Frequently Asked Questions - Ask the Professionals!

• First, we discuss your cabinet and countertop needs and desires. Our showroom has displays, samples, catalogs, and a friendly staff to assist you.
• Next, we go to your home and take exact measurements
• Then, we professionally design your kitchen and/or countertops and present the drawings to you.
• After the drawings are finalized, your cabinets are ordered, built, shipped, and then installed.
• The last step is simply for you to enjoy your beautiful home!

***No Limits

Remember, we aren’t limited to kitchen and baths. We design offices, closets, laundry rooms, family rooms, and commercial businesses too. Any room, even the garage, can be designed with our wide selection cabinetry and accessories. It’s amazing what we can do with small spaces, like studio apartments.

There are differences in each type of cabinet. Because we are design specialists, we can help you identify your needs and what style is right for you, and right for your home. We can help you:

• Choose a door style
• Choose a wood species
• Choose a stain or other finish
• Choose additional features

Our designs and estimates are free as part of our commitment to excellent customer service. We listen and work close with you to design your dream. We are active members of the premiere National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), and design according to their professional standards.

• Crystal, Shiloh, and Holiday cabinets are all custom manufactured per order.
• Armstrong offers semi-custom cabinetry. They have pre-fabbed boxes in stock that are pulled and finished to your order.
• All of our cabinets are made in the U.S.A.

We stand behind the saying, “You get what you pay for.” In addition to quality products, we give you personalized service all during your project. Ordering cabinets from the states opens up a whole line of questioning such as:

• Are the cabinets particle board? (Particle board falls apart in this tropical environment.)
• Do the cabinets have mitered joints? (Mitered joints separate in this tropical environment.)
• Do the stateside prices include proper measurements, loading, shipping, customs fees, excise tax, delivery to your home, and installation fees?
• Are any carpenter, painter, plumber, or electrician fees considered?
• What happens if the cabinets don’t fit properly, or something else goes wrong with the order? Will a stateside company be able to make it right? How long will you have to wait for a re-shipment?

Visit our Cabinets Page for a list of our All Inclusive Pricing

Yes, we are proud to say we do. Our Crystal, Shiloh, and Holiday manufacturers are committed to making cabinets with materials that have reduced effects on human health and the environment. They are certified in the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) issued by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufactures Association (KCMA). An ESP certification demands cabinet manufacturers meet requirements in areas of air quality, product and process resource management, environmental stewardship, and community relations. The program also assists cabinet manufacturers in other ways, such as helping them to easily indentify environmentally-friendly products.

To learn more about eco-friendly cabinets and the KCMA’s ESP certification, please visit: http://www.kcma.org/ and/or http://www.greencabinetsource.org

Because each appliance differs in size and electrical outlet placement, they have an impact on the cabinetry order. Appliances must be chosen before the final cabinet drawings are approved. We are up to date on the latest models and trends. We can help you choose the appliances that are right for you, and for your budget.

You can make the arrangements or we can. VIGM has been established in the Virgin Islands for over 12 years. We have working relationships with local licensed contractors and sub-contractors.

Since there are thousands of choices we don’t keep any in stock, but we will order and ship for you. We are happy to assist you with selecting the tile that is right for you, your design, and your budget.

There are many variables depending on the level and readiness of your project. The cabinet companies take approximately four to six weeks to manufacture. Semi-custom cabinets can be available in as little as 2 or 3 weeks. All orders are shipped by the manufacturer to our dedicated freight consolidator’s warehouse in Florida. We inspect the cabinets and professionals consolidate and hand-load the orders onto a container for safe shipping to the Caribbean.

Containers leave the port of Miami on Wednesdays and Fridays and arrive in St. Thomas the following Monday or Wednesday. Our staff is experienced in all aspects of Customs clearance and on island freight and delivery for problem-free delivery of your cabinets.

Granite is harder than marble because it is made of crystallized minerals. Marble is softer because it’s main component is calcium carbonate, which is crystallized sediments such as shells, plant matter, animal skeletons, silt and other matter from the ancient lake and river beds.

As part of our personalized customer service, we inspect and hand-select the slabs for you This ensures they are of top quality, and not “seconds.”

Marble is a wonderful stone for bathrooms. Granite is recommended for kitchens or baths

Yes, we have a large selection of slabs in stock on St. Thomas. We also have remnants for vanities and small tables at a discount. If we don’t have what you are looking for, we will ship your order on our next scheduled container.

As part of our personalized customer service, we inspect and hand-select the slabs for you This ensures they are of top quality, and not “seconds.”

Please visit our recommended stone dealers’ websites:

Omicron Granite has nine locations in Florida, including Miami and Orlando.

www.omicrongranite.net

Mystic Granite is located in Orlando, Florida www.mysticgranite.com

United Materials, Inc. (UMI) is located in Naples, Florida www.umistone.com

Keys Granite has three locations in Florida, including Miami, Palm Beach, and Orlando. www.keysgranite.com

Under normal conditions, granite countertops will last as long as your home does.

Sealed granite resists bacteria, and is easy to disinfect and maintain. Under normal conditions, sealed granite will not be damaged by water, heat, stains, or by slicing food. (Granite will, however, dull your knife blades. We recommend you use a cutting board instead of granite.)

In addition to granite and marble we also fabricate engineered stone and soap stone. These are usually shipped to order, but we sometimes have remnants for smaller vanities.

Solid surface countertops, such as Corian, are made of all man-made materials. They require different tools and methods for fabrication. We do not fabricate solid surface materials at VIGM.

Soap stone is a unique and beautiful stone that is often used for countertops. It too is quarried, and its main components are magnetite, dolomite, chlorite, and talc. The talc is what makes soapstone soft. (No, you can’t wash with it!) The stones come in a range of densities.

The denser soapstones are an excellent choice for kitchen countertops because even though it’s soft to the touch, it is not absorbent like marbles and travertines. If the surface picks up a stain, it can be scrubbed or sanded off. Even after years of use, soapstone can be re-finished to look like new.

At first soapstone might appear dull and lacking in luster. However, its rich colors and unique characteristics are enhanced by rubbing it with mineral oil, which also doubles as a sealer. Some people prefer not to apply any oil. Instead, with regular use, the stone takes on its own patina. When you visit our showroom, please ask us to show you a sample.

Sometimes called quartz, you probably know engineered stone by some of the brand names such as Silestone, Cambria, Cesar Stone, or Zodiac. Engineered stone uses crushed quartz, granite, marble, and semi-precious stones mixed with manmade materials, such as polymer resin.

Corian and other “solid surface brands” use all man-made materials. They require different tools, and we do not fabricate solid surface materials at VIGM.

VIGM seals your granite countertops before they are installed in your home. You should clean liquids and spills from the countertops within about 30 minutes. Any common kitchen cleaner may be used.

Under normal use, annual resealing is recommended with a wipe on/wipe off sealer. These sealers can be purchased at a hardware store. If you purchased your countertops from us, we will, upon request, come to your home and reseal your granite for free.

You can test your countertops to see if they resealing. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the countertop. If it beads like water on a waxed car, it’s fine and does not yet need re-sealing.

Please note: If you do have marble countertops in your kitchen, be aware that, because they are a softer stone composed of calcium carbonate, they can scratch and absorb stains. Regular sealing will help resist damage. If you have marble, avoid contact with acidic foods such as vinegar, fruit juice, soda, coffee, alcohol, salad dressings, etc.

The countertops should be one of the last items to go in your home for new construction or remodeling projects. With all the other variables completed, the 3-step process of templating, fabricating, and installing your countertops can be completed within a week. Plumbers and electricians will need to be coordinated at the same time. For us to begin the process you will need to have:

• Sinks
• Faucets, including any built in sprayers and soap dispensers
• Appliances, especially the cook top

Our pricing is turnkey, and we handle all the logistics. Compare your stateside pricing to ours when you figure in all the variables:

• Quality of the stone, i.e. unsightly cracks, fissures, stains, and other “issues” (We personally hand-select all of our stone to ensure top quality before it is shipped to the islands. We do not buy “seconds.”)
• Square footage
• Backsplashes
• Sink cut outs
• Edging
• Measuring and cutting templates
• Layout for flow of pattern and matching seams.
• Fabrication
• Sealing
• Shipping to arrive undamaged
• Excise tax and custom fees
• Delivery from the port to your home
• Installation by professionals
• Extra matching stone (just in case something breaks or is otherwise damaged)
• Time it takes for re-ordering when the countertops ordered from the states arrive broken, or don’t fit.

Yes, we have done this many times. We will coordinate with your stone supplier to have the slabs shipped.

For several reasons we normally do not cut or install stone that hasn’t been purchased from us. Please call us if you have any questions.

Most of the time countertops that don’t fit have to be completely re-made. Please call us with your situation, sometimes we can help.

Most bathroom countertops are small enough that they do not need seams. Most kitchen countertops are too large to avoid seams. When fabricating, we take into account the size and pattern of the stone, its unique features, and the layout of your cabinets.

Straight cuts are vital for matching seams, and we have the tools for quality work. When we install you’re your countertops, we use professional techniques to make the seams thin. Epoxy is tinted to blend as close as possible to the color of your granite.

We'd love to hear from you, and are here to help with your project needs. Please send us an email at Sales@VIgranite.com, or call us at (340) 775-7875. We also have a form on our Contact Us page that will be sent to our email.