Cole Brothers Marble and Granite has one of the largest stone stocks in South Jersey, and we are constantly adding to our stock in order to provide our customers with the most options possible.

Unlike the large home suppliers, you can see and select your slabs while you are here. We also can special order any materials not in stock.

The Cole Brothers Difference

1. Craftsmanship: Cole Brothers is well known for its quality throughout the tristate area. Our shop foreman and installer Richie has been with us for over sixteen years. The rest of our crew is well trained and experienced.
2. Quality Material: Our materials are personally selected from as far north as Connecticut to as far south as Virginia. We have one of the largest stocks in South Jersey and we are constantly adding to our stock in order to provide our customers with the most options possible. Unlike the large home suppliers, you can see and select your slabs while you are here. We also can special order any materials not in stock.
3. Top of the Line Sealer: We use a high end solvent based sealer that will typically protect your stone from five to ten years depending on the cleaning products used and the type of stone.
4. Seams: We install our jobs in as few seams as possible and when necessary, place our seams in the best and most eye pleasing place possible. This often means that we waste a larger amount of material then many of our competitors, but this makes for a more aesthetically sound and impressive job. We have often been asked by our competitors how we get our seams to come out so nice..........our experience is your advantage.
5. Steel Rods and Reinforcement: Steel rods are placed near all undermount sink and stove top cutouts to reinforce these areas. This is especially important in shore homes where there is often a large amount of settling that takes place over the first year. In such a scenario, a break could occur in one of these weakened areas, however, the steel rods turn what would be a major break (and problem) into a fixable minor crack, or better yet, the seam would often pop before the reinforced granite. In this case, the cabinets could be shimmed and the seam could be repaired. Without the rods, you could be looking at a major crack and the possibility of having to replace your tops.
6. Polishing the Underside and Larger Overhangs: Our staff polishes several inches in on the underside of your tops to provide a smooth surface. Also, any large overhangs are given a smoothed finish on their undersides to provide comfort for our clients. Our standard overhang off the face of the cabinet is two inches, the MIA standard (Marble Institute of America). The two inch overhang allows the granite tops and the knobs of the cabinet to fall in line allowing for a cleaner and overall better appearance then the one and a half inches many fabricators use.
7. Knuckle Crane Capabilities: Cole Brothers owns its own knuckle crane boom truck. This is especially useful in allowing us to bring in the largest possible pieces in second floor kitchens and bathrooms. No matter what floor your project is on, if the job can be done in one piece, it will be.
8. Fast Turnaround Times: It normally takes us about two weeks from the day of templating until the day of installation for most kitchens and sill work. When time is of the essence you can count on us.
9. Family Business: Cole Brothers is a family owned and operated business. We have chosen to remain small in order to provide our customers and contractors with the best possible service and craftsmanship. Now in our 28th year of business, you know that we will be here for your future stone needs. Thank you for your business and we look forward to serving you in the future.

How a Project Works

Cole Brother is here to assist you in making your living space visions a reality. In order to make your project as smooth as possible, here are some tips on preparing:

Normally a customer will fax over a drawing of their kitchen, vanity, fireplace, etc. along with measurements (the more detail the better) so that we can work up a price based on a midrange material and a standard edge. Once the customer receives pricing an appointment can be set for them to visit our shop and view from our large selection of natural stone materials. Once a material and edge profile are selected the price will be revised (if necessary). Once the customer verifies the pricing a date for templating can be set. The template date normally is a week off from the day of price verification, but it can also be set weeks or months in advance to ensure a day and allow for the fastest turn around time. From the day of templating there is normally a two to three week wait for installation. Turn around time varies greatly throughout the year and depends on the influx of business. However, Cole Brothers works to ensure that there is normally never more than a three week wait on the majority of orders and kitchens.

Attention: The sink, faucet, cook top or stove all need to be on site the day of templating. The sink, faucet, and drop in cook top will be taken back to the shop for lay out and to allow for the highest level of accuracy for all cut outs and holes drilled. A fifty percent deposit is required on the day of templating with the final sum due on the day of installation. Fifty percent deposits are also required for all other projects (sills etc.) as well as to hold or special order materials.

Caring for Your Marble

What is Marble? Marble is a metamorphic rock. Originally limestone, over time the combination of heat and pressure caused the limestone to re-crystallize. Foreign substances that often entered the stone during this process created an infinite variety of colors, textures, and veining. In its purest form marble is crystalline white calcite. Impurities of dolomite, silica or clay provide variations in color and significant movement.

How Durable is Marble? Marble is a much softer stone than granite and needs to be treated accordingly. In fact, a good way to treat marble is as if it were a fine piece of furniture. Marble scratches easily when harder objects are rubbed or dragged across the surface. Marble that is honed (polished so that the face is less shiny) tends to show less scratches or etch marks. If a deep scratch does occur, leave it to a profession to fix the problem since the mark will most likely need to be polished out.

Does Marble Stain? Marble is a porous stone, hence staining is possible. Unlike granite, marble is easily etched by acids, bases, and strong chemicals. Marble should be regularly sealed (yearly for high use areas) to protect it from staining. Also, compounds such as craftsmen polish can be used on marble to help provide extra protection. Such products act like wax on a car, often giving the stone extra luster while protecting its finish. However, these compounds are not recommend for use on granite.

What Should I Use to Clean My Marble? Neutral PH cleaners such as windex without ammonia or mild soap and water are excellent for cleaning marble. Never use chemical like ammonia or vinegar and water. These products will not only strip the sealer, but they will also etch the stone if it has a high gloss finish.

* Marble is a beautiful natural product that has been in use for thousands of years. Although not as durable as granite, the natural aging / wear of marble is to be expected in high use / volume areas and can be beautiful. Be aware that honed finishes (less shiny) often show less wear than high polished surfaces on marble. The greatest concerns for marble tends to be in kitchens where acids from foods and drinks are common. Vanities, sills, and fireplaces tend to be the ideal use for marble.

Caring for Your Granite

What is Granite? Granite is an igneous rock formed from the solidification of magma deep in the earth. It contains 45 to 65% silica(quartz) and the remaining minerals are mostly feldspar, mica and iron ores. The minerals found in igneous rocks are usually dense and packed tightly due to the there formation under extreme pressures and heat.

Can I Cut on My Granite Tops? Granites tend to be extremely hard with hardness ranging from 6 or higher on the Mohs scale of hardness. A common test used to identify igneous rocks is a scratch test which uses an ordinary knife blade to try and scratch the stone; if the stone is difficult to scratch it is most likely a granite. However, this does not mean that granite is impossible to chip or scratch. Although many people may tell you that you can cut on your granite it is often wise to use a cutting board just to be safe. New carbide knives that you may have seen on television sawing through pennies can and will scratch granite. Diamonds are harder than granite and so have the potential to scratch it. So watch those diamond rings!! But fear not, granite is extremely hard and durable, scratching is rare, and the granite you own will probably out last your current kitchen, if not the house itself.

Does Granite Stain? Granite is a porous stone, hence staining is possible. Granites with high, brilliant shines are more difficult to stain then those with a honed (dull) finish. Granite generally will not react with acids except for hydrofluoric acid (HF) which reacts with the polished surface. Hydrofluoric acid is normally found in rust removers and in products designed to clean sandstone. Many types of oils can penetrate the granite surface and leave stains. Sometimes these stains can be removed with a poultice, sometimes stains can be permanent. However, your contractor should seal you granite with a high grade sealer that should last for any where between five to ten years on average. Be aware that some granites (normally lighter colors) are more porous than other granites and so they tend to stain more easily and should be sealed more often. Do not worry to much about staining. Most granites do not stain easily and with a good sealer you should be in the clear for years and years.

What Should I Use to Clean My Granite? Strong acids and bases found in many cleaning products will cause your granite sealer to breakdown more quickly over time. Ammonia, bleach, and vinegar mixed with water are not appropriate cleaners. In fact, one of the best cleaning products you can use is windex without ammonia which can often be found at your local dollar store. Other cleaning agents such as a mild soap and water or stone specific cleaners will also work fine. If you notice any build up or residue on your tops you can use fine steel wool (#000, triple zero) to remove these substances.

***Your granite is an investment that will not only increase the value of your house but with proper care, it will probably outlast the house itself. There is no other counter top product more durable or more beautiful on the market today then granite. Please enjoy it an thank you for your business***

Pricing

The price of marbles, granites, and limestones vary greatly depending on the stone selected. There are a large variety of edge profiles and finishes that can be done to the face of the stone that also greatly effect the price. Please visit our shop or call for more information.