07

Apr

How to Keep Your Granite Kitchen Top Clean and Shiny

After you have invested in a granite countertop installation, you must understand how you should maintain its beauty for a long time. These tips are easy to follow, including cleaning ideas and polishing tricks for maintaining your granite countertop.

Granite Countertops are expensive, but maintenance is easy. However, should still know how to do it right. These tips will help you remember to practice regular routine maintenance to make sure that your countertops can keep their glossy shine for many years.

Since granite is expensive, and those who have it normally want their kitchens to look excellent, they always read about tips on how to do that. Keep in mind that you must read and follow the tips even if your countertop is new.

Make Sure it is Sealed Properly

Granite countertops are made using natural stone, so each slab is unique. Relatively, granite is non-porous, and a lot of manufacturers seal slabs before shipping it out, but you should still periodically reapply the sealant. Factory sealants will last for years, depending on the tear and water level present. In order to check if your countertop requires sealing, you must contact your manufacturer or do a bead test. You can put a few drops of water on the countertop, and see if it forms a bead. Your countertop must not be sealed. If the water gets absorbed into the stone or a watermark is left, you must seal your counters.

Retain the Shine

An excellent way to maintain the shininess of your countertop is by keeping it clean. As you wipe the surface with mild-warm water, dish soap, and a paper towel, you will see that it is perfect for cleaning effectively. You would have to use a granite cleaner that is specially made for that. Never use just any common household cleaning product on your granite countertop. Using products like that can damage the granite or cause it to become dull. You do not want this to happen.

Remove Water Spots and Stains

For granite stains – dark spots, rings, or oil stains – you must try using baking soda and a water poultice. After that, place the paste mixture on the stain. You need to cover the paste using plastic wrap and allow it to sit for 24 to 48 hours. Baking soda might absorb the counterstains.

In case that is not working, you need to try sprinkling cornstarch on the stain. You need to cover it using plastic and then wait for a couple of hours. The cornstarch could suck up the leftover stain.

Scrub it

Since granite countertops are sealed so they stay shiny and stain-resistant, you might want to avoid using anything that is too acidic or basic to clean your countertop. If you frequently use vinegar or the basic ones, it is going to make the granite dull and weaken the sealant as well. Instead, you need a little soap and water.

Add Shine to it

If you want to make your granite shiny, you need to pour cooking oil on a cleaning cloth and wipe it across the kitchen countertop. You need to gently buff it, and this makes the counter a little stain-resistant, giving it a glossy shine.

Even if you already know how to clean countertops, your granite should be periodically sealed. Normal wear and tear is going to wear off the sealant, which leaves the counter susceptible and dull to the stains. If you know how to clean the granite countertop, you can make the sealant last longer.

Granite countertop installers Rockville will build the best for you, all you need to

21

Mar

How to Choose the Right Granite Kitchen Countertop

Granite countertops have a huge impact on your home’s value, which is why it is important to choose the right material for you and for any future buyer in case you sell your home. Many people love granite for their kitchen countertop, making it a safe option.

The issue is that granite has a huge range of patterns and colors. There are neutral colors like black, white, and brown to even exotic and bold ones like greens, reds, and blues. You might have a hard time choosing the right granite slab because it is a big investment. In this article, there are tips here you can use so that you will not have a hard time.

Gather the Materials You Need

A great selection of countertops calls for attention to detail. Buying a slab and wanting the best results is a big risk. When it comes to choosing granite, you should take color samples of the finish, flooring, wall paint, and kitchen appliances. In case there are no samples available, take a picture of them. You need to place the samples around or on the granite so you can have an idea of what the decoration is. Dark cabinetry made of cherry wood and black granite can be overpowering.

Choose a Theme

Most of the time, designers choose an element as a foundation for a color scheme. When you are choosing granite, there are 2 options for you. Choose the main granite color that matches the kitchen’s dominant color, which is normally the cabinets, or opt for a more subtle approach by looking for matching streaks or veins. For instance, if your cabinets are white, you can go for a granite background or white veins.

Visit Showrooms

Online shopping for granite is convenient, but it should not be a replacement for seeing it on your own. It is hard to photograph the color patterns and the small differences in textures and shades are not accurately seen. When you shop in-store, there are still some challenges when it comes to color selection. Slabs with the same color and category usually vary greatly. After choosing your preferred color, like brown, black, blue, yellow, or green, you should ask to see the samples in the color subset.

Choose Light or Dark

In other cases, the granite you choose might be more influenced by its effect on the kitchen instead of the color scheme. If it will be for a small kitchen, you might want to choose a light color, like gray or beige. That can also be for bathrooms. The only thing to be concerned about is that a light stone granite countertop will show stains more. In general, granite is resistant to stain, so that is a good point to consider. You can use dark granite to add a little drama to your kitchen, especially if you have a large kitchen. It might not be good for a small kitchen or if there is no natural light coming in.

Make Sure it Blends with the House

When you are choosing the granite countertop color, it can help to consider other parts of the house. This is also true when the kitchen has an open sight of the other rooms. Having color consistency in your home keeps it cohesive. So, your home is going to feel like a living space instead of only individual rooms that are connected by doors. You should think about bringing a color shade from a different room to harmonize them together.

You can contact granite contractor Potomac if you want your countertop done right.

 

14

Mar

Advantages of Replacing Your Kitchen Countertop

Every kitchen and the majority of bathrooms have built-in countertops. If you want a perfect workspace, you need solid countertops and wooden cabinets that are waist-high. They are useful, beautiful, and smooth. The majority of stone and granite countertops add some elegance to your kitchen, as well as any design of a kitchen. It is also good to replace your countertop and make it a major remodeling project to revamp your kitchen.

Homeowners want to install new countertops even if they already have one in their home, but people certainly know why they want to replace their countertops. If you want to know the benefits of getting a new one, this article will tell you.

Chip and Scratch Resistant

One reason why people want to get granite countertops is that they have the durability to resist scratching and chipping under normal circumstances. Granite is the 2nd hardest material, and the first is diamonds.

You should be cautious about using very sharp cleavers and knives since they might cause marring. That is why you must use a chopping board when you chop, slice, and dice foods. Are you aware that granite countertops last almost forever if they are installed together with the right support bracket? Now you know.

It Will Match Your Island Countertop

When you have installed a new kitchen island, it is a good reason to get new countertops as well. You will require a newly installed countertop surface to match the island. Therefore, you want other parts of the counters to match them. Adding a kitchen island is a great opportunity to have completely upgraded the look and feel of your kitchen. Your existing cabinetry can get a fresh paint job and then pick a countertop that is beautiful on the island and your entire kitchen countertop.

Increases the Resale Value of Your Home

If you want to sell your home in the future, take into consideration that your kitchen is one area that greatly influences the decision of a buyer. A kitchen remodel can add thousands of dollars to your home’s selling price, with a significant ROI. Even just a minor remodeling project, like replacing countertops, can have the same effect.

Resistant to Moisture, Heat, and Stain

Aside from being chip and scratch-resistant, a granite countertop is also resistant to moisture and stains when you use the right sealant. Since granite countertops are porous, sealing is important to guard protect them against staining and etching by acids and alkaline. You must remember that sealant should be reapplied yearly to keep the resistance.

In addition, food and liquid spills should be removed right away with mild detergent and water. When spills dry on the countertop, it is very easy to scrape them off. In addition, heat and pressure are used to form granite which means they are heat resistant, so you can place hot pots and pans on them.

Replace Low-Quality Materials of Countertops

Some homes do not have a high-quality countertop, to begin with. A lot of older homes were created with Formica or laminate countertops, and they are both less desirable inside any home. Aside from being low-quality, they are also poorly made so they become less attractive as time goes by. Any homeowner who sees a shabby and low—quality countertop has all the reasons to replace the counters with attractive countertops. You should replace every countertop in your house because Formica is not only limited to a single installation job.

If you are looking for countertop replacement services Potomac, you can contact them right away for the best outcome.

 

 

30

Sep

Do Granite Countertops Chip Easily?

If you are wondering, do granite countertops chip easily? No, they don’t. Granite is one of the toughest countertop materials in the market, and as long as you install counters that are thick enough and you take good care of them, you don’t have to worry about them chipping.

While the countertops are tough, they will chip when you exact a lot of pressure on them. For example, if you sit or hit them. They will also chip if you place a weighty material on the edges.

What should you do when you have a chip on your countertops?

The logical thing to do is to fix the chip to prevent your countertops from staining or giving your surfaces an ugly look. While any chip on granite can be fixed, you should note that there is no way the granite surface will look as it used before.

You can fix the chip by yourself if you have the skills, but let a professional handle it for the best outcome.

When you contact a professional, they will come to your home and fill the spot with Epoxy. The unfortunate thing is that while Epoxy makes the surface flat and even, it doesn’t look exactly as granite you are replacing.

Epoxy’s sheen is different from granite, and it doesn’t match the granite pattern. This means that anyone can easily tell that you fixed the countertop.

Since there is no way to fix the countertop and it retains its original look, if the chip is small or in a hidden corner, you are better off leaving it the way it is.

How do you prevent chips on your granite countertop?

There are plenty of tricks you can use to prevent the chips from coming about in the first place. These tricks include:

Seal the countertop

Most homeowners seal their granite countertops to prevent stains from coming about. Sealing the countertops not only prevents stains, but also prevents chipping of the surfaces.

To protect your surfaces, seal the countertops with a quality sealer. Apply the sealer in layers a few times a year.

If you aren’t sure when to do the sealing, do a water test. Here you pour ¼ cup of water on the countertop surface and make a note of the time you placed the water on the surfaces.

If it takes more than 30 minutes, and the surface hasn’t darkened, the sealant is still in good shape, and you don’t need to reapply it. On the other hand, if the surface darkens, it’s time to apply a sealant. If the water gets absorbed immediately, apply several layers of the sealant.

Clean the countertops

You might wonder how cleaning the countertops will protect them from damage, but it comes in handy. When the countertops are clean, you not only have an easy time noticing the damage on the surfaces, but you also get rid of items that could lead to etching and staining.

While there are many cleaners in the market, few are right for you. As a rule of thumb, use a quality cleaner that will clean and shine the granite while offering a protective layer.

For the best results, ensure that the cleaner you go with is specially designed for granite counters. To be even sure that the cleaner isn’t causing any damage to your counters, go for one recommended for your specific color and brand.

Make use of bendable trivets.

Instead of placing your hot pots and pans directly on the countertops, place them on trivets, and as a consequence, you protect your surfaces. For peace of mind, make a habit of placing your pots on the heating pads and trivets at all times—regardless of whether they are hot or cold.

The reason for this is because some cold pots and pans might be having a vinegar base, and when you place them on the countertops, they leave the vinegar on the countertops. When the temperatures change, the vinegar begins to react with the sealant, which exposes your surfaces to stains and other forms of damage.

So, do granite countertops chip easily?

As mentioned, granite is tough and doesn’t chip easily. While this is the case, ensure that your countertops are installed by experienced granite installers Rockville. This way, you are sure the contractor won’t install countertops with a large edge that easily chips.

24

Jun

How Long Does It Take To Install Kitchen Countertops

When installing quartz kitchen countertops or any other kitchen countertops, the time it takes to install them is vital, as sometimes you might be having guests over, and you want to complete the installation before they arrive.

Wondering how long does it take to install kitchen countertops? Well, the time varies depending on the type of countertops you are looking to install.

Laminate countertops

They have the fastest turnaround times, so if you are looking for fast-to-install countertops, these are the best to go for. You will even install them faster if you go with off-the-rack countertops often found in home improvement stores.

You should note that while the off-the-rack countertops are easy to install, they often aren’t as beautiful as the custom laminate countertops, so you should be ready to make the compromise.

If you want that perfect look, install custom laminate countertops, and these take a long time as the contractor will have to visit your home and demonstrate the various laminate countertops they have in stock.

After you have selected your preferred pieces, the contractor will then take a few weeks or even months to make the countertops. Once the countertops are ready, the contractor will schedule a time to remove the old countertops and install the new ones.

Installing the new custom laminate countertops takes about a few days to a week, depending on the size of your kitchen and the contractor’s experience.

Granite and marble countertops

If you ask any homeowner, the type of countertops they are looking to install, they will tell you granite or marble. And there is a good reason for it: granite and marble countertops are tough and give your kitchen an elegant look.

The time it takes to install these countertops is similar to the other countertops, but with these countertops, instead of the contractor coming to your home, you have to visit the contractor’s showroom to see the various countertops available.

When you are in these stores, don’t simply pick the slab that sticks out the most for you. Remember, your kitchen size, the lighting in your kitchen, cabinet design, and color, will heavily impact how the slab looks in your kitchen, so always take a sample with you in your home and see how it looks there.

Only buy a slab if it looks good in your kitchen.

After you have settled on a given countertop slab, the contractor will find similar slabs as your chosen slab and begin preparing them for installation. This process often takes 1-3 months to complete, depending on the availability of the chosen slabs and the size of your kitchen.

Wood, glass, stainless steel, and engineered stone countertops

These take the same time as laminate countertops to install, and you have to follow the same installation process. The countertop contractor comes to your home with countertop samples, and it’s up to you to choose the ones you like.

You should then wait for the contractor to make the countertops, return to your home, remove the old countertops, and replace them with the new ones.

In most cases, from the time you begin looking at the countertop materials to the time you install them, it takes about 4 months.

Concrete countertops

You can go about the installation in two ways: have the countertops made offsite or have the concrete formed and poured on-site.

The contractor will visit your home and measure the size of your countertop surface so that he can make a countertop of the right size. It often takes longer to have the countertop made on site, as the contractor has to bring everything on the site.

Tile countertops

Unlike marble and granite countertops Rockville that come in large slabs, these countertops are usually small tiles (often 4” X 4”), so as you can expect, they take a long time to install.

You have to follow the same process where the contractor comes to your home and shows you their samples. After settling on the tiles, they make them, then come to your home and install them.

Unlike other countertops that you can begin using immediately after installation, wait for at least a week for the tiles to completely stick to the counter surfaces before using them.

08

Sep

What Happens If You Don’t Seal Granite Countertops?

If you have been around natural stone countertops, you know you need to seal them to keep them looking their best, but have you ever asked yourself what happens if you don’t seal granite countertops? Here are some of the things that can happen:

Stains from food and grease

When you don’t seal your countertops, they tend to quickly absorb food and liquids, leading to deep stains. Since the countertops are bare, the stains develop within a matter of minutes, even if you are quick to wipe the spill.

The countertops not only absorb liquids, but grease and pigments as well. For example, if you leave a carton of strawberries on your countertops, it’s only a matter of a few minutes, and you find a large stain on your countertops that is hard to remove.

Stains from water

Properly sealed granite will repel liquids and prevent them from permeating into the stone. As mentioned above, an unsealed stone absorbs liquids fast, including water. You might have the impression that something as natural as water can’t harm your countertops, but this isn’t the case.

In an unsealed countertop, water will penetrate, leaving behind watermarks which give your stone an ugly, dirty appearance.

Damage from cleaning products

Vinegar and other harsh cleaning products will damage even the sealed surfaces, but unsealed countertops are more susceptible to damage. Since you haven’t sealed the surfaces, the products that aren’t supposed to harm the surfaces end up hurting them.

For example, products containing citrus quickly eat away at the countertop, seep into the stone and damage the finish, causing discoloration. When you seal the surfaces, you plug the cracks and tiny fissures in the stone, keeping the products from going deep into the stone. As a result you can clean the countertops without worrying about damaging them.

Sealing is straightforward

To keep your countertops in top shape, you should seal them at the time of installation then once a year thereafter. While countertop sealing is such an important task, it’s not complex.

Begin with finding a good quality countertop sealer designed to resist water and oil-based stains. Before you apply the sealer, clean the surfaces, and ensure there are no stains on them.

For best results, work in small areas, giving the sealer time to absorb into the slab before applying the second layer. After covering the entire surface, give the countertops a few hours to dry before using them.

Other ways to maintain granite

Other than sealing it, there are plenty of other things you need to do to ensure your countertop lasts for a long time. These things include:

Don’t step on the countertops

Granite is tough, but it can’t withstand a lot of pressure, especially along the edges. When you are looking to reach onto the top shelf, it’s tempting to step onto the countertops. After all, they are made from stone, right? At no time should you step on granite.

If you have to reach on to something on the top shelf, use a ladder or stool.

Don’t place hot items directly on the countertops.

Granite can withstand heat, but when you repeatedly place hot pans on it, you are bound to discolor it or even cause extensive damage. To ensure your countertops last for a long time, avoid placing hot pans, pots, and other items directly on the surfaces. Instead, use pads, trivets, and other protective materials.

Watch your cleaning products.

As mentioned above, even sealed countertops can get damaged by tough cleaning products, so stay away from them. As a rule of thumb, avoid products bearing acids as they will etch at the surfaces or even discolor your valuable surfaces.

Its recommend you use water and soap to clean the countertops. If the surfaces are too dirty and want to use other cleaning products, first enquire from the countertop company whether you can use it.

Don’t cut directly on the surfaces.

The same way certain homeowners have the impression the countertops are tough, so they can step on them, it’s the same way they think they can get away with cutting onions, meat, and other materials directly on them.

Granite companies Rockville strongly advise against this as it not only damages the countertops, but also your knife. When looking to cut anything on the surface, use a cutting board.

26

Jul

Can’t Afford Granite Countertops? Engineered Stone Countertops Are A Great Option

While everyone would want to have granite countertops and other natural stone countertop materials in their homes, not everyone can afford them. Are you one of these people?

Don’t fret as there are plenty of other cost-effective alternatives you can go with when you are operating on a budget. The best options to go with are engineered stone countertops.

Why engineered stone?

Engineered stone comes with plenty of attractive features that include:

Attractiveness

The stone is made from quartz material that has been compressed into slabs that have similar color and texture to natural granite and slate. As a result, your entire kitchen matches perfectly.

The stone also comes with a variety of colors, such as: rose, grays, and many others. While most of the colors come from the natural color in quartz, you can talk to your designer and add colorants that give you a customized color.

Cleaning the surfaces is easy.

While natural stone countertops are beautiful and high end, the downside is they are porous. This leaves room for bacteria to get into fissures and pores where they are hard to get rid of.

Quartz countertop surfaces are non-porous so they won’t absorb liquids, which makes them easy to clean. If you work with fish, meat, raw vegetables, and other materials are known to make the countertops dirty, engineered stone is a great asset.

You have plenty of options

The countertops come in a wide range of colors and style that gives rise to plenty of countertops. They include:

Silestone

Silestone is made up of 94% quartz known to be extremely hard and resilient. Since the material is impervious to staining, acids, and scratches, Silestone is loved by many people looking for an alternative material. The cool thing is that it comes in plenty of colors with extraordinary textures.

Caesarstone

It’s made up of 95% quartz particles, with the other 5% comprising of polymer resins and coloring. Since quartz is hard enough, it’s highly durable and scratch and stain-resistant. This makes Caesarstone an excellent option for kitchen countertops.

Essastone

Another hard stone made up of 95% natural quartz. The stone is completely non-porous and homogenous and has a low maintenance finish that is resistant to scratches, heat, knocks, chemicals, and staining.

It comes in a variety of color palettes ranging from solids to patterns.

Smartstone

Smartstone comes in twenty-four designs with four color collections, and it’s made up of 93% quartz. First established in 2002, it comprises some of the quartz’s best surfaces. Smartstone comes with several attractive features such as high resistance to heat, chemicals, and staining.

These features make the stone an ideal material for bathrooms and kitchens.

Quantum quartz

Quantum Quartz is made up of 93% natural quartz, and the other 7% is made up of bonding agents and pigments. Quantum Quartz is low maintenance and ultra-hygienic, making it an ideal material for kitchen benchtops.

You can also use it in bathrooms and on the floor in the form of tiles.

What are the major flaws of engineered stone?

While engineered stone comes with all of the above advantages, it comes with its fair share of negatives. One of the negatives is that it’s hard to create curves with engineered stone. You should note that this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to create the designs. You can do the designs, but it will take a long time.

When you are hiring a contractor to do the work, it will cost you a lot of money to complete the work.

Taking care of engineered stone

While the stone is easy to maintain, you still need to take good care of it. Some of the ways of doing it include:

Clean it regularly: The beauty of it is that it’s easy to clean the countertops as they are non-porous. Use regular soap and a piece of cloth to clean the surfaces. Like when cleaning granite and other natural stone countertops, avoid harsh cleaning products as they will etch the surfaces.

You also should avoid placing a lot of pressure on the countertops. While the stone is strong, quartz countertop contractors Potomac advise against hitting the surfaces with a hard object as it can break the countertops. You also should avoid sitting on the edges where the countertops are known to be weak.

16

Jun

Can You Stand On Quartz Countertops?

Some people term quartz as indestructible as they have impressive compression and tension strength—even better than granite. Due to this, many are tempted to sit or even stand on the countertops.

Can you stand on quartz countertops? While standing on the countertops might seem harmless, it’s not. Plenty of cases have been reported where people stand on the countertops, and they part at the seam where two slabs are sealed together.

Installing or even repairing the countertops isn’t cheap, so you should avoid risking standing on them. In addition to damaging the countertops when you stand on them, you also risk voiding the warranty.

Better options to standing on the countertops

To avoid the risk of standing the countertops, you should try out other ways of going about it. Some of the other things you can do include:

Get a step stool: If you are stepping on the countertops due to lack of a stepping stool, you should get one. Get a small stool and tuck it somewhere in your kitchen such as between the refrigerator and counter. Always keep it in the kitchen, so when you need to reach out for something, you simply grab it and hop on the counter.

Get a ladder: Need more height? Consider getting a ladder from your local store. The ladder will cost you more than the step stool, but still, it will be cheaper than replacing the countertops.

Other things you shouldn’t do to quartz

Other than avoiding standing on the countertops, other things you shouldn’t do to the countertops include:

Don’t ignore spills: When cooking, it’s common for spills to happen. Whether its wine, tea, juice, vinegar, or soda spills, you should get rid of them as soon as you can. This is because the liquids are acidic and corrosive and will damage your countertops if you let them sit there for a long time.

While quartz is tough, the spills will destroy it if you let them sit on the surfaces for a long time. As mentioned above, wipe them with a wet dishcloth as soon as you notice them.

Don’t cut directly on the countertops: Quartz is made from manmade polymers that make it a tough material. While this is the case, you shouldn’t use it as a cutting board as sharp knives can scratch the surface. Whenever you are looking to cut something, get a cutting board, and protect the slab’s smooth shine.

Don’t place heat directly on the counters: Quartz won’t melt or burn when you place a warm plate or pot on it, but you can damage the surfaces. The damage results from the sudden temperature changes that lead to thermal expansion and subsequent cracking of the countertops.

If you have to put anything on the countertops, use a trivet with padded feet. It’s also wise you use pads under the trivet to prevent the trivet feet from scratching the quartz surface.

Don’t use permanent markers near the countertops: It’s common for kids to come to the kitchen and do their school projects there as you are making dinner. As much as you have quality time with them, don’t let them use ink or permanent markers on naked quartz.

This is because the ink adheres to the surface and becomes hard to remove unless you use a harsh chemical that can damage the surfaces. When the kids are on the counters, ensure they aren’t using permanent markers—give them water-based markers instead.

Tips on how to maintain quartz

For you to keep your countertops looking great for a long time, you should take good care of them. Some of the things you can do include:

Clean the countertops daily: Daily cleaning gets rid of dirt and debris. It also helps you catch spills as soon as they happen, so you keep your countertops in top shape all the time. As you are cleaning the countertops, use a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid an abrasive scouring pad as it can scratch the surfaces, and you end up damaging them.

Protect the surfaces from extended, direct sunlight: Extended exposure of quartz kitchen countertops Rockville to direct sunlight can discolor them so you should protect them from the sun by keeping the blinds closed as much as possible.

29

May

How Hard Is It to Replace Countertops? Countertop Replacement Services Providers Answer

You save a lot of money when you install countertops by yourself as you don’t have to hire countertop replacement services providers. While this is the case, the biggest question homeowners ask is how hard is it to replace countertops?

Like any other thing, the ease of replacing countertops depends on your skill level and the scope of the project. If you are used to installing countertops, you will find it easy to undertake the replacement. The same thing applies if you have a small project.

Regardless of your skill level and the size of the project, you need to know several things as you are replacing the countertops. Some of these things include:

Completely remove the old countertop.

If you have had your countertops for a long time, it’s normal to be attached to them. This can tempt you to have a few pieces remaining as souvenirs. Don’t do this as the remaining pieces will keep your countertops imbalanced. In some cases, they might prevent you from properly installing the countertops.

For the best result, completely remove all the old countertops and leave the surfaces clean and ready for the new countertop material.

Take precise measurements

Before you head to the stores, take the right measurements of the countertop materials you are looking to buy. This calls for you to take the right measurements of your kitchen. You can take the measurements by yourself, but if you aren’t confident in your skills, let a professional help you.

When taking the measurements, mark off the sections of continuous countertops, sink countertops, and island countertops.

Know your countertop options

When is the last time you bought countertop materials? Unlike decades ago, you have plenty of countertop materials to choose from. Popular options include: granite, quartz, and marble.

All of these materials have an elegant appeal, and when properly installed, they add value and beauty to the kitchen.

The materials go at different prices and have different features. To familiarize yourself with them, take time to research more about them.

Are you strapped of cash? Go for quartz countertops. While they don’t match the executive look and grace of granite and marble countertops, they still give your home an appealing look.

If you want to give your home a grand appeal, you should go for granite countertops.

Other countertop materials to choose from include: laminate, concrete, and solid surface. To ensure you are making the right choice, consult a reputable contractor.

Think about the installation time

Most homeowners replace their countertops when they are expecting family or friend gatherings. As you are looking to replace the countertops, also think about the time it will take to complete the installation.

Small to medium jobs will take one day when handled by an experienced professional, while more substantial projects can take two or even three days.

A regular-sized kitchen or bathroom will take three to five hours to complete.

Leaving enough time for installation ensures you aren’t in a hurry to complete the project. It also gives the materials enough time to dry completely before you start using them.

Repair or replace the countertops?

Sometimes you might think you need to replace the countertops while you need to repair them. The condition of the countertops will influence your decision. If the countertop has a small crack, you don’t need to replace it—repairing it will save you a lot of money.

On the other hand, if the damage is extensive or the countertops are worn out extensively, you have no other option other than to replace them.

Understand about stone quality and grades

Natural stone countertops come in different grades. The grades vary from one to five, depending on the stone defects present. A grade 5 stone is flawless but costs more than a lesser grade stone that might be having a few design defects.

Some defects are invisible in some cases, and you have a better return in investment when you select a grade 2 or 3 stone countertop.

Whether looking to marble, granite, or any other countertop material, ensure you buy from a reputable store. You also should ensure the countertops are installed by a professional quartz countertop installer Potomac or any other expert.

24

Apr

Countertop Replacement Services: Understanding Faux Stone Countertops

Also known as faux stone, manufactured stone veneer is a manmade material designed to replicate the look of natural stone.

It comes in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes and you can use it in different areas, including: stone backsplash, interior walls, fireplaces, and even in your countertop replacement project, especially if you are strained of money.

Would you like to know more about the stone veneer? Here are a few things you should know about it as given by the countertop replacement services provider:

How is stone veneer made?

The stone is composed of lightweight natural aggregates, Portland cement, and iron oxide that adds the color. The materials are put in a mold then pressed in high pressure resulting in highly dense, realistic-looking finished stone.

The first stone veneer was made in the 19th century and interesting enough, it was made from natural stone.

The manufacturers sliced natural stone into thick slabs then sold them. Although cement is a significant component of the veneer, it wasn’t part of it until the 1950s. Currently, most of the modern veneer stones are made from molds taken from carefully selected natural stone.

Some of the manufacturers go to the extent of replicating the rough and unique textures of natural stone, making it almost impossible to differentiate the two.

Is the stone veneer right for your home?

This is a subjective question. If you don’t like the natural look of stone veneer, you won’t like the surfaces in your home regardless of how good of an investment they are. On the other hand, if you like the natural look, then you will be proud of having the veneers in place.

How does veneer compare to natural stone?

In addition to being highly versatile, manufactured stone is cheaper, where it costs up to 1/3 the cost of natural stone. Since most of the manufacturers aim to produce veneer stones that closely resemble solid stone as much as possible, veneer stones tend to exhibit the same variations in size, shape, texture, and color to natural stone.

Just like natural stone countertops, stone veneer is maintenance-free. All you need to keep it looking spectacular is washing it to remove dirt and dust.

Since the material is cheap, you can save on your project without sacrificing on custom details.

Can you install the veneers by yourself?

Yes, you can install the material by yourself if you have the skills, but for ideal results, you should handle the project by yourself. If you have never done it before, let an expert veneer contractor help you out.

If you are confident in your skills, you should go ahead and try to install the veneers by yourself. Before you begin the project, check with the building inspector about the local building code requirements. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of the law, do you?

You should then choose veneer from different boxes that vary in shapes and color. When it comes to the installation, begin working from the corners, then work your way down from the top. This prevents mortar from staining the stones below.

If you discover the mortar dripping on one of the stones, wait for a day or two for it to dry before brushing it off with a whisk broom. If possible, hide the edges that you trimmed by pointing them up or down, above or below your eye level.

Once you are done, you can paint your new countertops to your preferred colors or let them retain their original color.

Conclusion

There is no denying that manufactured stone veneer comes with plenty of benefits. It’s cheaper, lightweight, comes in a wide range of colors, and ideal for both domestic and commercial applications.

If you feel it’s right for your home, work with reputable granite installers Rockville or any other professionals that will not only help you find the ideal material for your home, but also help you with the installation.

You can find contractors from friends or relatives. If none of them have hired a contractor in the recent past, try a Google search. When doing your research, pay attention to the reviews as they will guide you on the reputation of the contractor.