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.

12

Jul

How Do You Get The Best Deal On Granite Countertops?

As much as everyone wants to install granite countertops in their homes, there is the issue of money.

Good quality granite counters don’t come cheap, so most homeowners look for ways to cut the costs.

How do you get the best deal on granite countertops? If you are asking this question, you should know that there are plenty of ways you can do it. Some of these ways include:

Take your time

One of the major mistakes homeowners make when they are looking for countertops is being in a hurry. After they have decided on the countertops they want for their homes, they rush to the nearest store and make the purchase. This is wrong.

To secure a great countertop deal, you need to take your time. This calls for you to start the countertop-hunting process early enough. Experts recommend you start the process at least three months before you install the countertops.

This way you can visit various stores and compare their prices.

When you aren’t in a hurry, you will confidently bargain the price without worrying about the seller rejecting your offer.

Buy wholesale

Another way to get a great countertop deal is to buy the countertop slabs wholesale. As you can guess, this calls for you to avoid the retail stores and go straight to wholesale.

Like other products in the market, countertops sell at lower prices in the wholesale stores, so if you have one in your area, buy from there.

Even when you have several wholesale stores in your area, don’t buy from the first store you bump into. Visit different stores and see what they have in stock. You should obviously buy from a store giving you the best deal.

Buy from small local stores.

You might have the impression that the larger stores will have the largest countertop options and give the best deals, but there is nothing from the truth than this.

As a matter of fact, these stores are the worst, and you should avoid them like the plague.

For one, these stores have few countertop options, so you are limited on the number of countertops you can buy from them. Second, the prices in these stores are set in stone—you can’t negotiate.

The small local stores, on the other hand, are a completely different case altogether. Since highly motivated countertop enthusiasts run them, they tend to house plenty of countertop materials, so you have a wide range of materials to choose from.

Since you have a one-on-one conversation with the owners, you can negotiate on the prices, so you walk out with an excellent deal. These small stores often install the countertops free or at a small fee which sees you saving a lot of money.

Go for regular granite colors.

Did you know the color of the slab you choose has a significant impact on the overall price? So to avoid spending an arm and leg on your countertops, go for regular colors such as black, white, and gray. As a rule of thumb, avoid rare colors such as red as you will pay a premium for it.

The same thing applies to veining, and patterns—choose common patterns to get a good deal.

Go the prefab way

A prefabricated stone has already been cut and polished, and it goes for half the price of a custom granite counter.

While prefabricated stones will save you a good chunk of money, you should note that they aren’t good for all situations.

They work best for simple counters requiring few cuts, such as when your cabinets are standard, and you don’t need to make any customization.

Use granite remnants

Are you looking to cover just a small area, such as the backsplash behind the stove? Don’t waste money on full granite slabs. Instead, visit the granite stores and buy granite remnants. These are small granite chunks that have been leftover from previous projects.

Since these pieces are too small to outfit an entire kitchen, most countertop stores sell them at huge bargains.

If you want to give a small area in your kitchen or bathroom a high-end look at a budget, visit these stores and make a purchase. You should work with your granite installers Rockville and expertly install the remnants in a fashionable style.

31

Jul

How Long Do Granite Countertops Last? Find It Here

One of the reasons homeowners are attracted to granite is because it’s durable. Since it’s made from tough materials, it’s resistant to scratching and heat.

Homeowners know granite is durable, but how long do granite countertops last?  When properly maintained, granite can last for a long time. Experts say the countertops can last for more than 100 years.

Comparing granite to other countertop materials

So how does granite compare to the other countertop materials?

  • Natural stone and granite: 100+ years
  • Cultured marble: 20 years
  • Laminate: 20-30 years
  • Concrete countertops: 20 years
  • Tile: 100+ years

How can you ensure the countertops last for as long as possible?

As mentioned above, you need to do the right things for the countertops to last for a long time. Some of the things you should do include:

Choose the right color.

Did you know the color of the stone has a great impact on the durability of the countertops? When you choose the wrong color for your lifestyle, you will be bored with it fast, or it will get stained, forcing you to replace it. The most popular colors to choose from are:

Black: Black is sleek, elegant, and never gets out of style. Black can also give your kitchen the impression of space.

White: Looking to give your kitchen a modern and contemporary look? White is the way to go. For a great look that you will proud of for years, pair it with white appliances and sinks.

Red: It’s said to be the color of daring and energetic. Many homeowners shy away from it so that you won’t find it in many homes. It’s rare to come across pure red, but it’s easy to bump into red granite featuring white, blue, or light-colored highlights that you can use to make a powerful statement.

Green: For a traditional and earthy look, green is the right color to go with. You can also pair green with bursts of grey and brown to create an old-fashioned, comforting vibe that makes your kitchen one of the most relaxing places to be.

Seal the countertops

Another way to make your countertops last for a long time is to seal them. Granite is naturally porous, so air can pass through it. At the time of installation, you should seal the stone so no liquids can go through and cause stains.

To maintain the sealing properties, make it a habit to seal the counters at least once every one or two years.

You can do the sealing yourself or hire an expert to help you out. Regardless of who does the work, ensure you use a high-quality sealing product.

Clean the countertops regularly

Can you imagine a simple act as cleaning the countertops can give your surfaces a long life? Every day, clean granite with warm water and a soft rag. You also should consider investing in a disinfectant cleaner designed specifically for granite surfaces.

You should avoid regular cleaning products on granite as they tend to be too abrasive, and they can easily break down the sealants, exposing your countertops to stains and damage.

Protect the surfaces from damage

Even if the surfaces are tough, when you hit them with heavy material, they will crack, and you have to replace the entire slab. You don’t want this, do you? To protect the surfaces, don’t hit them with a heavy object.

When preparing your food, always use a cutting board.

Ensure the countertops are properly installed

Everything begins here. If your countertops aren’t properly installed, it’s a matter of time before they break. To prevent this, ensure you use extra beams and other support systems necessary to hold up granite.

This calls for you to hire experienced granite contractors Rockville. While they will be a little bit expensive, they will properly install the countertops, which will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Use the countertops properly.

You will have the most properly installed countertops, but they will crack or suffer from other forms of damage if you misuse them. To avoid damage, don’t stand, sit, or use the countertops for any other purpose other than what they are designed to do.

07

Nov

Granite Installers: 6 Factors To Consider When Installing Granite Countertops

The kitchen and bathroom countertops you install in your home significantly affect the look of the room. It also dramatically affects the resale value of the house.

Granite countertops remain the go-to countertop materials for many people as they are durable, easy to maintain, and give the house an elegant look.

Installing the countertops isn’t simply hiring the nearest granite installers. You need to consider plenty of factors for you to choose the right countertop pieces for your surfaces:

Think about the thickness of the countertops

Granite slabs come in three thicknesses: three-quarter inch, one and one-half inch, and one and one-quarter inch.

While it’s up to you to choose the slab size that is right for your home, avoid the one, and one-half inch as attaching the two slabs will bring about plenty of problems in the long run.

Due to the large size of the countertops, glue begins to deteriorate, which creates gaps in the seams along the horizontal edges of the countertops.

The large slabs also easily get damaged, forcing you to keep on repairing the countertops. Sometimes the damage is so extensive that you have to replace the countertops.

Pay attention to the color of the countertops

Granite comes in all types of colors. The color you choose depends on your activities. If your countertops are active and you often use them, go with darker colors as they are less likely to stain.

On the other hand, if you rarely use your countertops, go with lighter colors with a complex pattern. If you have kids and you are always worried about spills, go with countertop surfaces that have a dark color with less of a pattern.

Think about how the countertops will look after installation

Many homeowners make the mistake of buying countertops that look good in the store. While the slabs are pleasant to look at there, they often don’t give your surfaces a good look when you install them.

This is because the floor, the cabinets, and other areas of your kitchen don’t match the countertops.

Before you decide to buy the countertops, first take samples with you to your home. Place them on the surfaces and see how they blend with the rest of the kitchen. For you to have countertop surfaces you will be proud of, try out several slabs and settle on the ones that give your countertops the best look.

Think about the sink

Did you know the style of the kitchen sink has a significant impact on how the countertops look? For a crispy, tidy look, go with an under-mount sink style. Avoid a top-mounted sink as it not only gives your surfaces an ugly, confused look, it also collects bacteria around the visible edges.

For you to install a sink of the right design and size, work with an experienced professional.

Think about the edges of the countertops

The edges affect the overall look of the countertops. So you should be cautious of the ones you go for. Beveled or flat edges look great with a house with modern cabinets. If the cabinets have a traditional design, go with a bullnose edge.

Do you have small children in the house? They are more likely to bump their heads on the edges of granite, so go with round corners.

The contractor you hire will go a long way into helping you choose the right edge design for your countertops.

Pay attention to the number of seams

For the contractors to tightly bind the countertops, they have to use seams.  Granite countertops don’t come cheap, so you don’t want countertop surfaces that look cheap.

According to granite technicians, there is nothing that can give your surfaces a cheap look as many improperly installed seams. For you to reduce the number of seams on the countertops, work with the right contractor.

You also should work with a countertop contractor Rockville who is highly experienced at hiding the seams. You don’t want a professional that lets everyone know where the seams are.

Before you decide to work with a given contractor, ask him/her for photos of previous work. Carefully go through the pictures and find out whether you can automatically tell where the seams are.