went to Granite Grannies and Selected a piece of granite for my counter tops and everything was fantastic.  Lori was very helpful and explained the cutting process of the granite and sent her team out to template the kitchen and to install the granite.  The were on time and the granite looked great.  About six months ago I decided to do a small remodel which included putting another wall of cabinets in the kitchen and returned to Granite Grannies based on my first experience and my desire to have the same granite on the new cabinets.  The initial contact was very pleasant and we found of granite that matched out original granite very well.  We gave approximate dimensions on what we expected to be the cabinets we were putting in and paid approximately $600 for the additional granite.  When we changed the layout I called and asked if we could have a cut in the granite and asked when they would come out to measure, I was told that the granite was marked for pick up and a team was not coming out to measure.  I called back when the cabinets were installed and was told to have my contractor measure for the granite installation, since I was installing a farm sink that had special cut out needs my contractor did not feel comfortable measuring, so...I did the measurements and faxed them to Granite Grannies, I didn't hear anything so I called the next day to make sure the drawings were OK and that the measurements were readable, and asked when the granite would be ready for pick up.  I was told the measurements were fine and that the small piece of granite I had ordered for a pass through would be an additional $18.00 if I installed the granite myself, and that I could pick up the granite on the 9th of July at noon.  I asked about how difficult installation would be and if it was something I could do by myself and was assured it was easy.  I took the afternoon of the 9th off work to pick up my granite.  Fortunately I stopped by my house on the way to Granite Grannies because I had an e-mail asking what the size of the bevel was to be on my granite (it was on the order form).  I asked if my granite would be ready by noon and was told no, it would be ready by 2:00.  I left the house for a while and when I came back I had a call from the fabricator asking about the cut outs for the sink.  I called and he assured me the granite would be ready by 2:00.  I got to Granite Grannies at 2:00 to be told that the drawings and measurements I had faxed were all wrong and that I should have had all of the dimensions on the forms and that everything should have been on one sheet of paper and that one of the pieces couldn't be completed until I got the measurements, basically I was made to feel like an idiot, I responded that I had faxed the paperwork to them a week before and if there were missing measurements I should have been told that when I called to check on the fax.  I tried to call my partner to ask for the measurements and was unable to reach him.  I was told I could go sit in my truck and try to call him and when I had the measurements I should bring them back in.  I offered to go home and measure and call in the measurements and come down on Saturday and pick up the piece, I was told that the space where my granite was being manufactured was needed for MUCH larger projects and that I needed to get the measurements and get it out that afternoon.  I finally got a hold of my partner at 3:00 PM and gave the measurements, my piece was completed around 4:15.  I thought that possibly due to the four hour wait and the insulting way I was treated that at least an we're sorry would be forthcoming, instead when I went to pay for the additional piece I was berated for using my debit card instead of having either cash or writing a check.  My larger piece of granite was beveled on a side that shouldn't have been beveled because of partly me error (I marked it wrong on my drawings) but why wasn't I asked when I went in  what side should have been beveled since it hadn't been done yet.  The granite was not hard to install and looks pretty good but would have looked better had someone come and professionally measured the space.  I would not go to Granite Grannies with a small order ever again, I had recommended several of my friends go there after my first experience but I would not recommend that anyone go there.

Great team to work with! Kimi was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. Their access to warehouses allow you to see large slabs of stone to see color variance vice most places with just small square samples. They also let you choose your lot number as stone has variations from slab to slab.
We've used them twice. They installed granite in our kitchen of home we were trying to sell. First showing after installation of granite bought the house! 
They are very helpful and do well with communications. The little things such as making things out of the leftover granite (trivets, lazy susan, etc) and a larger selection of edges included make a big difference.
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!