countertops

Mar 15 2021

What Is the Best Countertop for Your Money?

While every homeowner wants to revamp their home with new countertops, there is the issue of money. So you will often hear many homeowners asking, what is the best countertop for your money?

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, quartz countertops are the best to go for when looking for an affordable countertop material that will give you a long service.

Why quartz countertops are the best option

Also known as engineered stone, quartz is made from stone chunks mixed with resins and coloring. The material comes with plenty of benefits. One of the benefits is that it’s impervious to stains and excellently stands up to acidic foods without requiring any sealing.

Since it’s made from stone waste, it’s considered a greener choice, so if you are into conserving the environment, quartz is an excellent material to go for.

Quartz is also scratch and chip-resistant, so you don’t need to do much to keep it in top shape.

Years ago, homeowners used to throw shade on the countertops as they had patterns that were too uniform and consistent that they didn’t look like real stone. Currently, manufacturers are creating irregularities in their countertops, giving them a natural look.

If you visit many countertop stores, you will find countertops mimicking granite variegation and marble swirls.

The countertops come in plenty of composites such as Formica solid surfacing, Corian Quartz, and Silestone. It’s up to you to choose the ideal one, depending on your budget, the look you want, and the design of your kitchen or bathroom.

To get the most from the countertops, ensure an expert installs them. While the countertops don’t require much care, you still have to pay attention to them. For example, you should wipe them regularly to clean any dirt that might be present.

While they are stain-resistant, they aren’t stain-proof, so you should make a habit to clean the spills as soon as they happen.

The countertops are tough, but you shouldn’t place hot items directly on them as the surfaces aren’t heatproof.

Other countertop options

If you don’t want quartz, there are plenty of other kitchen countertop options you can go with. They include:

Granite countertops

Once only seen in the homes of people of means, granite is one of the most popular countertop materials you can install in your kitchen or bathroom. And no, you don’t need to have a lot of money to install it.

Granite comes in a multitude of colors, such as mottled white, vibrant blue, variegated brown, deep red, and many others.

Like quartz, granite is durable and highly resistant to heat. Its major downfall is it’s porous, so it requires some sealing to prevent it from staining.

Marble countertops

Marble countertops don’t come cheap, so you should be ready to part with a substantial amount to afford them. Marble is popular in kitchens as it has naturally cool temperatures. It’s also heat resistant and stands up well to hot pans and pots.

Its major downside is that, like granite, you have to seal it to prevent it from staining.

Laminate

Popularly known as Formica, laminate is an assortment of fiberglass, paper, wood, and plastics, making it extremely affordable. Laminate comes in a wide range of sizes, colors, designs, and shapes to choose from. One of the most unique attributes of the material is that it comes with a sealant layer resistant to heat, water, and scratch.

At the time of purchase, you buy it as one large piece of sheet, so you don’t have to deal or worry about seams. When it comes to installation, you can easily install it if you are a dab hand at DIY projects. Cleaning it is also easy as all you need is to wipe it with a soft cloth and detergent.

What should you consider when buying kitchen countertops?

Whether you are looking to buy granite, quartz kitchen countertops, or any other countertop material, you should consider plenty of factors. Some of the factors to consider include: color and design, size and shape of the material, durability, and ease of maintenance, cost of buying and installing the countertops, among many other things.

Mar 05 2021

What Are The Disadvantages Of Granite Countertops

Due to its popularity, the first thing that comes to the minds of most homeowners when they think about countertops is granite. While granite is beautiful, tough, and significantly improves the value of a property, it has its fair share of dips.

Are you wondering what are the disadvantages of granite countertops? They are many. Here are some of them:

Granite can be expensive.

Granite is a high-end countertop material so if you are looking to buy it, be ready to shell out a substantial amount of money.

While granite is generally expensive than other countertop materials, there are several things you can do to reduce the cost.

First, take time to research. Visit countertop stores in your area and compare their prices. As you are shopping, remember you get what you pay for. So avoid ultra-cheap slabs.

You also should consider going for a granite tile instead of a slab as tiles are cheaper than continuous slabs. The downside to this is you risk having visible grout lines that can be off-putting and give your surfaces a cheap look.

Granite is now too apparent.

A few years ago, granite was rare, and you could only find it in the homes of the cream members of society, so it was prestige to have the countertops in your home. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. Now, you will find granite in the homes of ordinary people who aren’t too well to do.

The beauty is that even if the countertops are common, granite comes in an entire gamut of styles and colors to choose from. Find a unique slab with unique veining and color to stand out from the pack. Although, you may have to pay extra for the unique slab, it’s worth it.

Granite needs sealing

Like marble, granite is porous, so you need to seal it to prevent stains and bacterial from growing on it. This can be a put-off to some homeowners that don’t like countertops that need a lot of care. But if you don’t mind giving your surfaces some attention, this won’t be an issue as sealing granite countertops doesn’t take a lot of time or require specialized skills.

It’s wise to have the countertops sealed by granite installers at the time of installation then reseal the surfaces once a twice a year after that. To get the most from your efforts, use a high-quality sealing product.

The countertops need to be installed by professionals.

This might not be a drawback if you aren’t a dab hand at DIY projects, but if you are tight on budget, this might not be a wise countertop option as you have to hire a professional to help with installation. First, granite slabs aren’t light and often require two or more people to install them without risking dropping them.

Most granite sellers require professional installation for warranty. Granite installation also often requires specialized tools and experience that aren’t worth investing in when you do it once.

Granite can crack

Granite manufacturers and sellers market granite as indestructible, but this isn’t the case. When you exert excessive force to it, granite can crack or chip. For example, when you strike the countertop with a sharp or hard object such as a meat cleaver, it will break, and you have to replace the damaged area.

The good news is this rarely happens as you can’t shell out thousands of dollars on the countertop then go around striking it.

Granite is also prone to stains. When you allow liquids and other spills to stay on the surfaces for a long time, they will get to the inner layers and stain them. Luckily, you can prevent stains from developing by clearing the spills as soon as they happen.

While the countertops are tough and heat resistant, they aren’t heatproof. To protect them from damage, avoid placing hot pots and pans directly on them.

Parting shot

Like other countertop materials, granite kitchen countertops have their drawbacks. Fortunately, the countertop benefits far outweigh the negatives so if you have always dreamt of installing the countertops in your home, go ahead and do it. You only need to make sure granite countertop installers install them. After installing the countertops, take good care of them, so they have a long life.

Mar 01 2021

How Are Granite Countertops Attached?

So you have been visiting your friends’ houses, and you can’t stop admiring their countertops. They are beautiful, strong and they appear as if they are attached to the cabinets. How are granite countertops attached? You wonder.

Well, here is the answer. After the granite technicians have placed the countertops on the cabinets and ensured everything is leveled, they apply a bead of silicon at the countertop and cabinet intersections and the stone’s underside. In most situations, this is enough to hold the countertop in place.

If you live in an older house or you have an uneven floor and uneven cabinets, the contractors install wood shims to secure the countertops.

For the seams, contractors use epoxy to cement the granite pieces together. To hide the seams, the technicians blend and color the epoxy at the site before applying it.

Tips for professional granite countertop installation

For a strong and durable countertop attachment, you have to ensure your countertops are professionally installed. How do you do this? Here are tips to follow:

Buy a high-quality granite slab.

Everything begins here. There is no way you are going to have quality countertop installation if your slabs are of poor quality. Thankfully, it’s easy to tell whether the stone is good or poor quality.

The first thing to look for is the price. If you visit different stores and find a store selling granite at a price lower than the average price in the other stores, chances are it’s fake and won’t give you the results you are anticipating.

The next thing to look out for is the appearance of the stone. Granite is natural, so there is no way it can have the same pattern throughout. So if the slab you are looking at has an even pattern, it’s most likely a fake and not worth going for.

It’s also possible to tell the quality of the stone by taking a look at its porosity. Granite is naturally porous hence it will absorb water applied on the surface. Cheap, poor-quality granite won’t absorb the water.

To test the stone’s porosity, apply a small amount of water to the stone, and if the water absorbs within a few minutes, the slab is real granite, but if the water doesn’t absorb at all, the granite is most likely fake.

Other things you can do to tell you have a quality slab in your hands is to tap on its surface with a hammer. Real, good quality granite will produce a ringing sound, while a fake granite will make a small click sound.

The countertop seams can also help you know whether the stone is genuine and worth buying. If the countertop seam patterns are the same on both sides, the slab is most likely fake.

Work with an experienced professional

You can buy the highest quality and most expensive granite countertop slab, but there is no way your countertops will look good if you work with contractors that don’t know what they are doing.

Good quality granite slabs go for thousands of dollars, and you don’t want them damaged, do you? So, only work with experienced professionals.

A great place to find these professionals is from friends and relatives. If none has installed countertops recently, go online but don’t hire the first company that shows up in the search engines.

Remember, good SEO isn’t a reflection of the company’s quality of services, so interview several companies and settle on the best one. As a rule of thumb, hire companies with references.

Prepare the cabinets for granite installation

3 cm thick countertops don’t require any preparation other than to level and secure the cabinets. If you are installing 2 cm thick countertops, it’s wise you apply ¾ inch plywood to provide additional support.

Take good care of the countertops.

Your work isn’t done when granite installers install the countertops. Remember, the countertops can still come apart if you don’t take good care of them. To keep your slabs in top shape, protect them from damage, avoid placing heavy and hot items directly on the surfaces. Also, avoid standing or sitting on the slabs. To keep off stains, seal the countertops at least once a year.

Feb 14 2021

Tips on How to Move Granite Countertops

So you have gone to the granite stores and identified a granite slab you love, and you have confirmed it will look in your home. You have even paid for it, and now it’s time to move it.

Although granite slabs are tough and easily resist scratches, burns, and other forms of abuse, they are prone to cracking if you don’t handle them with care.

For the countertops to reach your home in one piece, you have to move them with caution. To help you out, here are tips on how to move granite countertops.

Have the right moving equipment

The equipment and tools you use for your work will heavily influence the countertops’ safety during transit. The cool thing is there are plenty of safety equipment you can use for your work. They include:

A-frame

The A-frame is wood fashioned and bound together in an “A” shape and it makes it possible to transport large countertop slabs leaning. You need to transport the countertop in a leaning position because the countertops can crack if you transport them flat or horizontally.

Moving straps

To prevent the countertop slab from shifting or wobbling during the move, you have to tie it to the A-frame, and there are no better tools to do this than moving straps. There are all types of straps online and offline you can go for.

When making the purchase, avoid cheap straps as they are often weak, and don’t provide a tight hold. Remember, your countertops are worth thousands. Do you want to secure a thousand-dollar slab with a two-dollar strap?

To avoid accidents, invest in a high-quality strap that will securely hold the countertop in place and give you peace of mind during transportation.

Moving blankets

Moving blankets provide cushioning to the countertops, so the hits aren’t too hard on the countertops. The blankets are a must-have if transporting more than one countertop at a time.

If you can’t find the moving blankets or they are out of your budget, use bubble wrap as it will work just as well. As you are using the padding materials, ensure you hold them in place, so they don’t fall off during the move.

Carrying clamps

The purpose of the carrying clamps is to provide a strong grip to the countertops’ sides, so you have a handle from which to carry the countertops from.

Gloves

Granite can easily slip from your hands, so you can’t trust your hands when carrying the countertops. Regardless of where you are carrying the countertops to, you want gloves with a strong grip to have an easy time moving them.

Extra help

Carrying the countertops isn’t a one-person job, regardless of your physical might. To avoid injuries, risk of damage and have an easy time moving the slabs around, get help from other people. For example, you can get extra hands from the countertop store you are buying the countertops or ask your friends to help out.

Move the countertops using the right techniques.

You might be having all the right equipment, but if you aren’t carrying the countertops properly, you risk damaging them. To help you out, here are tips to remember as you are carrying the slabs:

Carry the countertops vertically. Not flat or horizontally.
Don’t drag or push the countertop as you will crack it. To ensure this doesn’t happen, have a few extra people help you lift it.
Move the countertops one way—don’t have rest stops on your way as you increase the pieces’ chances of breaking if you keep stopping in different areas.

Hire a professional moving company

While you save money moving the countertops by yourself, it comes with plenty of risks. To protect yourself from the risk, let a professional moving company handle the work.

Besides the company moving the countertops safely, it also will most likely be insured, so when an accident happens, you don’t worry who will compensate you for the loss—the insurance company will do it.

A great place to find professionals to move your granite kitchen countertops Reston is from the store you are buying the countertops. As a rule of thumb, ensure the company you are hiring is experienced enough. You don’t want to entrust your expensive purchase to noobs, do you?

Feb 09 2021

How to Bring Back Shine to Granite Countertops

You installed granite counters in your home because you want the sleek elegance that the counters bring to the table. Unfortunately, with time, acidic substances etch the countertop surfaces causing them to appear dull and faded.

Faded countertop surfaces can’t give your home the elegant appeal you have been working hard for, can they? Fortunately, you can restore the shine of your countertops and bring back the lost glory. Wondering how to bring back shine to granite countertops? Here is how to do it:

Use dish soap and other soap-based cleaners

If your countertops’ dullness is due to a buildup of soap film, you can easily get rid of the buildup using dish soap and other soap related cleaners. The soap will also remove stains brought about by hard water.

Use polishing powder

Do your countertops have grease stains or mild etching from acids in foods? These stains are tough to remove, so to remove them you need a tougher material such as polishing powder.

Buy a polishing powder designed for natural stone countertops, then mix it with water to make a paste. You should then apply it to the problematic areas using a soft cloth.

Some powders might need to be left on the counters overnight, so follow the instructions keenly. While these powders are effective at getting rid of the stains, be cautious when using them as many of them have been shown to damage granite counters.

Treat with acetone

If you don’t want to use the polishing powder due to its etching capabilities, use acetone to get rid of oil, grease, soap scum, and other thicker residues.

Use a soft cloth to apply the acetone to the dull areas. Since acetone works as a solvent, it’s highly effective at dissolving the thick greasy stains leaving you with shiny countertops you will be proud of for a long time.

After scrubbing the countertops with acetone, rinse the surfaces with warm water.

Reseal the countertops

It’s common for the countertops to lose their shine when the sealer coat is etched. If the surface of the stone underneath is still in good condition, you can easily bring back the shine by resealing the countertops.

For best results, use a sealing product recommended by the installer or manufacturer. Also, remember to clean the surfaces before applying the sealer.

After cleaning the surfaces, use a rag or spray bottle to apply the sealer on the surfaces, giving them an even coat. After the sealer has dried, apply another coat to provide more effective protection for your countertops.

Refinish the countertops

If your countertops are badly faded, chances are they are deeply etched from acidic substances. To remove the etched surfaces, refinish or re-polish the faded areas. Since granite is hard, you need specialized equipment such as a grinder or stone polisher to achieve this.

Unless you have the necessary skills, let an expert handle the work.

Keep the shine

Once you have restored the countertops, work at keeping the shine. One way to do this is to ensure you don’t use any abrasive or acidic cleansers.

You should note these include household cleaners, so be ultra-cautious when using the cleaners. Before you use any cleaner on your surfaces, always confirm whether it’s acidic content and if high, don’t use it.

Keep acidic foods such as lemons, tomatoes, limes, and alcohol away from your countertops. If you have to place them there, ensure they are in a bag.

When spills happen, granite contractors, recommend you get rid of them as soon as possible. You should note that even water can get into the deeper layers of the stone and stain them when you allow it to stay on your surfaces for a long time, so regardless of what spills on the countertops, move with haste and get rid of it.

After cleaning the countertops, dry the surfaces thoroughly to ensure no water or cleaning product remains on the surfaces.

Finally, use coasters, hot pads, trivets, and cutting boards every time you are cutting anything on the countertops. This is to protect the surfaces from heat damage.