Tag Archives: kitchen counters

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.

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Bamboo Countertop?

Selecting a countertop material is a daunting task, as so many countertop options available in the market. One such option is a bamboo countertop. Many homeowners are considering bamboo for their kitchen counters. Bamboo is an environmentally friendly material. It is renewable resource and looks very attractive. This material looks and feels like wood. However, bamboo countertops are not from wood, but from grass. Bamboo surface is an engineered product. It is an assembly of many pieces of bamboo that are attached to form panels and board, just like how plywood is made.

All about bamboo countertops

While bamboo countertops are environmentally friendly, they are still treated with chemicals. Chemically treated bamboo countertops also look natural, but you should find a bamboo countertop contractor who offers bamboo countertops that have not been treated with chemicals.

Bamboo surfaces have anti-bacterial properties that make this material an apt choice for kitchen counters. Countertops made from bamboo are very versatile. If you have been looking for a countertop material that looks different from traditional countertops but still provides good functionality, bamboo might end your search. Bamboo countertops are unique and classy.

Bamboo surfaces are strong and durable. They can provide long-lasting services by bearing daily wear and tear of busy kitchens.

Things to know before purchasing bamboo countertop

Although bamboo has a lot of character tics of becoming a good kitchen countertop material, it is not an ‘install and forget’ surface. If you have installed bamboo countertop, you will have to pay attention over the countertop maintenance. It is not a heat resistant material. It means pans and hotpots may damage this material.

Bamboo countertops are quite expensive. These countertops are available in three different qualities. Arrant quality bamboo surfaces are expensive, medium quality bamboo surfaces come at average price and low quality bamboo surfaces comes at cheapest price. However, bamboo countertops are less expensive than other environmentally friendly countertop materials.

Kitchen countertop replacement is a big and expensive task. It is important to invest in the right products. In order to purchase the quality bamboo countertop at the right price, you should find the right countertop company.

The Benefits of Silestone over other countertop materials

Silestone is naturally beautiful and durable countertop material. It is apt for both kitchen and bathroom countertops. Along with, marble and granite countertops, demand for silestone surfaces are skyrocketing these days.

More about silestone countertops

Silestone is among most natural quartz. It is composed of 93% of quartz. This countertop material not only possesses the best qualities of laminated countertop materials but also provide the stunning look and feel of natural stones. Silestone counters are available on the market in variety of colors, textures and patterns, which make them ideal for modern kitchen and bathroom décor. The silestone countertops can provide perfect finishing.

Silestone countertops feature amazing heat and stain resistant property. Silestone counters are made from the non-porous quartz and thus they get least affected by the water. This stone also have bacteria fighting agent. It means silestone provide you with clean and hygienic working surface.

Benefits of silestone countertops

Stain resistant: Since silestone is a non-porous material, it offers excellent stain resistance. So, don’t worry if coffee, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, makeup or any other liquid get spilled on your countertop. Your countertop will not get stained. Moreover, stains are easy to clean on the silestone surface.

Acid resistant: Silestone countertops possess acid resistant quality because they are made from one of the hardest mineral present on the earth (i.e. quartz). It shows high level of resistance towards acid.

Scratch resistant: Silestone is very durable against the external wear and tear. It is not easy to produce scratches on this surface. Thus, homeowners can enjoy flawless silestone countertop for a good number of years.

Impact resistant: Whether you throw spoon, fork or knife on your countertop, silestone will not get affected by your action. The impact resistance of silestone countertops is even better than the granite counters. It also depends on the countertop contractor you opt for.

Wide range of texture and colors: The biggest advantage of opting for silestone is that you will find oodles of colors and textures options to choose from. This material looks good in every form.

So, these are the benefits of owning a silestone counter. Nowadays, many countertop companies are offering this countertop material at good price. To get premium quality and services, you should select the best company.