30

Jan

How Can You Get The Most From Granite Countertops?

In addition to being beautiful, granite countertops offer an excellent return on investment. When you install the right countertops, you significantly improve the look of the entire room and keep it looking fabulous for years, if not decades. It’s no doubt granite is a significant investment and one you will be proud of for years.

The only catch is that you have to buy the right countertops and install them professionally. Luckily, you can do it using these tips:

Always view the entire granite slabs

When you visit the granite stores, the countertop company will show you countertop pieces. If you aren’t experienced, you will be satisfied with the pieces, which ends up being problematic.

Since granite is a natural stone, it varies widely in color, veining, and patterns. These variations don’t appear accurately on countertop pieces, so you might be mistaken about how the countertops will look upon installation.

To avoid surprises, ask the countertop company to show you the entire slab so you can be aware of the color variations and veins. Keenly inspect the slab keeping your eyes out for areas that show significant variations and where the contractors will place a seam between two slabs.

To reduce the number of seams that will be on your countertops, select the largest granite slab. Granite slabs are often available in sizes of up to 10 feet in length. You should note that while they significantly reduce the number of seams, they are often brittle and heavy to handle and transport. So you should be ready to make the sacrifice.

Strive to keep the countertop prices down

Due to the popularity of the countertops, some sellers tend to markup their prices to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. For you to avoid buying the countertops at extremely high prices, take time to do your research.

Visit different companies and see what they have in store. Expect the prices to vary depending on the location of the company and the quality of the stone.

Of course, avoid companies located in high-end areas as they will be more expensive due to the high rent. You also should avoid the big chain stores. In addition to selling countertop stones at high prices, they also don’t have variety, so you are stuck with only a few options.

While you should strive to keep the prices as low as possible, be cautious of a company selling the countertops at meager prices. The chances are that the slabs aren’t genuine and will come apart after a few months.

Take time and hire the right installation company

If you are like other homeowners, when you are looking for an installation company, you go online and key in your search term. You then proceed to contact the first company that shows up first in the search results. Don’t do this.

You are better off working with a contractor with a proven record. So the first thing you should do is to ask your friends and relatives that recently installed countertops about the contractor they used.

You also should visit the review sites and see some of the top-rated contractors in your area. Select a few and schedule an interview.

During the interview, ask them how they are going to install the countertops, how they are going to address the issues in your kitchen, and any other questions that will help you gauge their expertise.

Once you have found an ideal contractor, have a written quote. This will protect you from future attempts by the contractor to increase the price.

Go for a simple design

Although every homeowner wants a new look for their home, you shouldn’t go for an intricate countertop design that is not only expensive, but also hard to execute.

You should note that the countertop installation professional charges depending on several factors such as the size of the work surface, presence of matching backsplash, presence of cutouts for fixtures and plumbing, and other details.

A design doesn’t have to be complex to be elegant. Work with experienced granite countertop installers Rockville and install a simple design that will cost you less to install and last for a long time.

Parting shot

For you to install countertops, you will be proud of for years, buy a high-quality slab, and ensure an experienced contractor installs it.

16

Jan

Countertop Replacement Services: 6 Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Countertops

Regardless of the type of kitchen countertops you have installed in your home, it will come a time when you will have to replace them. Knowing the right time to hire countertop replacement services providers is the tricky part is you can replace surfaces that could have lasted a few more months or even years.

Luckily, there are a few things you can check to tell when your countertops are ready for replacement. Here are 6 of these signs:

The countertops are eroding

Countertop erosion is common with low-end countertop materials, but also high-end materials will wear out when you have had them for a long time.

Sometimes the countertops are too eroded that you can see the materials beneath them. Don’t wait for your pieces to get to these levels.

You can’t repair eroded materials, so the only way out is to replace them. When buying the new pieces, go for high-quality materials that you are sure will give you a long service.

The countertops have cracks on them

Cracks are common in wooden countertops and are often due to constant pressure on the countertops. The cracks will also come about when the countertops continuously come into contact with sharp or abrasive objects.

In addition to the cracks being unsightly and giving the countertops a cheap look, dirt and bacteria tend to get into the cracked areas putting your foods and tools at the risk of contamination.

It’s possible to repair cracks. The only issue is that you are unable to find the perfect color blend for the countertops. So, if your countertops have large cracks, don’t bother repairing them. Replace them.

There are stains, water damage, and discoloration on the countertops

Some countertop materials, such as limestone, are hard to maintain with just water and detergent. Using harsh chemicals damages them. As a consequence, they develop stains that are hard to get rid of.

Granite and quartzite countertops, on the other hand, stain easily when you don’t seal them properly.

Just like eroded or cracked surfaces, stained countertop surfaces are unsightly to look at. If you entertain a lot, you don’t want the guests seeing the ugly countertops, do you?

If looking to sell the house, the stained or discolored surfaces reduce the value of your home.

For you to be proud of your kitchen, get rid of the stained counters. Replacing the countertops will also improve the value of your property so you get the most value out of it.

You are renovating the kitchen

If renovating your kitchen, you don’t want to have elegant looking walls, floor, and cabinets while the countertops are still in their beat-up state.

To maintain a uniform look, consider fixing the countertops to improve their look. If you have installed many new parts, you also should install new countertops that will match the new kitchen.

There are burn marks on the countertops you can’t get rid of

It’s normal for countertops to develop burn marks, especially if you aren’t fond of placing pads or trivets under the hot pots.

Most of the marks will come out when you clean the surfaces, but if you have tried scrubbing or even sealing the marks and they can’t come out, start thinking about replacing the countertops.

Before you rip out the countertops, do some research and ensure that you can get rid of the cracks, burns, stains, or chips in less invasive and inexpensive ways.

This calls for you to consult an expert who will help you out.

The countertops are outdated

Are you one of the homeowners that care deeply about the hottest countertop trend? If you are and the countertop design is outdated, the surfaces must be an eyesore to you, and you won’t be proud of your kitchen.

To restore the pride and have fun in the kitchen, consider replacing your countertops. To ensure that the new countertops aren’t outdated in the next few months or years, choose durable materials.

When it comes to design, go with classical designs as they are timeless.

To eliminate the urge to replace the surfaces, granite contractors Rockville recommend that you regularly apply new paint on the countertops.

06

Jan

7 Things To Consider When Buying Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are elegant to look at and extremely easy to maintain. Unfortunately, you can’t buy any slab you come across. You need to take your time and find the right one. What should you consider when buying the countertops?

Your taste

Everything begins here. You want a slab that you will be proud of when you get in the house. The slab you go for depends on what you like and how you live. Before you buy the granite, ask yourself these questions:

  • Do you want straight lines or right angles?
  • Are you looking to install a top-mount, under-mount, or drop-in sink?
  • Do you prefer countertops with details on them?
  • Are you into light or dark colors?
  • Do you want the countertop to be stable or moving?
  • What type of vein style do you like?

Your preferences and the look you want to create will come in handy at helping you choose the right material from the thousands that will be thrown at you by the fabricator.

Size of your kitchen

Do you have a large or small kitchen? The size of the kitchen will help you determine the right granite slab and its pattern. If you have a small kitchen, go for light-colored granite such as Giallo ornamental. The countertop will make the kitchen look larger and more appealing.

If you like dark colors, go with dark granites with light veins. They will also give your kitchen a large look.

Do you have a large kitchen? Experiment with dark colors. You also should try out different patterns depending on the size of the kitchen.

Three of the best patterns are: marbled, solid, and speckled.

Amount of lighting

The lighting in the house will also greatly determine the type of countertops that you will install in your home. If your kitchen doesn’t have any natural light, go with gold or white countertops.

Does your kitchen have substantial light? Darker colors such as black, mahogany, and deep blue will give the kitchen the look you want.

You should note that you can add more light to the kitchen by installing more lights. So, before you head to the stores to make a purchase, consider the chances of adding more lights to the kitchen to improve its look.

Color

You can’t buy a countertop of any color—it has to match the cabinets, floor, and other parts of the kitchen. You can carry a sample to your home or bring the cabinet door with you into the showroom so that you can see how it will look with your cabinets in place.

The color of the cabinets depends on the look you want and the lighting in your home.

Countertop edges

In addition to the look they give to your kitchen, the countertop edges also affect how people interact with surfaces. If you have small children, you want round corners other than sharp edges that will hurt the little ones.

Type of sink

The sink you install in your kitchen or bathroom needs to be stylish and functional. The type of countertops you are looking to install depends on the type of sink you are interested in.

For you to buy the right design, size, and color of granite, work with your contractor, who will guide you.

Finish

How would you like the countertops to look like once you have installed them? Are you looking for a honed, polish, or leather look?

The honed finish is also known as matte finish, and when appropriately done, it leaves the surfaces smooth and feeling like satin. You need to reseal the countertops regularly. This finish is ideal when installing the countertops in a casual, low traffic area.

The polish finish is meant to hide smudges and fingerprints. When done right, the polish reveals the true character and color of the countertops.

Finally, there is a leather finish. It’s much more effective at hiding smudges and imperfections than any other material. The finish looks much better in dark granite. For you to maintain a great look, countertop contractors Potomac recommend you clean the surfaces daily with a microfiber cloth and cleaner.