19

Jun

Is Your Quartz Kitchen Counter top Heat Resistant?

Your Quartz kitchen countertops go through a lot in their kitchen lifetime and anyone who wants to replace their countertops wonders whether they will withstand. It’s important that you get the countertop that will stand the test of time and in this post, we review what the quartz countertops can bear. Hot pans are placed on them, they get wet, knives scratch their surface and exposure to various substances that may cause stains. The kitchen countertop material you choose should depict style, good in appearance, durable and heat resistant. When it comes to quartz countertops most people wonder whether its heat resistant and up to what level it can resist the heat. Over the year the debate whether quartz is heat resistant rages on and we indulge to find out whether you should place that hot pan on your Quartz kitchen tops.

How Quartz Countertops are Made

Before you choose your kitchen countertop, you need to understand the mineral composition of the top. Quartz is a naturally occurring material composed of silicon and oxygen and to make kitchen countertops resin is added to bond the minerals.

Is Quartz Heat Resistant

Quartz has over the years gained prominence in our kitchen and Over and over the question, whether a quartz countertop will be affected by heat is flouted. When it comes to heat there are two qualities that we need to differentiate, Heat Resistant and Heat Proof

Heat resistant means the ability to be able to resist heat and remain unaffected while heatproof means the ability to withstand heat. With that in mind let now. Quartz relates up to 150 degrees or more of heat and thus its actual heat resistant up to that level. That means that the quartz countertops can bear the heat from hot pans without causing the top to discolor. The beauty of your Quartz Kitchen countertop will remain for many years even after placing the hot pans on it and that makes quartz pass the heat test. That makes quartz the perfect deal when it comes to kitchen countertops.

On the other hand, is Quartz heat proof?

As we have stated above quartz can handle heat up to a certain level but beyond that, the binding polymer resins will be destroyed. As a precaution, the quartz installers recommend placing trivets on the quartz countertops to avoid damage. It might hard to tell the temperature of your pan and it’s therefore important to invest in the trivet or hot pads where you can place the hot items. Too much heat may cause irredeemable damage to your countertop. With the above, you can rest easy knowing how much heat the countertop can bear and how to protect your countertop.

What if the Quartz is damaged?

In the unfortunate event that the Quartz countertop is damaged, the first step is to contact the Quartz countertop contractor so that they can access the extent of the damage. Accidents may damage the heat and the quartz countertop installers from the countertop replacement companies will assess and advise the best option based on the damage. Quartz countertops will rarely get damaged and if they let the expert quartz installers do the repair and the replacement.

Care Tips for Your Quartz Countertops

  • Quartz is not porous but its good maintenance practice to wipe away any spills as soon as they happen
  • Don’t expose your quartz kitchen countertop to very high temperatures to avoid damaging it
  • Avoid powerful and permanent markers on the countertop as this may cause damage. It’s however important to note that quartz is stain resistant but not for very strong chemicals.
  • Use a cutting board to avoid marks and scratches on the countertop.
  • Avoid abrasive cleaners as they will damage the shine and make the polish will inconsistent. Clean the countertop with warm water and a mild soap.

Quartz is one of the best kitchen countertop materials due to the various qualities it possesses. You need to seal the countertop often as its porous and therefore perfect low maintenance. It’s Durable making it suitable for all sorts of kitchen, especially high traffic, and busy kitchen. Ensure that when your countertop is damaged you let the quartz countertop installers Rockville assess the damage and do the repair and replacement.

28

Mar

Care and Maintenance of Quartz Counter top

Quartz Kitchen countertops will give your kitchen the sophistication and appeal you need. They are luxurious yet easy to maintain. Quartz is made by combining a natural hard mineral known as quartz with resin, polymers, and pigments. Depending on how the grounding, coarsely ground quartz produces a flecked appearance while the fine one will give a smooth finish. Quartz which is moderate in weight is a readily available mineral meaning the cost of the quartz is not high.

Advantages of quartz countertops

  • Hard and Durable
  • Non-Porous with a gloss sheen
  • Stain and crack resistant
  • Doesn’t require sealing and resealing
  • Comes with a wide variety of colors
  • Easy to clean and microbial
  • Minimal maintenance

Cleaning quartz countertop

Its imperative that the material you choose for your countertop or kitchen countertop be easy to clean and maintain.

  • Daily cleaning

To clean use a soft cloth to avoid scratching the countertop

Mix water and soap, dip the cloth and clean the top with the cloth. Ensure you wring out excess water. Wipe the surface clockwise, and then dry the surface with a soft cloth.

Wipe the countertop every day to ensure it retains its shine and look

  • Cleaning grease from the surface

Buy a mild degreasing detergent to clean out any grease that may pour on the surface .they are products meant for quartz countertop and its ideal for the surface top. wipe out the grease as soon as it pours on the countertop. You can also clean grease with mild soap and warm water. Don’t use bleach on the surface. Properly care and clean the countertop with natural products to maintain the shine

  • Hard and dry out Spills

Use a blunt substance to remove any hard and dry spills. Start from the underside of the spill.

  • How to clean stains in the quartz

Soak the cloth in warm and using a clockwise motion clean out the stain. In case the stain doesn’t come out add a little alcohol on the cloth and rub the stain away. You can a citrus remover to clean out stains. Confirm that the cleaner is safe for the quartz countertops. Avoid any abrasive and alkaline cleaners while cleaning the countertop.

 What to avoid when you have a quartz countertop

  • The extreme heat of above 300 degrees will melt the resin in the quartz
  • Highly alkaline products will break the bonds between the quartz and resins.
  • Avoid slicing your dishes on the countertop as it may not withstand the effect of knives
  • Avoid using in an outdoor area as it may not withstand the harsh environment.
  • Avoid using abrasive scouring pads while cleaning
  • Avoid letting the stains settle in for long.
  • Avoid dropping heavy objects on the quartz countertops Potomac, MD. While transporting the countertop ensure there is no pressure to avoid breakage.
21

Mar

Tips on Choosing Granite Counter top Installers

If you are thinking of selling your home, it’s essential that you remodel your house to perk up the value and increase return on investment. Whether the remodel is for purposes of sale or beauty, you need to find a contractor to do the project.  One of the major remodels you can carry out in the kitchen by replacing your old countertop with granite countertops or quartz countertops. Its imperative that you find the right granite countertop installers otherwise your remodel investment may go to waste.

Factors to Consider when Choosing Granite Installers in Rockville

  • Expertise and Knowledge

It’s paramount that you choose a granite countertop installer who has the experience and expertise on how to install granites. You can ask questions on how granites are installed, and from there you can gauge the expertise of the installer. Ask the installer for ideas on colour and shape of the countertop you require. Such information will guide on how to pick the best installer. Check what credentials the installer holds and whether he is a member of the building association. If he is a member that will increase the credibility. Also, seek to see the installers portfolio and his past works as this will give you an idea what to expect and gauge whether its what you want.

  • Cost

Ask for a quotation on how much the installer is charging. Ensure that all they are in the quote including the cost of granite sealing, edge profiles, and the installation. While shopping for the granite, ensure that all the cost are clear so that no cost catches you unaware.

  • Up to Date Cutting Equipment

The best granite countertop installer  will have up to date equipment to cut the granite into the required shape. That will ensure the kitchen countertop is cut neatly and accurately and minimize wastage and chances of damage.

How to Find the Best Granite installers in Rockville

It’s imperative that you find the best granite installer to give your space that ambience and regal effect. You can find the installers through;

  • Granite selling companies

Most granite sellers are also the installers. Confirm whether this is so, before buying the granite as this is the best option. A buy and installation will make your remodel hustle free because you are sure the company will have the experts and up to date cutting equipment.

  • Referrals

Ask friends and family about who did their remodels, visit the project to gauge the work done. Ensure you get a full review of the granite countertop installer, including their personality, reliability and ability to complete the work on agreed timelines. Involve the granite installers Rockville as you shop for the granite, their knowledge of the best and authenticity will go a long way to ensure you have the best

28

Feb

What You Need to Know About Quartz Kitchen Countertops

When remodeling your kitchen or building a new one you may be wondering what options you have on the kitchen countertop. It may be hard to decide whether to use granite or quartz or vanity countertops. To make your choice less daunting, we explore quartz kitchen countertops and everything about them that you need to know. Quartz is manmade and relatively new as compared to granite. Its durable and will give your kitchen the aesthetic value that it needs.

Advantages of Using Quartz

Quartz is made of around 95% quartz stones, and the rest of the composition is polymer resin to create a durable stone.

  • Non-Porous

Quartz has no pores in between; the resin polymer fills the gap in the crushed quartz to ensure that there are no spaces, making it more hygienic and easy to clean. The nonporous nature of the stone makes the stone resistant to stains, and food particles have no space to infiltrate making it ideal for a kitchen countertop as this will ensure high hygiene levels. You will find that bacteria, especially in the kitchen, will inhabit such spaces, but with quartz kitchen tops they ensure that there are no spaces for bacteria to latch on.

  • Scratch Resistant

Quartz stones are made of hard minerals and will take a long time before they yield to scratches making it a durable option for your kitchen. Quartz will not crack easily and therefore durable than natural stones

  • Heat Resistant

Quartz is not affected by heat and will take a long time, and any marks due to heat can be cleared if you use sandpaper on it.

  • Variety of Colors

Quartz is manmade and therefore comes in many colors as compared to natural stones. Consequently, it gives you a wider selection of colors.

Ensure that the quartz countertop is professionally installed by a quartz installer to achieve a professional look.

Disadvantages of Quartz

  • Quartz is humanmade and may not match the beauty of granites, and though its available in many colors, it may not match the regal look that comes with granite. We may not consider this a disadvantage as the beauty of something depends mainly on the buyer
  • Since the quartz is human-made, its likely to more expensive than natural stones as the manufacturer controls their availability.
  • Quartz is not ideal for outdoor use as exposure to sun, and other environmental factors will make the resin and color pigments to fade.
  • A quartz countertop will also have seams but they are less visible with a darker countertop. The quartz seams are easier to hide as color can be applied on the seams

Depending on your kitchen countertop needs, quartz is durable and easy to maintain. It’s ideal for use in high traffic kitchens as they are durable and heat resistant.