28

Dec

How to Start the Buying Process of Kitchen Countertops

When it comes to granite selection, there are more than 14,000 unique slabs you can choose from. There are a lot of different countertop materials that can make it challenging for you to decide. Even if it is easy to love the aesthetic, other factors such as budget and lifestyle are both considerations when you are decking out your kitchen.

Before you start renovating and contacting countertop replacement services, you need to understand how the buying process of countertops work. You need to make sure that everything is running smoothly and efficiently. Everyone wants you to have new countertops installed right away so you can begin to enjoy your new bathroom or kitchen. Read on to know more.

You Need to Establish a Budget

For a lot of people, their decisions depend on their budget. Countertops have a wide price range, from cheaper ones made of white quartz to gold marble.

If the countertop you have is only a small area, you might discover that you can afford a more expensive one than you might originally think. The only way for you to establish a proper budget is to quote it. You also need to remember that you must consider the price of the stone and labor costs.

Take Note of the Sink

Are you aware that the sink you choose for your kitchen or bathroom also affects the timeline of installation? For instance, you can opt for a top-mounted sink paired with any countertop, so it creates a seamless look.

Determine the Amount of Material You Need

After you get a new countertop for the kitchen or remodel a few rooms in your house, you need to have the proper estimate. And your fabricator would have to determine how many square feet the project is. Normally, a quick and simple sketch with measurements of the project would be enough.

Work Out the Details of the Project

Have you thought of the project details, or are you only browsing? Are the current cabinets strong enough to bear the stone’s heavy weight, or do they need a replacement? Do you know the countertop measurements? Do you want to install a backsplash?

With budgeting, you know the details and full scope of what you are hoping to achieve because this can help fabricators to better assist you and make recommendations. Averagely, 10% of your budget should be for countertops.

Decide on the Edge Details

With a countertop installation, you should take note of the edge detail. There are various edges that reflect a unique style to emphasize the design of your home; whether you want an ultra-modern kitchen or a traditional-looking one, there is an edge for you. Based on the material you choose, your fabricator can share different edge options with you which are common for the stone you chose – even the edge style that suits your personality.

Look for the Seller’s Warranty

No matter what countertop material you want to buy, you should ask about the warranty. Similarly to this, you should always have your countertops installed by professionals. Sometimes, the manufacturer will not give a warranty if a different service installs it.

Height

The average height of a countertop is 36 inches, but if you are thinking of having a kitchen island-cum-bar countertop, you need to increase it to 42 inches. Ergonomic basics imply that kitchens need to be designed to achieve tasks in an efficient way, including height. Those that have limited mobility might decrease their countertop height.

You can contact granite countertop installers Rockville anytime once you are ready.

20

Dec

How Quartz Countertops Transform Your Kitchen

A kitchen renovation is a major undertaking, and a lot of homeowners look back and regret any decisions they made. You should not cut corners now to just regret it after some time. You can make the most out of your kitchen remodel when you go for quartz countertop contractors.

The cost might seem expensive when you compare it to other materials, but you are going to keep those countertops most likely at home for many years or decades. The easy care and maintenance of quartz pay for itself since it no longer requires sealing, special cleaning products, or other time-consuming and costly maintenance. You will discover more reasons why quartz countertops transform your kitchen by reading until the end.

Quartz is Environmentally Friendly

Quartz countertops are environmentally friendly, which means they are virtually safe and do not emit radon gas. This gas is colorless and odorless that is known to be a leading cause of lung cancer in the USA, according to the research performed by EPA.

Therefore, if you want to be environmentally green, you should choose quartz countertops for your kitchen. You will also use lesser cleaning products with chemicals because your countertop is easy to clean.

You can Buy Them Patterned or Solid

Choose between solid or patterned shades. A solid hue makes your room seem refined, low-key, and sleek, and you can choose from shades that include the spectrum from dramatic or subdued. There is also gray, black, neutral tan, white, beige, blue-green, brighter blue, orange, etc. Gray with one shade, black quartz, or white makes your room look elegant and luxurious. The color has an advantage over quartz with dark hues.

The other benefit is it lets you change other decors to anything you want because it fits with different looks. The versatility is amazing and it is not hard to incorporate it into your kitchen.

Timeless Luxury

Quartz countertops appear like solid stones, but they are a blend of 95% natural quartz that is mixed with 5% polymer design. The material blends make a more resilient surface and it is tough. Quartz is a lot stronger compared to other stone materials and it is almost indestructible.

Even if quartz countertops are not the cheapest, they are a great investment that lasts for decades and it continues to look fantastic without making a lot of fuss.

Mix and Match

If you would stick to one hue, you can mix and match. A patterned quartz countertop is more intriguing and adventurous, especially when it comes to contemporary spaces. You can choose eye-catching patterns and variations that transform your room with any detail. For instance, in case you want to retain the look, you should add a dash of style. Barely-there mottling a solid hue, swirls, and delicate gold veins that run through the quartz adding some visual interest.

More Considerations

Even if you can mix, blend, and match shares until you arrive at the look you want, there are a couple of tips to keep in mind. You can start to collect samples of the final selection, and then hold them against the décor or flooring so you can see how they fit. If you chose a dramatic, speckled black that adds flair and flamboyance to your room, you must ensure that you have the right room size where the color stands out. The lighting also plays an important role, which affects the look. Lastly, your cabinetry and flooring should match or contrast with the countertop colors so that they all come together to look fabulous.

Do not hesitate to contact quartz countertops dealer Potomac anytime if you want the nicest-looking quartz kitchen countertop.

 

 

 

12

Dec

What You Need to Know About Countertop Replacement

Even if countertop replacement can be challenging, it increases the value of your home. You can spend time researching all the countertops before you start to remodel your kitchen. By reading this guide, you are going to learn about different types of countertop materials, and how you can choose the right kitchen countertop.

You can go for quartz kitchen countertops or other natural stone countertops. Pricing will also dictate the quality and maintenance. The low-end countertops are for high-traffic use but they are less appealing with shorter lifespans.

The high-end countertops are made using attractive materials, but they need more maintenance, while some require certain cleaning materials. Find out more about it now.

The Existing Material

High-definition laminate countertops or solid ones can easily screw together in place, so they can be changed easily, especially if you just want to resell your home.

Hard stones may fall prey to cracking or pitting. So, even if it is not the easiest countertop to take out, you might want to replace the damaged stone instead of repairing it. This way, you can also enjoy having a newly installed countertop that will last even longer.

Hard Surface

These countertops are cutting-edge. It is originally created to replicate how the stone looks, and these countertops are made using resin and acrylics to create a nice surface.

They sit between laminates and real stones in the price range. This is problematic because they have unique vulnerabilities. The biggest one is that they will take heat damage from the pots and pans.

They are very easy to repair and someone with a few friends to help carry countertops might probably install them.

Warranty Protection

Most manufacturers of countertops have a warranty, which ensures that your product has no factory defects.

The most crucial warranty to check into is the warranty of fabricators. This warranty will cover countertop installation, which includes seams and sinks.

Seams can break because of the house settling, cabinets improperly installed, or the sink pulling apart from your countertop.

Plumbing

You should assume that you are replacing a tile countertop using a solid surface, like stone or an engineered composite surface like Silestone. Even if the cabinets might be in place, the sink almost always should be replaced. The only exception is when the sink is mounted under the existing stone countertop.

Replace the Cabinets

If you are going to tip out all the countertops, you might want to consider replacing the cabinets as well.

You can match new countertop cabinets instead of trying to match countertops to current labels. The majority of countertops are attached to cabinets, making them hard to detach.

You should also risk damaging countertops if you need to replace countertops as well.

Old Appliances

You should consider how your old appliances are going to blend with the new countertop. You should think of it like wearing a new outfit together with a pair of shoes. Sometimes, they can look unpleasant.

However, if appliances are new and in excellent shape, do not worry, even if you own a cooktop instead of a freestanding range. A cooktop is normally mounted on the surface and can be removed easily before you reset it in the same location. You can assume that the base cabinet is the same, which assumes the base cabinet is the same or there is no change in the size.

Structural or Smoke Damage

A kitchen fire that has caused smoke or structural damage to countertops will generally result in having to replace them.

If you need a quartz countertop installer Potomac, you can call them anytime.