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

Mar

How to Tell the Difference between Marble and Granite

On first look, marble and granite countertops look similar. Both are natural and porous, which can be confusing to many new homeowners. But are the two similar? Absolutely not.

While the two materials are similar in some aspects, they have their differences. If this is the first time buying the countertops, you need to be cautious, so you don’t buy the wrong one. To help you out, here is a guide on how to tell the difference between marble and granite:

Origin

Both marble and granite are natural, meaning they are both acquired through mining and excavation, but they have a few differences.

After being buried for millions of years, granite is a kind of igneous rock. It’s a byproduct of molten magma that has been seasoned down and solidified for decades. Granite forms after going through periodic heating and cooling, and this makes it hard and durable.

Marble goes through the same formation process as granite, but marble doesn’t involve magma heat. A marble is a combination of sedimentary rocks and other natural elements. It results after years of natural meshing of rock and soil. After being exposed to heat and pressure, you have the natural design of the stone.

During its making, plenty of minerals are involved, so marble tends to come in a wide range of colors. This means as a buyer, you have plenty of designs and colors to choose from.

Cost

Cost is often a deal-breaker when you are buying countertops, with marble being more expensive than granite. You should note that the price of the countertops isn’t only the buying cost. You also need to factor in the cost of installation. You can’t install the countertops by yourself, so you will need to hire a professional to help you out.

The installation technicians have different rates depending on their experience level, insurances, and location. It’s up to you to research and find a contractor that will provide you with great service at the least cost.

When you are operating on a tight budget, avoid hiring uptown companies as they will charge you a premium fee for nothing. You should note that the high fees charged by these companies aren’t a reflection of the services they provide, but rather than the fee they have to charge to stay afloat.

Simultaneously, avoid extremely cheap companies as they are most likely inexperienced and will do a shoddy job. Others will damage your countertops, which can lead to an expensive loss.

As mentioned, you need to do your research and find a company that provides you the sweet balance between cost and experience.

Porosity

As mentioned in the introduction, both marble and granite are porous, meaning that water penetrates the inner layers, putting the countertops at staining risk. While this is the case, marble is more porous, so you need to seal it more often to prevent it from staining.

Despite the high porosity, marble is still compact and sturdy, so it makes a great choice when you are looking to install durable and elegant kitchen countertops.

The marble’s high porosity makes it an ideal candidate for installation in hotter climates due to its ability to repel heat.

Although granite is less porous, you should note that it’s still porous, so you should protect it from oils, wine, condiments, and other materials that can stain the surface.

Aesthetics

For the untrained eye, both marble and granite look the same, but they have several distinct physical attributes that you can pick when you are cautious.

For example, granite has a veiny look that resembles specks on the surface and differs in color, where the different slabs have a variety of hues. Marble, too, has a veiny pattern, but the veins are larger and run through the slab with fairly consistent colors.

Durability and maintenance

For the countertops to last for a long time, you need to ensure they are properly installed by experienced granite installers Rockville or other professionals. Since marble is more porous, it’s more susceptible to stains and spills, so you will need to clean it up and seal it more often.

Granite is less porous, but you will still need to seal it at least once a year to improve its ability to resist stains and spills.

16

Jun

Can You Stand On Quartz Countertops?

Some people term quartz as indestructible as they have impressive compression and tension strength—even better than granite. Due to this, many are tempted to sit or even stand on the countertops.

Can you stand on quartz countertops? While standing on the countertops might seem harmless, it’s not. Plenty of cases have been reported where people stand on the countertops, and they part at the seam where two slabs are sealed together.

Installing or even repairing the countertops isn’t cheap, so you should avoid risking standing on them. In addition to damaging the countertops when you stand on them, you also risk voiding the warranty.

Better options to standing on the countertops

To avoid the risk of standing the countertops, you should try out other ways of going about it. Some of the other things you can do include:

Get a step stool: If you are stepping on the countertops due to lack of a stepping stool, you should get one. Get a small stool and tuck it somewhere in your kitchen such as between the refrigerator and counter. Always keep it in the kitchen, so when you need to reach out for something, you simply grab it and hop on the counter.

Get a ladder: Need more height? Consider getting a ladder from your local store. The ladder will cost you more than the step stool, but still, it will be cheaper than replacing the countertops.

Other things you shouldn’t do to quartz

Other than avoiding standing on the countertops, other things you shouldn’t do to the countertops include:

Don’t ignore spills: When cooking, it’s common for spills to happen. Whether its wine, tea, juice, vinegar, or soda spills, you should get rid of them as soon as you can. This is because the liquids are acidic and corrosive and will damage your countertops if you let them sit there for a long time.

While quartz is tough, the spills will destroy it if you let them sit on the surfaces for a long time. As mentioned above, wipe them with a wet dishcloth as soon as you notice them.

Don’t cut directly on the countertops: Quartz is made from manmade polymers that make it a tough material. While this is the case, you shouldn’t use it as a cutting board as sharp knives can scratch the surface. Whenever you are looking to cut something, get a cutting board, and protect the slab’s smooth shine.

Don’t place heat directly on the counters: Quartz won’t melt or burn when you place a warm plate or pot on it, but you can damage the surfaces. The damage results from the sudden temperature changes that lead to thermal expansion and subsequent cracking of the countertops.

If you have to put anything on the countertops, use a trivet with padded feet. It’s also wise you use pads under the trivet to prevent the trivet feet from scratching the quartz surface.

Don’t use permanent markers near the countertops: It’s common for kids to come to the kitchen and do their school projects there as you are making dinner. As much as you have quality time with them, don’t let them use ink or permanent markers on naked quartz.

This is because the ink adheres to the surface and becomes hard to remove unless you use a harsh chemical that can damage the surfaces. When the kids are on the counters, ensure they aren’t using permanent markers—give them water-based markers instead.

Tips on how to maintain quartz

For you to keep your countertops looking great for a long time, you should take good care of them. Some of the things you can do include:

Clean the countertops daily: Daily cleaning gets rid of dirt and debris. It also helps you catch spills as soon as they happen, so you keep your countertops in top shape all the time. As you are cleaning the countertops, use a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid an abrasive scouring pad as it can scratch the surfaces, and you end up damaging them.

Protect the surfaces from extended, direct sunlight: Extended exposure of quartz kitchen countertops Rockville to direct sunlight can discolor them so you should protect them from the sun by keeping the blinds closed as much as possible.