Tag Archives: kitchen counters

What Is the Downside of Marble Countertops?

Marble has long been regarded as a beautiful material for kitchen counters. Its ageless elegance and distinctive veining make it a popular material among homeowners wishing to improve the aesthetics of their kitchens. However, as lovely as marble is, it has its own challenges and limitations that you should be aware of when making the purchase.

These challenges include:

They are porous and susceptible to stains

One of the most notable disadvantages of marble countertops is their porosity. Marble is a naturally occurring stone comprised mainly of calcium carbonate and is highly porous. This implies that marble countertops can easily absorb liquids and become damaged if spills are not cleaned immediately.

For example, red wine, coffee, citrus juices, and even water can soak into marble surfaces and leave lasting stains. While sealing marble can help minimize its porosity, no sealant can prevent stains.

To avoid damage, you must be meticulous about cleaning spills as soon as they occur. You should also be diligent about sealing your countertops at least once a year using a high-quality sealant.

They are soft and susceptible to scratches.

Marble is softer than other popular countertop materials like granite and quartz, making it more susceptible to scratches and etching. Everyday kitchen operations, such as cutting, chopping, and moving heavy pots, can create visible markings on marble counters. Accidental nicks and scratches can still occur while using a cutting board.

In addition, acidic chemicals such as lemon juice, vinegar, or tomato sauce can scratch marble surfaces. The etching shows dull patches or discoloration on the marble’s surface, which is most evident in polished surfaces.

If you’re looking for marble kitchen countertops and want to avoid scratches and etching, choose a honed finish over a polished one. A honed finish is matte and can help hide minor flaws.

To prevent scratches on the counters, invest in high-quality cutting boards. When cleaning marble, avoid using scouring cleansers or abrasive sponges, as they can damage the surfaces. You don’t want this, do you?

They are high maintenance.

Unlike quartz or granite, marble requires extensive maintenance to keep it at its best. Marble countertops should be sealed regularly, at least once or twice a year, to avoid stains and etching. This continual care can be time-consuming and increase the overall cost of having marble worktops.

In addition to sealing, marble countertops require daily maintenance to avoid deterioration. You must use non-abrasive, pH-neutral cleaners to clean marble, as strong or acidic cleaners can damage the surface.

If you’re considering marble kitchen countertops, you should consider the time and cost of frequent maintenance when budgeting for your kitchen renovation.

To have an easy time with the countertops, always remember that bleach, lemon-based cleansers, and vinegar can all etch the marble.

So, if you’re dealing with a tough stain, contact your manufacturer and see what they recommend. Some at-home remedies may eliminate it, but learn what you can’t use before proceeding.

A damp microfiber towel, dish soap, and hot water are enough in daily care. While all types of special marble cleaners are on the market, you don’t need them.

They are vulnerable to heat damage.

Marble is heat resistant to some extent; however, it is not entirely heatproof. Placing hot pots, pans, or baking sheets on marble surfaces can produce thermal shock, resulting in cracks and discoloration. Over time, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can damage the stone, reducing its overall resilience.

If you have marble counters, you must use trivets or heat-resistant mats to protect the surface from heat damage, adding another caution to daily kitchen use.

If you regularly use your kitchen and feel that marble is too vulnerable, try granite or quartz, which can sustain higher temperatures without harming it.

They might not be the best for high-traffic kitchens

Marble countertops may not be the best option for busy kitchens or families with young children. This is because marble countertops require special care due to their porosity, softness, and susceptibility to scratches and stains.

For families or individuals who cook frequently or use their kitchen as a lively gathering place, the risk of marble countertop damage may outweigh the visual value.

If you like the look of marble but need something more durable, quartz or granite are good options. These materials provide equal beauty while also being more durable.

Marble loses its color over time.

If you value preserving the original look of your countertops, you should know that marble requires constant care and may still show signs of aging despite your best efforts.

Marble is a natural material; exposure to sunlight, moisture, and daily wear can change its appearance over time. For instance, white marble may become yellowish if not correctly cared for. While some homeowners enjoy the natural patina that develops with age, others may find these changes undesirable.

There is no saying whether you will love or hate the new look. The right thing to do is to consult a professional and see whether you like the look of old marble. If you don’t, you should consider looking elsewhere.

They can get pricey

One of the priciest natural stone choices for kitchen countertops is marble. Of course, the type, color, and place of origin of marble affect its price, but premium marble slabs can be very expensive. The total cost may also increase due to the possible repairs and ongoing upkeep needed for marble surfaces.

Quartz countertops that resemble marble can be a preferable alternative if you are looking for an inexpensive countertop solution with comparable looks.

If you aren’t sure the countertops are right, consult a reliable expert to compare prices and identify a marble alternative that suits your spending limit.

Parting shot

Despite their obvious beauty, marble kitchen countertops Durham have a number of disadvantages that homeowners should be aware of. Because of their porosity, scratch-proneness, high maintenance costs, and other issues, marble countertops require a level of care that may not be appropriate for every home.

Be aware of these drawbacks and consult with a reliable professional to decide if marble countertops are the best option for your kitchen.

If marble’s classic beauty appeals to you, you can ensure your countertops will continue to look beautiful for many years by following the proper maintenance and care procedures.

Installing New Kitchen Countertops? 7 Things to Pay Attention To

If you are looking to install new kitchen countertops, there are a number of things you should pay attention to in order to install the units properly. These things include:

Your preferred look

Having an idea of the ultimate kitchen’s design is beneficial as it helps you select the best kitchen counters for your home. Consider the look you want to achieve before making your selection for new kitchen countertops.

You should remember that particular countertops may give your kitchen a more classic appearance, while others may provide your house with a more modern feel.

Should you have a preference for a modern kitchen, you can wind up selecting unusual countertop materials. The type of countertop material you select for your kitchen will depend on the overall look you want to achieve.

There is no right or wrong material to go for. It all depends on you.

Your lifestyle

Certain lifestyles are more suited for particular types of kitchen countertops than others. For example, a white granite countertop might not be the greatest choice for your kitchen if you have a busy household with lots of spills and accidents.

To tell whether a particular material is suitable for you, consider how your kitchen will be used, as certain materials for countertops are more porous or more likely to chip and crack.

This will help in determining the required level of durability for the countertop surface. Speak with an expert if you’re unsure which material would suit your lifestyle the best. Experts in countertops will know which material is ideal for your kitchen.

You should note that your lifestyle will determine how long the countertops last. This means that as much as you might love particular countertops, if your lifestyle doesn’t fit them, it will be pointless to install them as, after a few uses, they will break.

To be on the safe side, follow the instructions given by the countertop professional. Don’t go against their advice, as chances are that you will end up wasting your money.

Layout of your home

The kitchen should unite the entire house because it is the center. Having stated that you ought to think about the design and arrangement of your property and make an effort to unify the style throughout.

You should confirm that your open-concept home’s elements all function as a unit to provide a seamless flow throughout the area.

The style you decide on for your kitchen should be reflected throughout your house. The reason for this is that your home will look much better if the finishes and color schemes are similar.

Even if your house is not an open concept, having a connection between your kitchen and the rest of the house is still beneficial. When selecting the color scheme for your kitchen counters, try to stick to a basic palette.

Your budget

You must first establish a budget if you don’t already have one. You should note that you should do this before choosing your kitchen countertops.

If this is your first time installing the countertops, you should note that they can be costly, so be sure to have enough cash on hand. When determining the budget for your kitchen countertop, try to be reasonable.

Determine which materials would be most appropriate for your budget and consult a professional to select the ideal countertops for your house.

Try to choose premium materials for your kitchen countertop that will last a lifetime while staying within your budget.

You should note that your budget should not only include the cost of buying the countertops but also that of installing them. The last thing you want is to buy new countertops only to find that you don’t have money to install them.

Edging

Even while the edging you decide on for your finished countertop may appear insignificant, it has a significant impact on the look of the counters. The edge not only gives your projects the ideal final touch but also expresses your personal preferences.

You should work with your installation contractor and agree on the best edging style that will match the design of your home and reflect your style.

You should note that the contractor who installs the countertops might not be the ideal one to install the edging, so it’s always wise to find an edging professional who will expertly install it for you.

Backsplash

While the backsplash area in a kitchen is often overlooked, it may be a valuable space to upgrade your kitchen cabinets because it runs along the countertop.

You should choose a backsplash that complements the style of the house and your countertops. For example, selecting a backsplash made of glazed ceramic tiles will enhance the kitchen’s aesthetic appeal.

Chances are that there will be fat and other materials landing on the backslash, so ensure that it’s easy to clean. This calls for you to avoid any material that might be problematic to clean.

The backsplash is another place where you can get creative with color and style to make your kitchen pop if you’ve selected a more natural, subdued tone for your countertop. It would also be a relatively simple design feature to change up sometimes.

There is no right or wrong backsplash to go with. It all depends on your preferences and your desired look.

Maintenance

Many people will install countertops, but the last thing on their minds is how they will maintain them. This is wrong.

You should know that for you to keep the countertops in good shape, you need to maintain them. The countertops you choose should be based on your lifestyle. If you love cooking, you need countertops that will be easy to maintain, as getting high-maintenance surfaces will be an inconvenience.

If you aren’t sure about the counters to get, get the input of the professionals.

Remember to maintain the countertops of your choice correctly. This calls for you to seal your granite countertops Raleigh if you need to. You also should protect your surfaces from scratches by avoiding cutting directly on them.

Things to Do If You Hate the Color of Your Granite Countertops

Although granite countertops are attractive, long-lasting, and in style, you should know it’s normal to get bored of them. The good thing is that you can update them if you find them too busy, too dark, or simply don’t match your current design style.

To help you out, here are things you can do if you don’t like the current color of the countertops:

Paint the countertops

Consider using a granite countertop paint kit, available online and at home improvement stores, if you are content with how your kitchen is set up but would want a different look without having to pay more for something like a new Corian countertop.

Primer, paint, and epoxy are typically included in countertop resurfacing kits; some kits also include all the sanders, rollers, brushes, and other equipment you’ll need for the project.

Make sure that you adhere to the instructions included with your particular kit, however, most kits suggest taking actions akin to these:

First, use a roller to apply a coat of primer. After letting it dry, apply a second layer of primer.

Using a fresh roller brush, apply the stone coat. Use a smaller brush for difficult-to-reach and detail areas, such as the areas around sinks, fixtures, and edges.

You should use a rotary sander to smooth the stone coat after it has dried. A shop vacuum or filtration system helps get rid of dust.

You should then dust or vacuum the surface until it is clear of all dust and debris.

After applying a second coating of stone coat and allowing it to dry, resand.

As instructed, apply the sealant coat and let it dry. It’s crucial to give this last coat enough time to cure completely before handling or causing any disturbances, as doing so may result in smudges and imperfections that are difficult to fix.

After the sealant application has dried completely, remove the protective tape.

To ensure the countertop is polished, you should apply caulk to all edges, walls, sink lines, and other required locations.

Tile over the countertops

You can tile over a granite countertop that is perfectly level, square-edged, and devoid of embellishments, curves, or a waterfall edge. Your countertops must be level and sturdy so the tiles and grout do not fracture after installation.

Water-resistant, long-lasting, and food-safe porcelain, ceramic, or comparable tiles are what you should install.

To stop water, stains, and bacteria from growing, choose non-absorbent, food-safe, resin-based, and stain-repellent grout.

Unless you choose your tile, grout, and design choices wisely, tiling over existing granite counters might make your kitchen appear less attractive, so be cautious about how you go about it.

Tile is often thought of as a less attractive, cheaper countertop material. Nevertheless, it can refresh an outdated countertop and improve how your kitchen expresses your taste.

You can rough up and scratch your countertops with a power sander and high-grit sandpaper. For the thinnest mortar to adhere to them, they must possess a particular texture.

Alternatively, you can buy and cut a ¼-inch-thick cement or tile backer board to precisely fit over your counters and glue it to the granite surface if you don’t want to install tile directly on your worktops.

For the best outcome, work with experienced contractors who will not only correctly install the tiles but also advise you on the best ones.

Install laminate sheets on your countertops.

Consider covering your granite counters with laminate sheets if ready for a new look. Though laminate comes in various solid and decorative patterns, it is rarely as attractive as granite, so you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of making the switch.

Laminate is also far less durable than granite, so you must treat your countertops more carefully if you decide to switch.

You want the granite to appear dull, so use an orbital or belt sander to remove the top layer.

Using a vacuum, clean the surfaces and remove any last bits of dust and grime.

Measure the top, sides, borders, and backsplash (if appropriate) of each countertop surface you plan to cover.

You can install any style and color of laminate, including precut laminate strips.

Use contact paper or countertop film.

Cover the granite surface with contact paper or countertop film for a less expensive, more transient upgrade that will still transform your granite worktops.

Countertop film, which resembles vinyl flooring more than typical contact paper, is more robust, resilient, and thicker than contact paper, which is less expensive and more straightforward to cut.

Both are available in various hues and designs, including marble-like patterns.

While this is the case, you should remember that this is a temporary fix that will alter the appearance for a while; it will require gentle maintenance and replacement as it wears out.

After deciding on and buying the contact paper you want, spread it across your counters and let it flatten.

Cut it to size with a straightedge, sharp scissors, or rotary cutter, then align it with your countertops to ensure a good fit.

You should peel one corner and edge first to expose the adhesive side.

Attach this side to your countertop piece by piece, working slowly and deliberately around the countertop’s surface, beginning at one edge.

As you proceed, you can smooth the film using a squeegee or wide plastic putty knife to eliminate bubbles and guarantee a snug fit.

Parting shot

If you don’t like the current look of your granite kitchen countertops Raleigh, don’t worry; there are several ways to improve their look.

You only need to choose one of the given ways and run with it. You can make some of the changes yourself, but let a professional help you for the best outcome.

Tricks to Keep Your Kitchen Countertops Clear of Obstructions

Keeping the top of your countertop clutter might feel like a never-ending battle. This is because kitchens are the center of most homes, hence they rapidly become a catch-all for all the random things that don’t have a home anywhere else.

When you combine that with their practical function, the surfaces quickly get overrun with junk.

What is the best way to keep your modern kitchen counters clear? You need to make tiny but significant adjustments rather than making large commitments.

When the clutter becomes unbearable, it’s tempting to believe that a major kitchen renovation is required, but as any expert organizer will tell you, it’s the simple improvements that make the most difference.

Adopting a few basic habits and incorporating them into your normal routine will most benefit keeping your kitchen countertops tidy rather than just the short term.

To help you out, here are methods and suggestions for clutter-free countertops that you can immediately implement in your home.

Give your homeless items a place to live.

What’s the first step toward a clutter-free kitchen counter? Providing a home for all of your possessions. It’s all too easy for a stray utensil or a stack of letters to become permanent fixtures on your surfaces, but the key is not to let them stay too long in the first place.

You should allocate them a home. Begin by making room in your cupboards. You should collect anything lying about on worktops, shelves, and tables, and assign it a place. Label the shelves or containers so everyone in your house knows where to return the items.

Get countertop organizers

It may seem obvious, but investing in some creative organizer purchases is one of the finest ways to organize a kitchen. There are some kitchen organizers that no one should live without, from sliding countertop gadgets that make it easier to access your heavy equipment to a good old-fashioned spice rack to keep all your ingredients contained.

Countertop organizers help to ensure that everything in your kitchen has a place. When you lack systems of organization and don’t know where to place things, they’re likely to wind up in general locations, like countertops, where they make the surfaces dirty and ugly. You don’t want this, do you?

Put the dirty dishes in the sink.

We’ve all been guilty of stacking dirty dishes by the side of the kitchen sink or allowing them to accumulate on a spare countertop – especially if you don’t have a dishwasher. Unfortunately, this is a proven way to have cluttered surfaces.

To avoid this, place the dirty dishes, mugs, and glasses straight into the sink to keep your counters clean and neat.

This will keep them out of sight and urge you to wash them once the sink is full, preventing a washing-up marathon later on.

Keep the appliances you don’t use out of the countertops

Countertop gadgets like toasters, coffee makers, and air fryers can make meal preparation much easier, but only when they’re not taking up too much space. If your counters are cluttered with gimmicky equipment you rarely use, put them away when not in use.

Thankfully, it’s a quick and basic task.

Most people rarely use the crock pot, standing mixer, or automated drip coffee maker (they prefer pour-over coffee). Appliances take up important real estate, so consider storing them in a cabinet and enjoying the extra space they generate.

Have a kitchen command center.

Everyone has that one area of the kitchen island or the spot in front of the windowsill where they keep their daily essentials. These can be things like keys, glasses, and letters, which easily pile into small clutter. When it’s been a fixture on your kitchen counters for so long, getting rid of it is easier said than done.

To keep your countertops clean, create a designated drop zone for these often-used things. This could be anything from a fancy catch-all dish to a box or shelf. 

A command center will help you keep your paper, keys, spare change, bills, and school assignments off your kitchen’s surfaces.

You can create a command center in a corner of your kitchen or near your entryway by adding hooks, magazine folders, calendars, and whiteboards. It’s all on you and you don’t have to complicate it. 

Have a one-touch rule.

If you want to break bad habits with your belongings, decluttering ideas can be life-changing, and the ‘one-touch’ tidying guideline is ideal for kitchen counters. This rule does exactly what it says on the tin. If you pick something up, you have to return it.

Returning an item after using it reduces clutter and saves time.

You should make it a routine to return items to their proper places as soon as you have finished using them. For instance, if you run the dishwasher overnight, unload it as you wait for your toast or oatmeal to be ready in the morning.

That way, anytime you use a glass or another dish, you may rinse it and immediately place it in the dishwasher.

Have a kitchen closure routine.

Kitchens get more traffic than any other room in the house, and while they’re a social hub for the entire family, there has to be a point where you draw the line.

Set a bedtime boundary when everyone should vacate the kitchen so that you can work on it.

You should load and run the dishwasher every night, wipe down the worktops, table, and appliances, put your belongings away, and quickly sweep or vacuum the floor.

You could even go the extra mile and arrange the breakfast table for the morning.

Follow these steps, and before you know it, your entire family will be on board with your structured habits, and clutter-free granite countertops Raleigh will soon become the standard in your kitchen.  

What Makes a Good Kitchen Countertop?

When building or remodeling your kitchen, one of the most significant decisions you’ll make is the countertop material to install. 

This is because they influence the place’s visual and general mood and may also be the catalyst for developing a good cooking plan. 

If you choose the wrong kitchen countertops, you’ll most certainly wind up with culinary nightmares, and you don’t want this, do you?

To ensure that you choose the right material, you need to consider several tips: 

Ease of maintenance

Maintenance is one of the most crucial factors when selecting a worktop material for your kitchen.

If you prefer a pristine environment, you want a surface you can easily wipe.

One of the best materials to go for is Quartz. This is because it’s easy to care for and highly durable.

Quartz is made out of quartz stone particles mixed with resin. Since quartz surfaces are resilient and non-porous, they are less prone to discoloration, so cleaning oil, coffee, or juice is as simple as one swipe.

Quartz is also available in many nature-inspired patterns and gorgeous colors.

If you don’t like Quartz, you can always go for porcelain countertops highly resistant to heat and chemicals. They are also resistant to acidic or alkaline materials and will not fade or discolor over time. 

The surfaces are also easy to clean, saving you a lot of time and effort.

If you cook a lot at home, go for solid surface countertops.

These countertops are non-porous and resistant to stains and bacteria since they are made of hard polyester, acrylic, and resin. 

Solid surfaces are also highly durable and do not need to be regularly sealed.

And, if they develop dents, you can easily buff out most of the scratches. 

Cleaning up spills is a breeze, as most solid surfaces can be cleaned with a bit of soap or simple home cleaning.

Because a solid surface is not heat resistant, you should be ultra-cautious of hot pots and dishes and use a trivet to protect them.

Heat resistance

The kitchen has high temperatures, so the ideal kitchen countertop should be heat-resistant unless you are looking for a countertop that you must keep replacing. 

One of the countertop materials you can go for is porcelain. Porcelain can tolerate extremely high temperatures since it is comprised of clay and burned at high temperatures. 

Other heat-resistant countertops you can consider include Quartz, granite, and marble. 

While they are less likely to be harmed by hot pans and trays than other surfaces, it is wise to be ultra cautious and use trivets or cooling racks.

Some surfaces, even virtually shatterproof, can crack unexpectedly when subjected to severe heat, so always protect them. 

Hygiene

Many people rarely think about their countertops’ hygiene status, which is wrong. You should always consider how your chosen countertops will impact your food upon installation. 

Few materials outperform copper in hygiene, so always consider it during installation. Copper and its alloys, such as bronze, brass, and copper-nickel, are naturally antibacterial, so bacteria and viruses that settle on their surface are quickly killed. 

When you undertake regular surface cleaning, brass and copper kitchen counters make an excellent choice and provide you with the extra infection protection you are after. 

Because brass and copper have living finishes, their appearance will vary and develop with time, yielding amazing effects. 

Although these kitchen counters can be sealed with lacquer to preserve a uniform appearance and avoid discoloration, it’s important to note that doing so will counteract the material’s natural antibacterial characteristics, so it’s good to leave them in their original look. 

If you don’t like brass and copper, a reasonable rule of thumb to follow when choosing countertops is that the less porous the material is, the more hygienic it is. 

A non-porous texture prohibits the growth of bacteria, mold, or mildew, ensuring optimum cleanliness.

Ease of kneading on them

If you enjoy baking or preparing pizza and pasta, you’ll want a smooth, non-porous countertop that keeps a low temperature even when things get hot. 

Quartz is one of the best materials to consider. We already know it is non-porous, stain-resistant, low-maintenance, and easy to clean – all unquestionably important when dealing with a lot of flour.

But what makes Quartz particularly appealing is its ability to sustain a low temperature, and as all pastry cooks know, temperature counts. 

Quartz countertops keep their cool, so you can, too, since there will be no melting butter, sticky dough, or collapsed flaky crusts.

Ease of cleaning

Cleaning the countertops is part of maintaining them, and ensuring you can easily clean your surfaces is important. 

How easily you clean these surfaces depends on the material you have installed. 

If you have Quartz countertops, the non-porous, sealed surface requires less upkeep than other stone surfaces. To clean it, dampen a towel with mild dish soap and warm water or use a quartz cleaner, then dry it with a clean microfiber cloth. 

For granite countertops Raleigh, avoid leaving spills on them for extended periods, as they may develop stains or discoloration due to their porous nature. 

To clean the granite surfaces, use a moist cloth dampened with mild dish soap and warm water or a granite cleaner, then dry with a clean microfiber towel. Resealing your countertops once or twice a year is also wise to prevent watermarks and stains.

When it comes to marble countertops, you should know that it is susceptible to stains and scratches. You should reseal these countertops at least once or twice a year.

 If you like the look of marble but do a lot of cooking or baking, or drink coffee or red wine, avoid going for natural marble, as it will make it hard to keep it clean. Instead, it would be best to go for marble-looking Quartz that will give you the same look, but you have less chance of harming or staining your counters.

                                                                                                                                 

How to Redo Countertops without Replacing

If you have had your countertops for a long time, they must have lost their original look, right? Those with resources usually replace the countertops, but if you don’t have a large budget or don’t want to replace them, you can still do several things to redo the surfaces without replacing them.

How do you redo the kitchen countertops without replacing them? There are several ways to go about it. These ways include:

Paint the countertops

When done right, painting the countertops is not only economical but also gives your countertops an elegant look.

For the best outcome, use paint best suited for your countertops. For example, if you have laminate counters, go for specialist paint. You can also go for acrylic interior paint if you can access it.

For the paint to stick and give you a beautiful look you are after, you must prepare the surfaces properly. This calls for you to thoroughly clean the surfaces with a detergent and water. You should rinse the surfaces and give them time to dry before lightly sanding.

Depending on the paint you use, you might need a primer. For example, if you are using specialist paint, you need a primer, but when you are using acrylic paint, you don’t need it.

After priming the surfaces, apply the paint with a roller and use the right number of coats. Sometimes you might need to seal the paint with a resin.

Cover the countertops with contact paper

If you want to cover the countertops for the short term as you save money to improve them permanently, you can go the contact paper route.

Start with ordering contact papers from your local store. To account for mistakes, order more papers than you need. If you have never cut the papers before, you might need to practice cutting before you begin the covering.

As you practice cutting the papers, pay close attention to the corner cuts, as they often go wrong in most cases.

You should note that contact paper won’t simply stick to your old countertops. To attach the paper, you need to use waterproof glue.

As much as contact paper will cover your countertops, you should know that it’s not the most durable material, so be ultra cautious when handling it. As a rule of thumb, avoid placing hot pots and pans directly on it as it will start to peel up.

Place tiles over your countertops

If your countertops are still in good shape and you don’t like how they look, you should consider placing tiles over them.

For the tiles to stick on the countertops, ensure that the countertops are smooth and level.

When choosing the tiles, go for stain and heat-resistant ceramic tiles or porcelain that will look good and last for a long time.

You can place the tiles directly on the countertops, but you must ensure that the surfaces are clean and smooth. This calls for you to sand the surfaces and then use a special adhesive to stick the tiles on the surfaces.

If you are a dab hand at DIY projects, you can place the tiles on the countertops by yourself but if you aren’t a handy person, hire a professional to help you out.

Cover the countertops with a peel-and-stick product

If you aim to give your surfaces a new look, you can cover them with a pick-and-stick product. Like when applying the other materials, ensure that the countertops are clean.

You should then peel and stick your product of choice on the surfaces. You should note that the product sticks better on smooth surfaces, so don’t place it on damaged countertops.

Like the paper covers, peel-and-stick products aren’t meant as a permanent solution, so don’t place them on your laminate or granite countertops Durham and think that your work is done. If you want a permanent solution, you should replace the countertops.

Can You Cut On Granite?

It’s not uncommon to find homeowners chopping apples on the countertop surfaces when they are in a hurry. It’s also not unusual to find them slicing a lime when making a quick cocktail.

While many do this without causing any damage to the countertops, the solid question is, can you cut on granite countertops?

Yes, you can cut on the countertops, but you shouldn’t overdo it as you risk blunting your knife or scratching the surfaces. This means that you can get away with making a quick chop here and there but avoid cutting, chopping, and preparing your food every day directly on the countertops as you risk defacing the surfaces.

To be on the safe side, when you are doing extensive cutting and chopping, use a cutting board. Besides the board protecting the countertops against scratches and the knife from blunts, it also protects the sealer on the granite from acid erosion.

While the acid from the tomato or lemon won’t hurt your granite, it can break down the sealer, forcing you to seal the surfaces more often.

What else can’t you do on granite surfaces?

Besides not cutting directly on the countertops, there are plenty of other things you shouldn’t do to your countertops to keep them in top working condition. Some of these things include:

Sitting on the countertops

When you look at granite, they appear hard and tough, and they are. Unfortunately, they can’t take a lot of weight. This means that when you sit on them, there is the risk of them breaking. This is often because the countertops contain fissures and striations that can break.

To avoid breakage, avoid sitting on your countertops in the bathroom or kitchen. You also should avoid standing on them when replacing the bulb or reaching the top shelf.

Allowing water to stand on the counters

Water is life, but it can be dangerous, especially to countertops. Even if you have sealed the counters, don’t let water or any other liquids stay on the surfaces for a long time. This is because the liquids are bound to get into the inner countertop layers, making it hard to remove the stains.

To keep your surfaces clean and stain-free, make it a habit to clean the spills as soon as they happen.

Avoid placing liquids directly on the countertops to minimize the chances of spills happening. One of the best places to keep them is in the cabinets. You can also have a bottle tray and place the liquids there.

Placing hot pans on the countertops

The same way homeowners have the impression that their countertops are tough and they can sit on them is the same way they think they can put hot pots and pans on them and take the abuse.

While granite is heat resistant, it isn’t heatproof. This means that you can get away with placing hot pots and pans on the surfaces now and then, but when you regularly do it or make it a habit, you are bound to damage the surfaces.

To avoid this, avoid placing the hot pots and pans directly on the granite surfaces. The right way to go about it is to have hot pads and trivets in place where you place the hot pots to avoid damaging your surfaces.

If you don’t have a hot mat, never remove the pot from the oven while hot—let it cool and only place it on the countertop when it’s fully cold and can’t cause any damage to the countertop surfaces.

So, can you use granite as a chopping board?

As mentioned above, you shouldn’t cut directly on granite kitchen countertops Raleigh, so you can’t use granite as a chopping board. Unless you want to do minor chopping and cutting, always use a wooden cutting board.

The board will not only protect your countertops from scratches and other forms of damage, but also protect your knives from getting blunt and having to sharpen them regularly.

4 Disadvantages of Granite Countertops

Granite counters are undoubtedly the most popular countertop materials, and every new homeowner dreams of installing them in their home. Unfortunately, it’s not all hunky dory as the countertops have their flaws. Is this your first time you are thinking about installing the countertops? Here are 4 disadvantages of granite countertops you should know about:

They are highly inconsistent.

The countertops are natural, so you can’t expect them to be the same but granite takes the inconsistency to a whole new level.

First, what is referred to as granite in the stone yard and what you purchase for your kitchen isn’t always granite. Many stones are referred to as commercial granite. Meaning a group of stones quarried for use on countertops and share similar characteristics such as high levels of mica, quartz, silica, and feldspar.

True granite is made through volcanic activity where the molten rock cools beneath the earth’s surface. In some cases, the stones labeled and sold as granite aren’t actually igneous rock. Some are dolomites, breccias, and conglomerate stones. All of which are metamorphic or sedimentary rocks.

The granite’s significant inconsistencies mean that there is no standard hardness value, grading, durability, or maintenance. The inconsistency also means that you sometimes have stones that are porous, weak, soft, and others that are so dense such that even thinking about sealing them is wrong.

When you are in the stores making the purchase, all commercial granite is sold and treated equally, so it’s hard to tell what you are buying. Due to this, it becomes an issue of luck. You can buy a soft, weak stone or a tough one that will last your entire lifetime.

To increase your chances of buying a high-quality stone, involve experts. As you are doing your shopping, hire a granite contractor to accompany you to the stores. The contractor will help you determine how strong the countertop is and when it comes to the granite installation, you won’t waste time finding another installer.

Granite counters have plenty of fissures and pits

Since it’s natural, granite tends to have plenty of natural fissures or pits on its surface. Some of the fissures are harmless, cosmetic cracks or small indentations in the stone, but others are lethal and could actually weaken the countertops’ structure and integrity.

If you are wondering what fissures and pits are, fissures are natural cracks that occur on the stone, and they often occur where two minerals meet. On the other hand, Pits are small holes or indentations in the stone, which often come about when a weaker particle breaks free.

In most cases, it’s hard to tell the nature of a fissure until it opens up or forms a wider crack. Even professionals can’t tell whether the fissure or pit will worsen with time.

Thankfully, most companies apply a resin that makes the countertops stronger and hides the fissures. This means that when you polish the countertop, you cause the light to bounce off the countertop, which comes in handy at hiding the fissures, pits, and other imperfections.

The countertops come with too many color variations

Although the color variations might be a plus for some people as it means more countertop options to choose from, it can be a negative if one section of the stone is significantly different from the rest. Or you have a countertop that has a significant shift in color or pattern from one end of the stone to the next.

Due to the color variations, you should be ultra-cautious when purchasing as the color might look great at the store but be awful when you bring it home.

Before you commit to buying large countertop slabs, first carry a small sample to your home and see how the slab looks in the house. Only proceed with the purchase if you like how the countertop looks.

The countertops don’t have the same durability.

Make no mistake about it. Some granite counters are incredibly durable and will even last several generations, but others, such as those shipped from China, are weak and won’t last long enough. In fact, these stones will sag over time if you don’t support them.

To extend the life of the kitchen countertops Durham, support them on the kitchen islands, overhangs, desk, and other areas.

How Long Does Marble Last?

best quartz countertop

Marble is known for its beauty and elegance, but that’s not enough when you are looking to install the countertops. You should know how long the countertops will last. How long does marble last? Is a question you should ask yourself.

Natural marble countertops are tough and durable, and when properly maintained, they can last for over 100 years. Cultured marble countertops, on the other hand, need replacement every two decades.

As mentioned, the countertops won’t last this wrong out of the blue—you need to take good care of them. How do you do this? Here is a guide on how to do it:

Clean the countertops

It’s a no brainer that you should clean the countertops to keep them looking clean and polished. While this is the case, be cautious of the cleaning products you are using.

As a rule of thumb, avoid household chemicals, as many of them are known to cause more harm than good.

For best results, go for neutral cleaners containing conditioning agents. If you don’t have these cleaners, use stone soap designed specifically for marble.

When you repeatedly clean the countertops with the right cleaner, you keep your countertops looking fresh, and you add a natural luster to the stone.

It’s normal for spills to happen and when they happen, always move with haste to remove them before they stain your counters.

Avoid grit at all costs.

Grit is the leading cause of scratches on the countertops, so avoid it in your home as much as possible. Of course, you can prevent it from accumulating on your counters by cleaning the surfaces regularly, but you should take it a step further.

For example, ensure everyone removes their shoes when they are getting in the house. If you have many people living in the house, dust mop the floor daily and clean the counters.

Seal the countertop

Like granite, marble is porous, so it needs sealing to prevent water and other liquids from getting into the stone’s inner layers and staining it. For best results, seal the counters at the time of installation and at least once a year thereafter.

When you are in the stores buying the sealing product, go for the highest quality as it will provide a better seal and improve the look of your counters.

Polish the surfaces

With time, it’s common for countertops to lose their factory shine. Don’t fret when this happens or move to replace the counters. Instead, contact a professional and re-polish the counters.

Polishing will remove light marks left by cleaning agents and chemicals, but it won’t remove deep scratches, so if your counters have large, deep scratches, you may have to replace them.

You can do the polishing if you have the skills or hire a professional to help you out. When you hire professionals, they sand the stone with various grinding grits, making the surfaces flat and establishing a new finish.

When hiring the polishing professional, hire experienced ones. The last thing you want is someone to damage your countertops in the name of polishing them.

Protect the surfaces from damage

Although, properly maintained marble is durable, it’s often brittle when mishandled. So for your countertops to last for a long time, protect them from damage by always having coasters, protective mats, hard mats, and other items on the counters to prevent the surfaces from getting damaged.

Never stand or sit on the counters as you risk cracking them. If you have to reach the top shelf, don’t stand on the counters. Instead, stand on a ladder or stool.

Many people sit on the counters when they are having company in the kitchen. To prevent your guest from sitting on the counters, always have a chair in the kitchen so that when the guest tries to sit on the counters, you ask them to sit on the chair instead.

Install a high-quality stone

When you are in the store, you will come across a wide range of marble stones. Some cheap and others expensive. For your kitchen countertops Raleigh to last for long and also have an easy time maintaining it, go for a high-quality stone.

While it will be expensive at the time of purchase, the high cost is worth it.

What Are Peel And Stick Countertops?

If you don’t like the current look of your countertops or you are looking to undertake countertop replacement and you have been doing research on the countertop options available in the market, you must have come across peel and stick countertops.

What are peel and stick countertops?

These countertops are just as they sound. You peel and stick them to your countertops. The countertops resemble wallpaper and have a sticky backing that you adhere directly over your existing countertops.

They come in a wide range of colors and styles including granite, gold, faux marble, soapstone, and concrete.

The countertops are made through the same process as vinyl flooring, and they have a PVC vinyl base onto which an image or pattern is printed.

When should you install peel and stick countertops?

As you are installing the countertops, you should note they aren’t a permanent solution. So, when you install them, you shouldn’t think that you have completely fixed your countertop problems.

The countertops make the most sense when you have beat up countertops you want to cover up, but you don’t have a lot of money for the project. Since the countertops are cheap, you simply buy them and slap them onto your surfaces and you immediately improve the look of your counters.

The countertops also make sense when you recently moved to a rented house and you don’t like the look of the current countertops. We all have different tastes and if you don’t like how the landlord-installed countertops look, you can buy the peel and stick countertops and place them on top of the already installed countertops.

How do you install the countertops?

If you feel these countertops will transform your surfaces, you should go ahead and install them. How do you do this? Here are the steps to follow:

Prepare and clean the countertops

Begin with removing all the items from your countertops, then spray the surfaces with a de-greasing agent to remove oils and grease that might be on the surfaces. You should then scrub the surfaces with a scrub brush, then dry the counters with a rag.

Secure old countertop material

If your countertops are old and worn out, chances are there are some loose materials. Before you install the new countertops, hold these loose materials in place with an adhesive.

If there are lifted pieces, clamp them in place with a C-Clamp or place weights on the loose area to bond the existing countertop to the substrate.

Fill the holes

If you have had your countertops for a long time, they most likely have low spots and divots. Your new countertops won’t look good with these holes in place, so fill them with epoxy repair putty before installing the new countertops.

You should fill the depression so it’s slightly above the existing countertop. Give the epoxy putty two to three hours to dry before you go to the next step.

Even out the surface

Remember the depression you filled above the countertop? Now it’s time to even it out. Use 100-grit sandpaper to sand down the high spots. The sandpaper will work better when you wrap it around a sanding block. Once you are done, use a clean towel to wipe away any excess debris brought about by sanding.

Arrange the countertop tiles

Once the countertops are clean and even, now lay the peel and stick countertops and arrange them in your desired configuration. Fit the tiles tightly against each other and leave the protective paper on the backs in place.

Set the countertops in place

Peel the protective paper backing from the first tile and set it in place on the countertops. Begin along an edge and align the peel and stick tiles to the edges of your countertops. While at it, rub a rag over the surfaces of the set tile while pressing so it adheres to the surface.

Continue peeling off the protective paper and making the necessary cuts with a utility knife. Remember to use a metal straightedge to keep the cuts straight.

To get good adhesion, roll a heavy rolling pin over the tiles This ensures the tiles lay flat, preventing them from curling up at the corners or shifting.

You don’t need a contractor

Unlike with granite and other natural stone kitchen countertops Durham, you don’t need a professional to install these countertops. With the right tools and a few YouTube videos, you can perfectly install peel and stick countertops on your own.