13

Jan

How Do You Save Money On Granite Countertops?

Since granite is a luxurious material, many homeowners imagine having to spend astronomical amounts on it. What if I told you it doesn’t have to be this way? Operating on a budget and wondering how do you save money on granite countertops? Here are tips on how to go about it:

Buy a prefabricated stone.

A prefabricated stone is one that has already been cut before arriving at the store. Since the supplier doesn’t have to cut the stone, they often sell it at a lower price, which sees you saving money.

Prefabricated stones also prevent unwanted delays as the supplier picks the stone from the store and delivers it to your home without working on them.

While the prefabricated stone saves you money, you should note that it might not fit your kitchen perfectly as it doesn’t have custom cuttings.

Before you go for this stone, ask your contractor whether it’s a wise thing to do. You don’t want to save money on a stone you won’t use or install it, and it gives your kitchen an ugly look, do you?

Take your time

What do most homeowners do when they are looking to install countertops in their homes? They rush to the nearest store and pick the slab that is pleasing to their eyes. You shouldn’t do this if you are looking to save money.

As a savvy shopper, take your time. Ask yourself, where can I find granite countertops? The materials are sold in big box stores, from granite fabricators and companies specializing in prefabricated granite counters, and bathroom design studios.

You should then hit these stores and see what they have to offer. As you are shopping, keep in mind that most big box stores don’t stock many countertop options and tend to be expensive, so it’s wise to avoid them.

Get estimates from different suppliers and compare them. The estimates should include the cost of the countertop, the cost of delivering it to your property, and the installation cost.

Carefully review the estimates and buy from a contractor that makes the most sense.

It’s also wise to shop in the company of an experienced contractor who will guide you on buying a countertop material that is right for your home and gives you the best results.

Settle for a simple color

If you have been shopping for the countertops for a while, you must have realized that certain countertops are more expensive than others solely due to their colors.

Some colors are rare than others, and the rare ones tend to be more expensive. And since you are looking to save money, avoid countertops with the rare color.

You might argue that your kitchen will look better with the rare color, but you should know you are better off changing the design elements in your kitchen to fit the color of a more affordable countertop rather than going for the expensive stone.

For example, you can paint or stain your cabinets to match the less expensive color, and you save money you would have spent on the rare color.

Keep an eye on the hidden costs.

When installing countertops, the price of the countertops is just one of the costs. There are plenty of other costs that come with it, such as the cost of installation, seaming, transportation, edging, backsplash finish, and many others.

To save money, buy from smaller stores with plenty of countertop options and often install the countertops at a lower price.

Streamline the project by choosing the standard eased edge instead of fancier edges such as the bevel edge. You also save money by choosing another finish for the backsplash.

Use granite tiles instead of slabs.

If looking to redo the entire kitchen or bathroom, use granite tiles instead of slabs. Although, you won’t get the same look as with the slab, tiles are cheaper to buy and install. Tiles are also thinner, which means less raw materials to deal with and easier transportation.

The light and thin nature of the tiles means you can also install them directly over your existing counters.  Due to this, granite contractor Rockville has to undertake little to no demolition work.

07

Jan

Why Is Quartz So Expensive?

If you have been in the countertops market, you must have noticed that quartz kitchen countertops don’t come cheap. Why is quartz so expensive? You must be wondering.

Well, there are plenty of reasons for the high cost. These reasons include:

High demand

Unlike granite and marble, quartz doesn’t require sealing. This feature has made quartz highly popular among homeowners and like any other popular item, there is a high demand for the stone.

The laws of demand and supply dictate that the higher the demand, the higher the price hence the high price of the stone.

Quality

Although the quality of the stone varies from one manufacturer to the other, quartz countertops are generally high quality where the stone is strong, consistently colored, and gives off lower levels of dangerous VOCs.

Since many homeowners know that quartz is a high-quality stone, they rush to buy it hence driving the price up.

As mentioned, the quality of the stone varies among manufacturers, so there is the risk of buying a stone and finding it inferior quality.

To avoid this, take your time when buying. Visit different stores in the company of a countertop professional and scrutinize the stone before making the purchase.

Quartz is highly versatile

Quartz comes in a wide range of colors, styles, finishes, and edge treatments. When it comes to thickness, the stone runs from 3/8” to 11/4”. Obviously, the thicker the countertop, the more expensive it will be.

Due to the versatility of the stone, it’s up to you to research and find one that will be ideal for your application. If not sure of the one that will look the best, get the input of a professional.

Quartz is easy to customize

Although, most homeowners want countertops that look like their friends’ or neighbours’, you can easily customize quartz if looking for that unusual countertop shape or width.

Quartz also allows you to create custom cutouts to accommodate your appliances. You can also create a bar sink and other special features with quartz.

High trade tariffs

Since quartz is manufactured overseas, the government has imposed heavy trade tariffs that have driven up the cost. For example, quartz manufactured in China, which is traditionally on the lower price end, has increased by over 300%.

Quartz is complex to install

Quartz lacks porosity, is dense, and heavy to lift. Before installing the slab, you have to level the cabinetry and vanities. You also have to securely support any sections not positioned on top of cabinets such as the breakfast bar.

To have the classic seamless look, you have to unobtrusively match the seams.

All of these make quartz installation a challenging project that can only be handled by a qualified and equipped contractor that doesn’t come at a low price which further increases the quartz cost.

Is there hope with all the high prices?

Despite the high cost, you can still install quartz in your kitchen. You only need to consider several tips that include:

Take your time

As mentioned above, the key to finding a high-quality stone is to take your time and shop around. Before you make the purchase, visit different stores and see what they have to offer.

As a rule of thumb, avoid the big box stores as they not only have fewer options, but they also tend to be expensive. The best places to buy countertops is from the small stores.

You will find plenty of quartz options, pay less for them and establish meaningful relationships with the contractors that will go a long way towards keeping your countertops in top shape.

Be flexible

It’s not uncommon to find a beautiful quartz design and color only for it to be way out of your means. If this is you, it doesn’t mean your dream of owning quartz countertops is gone.

You only need to be flexible. If you can’t afford a given design or color, simply pivot and go for a design that is within your budget.

Minimize the number of slabs

When designing your kitchen or bathroom, work with your contractor and come up with a design that requires one slab instead of two. For a small project such as a bathroom vanity, visit your quartz countertops dealer Potomac and get a remnant instead of an entire slab.

28

Dec

Can You Remove Granite Countertops and Reuse Them?

Imagine this. You have spent thousands of dollars renovating your house with premium granite counters then due to unforeseen circumstances, you have to move out of the house or sell it.

You can’t imagine moving to the new house without the seamless design, durability, ease of maintenance, and color patterns of granite.

Can you remove granite countertops and reuse them? You wonder. The simple answer is it’s most likely impossible as there are plenty of hurdles you have to go over for it to be a success. These hurdles include:

You have to match the kitchen space layout

Since you had already cut the slabs during installation, the only way you can use them in your new home is if they fit the footprint of your new kitchen cabinetry.

This means if in the old layout the granite had cutout around the wet bar area or around the sink area, for you to reuse your countertops in the new kitchen you should have the exact layout, which as you can guess is highly improbable.

Even if by miracle the old and new kitchen layouts match, you have problems if the new kitchen is larger than the old one.

In such a scenario you have to find matching granite pieces which can be difficult if the granite pattern and color is unique.

Even if you manage to get the piece, you will have a visible seam where you attach the additional slab. As you can guess this can significantly affect the look you are trying to achieve.

So to conclude, for you to successfully remove and reuse your kitchen countertop, the two houses should have similar cabinet layouts. The length and width of the countertop should fit the cabinet dimensions.

If you have excess granite, your contractor can trim it down, but if the granite is not enough, you have plenty of issues to solve.

High granite damage risk

Most homeowners install granite for its tough and indestructible nature, but you should know that granite is heavy and brittle.

This means it’s almost impossible to remove the countertops in one large slab as the risk of damage is high.

For you to safely remove the countertop, hire a professional to come with special tools, which as you might guess isn’t cheap.

You also have to involve several people to hold along the countertop’s length to avoid pressure points that might lead to cracking.

Even when you hire experienced contractors, most of them will require you to sign a contract that frees them from liability should the granite crack during removal. This is due to the high risk of damage that comes with removing the stone.

Before you decide to remove the granite, find out the type of granite you have. Granite can be weaker and fragile or it can be harder and stronger. Obviously, you should go for one that is harder and stronger as it will be easier to handle and move without risking a lot of damage.

You also should consider the thickness of the granite counter. It’s better to remove a thicker slab than a thinner one. To tell how thin your countertop is, check it from beneath the cabinet.

If there is plywood below the granite, then the countertop is thin and has high chances of cracking but if there is no plywood, the stone is thick and there are chances of removing it with no issues.

Work with an expert contractor

There are plenty of perks that come with removing and reusing granite counters. One is you don’t leave behind your precious countertops you spent a lot of money on.

Secondly, you don’t have to break the bank to purchase new countertops in your new home.

While this is great, as discussed above, it comes with plenty of challenges you have to be strategic when approaching them. To increase the chances of the process being successful, work with experienced granite contractors Rockville.

The contractors should have removed and reused other countertops in the past. When you hire the right ones, they will help you decide whether it’s wise to remove the countertops or not.

The contractors will also remove and reinstall the countertops if the stone is healthy enough for reuse.

12

Dec

5 Ways To Keep Granite Countertops Looking New

When you install granite countertops, you want them to keep the fresh look for as long as possible, and you have every right to as you have spent a lot of money installing them. The good news is that it’s possible to do it. To help you out, here are tips on how to keep granite looking new:

Watch out for the heat.

As a natural stone, granite looks tough and indestructible. While it’s one of the most durable countertop materials on the market, it’s not indestructible. The countertop is also heat resistant, but unfortunately, it’s not heatproof.

This means when you expose it to high temperatures, such as placing hot pans directly on it, it will get damaged. While the hot pan might not leave an ugly burn mark on the countertop, it can cause scratching, forcing you to replace the countertop.

To keep your countertops looking new, protect the surfaces from the hot pots and pans. Thankfully, it’s easy to do it.

When cooking, always have hot pads and trivets in place. Place the hot pans and pots here instead of placing them directly on the countertop surface.

Don’t sit on the countertops.

Granite is strong and durable, but the edges are prone to damage when you place a lot of weight and pressure on it. Due to this, sitting on the countertop edges is harmful as you risk cracking the surfaces, and you are left with an ugly piece that you have to replace to restore the look of your countertops.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, don’t stand on the countertops. Also, don’t sit on the counters as you are cooking or spending time with your better half.

For the kids, let them know they can’t sit or play on the counters.

Have a cutting board in place all the time

Most people make the mistake of treating their countertops as their cutting boards. This is understandable as the countertops appear tough, so many people have the impression they can’t get damaged. How wrong are they?

While you can get away with chopping a few onions for a party dip, making it a habit is counterproductive.

For one, the countertops have plenty of bacteria, so when you chop your meat and other foods on the countertops, you expose them to the many bacteria on the counters. The meat can also get into the stone’s natural pores, making it hard to disinfect them once you are done.

Most foods contain acids that can etch or even stain the countertops. This means you shouldn’t cut grapefruits, lemons, or limes directly on the countertops as they will cause damage.

The tough nature of the countertops can damage the knives and dull them. To protect your precious knives and keep off the food from your countertops, always have a cutting board in place.

Clean your countertops

This is the first thing that comes to most homeowners’ minds when they think about maintaining their countertops looking new. While it’s true cleaning the countertops comes in handy at maintaining them looking new, you have to do it right.

Clean your countertops daily to keep stains, bacteria, and spills from penetrating the countertop seal and seeping into the natural pores of the stone.

You don’t have to be fancy when cleaning the counters. Using water and a few drops of dish soap is enough. An easy way to do it is to mix the two, put them in a spray bottle, and then spray directly on the countertops. Follow up by wiping the surfaces with a clean cloth, rinse with clean water then dry with another clean cloth.

Regular cleaning of the countertops prevents them from getting foggy and grimy with stains.

Avoid harsh cleaning products such as steel wool as they will scratch the surfaces, leaving you with ugly countertop surfaces.

You only need to maintain your granite.

The key to keeping your granite looking new is to take good care of it. Besides the above tips, also reseal the countertops at least once a year. You can do the sealing or hire granite contractors Rockville to help you out.

07

Dec

How Much Do Granite Countertops Cost?

If you are asking how much do granite countertops cost, you must be looking to renovate your bathroom or kitchen and not sure how much to budget for it. As much as we would like to give you a definite answer to this question, the unfortunate thing is the price of the slabs varies depending on plenty of factors that include:

Source of the stone

Ask most homeowners where to buy the granite counters, and the first thing that comes to their minds is the big box stores. While the stores are large and popular, they often don’t have plenty of countertop slab options to choose from. The stores also tend to be more expensive, with most of them charging up to 40% more than specialist stores.

These big-box stores also often outsource the fabrication and installation work making the installation process too expensive.

To save money and get many countertop options to choose from, buy your countertops from the countertop specialists. These professionals have staff, skills, and the necessary equipment, making them a one stop shop.

When you visit these stores, you get top quality unique slabs at a lower cost, and you have expert contractors ready to install the countertops for you expertly.

Thickness

Most of the granite slabs vary between 2 cm and 3 cm. As you can guess, the thicker slabs are more expensive than, the thinner ones. This means you can buy many thinner countertops than thicker ones.

Unfortunately, the thinner slabs require a lot of support and easily break especially when you place them over a large area.

Rarelity of the colors

Although most homeowners install white countertops, granite slabs come in all shades of colors where the rare and exotic colors such as red, blue, and black tend to be more expensive than the standard hues.

Cut

Most people associate granite with long slabs of stone, but these are just the most desirable cut for the kitchen countertops. Manufacturers cut granite in many ways, including tiles, modules, and many others.

Slabs are the most popular, followed by modules, then tiles, where the only advantage granite slabs have over modules is that slabs look better as they require fewer seams hence presenting a smoother, sleeker look.

The modules and tiles might seem less durable than slabs, but this isn’t the case. Remember, they are made from granite.

If operating on a tight budget, go for tiles that also work excellently for backsplashes.

Granite quality grades

Granite comes in different grades defined by pits, veins, colors, soft material content, marks, thickness, and the quarry. While there are many grades, we can summarize them into three primary levels:

Level 1: The low level or entry-level granite is also known as the commercial-grade or the “builder’s grade,” often from china.

Level 2: This is the mid-grade level that is more unique than level 1, and it’s often from Brazil and India.

Level 3: Also known as the high-level grade, it’s the finest quality and comes from India and Brazil.

Obviously, level 3 is the most expensive as it focuses on the quality of the stone.

Demand and supply

Like any other product in the market, the granite countertops’ price is affected by the demand and supply forces. If you buy the slabs when they are in high demand, you will pay more for them than when another person would buy when the demand is lower.

Finishes

Most countertop specialists give the countertops a glossy or polished finish, and in rare cases, they will give it a matte finish. These are the most popular granite finishes, and when you buy them, you won’t pay extra for them.

Unfortunately, if you choose another finish, such as hammered or leathered, you will have to pay an extra fee as the finish is out of the ordinary.

Can you save on your countertops?

The good news is you can save on your countertops. One way is to be more flexible on the countertop’s color, size, grade, and texture. You also should be cautious of the store you buy from.

To avoid costly mistakes, hire expert granite installers Rockville to handle the installations. The professionals will help you with the installations and guide you into buying the right slabs for your home.

29

Nov

How Much Weight Can You Put On Granite Countertops?

If you are asking, how much weight can you put on granite countertops? You must be thinking about standing or sitting on your countertops and unsure whether your countertops will take the weight, right?

Granite is fairly thick, often at the very least ¾ of an inch. If the weight is evenly distributed over a large area, the countertops can hold up to 1000 pounds.

If you are planning on standing on the countertops either to change the lights or reach to the top shelf, you most likely won’t have your weight evenly distributed, which increases the chances of damaging the countertops, especially if your countertops have a weak point or small fissures.

While granite is tough and can handle a lot of weight, granite technicians highly discourage sitting or standing on them. If you have to stand or sit on the countertops, place sturdy plywood on the counters where you will now stand or sit on.

The plywood will help distribute the weight over a large area reducing the chances of caving in the countertops with your weight. To avoid splinters, wear shoes.

Besides sitting or standing on the countertops, there are plenty of other things you should avoid doing to maintain your countertops in top shape. They include:

Placing kids in the sink

If you have a double sink, it might seem cute having your little one there as you are cleaning the dishes but don’t do it. Sinks are often the countertops’ weakest areas, and having your three or four-year-old there you will be damaging your precious countertops.

If you enjoy cleaning the dishes or preparing your meals with the kids in the kitchen, bring them seats to sit on the kitchen island as you go about your duties.

Allowing a lot of sun in the kitchen

Every homeowner wants a well-lit kitchen, and there is nothing wrong with this, but allowing a lot of direct sunlight in the kitchen can cause your countertops to fade. Sunlight can also fade some of the sealants you used on your countertops, giving your surfaces a cheap look.

To avoid this, pull down the shades during the peak daylight hours.

Preparing food in the same area

Do you prepare food in the same spot all the time? Over time, the area suffers from etches, scratches, and other signs of wear and tear.

It’s normal to have a favorite food preparation area, but don’t be too attached to it.

Now and then, prepare your food in different areas of the counter. Who knows, you might even discover a new favorite area you never knew existed?

Placing hot pots and pans on the countertop

Granite is a natural stone, so it has a tough look but don’t fall for it. Placing a hot pan directly on it will cause cracking and discoloration. In some cases, you destroy the granite slab to the extent you have to replace it.

To keep your surfaces in good condition, make it a habit to use potholders and trivets to serve as barriers to avoid burning the surfaces.

Leaning on the edges

What happens when you are preparing your meals with your better half in the kitchen? If there are no chairs in the room, they often lean on the edges, isn’t it? This is wrong as, just like standing or sitting, you put extra pressure on the counters, increasing their chances of getting damaged especially if there are fault lines.

As you should avoid sitting, you should definitely avoid opening a beer bottle on the counters.

Dicing directly on the countertops

The same way homeowners think they can place hot items on the countertops and get away with it is the same way they think they can chop directly on the granite kitchen countertops Rockville and cause no harm.

Oh boy, how wrong are they? When you cut directly on the surfaces, you cause fine scratches that can disrupt the waterproof sealant on the countertops, making them more susceptible to damage.

To maintain your countertops in top condition, always use a cutting board whenever you are chopping, slicing, or dicing.

15

Nov

6 Steps On How To Polish Granite Countertops

Polished granite gives your kitchen a sleek, subtle look. Unfortunately, polished countertops are expensive hence not many homeowners can afford them. Luckily, you can install rough countertops then polish them later on. Interested in learning how to polish granite countertops? Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Clean the countertops

Everything begins here as you can’t polish dirty countertops. Thankfully, cleaning the countertops is easy. You need warm water and a mild detergent. Mix the two, then apply them on the surfaces using a soft cloth.

Once you are done with cleaning, dry the surfaces with a microfiber cloth. You should never leave the surfaces wet or damp as you put the surfaces at the risk of staining.

Step 2: Make or buy the polish.

You can get the polish in two ways: you can make it or buy it. To make the polish, get a small bowl, baking soda, warm water, and fork. Mix 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water until you get a smooth thick paste. Ensure the paste is smooth before using it.

If you aren’t a dab hand at DIY projects or you don’t want to go through the trouble of making your own polish, buy the polish from your local retail store. When making the purchase, ensure the polish is suitable for granite. As a rule of thumb, avoid general-purpose polishing products as they have been shown to damage granite.

Step 3: Apply polish.

Once you have your polish, your next step should be to apply the polish on your countertops. Place a thin, even coating of the paste on the surfaces. If using baking soda paste, place small dollops of it across the countertops using a spoon.

If using retail granite polish, spray it lightly over your countertops and let it sit there for at least 2 minutes.

Step 4: Buff the countertops

After applying the polish, use a clean, soft cloth and work the polish into the granite. Start from one corner and work your way evenly over the countertop. Rub the polish into the countertops in small circles, making sure you buff the edges as well.

You should note that you should always use a soft cloth for buffing as using a more abrasive cloth will scratch the granite and damage it.

Step 6: Wipe off excess polish

It’s normal to have an excess polish, and the excess streaks can easily ruin the polished surface’s appearance. To remove the excess polish, use a soft cloth and dampen it lightly with warm water.

Use the cloth to wipe down your countertop and eliminate any remaining baking soda paste or retail granite polish.

If you find excess water on the countertops after wiping it down, dry it off using another cloth.

In most cases, your countertops will polish up nicely, but if your countertops have deep scratches, the above remedies won’t get the work done. In such a case, you have no way out other than to hire a professional to polish the surfaces for you.

The professionals use specialized tools, and they can either wet or dry polish the countertops.

Tips on retaining the shine

Polishing the countertops isn’t enough—you need to take care of them to retain the shine. How do you do this? Here are tips for doing it:

Clean spills as soon as they happen: Leaving liquids on the countertops for a long time causes the granite to develop dark, shadow-like marks that mess with the countertops’ look.

You should note that even bright-colored beverages can stain the countertops, so don’t take any risk. As soon as there are spills on the countertops, get rid of them. When wiping the spills, use a soft cloth as a rough one will damage them.

Buff the countertops: To create a nice shine and temporarily reduce the staining risk, buff the countertops with cooking oil. To do it, apply cooking oil to a clean cloth, then make circular motions across the surface. For best results, granite contractors Potomac recommend you do this periodically, such as daily or once a week.

It doesn’t matter the type of oil you use. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, or even avocado oil. It’s all up to you.

07

Nov

6 Tips On How To Prepare Cabinets For Granite Countertops

So, you have settled on granite? Good choice. But before you place your newly selected countertops in their assigned area, you have to ensure the space is ready for the new guest. How do you do this? Here are tips on how to prepare cabinets for granite countertops:

Remove the old countertops.

If you are replacing the countertops, you must first remove the old countertops before installing new ones. Start with removing the seal anchoring the countertops to the wall using a knife or any other sharp object.

Depending on the countertops, you may be having screws anchoring the old counters to cabinets. The screws will most likely be underneath, so look them there and remove them if present.

Once the screws are off, it’s time to remove the old countertop.

If the house is new and you are installing the countertops for the first time, the only thing you need to do is to ensure the cabinets are in good condition and level. Place a flat slab on top of them, and it should contact the cabinets in all areas.

If the cabinets aren’t level, you have a reason to worry as installing granite countertops will create pressure points that increase the chances of the countertops breaking.

Level the surfaces

To ensure your countertops have a long life, work on leveling the surfaces. One of the things you can do is to place shims under the cabinets to level the tops. You can also place plywood over the cabinets and place shims underneath the plywood.

You should note that placing plywood over the countertops will add height to the cabinets. Before installing the countertops, ask yourself whether you are comfortable with the added height.

Have enough supports

Granite is heavy, so you shouldn’t have large portions of it hanging over thin air. In areas where the countertops don’t have cabinets to rest on, add supports. There are plenty of materials you can use for this. Consult your contractor.

Remove plumbing

If you already put the plumbing systems in place, you may have to remove them as they often get in the way during installation. Over the years, we have seen homeowners removing the faucets and other plumbing appliances without first turning off the water.

Don’t do this as it often creates a huge mess that takes a lot of time to clear. Sometimes the water causes serious cabinet damage that you have to hire a contractor to help you fix them.

To be safe, turn off the water before you remove any plumbing appliance.

If installing the countertops for the first time, you obviously don’t have sinks or faucets in place. So have them delivered and be ready for installation to make it easy for installers to make a template to the sink’s exact specifications, so you have a perfect installation.

The same thing goes for faucets. If the granite installers have to cut space for them, they need to be on the site at least a day before installation.

Remove the dishes from the cabinets.

If you are like other homeowners, you don’t want your dishes exposed to the chaos of countertop installation so remove them before the installation process begins. Of course, you should place them in a different room.

If you have many dishes and don’t want to go through the trouble of removing them, then returning them, cover the top drawers with a protective sheet to protect them from dust and other debris.

Be present on the day of installation.

Even if everything is in order, you may still have to make last-minute decisions. For example, if you don’t want a lot of sink to show, you have to ask the granite contractor Rockville to move the granite edge flush with the wall of your kitchen sink.

If you don’t mind the top flange of the sink showing, let the contractor know about this to make the necessary adjustments.

The other decision you need to make is the location of the seams. Even if you bought the largest granite slabs, you have to deal with seams as long as your kitchen is large. Discuss with the contractor about the location of the seams. For an even and beautiful look, aim to hide the seams as much as possible.

31

Oct

How To Shop For Granite Countertops

Granite always delivers: It brings exclusivity, adds a touch of elegance, and improves the value of your home. To get the most from it, you have to buy the right one. Not sure how to go about it? Here are tips on how to shop for granite countertops:

Know what you want

You can’t buy any slab you come across—you need to know what you want and what will look the best for your home. Remember, granite comes in a wide array of colors and patterns. It also comes in plenty of edges, with the most common edges being: square, rough, bullnose, and rounded.

You also need to know the size of the countertop you need. This will require you to take a tape measure and measure the number of square feet of surface area you need. As you take the measurements, remember to include edge allowances, overhangs, backsplashes, seam allowances, and other things.

If you aren’t sure about the right countertop that will look the best for your home, get a professional’s input. The technician will even help you choose the right shape of slab, the right size, the appropriate slab thickness, and many other things.

Once you know what you want, start visiting different countertop and home improvement stores asking for quotes. Most companies will give you a free quote, and all you need is to compare the quotes and settle on the most sensible.

While the cheapest quote might be attractive, be cautious about it as the contractors might be selling substandard products.

Simultaneously, avoid extremely priced countertops as the company might be trying to rip you off.

Don’t buy the slabs countertops.

While online shopping is convenient, you shouldn’t buy the countertop slabs online. This is because a slab might be looking good in the store photos, but have a completely different look in your kitchen or bathroom, often due to lighting.

When looking to buy granite, the best way to go about it is by visiting the local showroom and physically inspecting each granite slab. Even after inspecting the slab at the store, don’t make the final commitment to buy the slab.

Take a sample of the slab to your home and see how it looks on your surfaces. If you like the look, go ahead and make the purchase.

Pay attention to the seams.

Seams make it easy to join different countertop slabs, but they can also mess with the counters’ look. If you have to use more than one slab, you have to deal with seams. The seams’ quality will vary depending on the length and width of the cabinets, the actual physical size of the slab, and access to the property.

To ensure your property doesn’t have ugly seams, work with experienced contractors who will help you minimize the number of seams in your countertops. They do this by ensuring they work with whole slabs as much as possible.

Before installing the countertops, enquire from the contractors where the seams will be located and how visible they will.  This will ensure everyone is on the same page, and there are no surprises once you have installed the countertops.

Invest in a good thickness

Thin countertop slabs are not only cheap-looking, but they also don’t hold a lot of weight. When you are at the store, always go for a thick slab. Thankfully, you can tell how thick a slab is by looking at it.

Other than thickness, also touch the slab. If it feels weak or has an abnormal texture, stay away from it.

Work with a professional

Buying the right countertops is one thing and an entire ball game to properly install the countertops. Unless you are a dab hand at DIY projects, you should let granite installers Rockville handle the installation.

As you are hiring, ensure the contractor knows geometry. This knowledge will come in handy at ensuring you have as few seams as possible. To find such a professional, take your time and ask them as many questions as possible before hiring.

After installing the countertops, remember to take good care of them. As a rule of thumb, avoid placing hot items or weighty items directly on the surfaces. You also should avoid cleaning the surfaces with vinegar and other tough products that can etch the surfaces.

17

Oct

How Do I Calculate How Much Granite Countertops I Need?

How do I calculate how much granite I need? Is a common question you will hear from homeowners looking to install granite countertops for the first time.

Granite is sold in square footage so what you need to do to determine the amount of granite you need is to find out the overall square footage of your countertop area.

How do you do this? Here is a guide on how to go about it:

How to calculate the amount of granite you need

  1. Measure the length of your countertops along the wall, taking the measurements in inches. The measurements should include the one-inch overhang for any countertop edge that isn’t against the wall.

If the counter is broken up into sections due to the presence of an oven or sink, subtract the occupied space from the overall length.

Measure the width of the countertop beginning from the wall, extending outward to the front of the countertop.

Multiply the length of the countertop by the countertop width. The resulting number is the area of the countertop in square inches.

2. Measure the height of your backsplashes. The measurement should reach from the countertop surfaces to the top of the backsplash.

Multiply the length of the countertop to the height of the backsplash to get the area of your backsplash.

Add the area of the backsplash to the area of the countertop, and the resulting number is the total amount of granite you need expressed in square inches.

3. Finally, convert these results to square feet. To do this, divide the number of square inches by 144.

If this is your first time buying the countertops, you should know that granite comes in slabs, and chances are your measurements won’t exactly match the available sizes of your granite slab.

The good thing is most countertop sellers will only charge you for the section of the slab you use.

What should you look for when buying a granite slab?

Thickness

You want a thick countertop that won’t break when you install it. Avoid the popular ¾ inch countertops as they are fragile and often require laminate edges and supports. While they are affordable to install, they don’t last long enough, and you have to replace them more often.

For best results, buy 1-inch countertops. While they will be more expensive to buy, they will give you a long service making them affordable in the long run.

Cracks and natural pits

Most hairline cracks and pits are natural and add natural beauty to your countertops, and you have nothing to worry about when you see them. Unfortunately, sometimes the cracks are too deep, which compromises the integrity of the countertops, especially if your countertops are less than 1 inch thick.

At the time of purchase, carefully go through the countertops, and if you notice an imperfection, ask the stone seller or fabricator how it affects the stone and how it can cause harm.

Seams

If you have the money, opt for seamless granite slabs as they tend to look better. While the seamed countertops look good at the time of purchase, it’s not the case five or ten years down the line.

Edges

To have an easy time installing the countertops, get a custom-designed edge that will fit your cabinet detail. Most fabricators won’t customize the edges, so you need to visit different stores and ask them whether they are willing to customize them for you.

If, on the other hand, the standard edges are okay with you, go with bevel edges.

Installing the countertops

After buying the countertops, the next step should be to install them. If you have the skills, you can install the countertops by yourself, but for best results, let experienced, and certified granite installers Rockville handle it.

You should note you have to seal the countertops at the time of installation to prevent them from staining and getting damaged. For best results, use a high-quality sealer. Most manufacturers tend to seal their countertops, and you don’t want to waste money resealing them.

Before installing the countertops, first test whether they are properly sealed. You do this by pouring water on the slabs. If the area darkens, you need to seal the surfaces.