26

Feb

How to Protect Granite Countertops

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

Seal the countertops

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

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

Clean the surfaces regularly

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

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

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

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

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

Protect your surfaces from extreme heat

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

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

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

Don’t sit on the countertops.

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

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

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

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

Ensure the countertops are installed by an experienced professional

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

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

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

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

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

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

14

Feb

Do I Need Plywood under Granite Countertops?

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

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

Over the dishwasher.

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

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

Bartop overhang

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

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

Why use plywood to support natural stone?

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

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

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

Are there other granite countertop support options?

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

Corbels

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

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

Poles

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

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

Brackets

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

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

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

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

Work with a professional

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

06

Feb

Granite Installation Process: Steps To Follow When Installing Granite Countertops

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

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

Get the right measurements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prepare the surfaces for installation

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

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

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

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

Lay the granite slab

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

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

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

Install the sink and cooktop

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

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

Finish the countertop

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

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

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

31

Jan

7 Excellent Kitchen Countertop Cover-Ups

Don’t like the current look of your countertops? Don’t rush to hire countertop replacement services providers, as there are several ways you can cover your countertops without requiring contractor services. To help you out, here 7 excellent kitchen countertop cover-ups:

Tile the countertops

Tiles are excellent at covering floors, walls, and showers, and there is no reason you shouldn’t use them to cover up your old countertops. When choosing the tiles, go for glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles as they are the most stain and heat resistant.

They also come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors. Avoid natural stone tile as it requires periodic sealing that can be too much work on your part.

You can install the tiles directly on your countertops without removing the old countertops. You only need to ensure the tiles are flat and stable enough to prevent the new tiles from cracking.

As you are installing the tiles, you should note that while tiles are durable and easy to maintain, the grout joints are prone to staining. To minimize the stains, seal the countertops as soon as possible after installing the tile. You should then apply the sealer every few years to maintain the protective barrier.

Lay laminate over the countertops

If you have old laminate countertops with square edges, you can cover them with a new laminate layer. The layers are sold in sheets of up to 5 feet wide and 12 feet long, and all you need to do is to visit your local store and place your order.

If your countertops have raised and rounded edges, often known as waterfall edges, you can’t cover them with new laminate surfaces as the new material can’t conform to the edge contours.

Use a countertop refinishing kit.

Refinishing kits have everything you need to cover your countertops. The refinishing kits include an epoxy-like paint and decorative stone chips that create the natural stone look.

To cover your countertops using the kit, you simply need to follow the kit’s instructions. While this method is highly effective, you should note that it involves a lot of hard work, it’s messy, and you need to pay close attention to the kit’s details.

Cover your countertops with wood

Have you always wanted butcher block, or are you drawn to the beauty of real wood countertops? You can cover your old, beaten countertops with wide planks of solid hardwood. You can even get creative and use a blend of hardwood and bamboo plywood.

The cool thing with hardwood is it’s more durable and repairable than plywood. Only plywood comes in larger pieces and is more affordable.

Bamboo plywood offers the best of both worlds. It has a thicker top layer that ensures it’s durable and easy to repair and at the same time comes in 4 x 8-foot sheets like regular plywood.

You should note that covering your countertops with hardwood requires woodworking skills and the right tools. You can do the work by yourself if you have the skills or hire a professional to help you out.

Install modular granite

Also known as granite or stone overlay, modular granite is a system of small thin stone slabs designed to cover old countertops. The stones are 16 by 18 inches wide, which means there are fewer joints between the pieces.

For the problematic inside and outside corners, there are special pieces made for these sections, as well as the optional edge pieces.

Cover the countertops with film

Countertop film is thicker than shelf or contact paper. Many people refer to it as a cross between vinyl flooring and shelf paper and have a self-adhesive backing for sticking directly to the old countertop surface.

To install the film, layout the film, trim it to a rough size, and align it to the countertop edges. You should then stick it down using a squeegee tool to remove the air bubbles.

While the film will cover your ugly surfaces, you should note that it’s not a long-term solution, so use it as a temporary way of covering your surfaces.

Paint the countertops

Painting your countertops is easy, fast, and gives you immediate results. You can also do it by yourself without involving granite contractors Rockville or other professionals.

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.

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.

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.