30

Mar

How Do I Get The Best Deal On Granite Countertops?

Although granite counters are beautiful and significantly improve the house’s look, they don’t come cheap. Fortunately, you can do several things to get the countertops at a good price. Are you wondering how do I get the best deal on granite countertops? There are plenty of ways, with the most common ones being:

Shop around and compare prices

What do most homeowners do when they are looking to buy granite counters? They visit the first granite shop and make the purchase. In most cases, they do this because they are in a hurry to get things done and move on to the next thing. This is wrong as they often end up spending too much money than they should have.

To save money and get the best deal, take your time and visit different granite stores and see what they offer. Of course, you should only consider buying from a store stocking high-quality stones at a low cost.

You can’t have ample time if you start your research late, so to ensure you have as much time as you need, start scouting for countertops at least 3 months before you embark on your project.

Buy wholesale

When you buy anything wholesale, you save a lot of money, and you should do the same when you are buying granite counters. The cool thing is most granite stores will sell you the countertops at wholesale prices when you are buying many slabs. There are even some stores that will sell you one slab at a wholesale price—you only need to look.

Be flexible with granite color.

One of the prime factors affecting the price of countertops is the color of the slab, where the rare colors cost more than the easier-to-find colors. As you can guess, this means that if you are looking for a specific rare color, you end up paying a premium for your countertops.

To save money and get a perfect deal, you should be flexible in your color choice. The beauty is since granite is natural, it comes in plenty of colors to choose from. If you are in the granite store and find that your desired granite color is expensive than your budget, choose a cheaper color that is close to your color of choice.

Order from a local supplier

While you can buy the granite slabs from anywhere in the world, it’s good you buy them from your local supplier. The reason for this is because the slabs will be cheaper to transport from the local supplier to your home.

Granite slabs are heavy, and if you ship them from a long-distance, they can cost you an arm and a leg, and you don’t want this, do you?

Granite sellers ship their products in bulk, so they don’t spend as much money as you would if you shipped just a few slabs for your kitchen.

To save even more money on transport, ask the seller if they can transport the slabs for you, for free.

Go for granite remnants.

If you are looking for small granite slabs for certain kitchen elements, such as the backsplash behind the stove, don’t spend a lot of money on whole granite slabs. Instead, get granite remnants.

These are small granite chunks that are leftover from previous projects.

Since they are leftover and often too small to fit an entire kitchen, they are cheaper than entire slabs.

When you are in the granite store, ask for the remnants, and you will get them at a low price, which sees you saving a lot of money.

Go with a standard eased edge.

The type of edge you install on your countertops has a significant impact on the overall cost of granite surfaces, so be cautious of the edge you settle on. As a rule of thumb, choose the standard eased edge as it’s much cheaper than the tiered or bevel edge.

Install the countertops by yourself

If you are a dab hand at DIY projects, save money by bypassing granite installers Rockville and installing the countertops by yourself. Of course, ensure that you follow the right procedure when it comes to their installation.

25

Mar

Is Granite Good for Kitchen Countertops?

Granite countertops are one of the most popular countertop materials, and every homeowner wants to install them. The countertops are loved for their beauty and the fact that they give a kitchen a premium look. While this is the case, the big question is, is granite good for kitchen countertops?

Yes, granite is an excellent material for your kitchen countertops. Here are some of the reasons why:

It’s heat resistant

Granite counters won’t melt or blister when exposed to heat. This means you can take a hot pan and place it directly on the countertops without worrying about the surfaces getting damaged. While this is the case, you should note that regular countertop exposure to extreme temperatures can damage them.

This is because, while the countertop is heat resistant, it’s not heatproof.  To protect your surfaces, always have a trivet in place so that when you remove a hot pot or pan from the fire, you don’t place it directly on the countertops. Rather, you place it on the trivet.

It’s scratch-resistant

Granite scores a seven on Moh’s scale of hardness. This means the material is tough and able to resist scratches from different materials. Due to its tough nature, many homeowners cut fruits and vegetables on it. While you can do this without any issue, you should limit it. This is because the vegetables and fruits might be having harmful acids that might etch the surfaces.

Other foods such as meat might be harboring bacteria that you transfer to the surfaces when you place them directly on the countertops. When you place other foods on the counters, you transfer these bacteria to the foods. You don’t want this, do you?

Even if the countertops can take the beating, don’t cut the food directly on the countertops. Instead, always have a cutting board in place at all times.

You can easily hide seams.

If you have a large kitchen, you have to use two or more granite slabs. The biggest worry with most homeowners is that the countertops will show seams that give the surfaces an ugly appeal. When you hire the right contractors to install the countertops, you don’t have to worry about this. Most experienced installers mix custom color epoxy to adhere to the seams, which comes in handy at disguising them.

And as a result, you have a smooth, beautiful surface.

You can repair the countertops.

Most countertop materials need to be replaced when they get damaged. This isn’t the case with granite. When you have a crack or chip on your granite, you need to contact the contractor that installed them and explain the issue. In most cases, the contractor will use a color-matched epoxy to fill the void, and when properly done, it’s invisible. In fact, you can’t tell you have a defect there.

If you have a small chip, you can use superglue to seal the chip.

While the countertops are repairable, you should note that it’s your responsibility to protect them from damage. Of major importance, don’t place heavy cast-iron pans directly into your under-mounted sink. This is because the cutout edges are prone to chips that give your surfaces an ugly appeal.

There are plenty of countertop options to choose from

If you ask many homeowners, they will tell you that granite is white, but this isn’t the case at all. Granite comes in a variety of colors and patterns to choose from. And the beauty is that since the stone is natural, every slab is unique so that you can be sure that when you install the countertop, you can’t find anyone else with an exactly similar one.

If you want your kitchen to have an exotic look, you should install exotic granite colors such as red. While the slabs will be slightly more expensive than the other slabs in the market, you will give your guests something to talk about when they visit you.

They are easy to maintain

Granite countertops are one of the easiest materials to maintain. Once you have had them professionally installed by granite installers Rockville, the only thing you need to do is to clean them once a day. You also should make it a habit to clean any spills as soon as they happen. Also, once a year, seal the countertops to keep off stains.

17

Mar

How to Tell the Difference between Marble and Granite

On first look, marble and granite countertops look similar. Both are natural and porous, which can be confusing to many new homeowners. But are the two similar? Absolutely not.

While the two materials are similar in some aspects, they have their differences. If this is the first time buying the countertops, you need to be cautious, so you don’t buy the wrong one. To help you out, here is a guide on how to tell the difference between marble and granite:

Origin

Both marble and granite are natural, meaning they are both acquired through mining and excavation, but they have a few differences.

After being buried for millions of years, granite is a kind of igneous rock. It’s a byproduct of molten magma that has been seasoned down and solidified for decades. Granite forms after going through periodic heating and cooling, and this makes it hard and durable.

Marble goes through the same formation process as granite, but marble doesn’t involve magma heat. A marble is a combination of sedimentary rocks and other natural elements. It results after years of natural meshing of rock and soil. After being exposed to heat and pressure, you have the natural design of the stone.

During its making, plenty of minerals are involved, so marble tends to come in a wide range of colors. This means as a buyer, you have plenty of designs and colors to choose from.

Cost

Cost is often a deal-breaker when you are buying countertops, with marble being more expensive than granite. You should note that the price of the countertops isn’t only the buying cost. You also need to factor in the cost of installation. You can’t install the countertops by yourself, so you will need to hire a professional to help you out.

The installation technicians have different rates depending on their experience level, insurances, and location. It’s up to you to research and find a contractor that will provide you with great service at the least cost.

When you are operating on a tight budget, avoid hiring uptown companies as they will charge you a premium fee for nothing. You should note that the high fees charged by these companies aren’t a reflection of the services they provide, but rather than the fee they have to charge to stay afloat.

Simultaneously, avoid extremely cheap companies as they are most likely inexperienced and will do a shoddy job. Others will damage your countertops, which can lead to an expensive loss.

As mentioned, you need to do your research and find a company that provides you the sweet balance between cost and experience.

Porosity

As mentioned in the introduction, both marble and granite are porous, meaning that water penetrates the inner layers, putting the countertops at staining risk. While this is the case, marble is more porous, so you need to seal it more often to prevent it from staining.

Despite the high porosity, marble is still compact and sturdy, so it makes a great choice when you are looking to install durable and elegant kitchen countertops.

The marble’s high porosity makes it an ideal candidate for installation in hotter climates due to its ability to repel heat.

Although granite is less porous, you should note that it’s still porous, so you should protect it from oils, wine, condiments, and other materials that can stain the surface.

Aesthetics

For the untrained eye, both marble and granite look the same, but they have several distinct physical attributes that you can pick when you are cautious.

For example, granite has a veiny look that resembles specks on the surface and differs in color, where the different slabs have a variety of hues. Marble, too, has a veiny pattern, but the veins are larger and run through the slab with fairly consistent colors.

Durability and maintenance

For the countertops to last for a long time, you need to ensure they are properly installed by experienced granite installers Rockville or other professionals. Since marble is more porous, it’s more susceptible to stains and spills, so you will need to clean it up and seal it more often.

Granite is less porous, but you will still need to seal it at least once a year to improve its ability to resist stains and spills.

09

Mar

Can Quartz Countertops Be Buffed?

Quartz is known for its tough nature, so when you install it, you have peace of mind that it will last for a long time and effectively handle oil spills, heat, dyes from foods, and beauty products.

To retain the look of the countertop, you need to keep it looking clean and polished. Can quartz countertops be buffed? Yes, they can. In fact, here are some of the ways to polish them.

Scrub the surfaces with soap and warm water

Have you noticed your countertops are losing their shine? You can restore it by scrubbing the surfaces with tough brushes.

Quartz surfaces are fortified and tough, so they will effectively stand up to the scrubbing brushes, so you don’t worry about scratching them during the scrubbing.

The best way to go about it is to use warm, soapy water. Put the water in a spray bottle and use it to soak the quartz. Once the surfaces are wet, scrub them with a sponge, washcloth, or scrub brush of your liking.

Once you are done, use a cloth or squeegee to dry the surface while ensuring you leave no streaks behind. Remember, the wet spots and streaks will tamper with the quartz’s continuity, making the countertops appear messy under some lighting conditions.

Windex and other window cleaners

Windex and similar window cleaners are highly effective at polishing quartz. The same way they shine and increase the clarity of windows, they can bring out the shine in quartz.

When using the cleaners, remember that less is more, so fill a spray bottle with water, then add a small amount of window cleaner, and then apply the cleaner to the counter’s entire surface.

After spraying the countertops, gently dry and polish them with a soft, clean cloth, and within minutes, your countertops will look as good as new.

Quartz polishing products

If you don’t like using water or window cleaner, you can always use specialized quartz polishing products. These cleaning products make sense when you have noticed your countertops getting stained or even getting damaged by the cleaners.

Like the other cleaners, follow the instructions on how to apply and polish the countertops properly. Ensure you give the countertops and surfaces a good cleaning before applying the polishing products.

Tips to avoid staining the countertops

Instead of having to polish the countertops, isn’t it easier to simply prevent the stains from coming about? Here are some of the ways to prevent these stains:

Avoid food spills

Remains from food will cause stains as the food reacts with quartz countertops. Some of the notorious foods known to cause staining include: coffee, tea, red wine, fruit juices, tomato sauce, and fresh berries.

To prevent stains from these foods, avoid placing them directly on your countertops. Always have a trivet or any other protective material in place. You shouldn’t place even fresh fruits such as fresh berries on the countertops as they will most likely stain the surfaces.

If you must have the fruits on the countertops either for the look or to eat them as you are cooking, ensure they are in a bowl.

In the event juice spills or any other types of spills happen, move with haste and remove them before they react with the quartz and cause an off-putting stain.

Use the right cleaning products.

Did you know the products you are using to clean the countertops can affect your countertops’ look? If you are using paint thinners, oil soaps, detergents, and other products, they might be reacting with your surfaces, leaving dark or dull spots.

To bring the staining to a stop, use the right cleaning products. For example, use cleaning products specifically designed for quartz.

Bleach

When your countertops are damaged by bleach, they tend to have lighter or white spots. Bleach etches the surface, leaving its mark like marble etching. To prevent your countertops from being damaged by bleach, don’t use it directly on your countertops.

Heat or burns

Although quartz kitchen countertops Potomac are heat resistant, they are prone to heat damage. Your countertops are bound to be affected by heat when you place a hot item on them. So to prevent staining, avoid placing the hot pot directly on the countertop surface.