31

Mar

Water On Granite Countertops: Can You Leave Water On Granite Countertops?

If you are asking, can you leave water on granite countertops? Yes, you can, but it comes with repercussions.

If your countertops are properly sealed, you can get away with having water on the surfaces for some time, as the countertops won’t absorb water, but when you leave the water on the surfaces for a long time, there is the risk of it getting to the deeper layers of the countertops and staining them.

The situation is worse when you have hard water on your premises as the hard water leaves a white, filmy residue that is hard to remove.

What should you do about water stains?

To restore your countertops, you need to remove the water stains. How you go about it depends on the type of stains you have. To help you out, here are ways to remove these stains:

Removing light stains on a daily basis

You need to use a mild detergent and water on a sponge to remove these stains. If you have the budget, use a commercial cleaning product designed specially for granite cleaning.

When buying the commercial cleaner, ensure that it’s suitable for granite and it’s not acidic, as this can damage the sealant and stone.

Buying the best sealer is one thing and an entire animal using it. To be on the safe side and get perfect results, use the product as per the directions given by the manufacturer.

To have an easy time, clean the stains as soon as you notice them, which means less work on your part.

Light hard water stains

Have you noticed light spots around your sink or basin? These are light hard water stains, and you should move with haste and remove them. For the best outcome, remove them using a mild detergent and brush them with soft bristles. You can also use a toothbrush.

To lift the mineral deposits, put a cleanser on the stain, then gently scrub it with a brush. Once you are done, rinse it off with clean water and dry it with a towel.

You can also use a designated cleaning agent and let it sit on the stain for about 30 minutes to loosen the minerals. After this, scrub the surfaces gently with a soft brush and rinse it dry once the stain is gone.

Slightly stubborn hard water stains.

If the detergent and brush aren’t removing the water stains, use a home remedy such as baking soda. Start with creating a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water until you form a paste. You should then apply the paste to the hard water stain then gently scrub it with a soft bristle brush, then once you are done, rinse the fresh water and dry with a towel.

Removing water rings around the base of your faucet

If you have got hard water running through your system, you will sometimes have water rings around the base. These rings are often hard to remove, so you need to use tough removal products, often plastic scraper or razor blade.

To remove the water ring using a plastic putty knife, ensure that the edge is flat against your granite surface. You should then remove the mineral deposits by pushing the blade against them by applying gentle pressure.

If doing it correctly, the buildup should start flaking off, and you should wipe it off with a sponge, rinse it with clean water, and dry it with a towel.

If you try using the putty knife, but it doesn’t remove the deposits, use a sharp, clean razor blade. Keep the razor blade level with the granite surface, then slowly and gently loosen the mineral deposits.

Of course, take care not to cut your fingers or the granite surface as you are doing the cleaning.

There you have it

You can leave water on your countertops, but it will come with repercussions. To prevent the stains from resulting, move with haste and remove the water as soon as you notice it.

To reduce the absorption rate of the countertops, work with your granite contractor Rockville and install a high-quality sealant on the surface of the stone.

30

Mar

How Do You Ruin Granite Countertops?

While granite is one of the toughest countertop materials on the market, it can still get ruined. How do you ruin granite countertops? There are plenty of ways you can do it. These ways include:

Ignoring spillages

Due to the tough granite look, some homeowners ignore it when spills happen on granite surfaces. This is wrong. While granite is tough, it’s highly porous, so when you let even water sit on the surfaces for a long time, it risks sinking to the deeper layers and causing stains.

To prevent this from happening, you should make it a habit to clean the spills as soon as they happen.

If you were away when the spills happened, and now the countertops are already stained, all is not lost as there are several tricks you can use to remove the stain.

One of the most effective ways to remove the stain is to use a homemade paste out of acetone and baking soda. Let the mixture sit overnight, then wipe it clean and rinse it with water.

To completely remove the stain, you may have to repeat this process 2-3 times, so it’s always wise to reseal the countertop surfaces after the process, as acetone has been shown to strip away the existing sealer.

If you repeat this process and still the stain doesn’t go away, get in touch with a professional to help you remove it.

Placing hot pots directly on the countertops.

Granite is one of the hardest stones on earth, so the hot pots and pans can’t damage it, right? Well, this is wrong.

While the countertop is heat resistant, it’s not heatproof. This means that when you regularly expose it to a lot of heat, it’s bound to get damaged, and you don’t want this, do you?

To protect your countertops, always have trivets and heat pads in place. These will absorb the heat and keep your surfaces safe from heat damage.

Cutting directly on granite

The same way granite is tough and can withstand heat damage for some time is the same way it can withstand knife abuse, but for just some time.

When you regularly chop meat, vegetables, or anything else on the countertops, you create significant scratches on the countertops, which dulls the appearance of the stone. There is also the risk of damaging the knives.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, always have a chopping board in the kitchen and use it whenever you want to cut anything.

Standing on the countertops.

As we have been saying, granite has a tough look, and this encourages homeowners to sit or even stand on the countertops. While you might get away with it at first, there is the risk of cracks on the countertops enlarging and breaking the countertop surfaces when you repeatedly do it.

Sometimes the countertops will crack and break especially when you sit or stand on the edges.

Avoid sitting or standing on the countertops to be on the safe side. If you want to spend time in the kitchen as you are preparing the meals, don’t sit on the countertops. Use a chair.

Instead of standing on the countertops as you reach the top shelf or replace the bulb, stand on a ladder or stool.

The same way you shouldn’t sit or stand on the countertops is the same way you shouldn’t let the children sit or stand there as the present striations will crack under excessive weight.

Using the wrong cleaning products

Every homeowner wants to give their countertops the best look possible, so they are sometimes tempted to clean the surfaces with tough cleaning products.

As much as cleaning products containing ammonia and bleach thoroughly clean the surfaces, they sometimes lead to the granite stone losing its luster, and you are forced to spend a good amount of money polishing the surfaces.

To prevent this, avoid tough cleaning products. Instead, use soap and hot water. To prevent the surfaces from being too dirty, clean them often.

Granite contractors Rockville recommend that you clean the surfaces at the end of each day. This way, the surfaces don’t accumulate too much dirt that you are tempted to use tough cleaning products.

25

Feb

Countertops: What to Consider When Choosing Them

When looking for countertops for your kitchen or bathroom, you shouldn’t go blindly at it—you need to consider several factors to buy the right ones. Which are these factors to consider? Here they are:

Countertop material

If you have been researching countertops, you must have realized that they come in different materials ideal for various applications. The common materials are:

Solid surface: These materials are often artificially modified, but they contain some natural stone. Due to this combination, the countertops are durable and more affordable hence the perfect units to go for when operating on a tight budget.

The most popular countertops under this category are quartz countertops. Others are Corian, Avonite, polyester, acrylic, or a mix of the two.

Natural stone: As the name suggests, these are made from natural stone. Other than some cutting and shining, the countertops are unmodified. The most popular countertops under this category are: slate, soapstone, marble, and granite.

Since the pieces are unmodified and natural, they are often costly.

Wood: Wooden countertops are affordable, durable, and highly hygienic. Most wooden countertops are made from cherry, walnut, teak, marble, and oak.

Concrete: Although not as popular as the above countertops, concrete is beautiful when properly installed and durable when you take good care of it. When installing it, remember to give it time to cure for a couple of weeks before sealing it.

The most common problem with the countertop is cracking. To reduce the cracking, work with experienced contractors that know what they are doing. They will advise you on the best cement to use, the strengthening materials, and any other important fact.

Usage

How will you be using the countertops? This is important as different countertops are ideal for various applications. For example, if you love cooking and spend most of your time in the kitchen, you need a durable but easy-to-maintain countertop that can withstand abuse.

Do you love baking? Marble countertops are the best to go for.

If you aren’t sure about the right countertops to install, install two countertop materials in different areas of your house. For example, you can install granite countertops in one area and butcher block counters in another.

This not only makes your countertops more functional and exciting, but also much cheaper, so you save yourself a lot of money.

Aesthetics

How will the countertops look in your kitchen or bathroom after installation? It’s important to consider this as you want your surfaces to be functional and attractive to the eye. Marble countertops are hailed as the epitome of luxury, so if you’re going to give your surfaces a high-end look, these are countertops to go for.

Do you want to give your counters a natural feel and look? Granite countertops are the best to go for.

Solid surface countertops give your surfaces a unique look if you aren’t keen on naturalizing your counters.

To install the right countertops that give the feel you want, get the input of a professional.

Ease of maintenance

You don’t want pieces that will be a hassle to keep in top shape, do you? Natural stone countertops are often high maintenance, as they need regular sealing. You also have to be ultra-cautious with the liquids in the kitchen or bathroom as they stain easily.

If you lead a busy life and don’t have time to dedicate to your countertops, go for quartz countertops that are easy to maintain.

Do you have a commercial kitchen? Stainless steel countertops are the best to go for.

Cost

The final but vital factor to consider is the cost of the countertop materials. As mentioned above, natural stone countertops such as marble and granite countertops Rockville are much more expensive than the other materials, making them the wrong choice if operating on a tight budget.

Different stores sell their countertops at different prices, and it’s up to you to research and find the one selling at affordable prices. To avoid paying more than you should, visit different stores and see how much they sell their units.

19

Feb

How Do You Keep Quartz Countertops Clean And Shiny?

When you install quartz countertops, you want to keep them looking clean and shiny, and the good news is that it’s possible to do it. How do you go about it?

Here are ways to keep quartz countertops clean and shiny:

Stay on top of daily maintenance

How you handle your countertops daily goes a long way towards determining how they look in the long run.

As a rule of thumb, make it a habit to clean the countertops every day. You remove dust, liquid spills, crumbs, and bacteria by doing this. And the beauty is that you don’t need to be fancy how you go about the cleaning.

Simply wipe the counters with a wet, soapy rag, and you are good to go. You can use a mild all-purpose cleaner to have better results but steer clear of abrasive or harsh products that might etch and dull the surfaces. This calls for you to stay away from oven cleaners, bleach, dishwashing soap, degreasers, and paint striper.

Besides cleaning the countertops, you should make it a habit to clear any spills as soon as they happen. This is mainly to prevent stains from developing.

Treat stains immediately

Even with the best care, it’s common for accidents to happen, and they go unnoticed, leading to stains.

Although quartz is stain resistant, coffee, tea, red wine, and other dark-colored liquids can leave marks when you don’t remove them early enough.

If your countertops have developed stains, you shouldn’t give up on them—try to remove them. And the cool thing is that it’s possible to do it.

One of the best ways to remove the stains is using an adhesive remover that has been proven to do the removal without damaging the shine. All you need to do is to cover the stain with the adhesive remover, then let it sit for at least 15 minutes, after which you should wipe the area with a clean cloth.

Finish it off by rinsing the surface with clean, warm water.

Use hot pads and cutting boards.

On first look, quartz countertops look tough and indestructible, but they aren’t. While the countertops are heat resistant, they aren’t heatproof. This means that when you repeatedly expose them to a lot of heat, you are bound to damage them.

To keep your counters in top shape, you should protect them from heat. This calls for you to avoid placing hot pots, pans, and other hot items directly on the countertops as you will damage them. Instead, you should have cookie sheets, hot pads, and other protective materials on the countertops to protect them from hot items.

When chopping vegetables or any other materials, don’t do it directly on the countertops—instead, have a chopping board in place and chop your materials here.

Don’t place heavy materials on the edges.

Even if a cooking pan is cold, don’t place it on the edges of the countertops as you risk cracking them. When placing a heavy item on the countertops, do it gently and with utmost care to don’t damage the countertops.

The same way you shouldn’t place heavy pans on the countertops is the same way you shouldn’t sit on the countertops as you risk damaging them.

Regularly remove gunk from the countertops.

Like spills, gunk, and caked-on crud from food and dirt will adhere to the countertops. To keep your countertops looking clean and shiny, you should scrape off the gunk whenever you notice it. For the best outcome and avoid damaging your countertops, use a hard plastic scraper to scrape the gunk off.

As a rule of thumb, never use metallic materials to damage the countertops.

Keep permanent markers away.

If you have kids, they will want to draw on anything, including your precious quartz kitchen countertops Potomac.

Unfortunately, the drawings and writings are hard to come out of, especially if they are made using permanent markers. Although, you can remove permanent markers from quartz, you require harsh chemicals to remove them, which can etch your surfaces, risking the shiny finish.

To avoid removing the markers, be strict and enforce that no one should write or draw on the countertops.

17

Jan

Do You Need Trivets On Granite?

If you are asking, do you need trivets on granite, you must have installed granite countertops in your kitchen, and you are wondering whether you should protect them using a trivet, right?

You place trivets between the countertop and the hot pan to protect the surfaces from getting burned. And yes, you need trivets on granite.

The cool thing is that trivets do more than protect the counters from burn marks—they also protect you from having broken baking dishes or a cracked countertop due to thermal shock.

Overall, having a trivet in place reduces the chances of damaging your valuable items, so it’s wise always to have them in place.

But aren’t granite countertops heat resistant?

Yes, granite countertops are heat resistant, and this is one of the primary reasons they are heavily used in the kitchen, but they aren’t heatproof.

This means that while you might not experience any damage on the countertops when you place hot pans on them for the first few times, when you repeatedly do it, you risk causing permanent damage to the surfaces.

What are other granite best practices?

Besides having a trivet or hot pad on your countertops to protect them from damage, there are plenty of other best practices that ensure your countertops retain their good looks for a long time. Some of these best practices include:

Clean the countertops regularly

There is no way your countertops will look good if you don’t clean them regularly, is there? Make it a habit to clean your surfaces at least once every day.

The cool thing is that cleaning the countertops is easy as all you need is soap and water. Spray some soapy water on your countertops, then wipe it with a clean piece of cloth, and you are good to go.

Regardless of how dirty your countertops are, don’t clean them with ammonia, bleach, degreasers, glass cleaner, and other abrasive products as they reduce the effectiveness of the granite sealer, leaving your countertops vulnerable to stains. To avoid damage and keep your countertops looking good for a long time, stick to cleaning them with soap and water.

When choosing the soap type, avoid dish soap as its repeated use causes a soapy build-up that dulls the shine of your surfaces, leaving them ugly and uninviting. For the best outcome, use soap designed to clean granite surfaces.

Seal the countertops regularly

As much as they are tough, granite counters are porous. This means they have pores on them that increase their chances of staining should spills happen. You should seal the countertops with countertop sealing products to seal these pores.

There are plenty of products in the market, but not all are right for your countertops. Research and find one designed for your countertops.

You should do the sealing at the time of installation then once a year thereafter. You can do the sealing work yourself or hire a professional to help you out.

For the best outcome, it’s always wise to have a professional do it.

Clean spills as soon as they happen

As you are preparing the meals, accidents are bound to happen. For example, coffee, soda, citrus juice, tomato sauce, or even water will spill on your surfaces. Even if you have sealed the countertops, the liquids can find their way under your countertops and cause hard-to-remove stains, when you allow them to stand there for a long time.

To avoid this, make it a habit to clean spills from your countertops as soon as they happen.

Use cutting boards

When you are chopping meat, fruits, or vegetables, it’s tempting to want to chop directly on your countertops due to how tough they look, but don’t. This is because you will scratch the countertops, which gives the surfaces a cheap, dull look.

To keep your countertops scratch-free, always use a chopping/cutting board to protect both your countertops and knives.

Granite installers Rockville also recommend you keep off hard objects such as rings and bottles as they can scratch or even dent the countertops, and you don’t want this, do you?

 Yes, you need trivets on your countertops.

To keep your countertops in pristine shape, you need trivets. There are no right or wrong trivets. As long as the units provide you with the protection you need, you are good to go.

07

Jan

How Do You Make Granite Countertops Look Good?

Granite countertops look magnificent in any home, and this is one of the primary reasons many homeowners go for them. If you have had your countertops for a long time and they have started losing their original exquisite look, you must be wondering, how do you make granite countertops look good, right?

Well, there are plenty of ways you can do it. Some of these ways include:

Shine the countertops

When you installed the countertops for the first time, you must have noticed an inviting natural shine. The shine is largely due to the high quartz content in granite.

While the shine is inviting when new, over time, it fades off, giving your countertops an old, cheap look.

To make your countertops look good, you need to maintain this shine. Besides cleaning the countertops regularly, you also should regularly polish the surfaces.

Thankfully, there are plenty of polishing products in the market you can use. All you need to do is find those that match your countertops and give your surfaces a perfect look you are looking for.

When polishing the countertops, take care not to use rough cleaning tools that scratch the surface. As a rule of thumb, use a soft cloth, precisely a microfiber cloth, that won’t cause any harm to the surface.

Use the same soft cloth to buff the surfaces and buff in a circular motion to don’t cause any harm and reach the entire surface.

Other ways to keep your granite looking good

Besides polishing the countertops, there are many other ways to keep your granite looking good. Some of these other ways include:

Take good care of the countertops

Like your car, clothes, appliances, or any other thing, if you want your countertops to look good, you have to take good care of them.

The beauty is there are plenty of ways to take care of them. Some of these ways include:

Clean spills immediately: As soon as spills happen, you should clean them to avoid hard-to-remove stains from forming.

Use coasters: Coasters come in handy at preventing the hot pots placed on the countertops from coming into direct contact with the countertops. As a rule of thumb, use high-quality coasters that will provide the countertops with maximum protection and last for a long time.

Use cutting boards: The same way you should use coasters and hot pads is the same way you should use cutting boards when cutting meat, vegetables, and other food items. As a rule of thumb, never cut directly on granite surfaces.

Don’t sit on the countertops: It’s normal for most homeowners to sit on the countertops as they wait for food to cook. Others will come to the kitchen and sit there as they chat. This is wrong.

To avoid cracking your countertops, avoid sitting on them, especially on the edges. You also should avoid standing on them to reach the top shelves or replace a burnt bulb.

Clean the countertops regularly

As mentioned above, cleaning the countertops goes a long way towards keeping them looking good. When doing the cleaning, use the right cleaning products.

In most cases, water and soap are enough to keep the surfaces in top shape, but you can use commercial cleaning products when looking for that extra shine. When buying the cleaner, use one specifically designed for granite surfaces.

Never use ammonia, citrus, or vinegar to clean the surfaces as they are highly acidic cleaners, and using them will dull the surfaces.

The right way to clean the countertops is to spray or mist the cleaner across the entire surface, then let it sit for a minute, after which you wipe it with a soft microfiber cloth until it’s dry.

Seal the countertop

The final thing you should do is seal the countertops to lock out any materials that might try to find their way into the countertops. You can seal the countertops or hire granite countertop installers Rockville to help.

When sealing the surfaces, work in small sections to don’t spray the same area more than once. After applying the sealant, wipe the surfaces with a soft cotton cloth until completely dry.

20

Dec

Can You Paint Granite Countertops?

If your countertops are old or you don’t like their current look, instead of removing them, one of the ways to improve their look is to paint them. So to answer your question, can you paint granite countertops? Yes, you can do it.

To get the most from painting your countertops, you need to do several things that include:

Properly prepare the surface

There is no way the paint will properly adhere to the surface if you don’t properly prepare it. For the paint to adhere properly, you need to rough up the surface by sanding it. The surface also needs to be clean, so after sanding the area, you should clean it so no dust or dirt particles might make their way into the paint, primer, or sealer during the project.

Apply the right primer

For the paint to adhere well without chipping or rubbing off, you should apply the right primer. If this is the first time doing it, take your time to find the right primer for your surfaces. You can apply the primer by yourself, but let it be done by an experienced professional who knows what they are doing for the best outcome.

Choose the right color scheme and paint.

There is no way your countertops will look good if you choose the wrong color scheme or use the wrong paint, so you should be cautious when making your choice.

As a rule of thumb, choose a paint color that goes along with the rest of the house. For example, if you are going for the marble look or any other color palette, choose multiple colors to complete the design.

If you have a small room, go for lighter colors to give the impression of space. And if you are one of the lucky people and have a large room, there is no harm in going for darker colors that will absorb light and make the room look and feel smaller and cozy.

If you aren’t sure about the right color or color combinations to go with, get the input of a professional.

When it comes to the type of paint, you should go for epoxy, latex, or acrylic that is known to be durable.

The best paint type to choose is acrylic latex paint that holds up well against heat and water, so you are sure that it will last for a long time when you apply it.

Don’t rush

When many homeowners decide to paint their countertops, they rush to find granite colors, and paints. While this is good as it gets you into doing rather than pondering, it often results in more mistakes.

To avoid mistakes, take your time and fully understand what you need before beginning your project. It’s always wise to consult a professional so that you understand your project better and find out whether you can handle it by yourself or you have to hire an expert.

For the best outcome, be patient throughout the countertop painting process. Carefully sand the surfaces, patiently prime them, paint them with precision, and you will have the surfaces of your dreams.

Seal the surfaces

After painting the surfaces and giving them enough time to dry, the next thing you should do is seal them. The purpose of sealing the countertops is to lock in the paint and protect the beautiful work underneath.

Like the paint and other materials, you used before, ensure that you use a high-quality primer that will last for a long time and give your surfaces the top-notch protection they deserve.

While there are many sealers you can apply, the best to go for is the masonry sealer that works the best on granite and other natural stones.

You can apply the sealer yourself or ask a granite contractor Rockville to help out. When making the application, you can use a roller or paintbrush.

Once you are done with sealing, give the countertops at least 24 hours to completely dry before placing items on them.

11

Dec

Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Granite Countertop Sparkling Clean

When every homeowner installs granite countertops, they want them to look clean and sparkling all the time. The good news is that this is possible. How do you do it? Here are tips to keep your kitchen granite countertop sparkling clean:

Clean the countertops properly

It goes without saying that if you want to keep your countertops sparkling, you have to clean them properly. To help you out, here are the cleaning steps to follow:

Begin with clearing any items from your kitchen countertops. These include cooking appliances such as crockery and blenders. You should then follow it up by getting rid of dust and debris using a sponge or microfiber.

Granite surfaces are sensitive to abrasive scrubbing techniques, so use soft brushes when cleaning. You should also avoid acidic chemicals, including vinegar, as they are known to destroy the sealants, weakening the countertops’ stain-resistant qualities.

Use warm water, soap, and a cleaning cloth for the best outcome.

After getting rid of the dust, dampen your microfiber cloth with warm water, then wipe your countertops gently. To prevent a lot of grime from accumulating on the countertop, rinse your cloth in fresh water periodically.

You should thoroughly wipe down your countertops from one end to the other until you cover the entire area.

For maximum cleaning effect, do the cleaning in an “S” pattern. If there are stubborn stains on the surfaces, you may have to intensify your scrubbing to remove the stubborn stains.

Once you are done with the cleaning, disinfect the countertop surfaces using a mixture of alcohol and water. A cup of each of these ingredients is enough, but add a few drops of cooking oil for better results.

Spray the mixture evenly on the surface, then after five minutes, wipe the surfaces gently with a dry cloth.

Get rid of tough stains.

Although daily cleaning with warm water and soap is enough to keep your countertops clean, sometimes you will have tough-to-remove stains. As you can tell, you can’t have clean, shiny countertops when there are ugly stains on the surfaces, can you?

To get rid of these stains, you should use baking soda, known to have excellent stain removal capabilities. To do the cleaning, you need to mix baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and warm water in a bowl until they form a thick paste.

Although it’s commonly used as a wound disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide is highly effective at getting rid of stains without bleaching or discoloring the countertops.

Carefully spread the thick paste over the countertops, then cover them with plastic wrap, ensuring you reach over the edges. Let the mixture do its magic overnight, then the following morning, rinse it thoroughly with water and wipe it down to reveal a stain-free kitchen top.

Prevent stains from forming

Instead of struggling to remove stains, you should prevent them from coming about in the first place. How do you do this?

The first thing to do is ensure that spills don’t stay on the countertops for a long time. As soon as spills happen, get rid of them. If you aren’t in the house when the spills happen, get rid of them as soon as you notice them.

When cleaning the countertops, don’t use abrasive chemicals to get rid of the spills. A simple piece of cloth is enough.

The other thing you should do is seal the countertops. Granite countertops are porous, so when you don’t seal them, there is the risk of the spills seeping deeper into the countertops resulting in tough to remove stains.

Seal the countertops the first time you install them, then once a year thereafter.

For the best outcome, use the highest quality sealer. You also should ensure that the sealing is done by experienced granite contractors Montgomery County MD.

The final thing you should do to stay away from stains is to avoid placing hot items directly on the countertops. Even if granite is tough and can take a lot of abuse, placing hot items on the counters is bound to cause burn stains that are often difficult to remove.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, always have trivets and hot pads on your counters at all times.

06

Dec

How Do You Measure A Countertop For Replacement?

When you are looking to undertake countertop replacement, you can go at it in two ways—do the work yourself or hire countertop replacement services.

If doing the work yourself, you have to measure the countertops so that you know how much to buy. Are you wondering, how do you measure a countertop for replacement? Here is how to go about it:

Get the measuring tools

You can’t measure the countertops without the right tools, can you? Some of the measuring tools you need for the work include:

Tape measure: You should use retractable tape with a steel blade. When using the blade, ensure that you can read the fractions of an inch. The tape should read in total inches and break into foot increments. For the best experience, stay away from cloth tape measures as they flex and stretch, giving you inaccurate results.

Pencil: You use a pencil to jot down figures. A pencil is better than a pen because you can correct any mistake you make. Use one with a hard lead that won’t break when using a pencil.

Graph paper: Although you can record your shapes and measurements on plain paper, graph paper provides a better and more accurate surface. When plotting, use a formula such as one square equals two inches.

Calculator: Unless you are a math whiz, you need a calculator to multiply, add and even divide the large figures. The beauty is that your calculator doesn’t have to be complicated—a regular calculator that can convert fractions to decimals then do some multiplication and division is enough.

Helper: Although not a tool, an extra pair of hands and eyes will go a long way towards helping you make correct measurements. The helper will help hold the tape end solid while stretching and recording. Ensure that you are on the reading end while the helper holds the tape at zero to avoid mistakes.

Draw a rough drawing of the countertop

Begin with making scale drawings of your countertop layouts. Remember to keep the countertop drawings complete where the sections join, such as in an L-shape or U-shape design.

You should note that you don’t have to be concerned about scaling the aisle separations when it comes to the galley kitchens or island situations. You only need to focus on the actual countertop surface you are dealing with.

Breakdown the countertop parts into blocks

To avoid overlaps, experts recommend you take measurements in rectangular blocks. Even the rounded or oval island, you should treat it’s a square.

Measure the countertops

You deal with two main dimensions when taking the measurements: length and width. The length is the lateral run across the counter surface, and width is the depth from the back of the wall to the front face. Make length your longest measurement and width the shortest one for the island and peninsula designs.

Take measurements of all the countertop areas from the sinks, backsplashes, faucet locations, and cooktops. Remember also to include the counter overhangs such as eating bars and nosings.

Transfer the measurements to the graph paper

After taking the measurements, transfer them to your graph paper and label each rectangle with a letter such as “A,” “B,” and so on. The purpose of doing this is to keep track of each zone, and at the same time, it makes it easier to describe the layout of your countertop supplier.

At this point, write the fractions as ¼, ½, ¾, etc. Don’t worry about converting them to decimals at this time—you will do this when you start calculating the final square footage.

Add all the rectangles and squares.

To get the total area in square inches, you need to add all the separate sections. To convert the area to square feet, divide the area in square inches by 144. You can alternatively plug the figures into a free online calculator or convertor.

Work with an experienced contractor.

Countertop installation is tough and requires extra care to get it right. You can also easily mess up, which ends up being too expensive. To minimize losses and ensure the work turns out perfect, work with experienced granite countertop installers Rockville or other professionals that know what they are doing.

29

Nov

What to Do With Granite Countertops

When buying granite for the first time, all you hear is what you shouldn’t do to it. For example, you are told that you shouldn’t sit on it, you shouldn’t place hot items on it, you shouldn’t wash it with harsh products, and so on.

If you are a granite fan, you must be wondering what you can do with it, right? Well, here is what to do with granite countertops:

Clean them with soap and a rag

Soap and rag are all you need to leave your countertops spotless. To clean the surfaces, wet a rag and apply a bit of soap to the countertop or your rug. You should then wipe the entire surface once to clean it.

To avoid spreading food, grease, and dirt, wring the rag with fresh water and once you are done, rinse the rag and wipe it down the counter with fresh water to remove any soap residues.

Follow it with drying the countertop with a microfiber cloth.

If the soap isn’t getting your countertops clean enough or you want to get better results, use a special countertop cleaner.

You can also make your special granite cleaner. To make the cleaner, you need to mix 50/50 rubbing alcohol with water, then add 20 drops of your favorite essential oils. This mixture will not only clean the countertops, but also disinfect them.

Remove granite stains

The other thing you can do is remove granite stains. Regular daily cleaning is enough to leave your countertops spotless, but sometimes you spill something, and you don’t remove it on time. In such a case, you have to think about removing the stains without damaging the natural stone.

One of the ways to do it is to apply baking soda paste. Regardless of the nature of the stain, the chances are high that baking soda will remove it. To get rid of an oil-based stain, make a baking soda paste with water and if you are dealing with a water-based stain, mix the baking soda with hydrogen peroxide.

Apply the paste over the stained areas, gently scrub the counter with a soft cloth and rinse it thoroughly. If the stain doesn’t come off the first time, repeat it.

If you repeatedly scrub the surface and the stain doesn’t come off, cover the area with plastic wrap and tape the edges down. Leave the homemade stain remover in place overnight or after a few days, then rinse and wipe the granite with a soft cloth and this will hopefully reveal the stain-free surface.

Seal the countertops

Most granite countertops come with a seal coat, but this isn’t enough—you need to add an extra layer to keep your countertops in top shape. You can do the sealing by yourself if you have the skills, but let an expert do the work for the best outcome.

You have two options with sealants—water and solvent-based sealants. Water-based sealants are environmentally friendly, while solvent-based sealants go deeper into the soil.

Regardless of what you settle on, when making the purchase, be on the lookout for the active ingredient “fluorocarbon aliphatic resin.” This product provides over 10 years of protection and repels oil from your surfaces, so you don’t have to worry about oils on your surfaces.

Begin with cleaning the countertops to remove dirt, dust, and other materials that might be present. One of the best ways to clean is to mix one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent and two tablespoons of isopropyl alcohol in a pint spray bottle and fill it with cool water.

You should then generously apply it on the countertops and wipe it clean with polishing using a microfiber cloth. Give the countertops 24 hours to completely dry out before applying the sealer.

Proceed and apply your desired sealer. To prevent the sealer from coming off, it’s recommended you leave it at least 24 hours before using the countertops.

Parting shot

These are some of the things you can do with your granite counters. If you can’t do something to your counters, let granite companies Rockville or any other professionals help you out—you don’t want to do something you can’t, and you ruin your precious surfaces, do you?