26

Feb

How to Protect Granite Countertops

Every homeowner wants their countertops to last for as long as possible. And do you know what? It’s possible to do it. To help you out, here are tips on how to protect granite countertops:

Seal the countertops

This is a no brainer. In fact, this is the first thing people think about when they think about protecting their granite. Since granite is porous, it’s paramount that you protect it from stains by sealing it.

To do it, seal the surfaces immediately after installation, then at least once a year thereafter. For best results, use a high-quality sealant. An expert should do the sealing work.

Clean the surfaces regularly

You might have the impression that cleaning the countertops is an aesthetic issue, but this isn’t the case. Cleaning the countertops is a protective measure. When you regularly clean your countertops, you remove dirt and other materials that can scratch the surfaces.

The good thing is, you don’t have to be fancy about granite cleaning. Wiping the surfaces with a damp, soft cloth and some soap is enough. Wait for the surfaces to dry, then buff them as much as you can.

Cleaning the countertops is essential, but you will be doing more harm than good when you use the wrong cleaning products. To keep your countertops in top shape, use non-abrasive cleaners. To be even in a better place, use cleaners specially designed for granite surfaces.

As you prepare the meals or have a good time with your friends, it’s common for spills to happen. For example, juice or even water can spill on the countertops. When an accident happens, move with haste and get rid of the spills as soon as possible.

Although your countertops are sealed, letting large amounts of liquids stay on the surfaces for long is inviting disaster as the liquids can seep into the stone’s deeper layers and become hard to remove.

Protect your surfaces from extreme heat

It’s no doubt that granite is tough and can withstand a lot of heat, but it’s not heatproof. This means you will damage the countertops when you repeatedly expose them to a lot of heat.

Thankfully, you can prevent this from happening by placing your hot pots on hot pads, trivets and other protective items.

Even when taking hot coffee, don’t assume your countertops are tough and will take the heat. Have a coaster under the cups at all times.

Don’t sit on the countertops.

When you look at the countertops, they appear solid and extremely strong that many homeowners are tempted to sit or even stand on them. Don’t do this.

Despite the tough appearance, granite is brittle, especially on the edges, so when you exert a lot of pressure there, you risk breaking it.

To avoid this, don’t sit on the countertops when you are in the kitchen. You also shouldn’t step on the surfaces to reach the top shelves or replace the bulb. Instead, use a ladder.

If you often have people with you in the kitchen, have a few seats in place, so they aren’t inclined to sit on the countertops.

Ensure the countertops are installed by an experienced professional

You may be wondering what granite installation got to do with its protection, but the two go hand in hand. When your countertops are poorly installed, they are more likely to break or even fall from the cabinets and get damaged.

To avoid this, ensure your countertops are installed by experienced and certified granite installers Rockville.

The beauty of it is that it’s easy to find these contractors—you only need to be patient and strategic when doing it. The first place to ask is your friends and relatives. If none has recently worked with a contractor, try it online.

Do a Google search and interview the potential technicians that you find. Many people hire the first contractor that shows up first in the search results. Don’t do this as ranking first on Google isn’t proof they will provide a good service.

The key to finding the ideal contractor is to not be in a hurry. Have several interviews with the technicians and settle with the most experienced.

It also doesn’t hurt working with a contractor with a great personality.

14

Feb

Do I Need Plywood under Granite Countertops?

If you are asking, do I need plywood under granite countertops? You must be thinking about installing granite in your home, but aren’t sure whether also budget for plywood, right?

Well, you need plywood if your granite slab is less than 3cm thick. You should note that you will still need support in certain situations, even if your countertops are more than 3cm thick. These situations include:

Over the dishwasher.

The dishwasher opening has an opening that goes completely unsupported since there is no cabinet for it to rest on. The plywood support will provide the granite counters with the support it needs.

Besides the support, it’s wise you ask the contractor to install mesh under the countertop at the dishwasher location for additional support.

Bartop overhang

The bar top overhang creates an unbalanced loading condition, so if someone puts weight on the edge of the countertop, it will rotate in the force’s direction. It’s for this reason that you will need additional support for the cantilevered portion of your granite.

Even if the contractor installs mesh under the cantilevered portion of your countertop, the support isn’t enough to provide you with the amazing support you are looking for. For maximum support, install plywood.

Why use plywood to support natural stone?

While it might seem silly to support a stone with wood, it actually makes sense. For once, plywood is durable, while granite is fragile, especially if the slab is thin. This means that the piece of plywood will provide you with the support you are looking for.

Plywood is also inexpensive compared to solid hardwoods. This means you can provide support to your countertops without breaking the bank.

If you were to use stones instead of plywood, you would have to use multiple stones to join the pieces together, which will leave unsightly seams on the countertops. On the other hand, installing plywood means you have a smooth and seamless countertop that you can be proud to show off.

Are there other granite countertop support options?

If you don’t like securing your countertops with plywood or you have no access to it, don’t worry as there are plenty of other options you can go with. These options include:

Corbels

A corbel is a support where the back attaches vertically to the cabinet or wall, and the top acts as the support where you can rest other objects on. Corbels are similar to L-shaped brackets, but they are made as solid 3D objects designed to be seen.

The cool thing is, unlike brackets, corbels are designed to be both aesthetically appealing and functional. Since they leave space for your legs, corbels are perfect supports for a bar top overhang.

Poles

Poles are as simple as they sound. They come straight up from the floor, providing support to the underside of the countertop. Poles make an excellent choice when you are planning to install a large overhang.

While poles are great, provide additional support by installing some subtop, such as plywood or wire mesh.

Brackets

Brackets are like corbels, but they are designed not to be seen. A good example of the hidden countertop bracket is the L-shaped bracket. Brackets work like corbels where you mount them vertically to the cabinets, having a space on top to support the counter.

After installation, there is nothing between the bracket’s top and back, making them almost invisible.

Another popular bracket is the knee wall bracket that is straight and often mounted horizontally into a knee wall. For those wondering what a knee wall is, it’s a short wall that doesn’t extend all the way from the floor to the ceiling.

During installation, you cut holes into the wood underneath where you are planning to install your countertops, then install the metal sheets straight into the wood to support the countertop overhang’s weight.

Work with a professional

Regardless of the type of support you are using on your countertops, ensure the installation is done by a professional granite contractor Rockville. The last thing you want is to hire a novice that botches your expensive countertops.

06

Feb

Granite Installation Process: Steps To Follow When Installing Granite Countertops

Granite countertops come with plenty of perks. They transform your kitchen, they are durable, among many other things. If you want to install the countertops in your home, there are two ways you can go about it: hire granite installers or do it yourself.

If you are a dab hand at DIY projects, you can do the work yourself and by so doing you save money and install the countertops in your preferred manner. Is this your first time installing the countertops? Here is the granite installation process you should follow:

Get the right measurements

Begin with determining the size and shape of granite you need to complete your project. A great way to do it is to use craft paper or cardboard to create a template that you will visit the granite stores with.

Trace around the existing countertops and cut away any excess material to make an exact template. When doing it, mark any spots where you will need cuts such as the sink.

Don’t be in a hurry when taking the measurements. Take your time to ensure you get precise measurements.

After knowing the size of the granite you need, the next thing is to determine the size of the overhang you want for your countertops. An ideal granite overhang should be 1.5 inches. Avoid an overhang larger than this, as it will require you to install steel braces to support it.

The braces are complex to install and will eat up on your budget.

After taking the measurements, adjust your template to include the additional measurements of the kitchen overhang.

With the measurements in place, now head to the stores and choose the granite you want for your home. Granite is natural, so it comes in different colors and designs. It’s up to you to choose the right one for your home.

When making the purchase, avoid buying from the big box stores as they sell their products at inflated prices and often don’t have a wide selection of slabs to choose from.

Before you make the commitment to buy large slabs, first take a piece of the slab with you at home and see how it blends with the rest of the house. Only buy a larger slab if you like how the slab looks in your house.

Prepare the surfaces for installation

Now that you have your desired slab, now it’s time to install it on your surfaces. Unfortunately, you can’t install it on dirty surfaces so the first thing to do is to clean your countertops so they are free of grease, oil, dirt, and other materials.

If you had installed countertops before, remove them so you have a clean surface to work with.

Once the countertops are clean, put down plywood for the granite counters to rest on. For best results, ensure the plywood has the same measurements as the template.

Attach the plywood to the countertop cabinets and secure them with screws. Also, waterproof the plywood to keep it from swelling when it comes into contact with water.

Lay the granite slab

Lay the granite slab in place. In most cases, you will need one slab, but if your kitchen is large, you may need to lay several pieces. If this is the case, epoxy the seams to cement the pieces together. You should then use a razor blade to skim off any excess epoxy that might be left behind.

You should then secure the granite slab to the cabinets using bond block attachments. This is to keep the granite from moving around or shifting during normal usage.

If you have a special cooktop or sinkhole, you may need to make additional cuts. Use a wet saw to accomplish this.

Install the sink and cooktop

After making the cuts, install the sink and cooktop. Place the sink in the cut and ensure it fits properly. To secure it in place, use a bead of caulk around the sink edge where the sink rests on the granite.

It’s also wise to apply a bead caulk around the underside of the sink.

Finish the countertop

To complete the look, remove any caulk, dust, or epoxy on the countertops. You also should clean the counters and seal them.

The duration of the granite installation process depends on the size and complexity of the job. For a small project, it can take you 2-3 hours, but larger and more complex projects can last for up to 7 hours.

You save money and have an easy time customizing the countertops to your liking when you install the countertops by yourself, but if you find it complex or you don’t have the skills, let a granite contractor Rockville help you out.