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.

10

Apr

Tricks On How To Save Money When Buying Granite Countertops

This is what homeowners do when they are looking to buy granite countertops and other countertop materials: they find a local stone yard, pick a slab they like, get the price, and buy.

While this might seem like a highly convenient way of buying the countertops, it’s wrong, and you end up spending a lot of money than you should. Are you looking to save money when having a kitchen remodel project? Here are some of the tips to consider when buying the countertops:

Shop around

You will find kitchen countertops in big box stores, countertop fabricators, kitchen and bathroom design studios, and in other companies specializing in countertop materials.

For you to get the best price, don’t buy from the first company you come across. Take time to visit different companies and see what they have to offer. If you have friends and family that recently installed countertops, ask them where they got them from.

Visit different stores until you find a store selling high-quality countertops at the least price.

Buy the countertops in wholesale

As you are doing your research, keep a close eye on the companies that allow you to buy the countertops in wholesale. Just like any other item, when you buy in wholesale, you end up saving a lot of money.

For you to get a wholesale offer, you have to buy the countertops in bulk, so this option will work in your favor if you have a large kitchen.

Don’t waste the countertop material

To maintain a uniform countertop, countertop experts recommend you buy the entire slab in one piece. When you do this, it’s not uncommon to be left with more material than you need. The cool thing is that you don’t have to throw away the remaining material.

You can use the leftover stone in many ways, such as using it to cover a backsplash, use it as a durable finish for the sides of an island, or as a flooring transition between the kitchen and dining room.

Scour the boneyard

If you have a small kitchen and color consistency isn’t an essential factor for you, you don’t have to buy premium countertop materials from a countertop store. You can visit the local boneyard and get the countertops at a fraction of the cost.

Boneyards are areas in stone yards where homeowners return the stone slab leftovers once they can’t use them anymore.

Buy a more common color

Granite countertops and other stone countertop materials have tremendously lowered their costs, mainly due to improvement in manufacturing technology. While this is the case, you should note that countertops of a rare color are still expensive.

Luckily, the countertops come in many more affordable colors. To save money, avoid the rare colors. You might argue that the unique color will add more value to your overall house, but this isn’t the case.

Unless you have extra money and you want the look, there is no point in spending a lot of money on a rare color.

Go for a prefabricated material

A prefabricated stone is one that is already cut and polished. This stone is perfect for simple counters requiring few cuts. Highly consider going for prefabricated materials if your countertop cabinets are standard.

The materials come with three finished edges and a polished surface. While they are as good as the new ones, they cost half as much, which saves you a lot of money.

Buy from a local supplier

When you buy from a distant supplier, you have to handle the shipping costs, which can be high, especially if you are getting them from a different state. To save money, buy the countertops from a local supplier.

This way, you won’t pay much for shipping. When you place a large order, the supplier delivers the countertops at no cost.

DIY wherever possible

If you are a handy person, there are plenty of ways you can save money on your kitchen remodeling project. If you have the skills, instead of hiring granite countertop installers Rockville, do the work yourself.

Countertop installation isn’t an easy feat, so if it’s beyond your skill level, do the easy tasks such as sealing the countertops after the installer has installed them.