22

Nov

Pros And Cons Of Marble Countertops

There are so many countertop materials to choose from. There are marble, quartz, and granite countertops, and many more stones and materials. but how do you know which one is better? Well, you start with learning the pros and cons of each. Here are the pros and cons of marble countertops.

Pros Of Marble Countertops

They Are Beautiful

You can’t deny the fact that marble is a beautiful stone. It’s a work of wonder to say the least. The white and light base colors coupled with the intricate and random veining look stunning in different lights. Not to mention the slight shimmer the stone has, thanks to the natural pulverized stones present in it that glisten in the sunlight. It’s a treat for eyes for sure. The looks of marble are what gets people 99% of the time and it’s a major selling point.

Marble is also pretty versatile as it can be used not only in kitchens but in bathrooms making sculptures and virtually anything pretty. Putting aside all of the cons of marble, its beauty is still unmatched to this day. People still gravitate towards it even though they are fully aware that it won’t last as long as granite or quartz. People know that marble is quite expensive, but this is something non-negotiable for them and they want to get their hands on this perfect stone and have a glimpse of natural beauty in their kitchens.

Marble Countertops Add A Lot Of Value

Marble might be expensive, but it has a huge return on investment. How is that possible, you ask? Well, marble is a very popular material among the masses regardless of its very obvious demerits. People still love the look and the overall luxury of marble, so you better believe that buyers are going to fight till the end to get a house that has marble countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Marble countertops are a very attractive feature when it comes to selling houses. A lot of buyers will appreciate the fact that the kitchen comes with these beautiful countertops and the sellers will want to get a good deal on the property. Now as a seller, you will be at an advantage because you can get a higher bid for your house just because there are marble countertops in your kitchen. Since there are going to be a lot of buyers, you can amp up the competition a bit and name a higher price. Chances are that people will still be interested in sealing the deal even if the price is a bit on the higher side.

Variety Is Endless

Not a lot of natural materials can beat marble when it comes to the options in finishes and colors. There is just so much to choose from as the color variety of marble is also remarkable and there is something for everyone whether it’s light and neutral or a darker and deeper shade range.

And it’s not only the colors. Marble has a ton of finishes as well from completely matte to slightly shimmery to full-on glossy slabs. Each finish is unique and loved by the masses.

Cons Of Marble Countertops

They Can Scratch

Marble may be beautiful, but it sure lacks in the department of strength. Marble can get easily scratched and cracked and that’s because it’s not as strong enough. Even on the Mohs scale of hardness, marble is ranked lower than granite, so it’s naturally a soft material.

You can’t expect a soft and delicate material like marble to be strong and durable. It just doesn’t work like that. It all boils down to the composition of the stone, which is the main reason why it’s so delicate and fragile.

Marble is primarily made up of calcium carbonate and other pulverized stones and the veining is all mica and other tinted minerals. Calcium carbonate, in reality, is a pretty reactive substance. It reacts violently with acids and forms carbon dioxide gas, which in turn causes a fizzing reaction to occur. It also gets eaten away by harsh chemicals and it doesn’t sustain scratches from knives and sharp objects.

As for cracks, since marble is a softer material, it’s also relatively easier to break and crack, and even if you try to put some weight on it, you will see small chips or a hairline crack. This is a huge bummer considering that people love marble for its looks, but when it comes to strength, there are better options out there.

Stains Are The Norm

Marble, like all of other natural stones available, is also porous. This is something that you need to deal with when it comes to natural stones because that is just the way that they’re made under the ground. Porous rocks are hard sponges and they can absorb liquids and fluids that are sitting on the surface for a little too long. This can lead to internal damage to the stone and it will get ruined in no time.

This also means that the stone is not waterproof, which destroys the purpose of it being used in the kitchen because there’s going to be a lot of splashes. So, marble, in a nutshell, needs a lot of maintenance.

It needs to be sealed first so that the pores can be filled and that water doesn’t get in any further from the surface of the countertops. Since this stone is pretty expensive too, maintaining it can seem like a hassle for a lot of people because they just don’t want to spend extra money on getting the material maintained. So, this is why people don’t prefer marble because it’s just too much work. If you need a non-porous material, try engineered stone countertops.

Marble Countertops Are Expensive

You’ve heard it already, but marble is pretty expensive. It’s one of the most expensive stones for kitchen countertops. It has humongous price tag and truthfully, not a lot of people can afford this stone. They want something that’s not going to put a sizable dent in their wallet, so they want to opt for something that’s a bit lower in the budget spectrum and something that is going to last a lot longer than marble.

The price range of marble countertops is from $60 to $140 per square foot and that’s bonkers if you think about getting countertops for the entire kitchen. That’s going to require a hefty budget.

Judging by the maintenance of marble and the general price of the stone, a lot of people don’t think that it’s worth it in the long run, because the expenses don’t end there. There is a lot of money that goes into maintaining the stone and taking care of it and it’s just not justified by a lot of people, which is why they tend to stay away from marble and go for other materials that will be more decent in price as well as durability.

Conclusion

Marble is undoubtedly a beautiful and versatile material, but it does come with a handful of cons that can confuse the buyers, as to whether it’s even worth it or not. The decision is ultimately up to you. You can learn about natural stone countertop materials from countertop replacement services Rockville.

26

Jul

Can’t Afford Granite Countertops? Engineered Stone Countertops Are A Great Option

While everyone would want to have granite countertops and other natural stone countertop materials in their homes, not everyone can afford them. Are you one of these people?

Don’t fret as there are plenty of other cost-effective alternatives you can go with when you are operating on a budget. The best options to go with are engineered stone countertops.

Why engineered stone?

Engineered stone comes with plenty of attractive features that include:

Attractiveness

The stone is made from quartz material that has been compressed into slabs that have similar color and texture to natural granite and slate. As a result, your entire kitchen matches perfectly.

The stone also comes with a variety of colors, such as: rose, grays, and many others. While most of the colors come from the natural color in quartz, you can talk to your designer and add colorants that give you a customized color.

Cleaning the surfaces is easy.

While natural stone countertops are beautiful and high end, the downside is they are porous. This leaves room for bacteria to get into fissures and pores where they are hard to get rid of.

Quartz countertop surfaces are non-porous so they won’t absorb liquids, which makes them easy to clean. If you work with fish, meat, raw vegetables, and other materials are known to make the countertops dirty, engineered stone is a great asset.

You have plenty of options

The countertops come in a wide range of colors and style that gives rise to plenty of countertops. They include:

Silestone

Silestone is made up of 94% quartz known to be extremely hard and resilient. Since the material is impervious to staining, acids, and scratches, Silestone is loved by many people looking for an alternative material. The cool thing is that it comes in plenty of colors with extraordinary textures.

Caesarstone

It’s made up of 95% quartz particles, with the other 5% comprising of polymer resins and coloring. Since quartz is hard enough, it’s highly durable and scratch and stain-resistant. This makes Caesarstone an excellent option for kitchen countertops.

Essastone

Another hard stone made up of 95% natural quartz. The stone is completely non-porous and homogenous and has a low maintenance finish that is resistant to scratches, heat, knocks, chemicals, and staining.

It comes in a variety of color palettes ranging from solids to patterns.

Smartstone

Smartstone comes in twenty-four designs with four color collections, and it’s made up of 93% quartz. First established in 2002, it comprises some of the quartz’s best surfaces. Smartstone comes with several attractive features such as high resistance to heat, chemicals, and staining.

These features make the stone an ideal material for bathrooms and kitchens.

Quantum quartz

Quantum Quartz is made up of 93% natural quartz, and the other 7% is made up of bonding agents and pigments. Quantum Quartz is low maintenance and ultra-hygienic, making it an ideal material for kitchen benchtops.

You can also use it in bathrooms and on the floor in the form of tiles.

What are the major flaws of engineered stone?

While engineered stone comes with all of the above advantages, it comes with its fair share of negatives. One of the negatives is that it’s hard to create curves with engineered stone. You should note that this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to create the designs. You can do the designs, but it will take a long time.

When you are hiring a contractor to do the work, it will cost you a lot of money to complete the work.

Taking care of engineered stone

While the stone is easy to maintain, you still need to take good care of it. Some of the ways of doing it include:

Clean it regularly: The beauty of it is that it’s easy to clean the countertops as they are non-porous. Use regular soap and a piece of cloth to clean the surfaces. Like when cleaning granite and other natural stone countertops, avoid harsh cleaning products as they will etch the surfaces.

You also should avoid placing a lot of pressure on the countertops. While the stone is strong, quartz countertop contractors Potomac advise against hitting the surfaces with a hard object as it can break the countertops. You also should avoid sitting on the edges where the countertops are known to be weak.

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.