Countertop Solutions

Never pay regular retail price for countertops again.

By: Beth Newcomb
Date: 06/10/2009
When it comes to most of the products we purchase, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to cut out the middleman. Take groceries for example. Short of growing your own produce and raising your own livestock and poultry year round, the chances of circumventing the guys who commandeer the food chain are pretty slim.

And with home improvements, it’s nearly impossible to gain direct access to the guy behind the guy who’s in the business of building or selling the job. In fact, just a few short years ago it was considered unthinkable for a homeowner to take on the role of general contractor for a building or home improvement project—no matter what the size. But in today’s economic climate, not only is it more acceptable, it can also be more financially prudent.  

For the past six years, Max Mammana, owner of Countertop Solutions, has geared his business toward providing consumers with previously unheard of direct access to high-end and name brand countertop products at a fraction of the prices typically paid when buying through a builder or big box store.

“We are a countertop fabricator for popular items like granite, quartz, laminate, and solid surfaces,” Max describes. “Most people don’t realize they can save as much as 30% off the regular retail markup of their countertops just by purchasing directly from us.”

Max started his career in the home improvement industry 17 years ago by establishing himself as Mammana Custom Woodworking. “I’d always enjoyed working with my hands and loved tinkering around with my dad who was a cabinet maker his whole life,” Max remembers. “When the opportunity came along for me to start my own business, it just seemed natural that I follow in his footsteps.”

After several successful years working for a number of notable local builders, the demand for granite began to soar and Max recognized an opportunity to specialize in countertops. Mammana Custom Woodworking gradually transitioned into a full-service countertop fabricator. Max opened his first Countertop Solutions retail storefront location in Twinsburg in 2003.

“Most of the homeowners I’ve met don’t spend their days in construction boots wandering around warehouses looking at slabs of granite,” he provides. “But they still want to be able to buy direct.”

Max answered that call by establishing well-appointed retail showrooms that allow clients to peruse countertop choices at their leisure while relaxing in total comfort. “Our clients include everyone from the do-it-yourselfer to the homeowner who wants us to complete the installation but wants the savings advantage that comes from working directly with the fabricator.”

Big box home centers, on the other hand, serve as the middleman between you and the countertop fabricator.
They farm the work out to companies like Countertop Solutions and then mark up the job to include a profit.

And unlike limited-access granite suppliers, when you make a purchase from Countertop Solutions you have a virtually unlimited number of configurations available. “With other suppliers, you start with problems because they only produce straight lines that fit a specific cabinet layout. If your walls aren’t perfectly square, the gapping can be an issue,” Max reveals. “Overlays are often problematic, too, because you’re going over a sub-surface that might already be deficient. Our granite comes in standard three-centimeter thicknesses that can be fabricated to fit any size and type of countertop configuration.”

Every day at Countertop Solutions, Max offers special savings on six granite colors that come with one style of finished edge—for just $49 per square foot installed. And these aren’t the ugly, rejected colors no one wants to buy. Rather, Max purchases large quantities of the most popular colors typically chosen, allowing him to offer a dramatically reduced retail price. In the unlikely event they don’t have your granite choice in stock, Max will give you direct access to his granite supplier so you can browse the complete stock.

The store also carries and sells quartz—starting at $69 per square foot, Corian—starting at $42 per square foot, and laminate—starting at $15 per square foot. “We’ve got something to fit any budget,” Max promises. “And we only carry products that will be less costly to maintain and service, including Zodiaq and Corian from DuPont and Viatera from LG.”

If your tastes run along the lines of granite, but your budget is committed to laminate, Max says there’s no reason to despair. “Laminate has come a long way and there are a number of different looks that very closely resemble granite,” he shares.

And while price is a distinguishing factor for customers who choose Countertop Solutions over another supplier, fabrication and installation typically seal the deal.

“We fabricate everything we sell,” Max explains. “That includes all countertop mediums, even laminate. It’s a unique opportunity to deal directly with the people creating something that for many homeowners is a significant investment.”

“If you choose a design center for custom cabinets, just tell them you’re getting your countertops from us,” Max invites. “That’s what many of our clients do. You can save as much as 30%—the typical markup—off the cost of your job.”

To get started, simply visit a Countertop Solutions showroom. Take in your drawings—either professionally rendered or roughed out by you on paper—and once you’ve browsed the selections in the showroom, they’ll give you an estimate.

Countertop Solutions also features a selection of sinks and faucets to complete your kitchen ensemble with the ease of one-stop shopping. Max says that typical countertop installation takes about a day. The team can complete 35-50 installations each week and all installers are employees of the company.

“When you add it all up—our prices, quality and service—nobody can offer a better value than us,” assures Max.

Countertop Solutions’ three showrooms are listed in the sidebar accompanying this story. To find out more, visit www.CountertopSolutions.org.

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