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7 Tips To Consider When Installing Kitchen Countertops

best quartz countertop

Thinking about installing new kitchen countertops? Good for you as you are on your way to creating countertop surfaces that you will be proud of. Countertop installation is an intricate process, and you need to have plenty of things in place for the project to be a success. To give your kitchen a great look, pay attention to these tips:

Don’t be in a hurry

When they get money, many homeowners rush to get new countertop surfaces. Don’t do this as you end up buying the wrong stones. You also often end up working with the wrong contractor.

Regardless of how unsatisfied you are with the current surfaces, don’t be in a hurry to replace them. Take time to research and find out your options. Visit several stores and see what they have to offer. Also, take the time to interview several countertop contractors to find the right one for your project.

Color shouldn’t be, end-all, be-all

Color is crucial as it defines the look of your kitchen and choosing the wrong one can break the design of your surface. While this is the case, it shouldn’t be the end-all, be-all.

Pay close attention to the quality of the stone you are buying as quality is everything. You can have a stone with the most beautiful color, but if it cracks or stains easily, you are as good as not having installed the stone in the first place.

Always get samples

An average homeowner will visit countertop stores, and when they like the look and design of the stones on sale, they will go ahead and make huge orders. This is wrong as most of them end up hating the look of the countertops after installation.

Instead of doing this, take samples with you and see how they look in your kitchen. While you might like the color, design, or countertop material, you might not like how the countertop looks in your kitchen as it might not go well with your floor tiles or cabinets. It also might not go well with the design of the house.

The right thing to do is to order the countertops only after you have tried out the samples in your kitchen.

Have the right budget

Many people underestimate the amount of money they need to complete the countertop project. As a homeowner, the last thing you want is running out of money in the middle of the project and being forced to put the project on hold or borrow more money.

For you to avoid the inconveniences, take the time to undertake thorough research and come up with a budget before you begin the project. The key is being pessimistic with the amount of money you will need. When doing your budget, factor in hidden expenses such as clean up costs after installation, transport costs, and others.

Think about the everyday use of the countertops

It’s common to visit stores selling countertop surfaces and be wowed by the various stones on display. Don’t rush to buy them as they might not be ideal for your kitchen. What do you use your kitchen most for? This is the first question you should ask yourself.

If you are baker, you want countertop surfaces that can withstand high heat. If you are a culinary master, you want a stone that can tolerate acidic spills without staining.

Thicker isn’t always better

Just like color, a thick countertop doesn’t mean that the stone is excellent. Sometimes the thick surface is simply two stones that have been bonded together, which often leads to plenty of problems.

If this is the first time buying the stones, go to the stores with an experienced professional who has been in the industry for a long time to guide you.

Don’t outclass the other parts of the room

There is nothing wrong with installing the best and highest quality countertops, but when you install extremely high-quality countertops, then don’t touch the other parts of the kitchen, you give your kitchen a cheap look.

To give your kitchen a high end look, don’t just install high-quality countertops, work with granite contractors Durham and other professionals and revamp the entire kitchen.

When Should You Replace Your Kitchen Countertop?

A kitchen countertop can not only make your kitchen area attractive but also provide several benefits. For one, high-quality and multi-functional quartz countertops can serve as an extension area where you can prepare and serve food. Also, kitchen countertops can also be extra storage areas for some of your kitchen equipment and tools.

However, even the most expensive and high-quality countertop can be prone to some kind of damage over time. That is why it important to provide the utmost care for your countertop so you can use it for several years. Also, make sure to choose countertops only from the best granite companies near your area. After all, a countertop can be one of the most important investments you can make for your kitchen and your home in general.

When should you replace your countertop?

High-quality countertops should last you several years because it is built to be that way. But at some point, your countertop may incur cracks, erosion, and other signs of damage through the years. At that point, you may have to consider replacing your countertop. However, you should consider the following factors before deciding to replace your countertop:

Presence of cracks

Having cracks in granite countertops or whatever countertop material you have is not normal, to say the least. Aside from making the countertop look unsightly and dirty, bacteria and other harmful elements can seep through the cracks that can contaminate your food.

Normally, countertop cracks can be repaired. However, it can be challenging to find a material that can perfectly match your original countertop. On the other hand, repairing the crack(s) yourself can make it look worse especially if you are going to do this the first time.

Presence of burn or stain marks

Any presence of stains and burn marks can also make your countertop look dirty and old. It may still some marks even if you wipe the stained area vigorously. You may also find some stain removal formulas in the market, or discover a DIY one online.

But be careful with these, as the ingredients may further damage the countertop material instead. Unless these unsightly marks don’t bother you, it is advisable to have your old countertop replaced.

Outdated design

Your current countertop may have been in your home for years without undergoing any repairs or design updates. However, home improvement trends also undergo changes over the years.

In other words, kitchen countertops may go outdated too, and it may include yours. For the newest trends on countertops, you can consult the best granite contractors near you.

Planning to sell your home

Outdated furniture and other home décor and equipment can turn off potential home buyers. So if you are planning to sell your home, make sure to do necessary changes and repairs to make it look more attractive, fresh, and updated.

Should I repair or replace?

Replacing an entire countertop can be expensive, especially if you are considering changing into brand-new granite kitchen countertops. That is why it can be more practical to do some repairs instead of completely changing your current countertop.

As mentioned, replacing an entire countertop can be expensive so doing repairs instead can be more practical. However, you should also consider what kind of repairs your countertop needs depending on its material. Before doing this, make sure to consult countertop experts near you.

If you already have a granite or quartz countertop, you can consider applying sealant to make it look like new again. Ideally, resealing your countertop should be done once every few years to achieve its maximum look every time.

Countertop replacement tips

Here are some simple tips when considering having your countertop replaced:

Consider maintenance requirements.

Some countertop materials require a higher level of maintenance such as granite and quartz. Nonetheless, all countertops should be maintained regularly regardless of your chosen material.

Consider your budget.

Not all countertop materials are priced the same. That is why it is important to choose one that is reasonably-priced, one that will meet your expectations in terms of maintenance and design, and one that will last you several years.

Hire the best countertop replacement company

There are a lot of countertop contractors out there. That is why you should choose a company that offers the best countertop replacement in Raleigh NC. Also, the company should also be able to work well with their clients and offer topnotch products and overall customer satisfaction every time.

Questions to Ask When Choosing Kitchen Counter tops

best quartz countertop

Kitchen countertops play a major role as they serve as a kitchen workhorse and a showpiece. The countertops you select during your remodel should be durable, stain resistant, heat resistant, nonporous and elegant. Choosing a countertop that has all these qualities is not easy and can make one feel disconcerted. Your countertop is an investment and it’s important that you make the right decision.

To make the choosing process less intimidating we tell you questions you should ask yourself and get advice from the granite countertop installers before you select the kitchen countertop.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Kitchen Countertop

How will you use your countertops?

It’s important that you assess how you are going to use the countertop. If you have a busy kitchen the countertop you choose should be able to withstand the activities in your kitchen without being extra careful. If you run a restaurant you need to get a countertop that can withstand hot pans, stain resistant without wearing off too quickly. Quartz countertops will be able to withstand busy kitchens while granite will work for an outdoor kitchen island. It’s imperative that you analyze the kind of activities in your kitchen and select the countertop that suits you. If you cannot decide whether your kitchen is high traffic or not, talk to the experts at the granite company on the best countertop for your kitchen.

How much maintenance can you handle?

Different countertops require a different amount of care. Some materials are resilient while others require a lot of care. You need to be realistic on how much effort you are willing to put to maintain your countertop. Granite countertops require resealing every two years while Quartz countertop doesn’t require to be sealed. Assess the demands of each countertop carefully before you settle for that material. If your kitchen has little activity, the care and maintenance are minimal.

What are your kitchen requirements?

It’s important to know the number of linear feet you require. With the requirements, you will be able to get quotations for various materials and compare. It’s important that you work within your budget.

What materials brings out your style?

The material you choose should give your kitchen an elegant look. Choose the material that will bring out style, but also one that will last long.

Questions to Ask the Countertop Experts

Before selection below are some of the questions to ask the granite installer or fabricator.

What is the best Countertop for Your Kitchen?

Once you have given the experts your requirement, its best to ask for their expert advice on what will work best for you. The granite countertop installer will be able to give you advice on which countertop to choose depending on the state of your kitchen, your lifestyle and the traffic.

Where are the seams going to be located?

It’s important to confirm where the seams will be located. The granite countertop installer will be able to tell where the seams will be and whether they will be visible. Depending on the shape of your kitchen, it may not be possible to avoid seams

How will you maintain your Countertop?

The expert at the countertop company should be able to advise you on how best to maintain your top. Seek advice on the detergents you should use to keep your countertop looking good. Different surfaces require different care practices and you need to choose the one you can handle. Quartz countertop doesn’t require much care while you may need to reseal granite or marble countertops.

Ask About Certification and Experience

Your countertop is an investment and it’s imperative that the installer has the expertise and experience to do a professional installation. Confirm the installer is certified and they have the expertise to install the countertop without damaging it.

Ask about the quotation

Ask for a quotation and confirm any cost that you don’t understand. It’s best to work with a granite company that installs and delivers as that will make your work easier. Confirm that all the cost is in the quotation to avoid surprises.

The kitchen countertop you choose will cost you money and determine how your kitchen will appear. Its therefore important that the countertop products NC you use is durable, functional and gives your kitchen an elegant look. Whether you choose granite countertop, marble or solid surface countertop make sure you bring out style.

The Most Common Granite Countertop Questions: Answered!

kitchen counter

Granite is the first name that comes in mind when homeowners think about countertop replacement. Be it bathroom countertop or kitchen countertop, granite is the first choice of homeowners. Granite is popular countertop choice because of obvious reasons. This material has plenty of benefits. Even the availability of plenty of natural stone and manmade countertop materials is not able to decrease the popularity of granite countertops. Still many people have many doubts regarding kitchen countertop replacement.

Is granite a good kitchen and bathroom countertop?

Granite is apt material for kitchen and bathroom countertop. This material is heat and scratch resistant. It means granite can withstand hot pans, knives, flat iron etc. They can be installed above kitchen cabinets as well as on bathroom vanity. Granite countertops are available in plenty of colors and textures, which look good in both kinds of settings.

What are the alternatives to granite countertops?

There are many alternatives available on the market for granite countertops, such as marble, tile, bamboo, silestone and quartz. Each material has its own benefits. You should consider pros and cons of every material before finalizing any material for your kitchen or bathroom countertop.

How granite countertops different?

Granite is a natural stone. Each and every slate of granite is different from other. It means no two granite countertops will have similar designs. This material is heat resistant, germ resistant, scratch resistant, and low maintenance. It is not possible to get all these benefits in one countertop option.

What are faux granite countertops?

Faux granite countertops are not actually the granite countertops. It is the cheap solution to get look and feel of the granite countertop. Actually, you can paint your old countertop with certain solution to make existing countertop look like granite. It can be one of the cheapest countertop replacement techniques, as you neither need to purchase the new countertop nor need to invest time and money on the countertop installation. But at the end you will get the new countertop. So, if your existing countertop looks old or you want to give fresh look to your kitchen, faux granite is the solution.

Is granite an expensive kitchen countertop option?

Yes, granite is an expensive countertop material. Its price is higher than the most of the countertops available on the market. However, this countertop worth every penny you spent. Consider purchasing countertop from reputable and trustworthy countertop company.

Why you should think about bamboo countertops

Bamboo countertops have gained a lot of popularity in the recent times. Many interior decorators are preferring bamboo over convectional countertop materials such as marble, granite, quartz, tiles etc. It is because this material has its own unique charm. However, bamboo countertops are certainly an unusual choice.

Advantages of Bamboo countertops

Bamboo countertops have a big litany of advantages. These countertops are environmentally friendly. Bamboo trees grow quickly and can be harvested every year without resulting deterioration or depletion of the soil. The availability of bamboo trees help in fighting deforestation, forest degradation and illegal logging. It is present in abundant and are readily available. This makes bamboo an environmentally friendly countertop material.

Bamboo can be great as a countertop material. It is light to medium brown in color that looks beautiful in the kitchen. This material provides a rustic and classic appearance to the kitchen. You can even match your countertop with your cabinets.

You can find various textures in the bamboo countertops, from natural wooden finish to customize designs. And the most fantastic fact about bamboo countertop is that it does not change as it ages. This countertop can look beautiful for a good number of years to come.

When it comes to maintenance and cleaning, bamboo surfaces do not demand much. You just need soap and water to clean the bamboo surface. This countertop material does not get stained easily. However, cleaning countertop surface every day is a good practice to avoid stain marks.

More about Bamboo countertops

Bamboo countertops are economically friendly. This countertop material is a lot cheaper than popular countertop materials. Furthermore, the price of bamboo countertop depends on the length, width, quality and finishing of the bamboo. It means you can make adjustments according to your budget.

In order to enjoy all the features that bamboo surfaces, it is important to purchase the countertop from a reputable manufacturer. You may find many bamboo countertop contractors, but instead of choosing any random contractor, you should opt for reputable countertop company. You will not only find better quality, but more styles when you choose a good countertop company.

Soapstone Countertops – These Benefits Will Impress You

Are you thinking about kitchen renovations? Are you doing research on countertop materials? If so, then soapstone can be a good option to consider. Soapstone is an exquisite and exclusive product. It is apt for both bathroom and kitchen countertops.

All About: Soapstone Countertops

It’s quite surprising that soapstone countertops are getting a more popular among homeowners across the country. Soapstone is a natural stone that has a lot of benefits over other countertop stones such as granite, quartz and marble. Soapstone countertops are made from quarried stone. This stone contains magnesite, dolomite, chlorite and talc that made soapstone hard enough to bear daily wear and tear of bathrooms and kitchens.

There are so many reasons why you should actually consider soapstone for your kitchen countertop, including the following:

Soapstone is durable

Soapstone comes in varying degrees of hardness. The softest type of soapstone is used for sculpting purpose while harder ones are used for tables, kitchen counters, fireplaces, tiles etc. Durability of soapstone is one of the biggest benefits of soapstone. It can be a beautiful lifetime investment.

Soapstone countertops are aesthetically pleasing

If you are looking for a natural stone that look beautiful, soapstone is for you. This is one of the reasons why soapstone countertops are so popular in country kitchens, although they display different styles from modern to traditional. Soapstone counters offer outstanding design versatility.

Soapstone is easy to clean

Soapstone is a non-porous material. It can be cleaned with mild soap, sponge and water. It is a hygienic countertop and a very good choice for homeowners who enjoy cooking in clean environment.

Soapstone is environmentally friendly

Soapstone is dug from the earth and simply customized to fit in kitchens. It is all natural and can be recycled. This material does not require any sealers or toxics. This means it is a totally environmentally friendly material.

It is easy to work on soapstone surface

Soapstone is one of those countertop materials on which you need not have to worry about hot pot, spills etc. This material does not get damaged by heat or stains.

So, these are some benefits of the soapstone countertop. To enjoy all the amazing benefits of the soapstone countertop, make sure you choose the right soapstone countertop company.

5 Great Countertops Materials: How to Choose the Best

Are you looking for great countertop options? Are you interested in trying unconventional countertop materials? Or do you simply need cheap and reliable countertop material? Well, if your answer is YES, below mentioned litany can help you out in selecting the best countertop material for kitchen island as well as bathroom vanity.

Kitchen countertop materials

Nowadays, homeowners are looking beyond the convectional countertop materials (granite and marble). This is because now homeowners are much more interested in decorating their bathroom and kitchen in unique manner. Well, if you are planning kitchen or bathroom renovation, you can consider the below mentioned countertop material options:

Solid surface countertops

The acrylic and polyester countertops are gaining a lot of popularity, these days. Solid surface countertops are highly resistant to stains and scratches. Unlike natural stone countertops, it is possible to repair solid surface countertops. These countertops literally come in 100s of color and pattern options.

Plastic laminate countertops

Plastic laminated countertops are one of the most durable and hard-wearing countertop materials available in the market. Plastic laminate counters are generally made from kraft paper. These countertops can survive many years. This material is apt for both bathroom and kitchen countertops.

Ceramic tile countertops

If you are looking for beautiful yet cheap countertop material, then ceramic tile countertops can full fill all your needs and requirements. These countertops come in varieties of beautiful patterns. But don’t expect long lasting services from ceramic tile countertops. But always select the best countertop company.

Wood countertops

Wood countertops can give classic look to your kitchen and bathroom. Many homeowners avoid wood countertops because of mistaken perception that wood can harbor germs. In fact, wood provide 99.9 percent germ free countertop surface. However, wood countertops demand a lot of maintenance.

Concrete countertops

Concrete countertops look similar to natural stone countertops but they are available at cheaper price. They are more apt for bathrooms rather than kitchens. They prevent staining but are prone to cracking.

So, these are the popular countertop materials available in the market. Always choose reputable countertop company for purchasing countertops. Good countertop companies provide installation facility and offer genuine warranty on sold product.

Your Complete Guide To Silestone Countertops

Thanks to its remarkable features, Silestone has come out as the ideal countertop material. Silestone is the perfect choice to transform your bathroom or kitchen into a unique space. It is the only quartz surface which offers years of services without any wear and tear. You can find many color and texture options in Silestone countertops. This material allows you to configure your kitchen or bathroom in desired manner.

Know about Silestone countertops

Silestone has become the popular countertop material, as it creates the fantasy aura where you can freely unleash your creativity. Silestone countertops have special properties that provide ease of use and hygiene to a space where they are installed. With the help of the custom-made style of Silestone, you can turn your bathroom or kitchen into a unique space. In fact, renowned kitchen contractors have started preferring Silestone over Granite and Marble.

Benefits of Silestone countertops

Strain resistant: Silestone is a nonporous material, thus it does not get stained easily. It is highly resistant to coffee, oil, wine, lemon, vinegar, makeup items and many more everyday products. Stain resistant features make ideal for both bathrooms and kitchens.

Acid resistant: Quartz is one of the hardest mineral in the world. This property makes Silestone countertops resistant to acid. It means now you don’t have to worry about toilet cleaning material spills.

Scratch resistant: Now you need not have to worry about ugly scratches on your countertop. Silestone is a highly durable material, which easily resist scratches.

Impact resistant: Silestone is an impact resistant surface just like granite and other solid surfaces. This feature assures the safety of the countertop when handling hard objects such as hot pan, big pots etc.

Available in a wide range of textures: Silestone countertops come in oodles of beautiful textures. You will get fair number of option to choose one according to your specifications.

Available in a variety of color choices: On the contrary, to other countertop materials which come in limited color choices, silestone countertops come in a wide variety of colors. This helps you in keeping your bathroom or kitchen décor in sync.

So, these are the amazing features of Silestone countertops. Do remember to choose the best countertop company when purchasing countertop.