29

Nov

What to Do With Granite Countertops

When buying granite for the first time, all you hear is what you shouldn’t do to it. For example, you are told that you shouldn’t sit on it, you shouldn’t place hot items on it, you shouldn’t wash it with harsh products, and so on.

If you are a granite fan, you must be wondering what you can do with it, right? Well, here is what to do with granite countertops:

Clean them with soap and a rag

Soap and rag are all you need to leave your countertops spotless. To clean the surfaces, wet a rag and apply a bit of soap to the countertop or your rug. You should then wipe the entire surface once to clean it.

To avoid spreading food, grease, and dirt, wring the rag with fresh water and once you are done, rinse the rag and wipe it down the counter with fresh water to remove any soap residues.

Follow it with drying the countertop with a microfiber cloth.

If the soap isn’t getting your countertops clean enough or you want to get better results, use a special countertop cleaner.

You can also make your special granite cleaner. To make the cleaner, you need to mix 50/50 rubbing alcohol with water, then add 20 drops of your favorite essential oils. This mixture will not only clean the countertops, but also disinfect them.

Remove granite stains

The other thing you can do is remove granite stains. Regular daily cleaning is enough to leave your countertops spotless, but sometimes you spill something, and you don’t remove it on time. In such a case, you have to think about removing the stains without damaging the natural stone.

One of the ways to do it is to apply baking soda paste. Regardless of the nature of the stain, the chances are high that baking soda will remove it. To get rid of an oil-based stain, make a baking soda paste with water and if you are dealing with a water-based stain, mix the baking soda with hydrogen peroxide.

Apply the paste over the stained areas, gently scrub the counter with a soft cloth and rinse it thoroughly. If the stain doesn’t come off the first time, repeat it.

If you repeatedly scrub the surface and the stain doesn’t come off, cover the area with plastic wrap and tape the edges down. Leave the homemade stain remover in place overnight or after a few days, then rinse and wipe the granite with a soft cloth and this will hopefully reveal the stain-free surface.

Seal the countertops

Most granite countertops come with a seal coat, but this isn’t enough—you need to add an extra layer to keep your countertops in top shape. You can do the sealing by yourself if you have the skills, but let an expert do the work for the best outcome.

You have two options with sealants—water and solvent-based sealants. Water-based sealants are environmentally friendly, while solvent-based sealants go deeper into the soil.

Regardless of what you settle on, when making the purchase, be on the lookout for the active ingredient “fluorocarbon aliphatic resin.” This product provides over 10 years of protection and repels oil from your surfaces, so you don’t have to worry about oils on your surfaces.

Begin with cleaning the countertops to remove dirt, dust, and other materials that might be present. One of the best ways to clean is to mix one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent and two tablespoons of isopropyl alcohol in a pint spray bottle and fill it with cool water.

You should then generously apply it on the countertops and wipe it clean with polishing using a microfiber cloth. Give the countertops 24 hours to completely dry out before applying the sealer.

Proceed and apply your desired sealer. To prevent the sealer from coming off, it’s recommended you leave it at least 24 hours before using the countertops.

Parting shot

These are some of the things you can do with your granite counters. If you can’t do something to your counters, let granite companies Rockville or any other professionals help you out—you don’t want to do something you can’t, and you ruin your precious surfaces, do you?

14

Nov

What Are My Kitchen Countertops Options?

Are you thinking about installing kitchen countertops and asking what are my kitchen countertops options? Well, there are plenty of options you can go with, with the common ones being:

Natural stone countertops

From their name, these are countertops obtained from natural stone, and they include: soapstone, marble, slate, and granite countertops.

Granite countertops are one of the most popular, and they are sold primarily through local fabricators, but you will sometimes find them in home improvement stores and kitchen showrooms.

Granite comes in a wide range of colors ranging from variegated browns to vibrant blue. It goes that the rarer the color, the more expensive the stone, so if you are on a budget, you should stay away from the rare colors.

Marble is another popular natural stone countertop that has fewer color patterns than granite. Marble is relatively soft and porous than granite, which makes it more prone to stains.

Despite this, marble is regarded as an almost perfect work surface for activities such as making fresh pasta and baking.

Soapstone and slate aren’t as popular as granite and marble, and they come in far fewer colors than granite. Soapstone is usually dark greenish-black in color, but it’s not uncommon to find lighter green-gray slabs.

On the other hand, slate is extremely dense and comes in five subtle colors such as red, gray, green, black, and purple. You will sometimes find mottled purple and variegated purple slates with visible veins and shades of contrasting colors.

If working with an experienced contractor, soapstone and slate can be fabricated into sinks to match the countertops.

Like the other natural stone countertops, soapstone is porous, and you need to seal it to reduce staining regularly.

Solid surface countertops

Made from dense polyester, acrylic, or a blend of the two, solid surface countertops come in various colors and patterns. They are non-porous, which means they are highly stain and scratch-resistant. It also means that they are highly easy to maintain.

The unique thing about these countertops is they are renewable and repairable. This means that if you scratch or burn the surfaces, you can easily sand them out and fill the gouges.

The countertop seams are fused to create undetectable joints, making the countertops perfect for large or long sections of countertops and oversized island tops.

Concrete

Concrete counters closely resemble natural stone and are popular among homeowners looking to create custom countertops.

Unlike the 80s concrete countertops where the fabricators messily poured the concrete on top of the cabinets, modern fabricators offer pre-cast counters made in the workshop then delivered to your home already fully cured and finished.

The pre-cast concrete counters are 1 ½ inch thick and are available in slabs of up to 10 feet long.

The fabricators can create them in any color, which is achieved by adding pigments to the concrete during mixing.

Once cured, the slabs are honed and sealed to prevent them from staining.

The major problem with concrete is cracking. Fabricators go around this by using wire mesh, metal bars, or fiberglass to strengthen them.

Engineered stone

Also known as quartz composite, engineered stone comprises 90% quartz and 10% acrylic or epoxy binder. The most popular composites under this category are: Silestone, Formica solid surfacing, and Corian Quartz.

You must be wondering what is the difference between the traditional solid surfacing and engineered stone countertops, right? Well, the difference is that engineered stone is much harder and has more depth than the other countertops. It also has clarity and radiance you won’t find in other countertops.

Ceramic tiles

Most homeowners now prefer countertops that are easy to install, maintain, and provide a seamless counter. Due to this, few countertops are covered with porcelain or ceramic tile.

While this is the case, it doesn’t mean that you should rule out ceramic countertops for your project. The tiles make an excellent choice for backsplashes or secondary work surfaces such as islands, peninsulas, eat-at counters, and butler pantries.

Whether you are seeking countertop replacement services Rockville or any other service, you can install ceramic tiles, but you need to ensure that you install the right ones. Don’t install wall tiles on the counters as they are bound to crack as a rule of thumb.

08

Nov

What Is A Cheaper Alternative To Granite Countertops?

Every homeowner dreams about installing granite in their homes. Unfortunately, the countertops don’t come cheap. If you have always wanted to install granite in your home, but the price is out of your reach, you must be wondering, what is a cheaper alternative to granite countertops, right? Well, there are many of them, with the common ones being:

Quartz

Also known as engineered stone, quartz is one of the most affordable alternatives you can go with. Contractors recommend it when you are looking to achieve simple luxury. The good thing about it is that it comes in different shades and colors, so you will find one that fits your style.

Quartz is also non-porous, meaning that it’s easy to clean and doesn’t stain easily.

Since the countertop is an engineered stone, you can modify it to a glossy or matte surface. And the presence of resin means you don’t need to keep sealing it, which makes it even easier to maintain.

While quartz is an excellent alternative to granite, it has its drawbacks. One of the drawbacks being that it’s easily damaged by heat. This means that if you place hot pots and pans on it, the countertop is bound to melt and burn, leaving a blackened indentation.

Marble countertops

Yes, some marble varieties are cheaper than granite. To avoid spending too much money on the countertops, avoid rare and exotic varieties.

The beauty of marble is that it has a timeless beauty, and when properly installed, it’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing countertops you can have. The countertop also comes in a variety of colors and veining patterns.

While it comes in a variety of inviting colors, it’s relatively soft and porous which means that it will chip and scratch easily when put under pressure and hard wear. The porosity also puts the stone at the risk of staining.

It will also absorb any foods, liquids, and cleaning chemicals that you put on it, making it difficult to clean.

Quartzite

If you want a countertop that looks like marble but is more durable and heat resistant, you should consider quartzite. Quartzite forms when sandstone shifts deeper into the earth’s mantle, raising the sandstone’s temperature and forcing it to crystallize.

The good thing is that, unlike marble, quartzite is exceptionally durable and doesn’t scratch easily. The countertop is also heat and stain-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about scratching or burning it.

While the countertop is great and might look like marble, it’s limited in the color area where it doesn’t have as many color varieties as marble.

Sintered stone

Sintered stone is engineered stone made from quartz and ceramic particles. The particles that make up sintered stone are treated with high pressure and heat to form a crystallized stone in the lab.

Sintered stone can be made from different materials, which gives it different color varieties and patterns.

With a hardened level of 7/10 on the Mohs hardness scale, sintered stone is one of the hardest and durable materials you can have. It’s even less porous, making it easy to maintain as you don’t have to worry about sealing it.

It’s heat resistant, so you can place hot pots and pans on it without worrying about causing cracks and damage.

While the stone is great, its made in the laboratory which makes it less environmentally friendly than natural stone materials.

Wood

Wooden countertops can be made from different materials such as oak, maple, cherry, bamboo, and walnut.

Since it’s soft and more forgiving, when you drop a glass on a wooden countertop, it will never break like it’s the case with granite.

While this softness is good, it can sometimes result in chips, cut marks, and cracks.

To keep your wooden countertops looking great, you need to treat them monthly with mineral oils. You also should seal the countertops to keep them clean and stain-free.

There you go

These are some of the best and cheapest granite alternatives. If you aren’t sure about the right one to go for, get the input of a professional. They will advise whether to go for wood or quartz countertops Potomac depending on the look you want to achieve and your budget.