Tag Archives: Marble Countertops

How Do I Choose A Kitchen Countertop?

Are you looking to buy countertops for your kitchen and wondering, how do I choose a kitchen countertop? Well, there are plenty of tips to consider. These tips include:

Your budget

This is probably the most important thing to consider, as many countertops go at different prices. If you don’t have money, go for laminate countertops but if budget isn’t an issue, try your hand at granite and marble countertops.

As you make your budget, you should note that different stores sell countertops at different prices. For example, the large stores often have limited options and sell their countertops at extremely high prices. On the other hand, the smaller stores sell their countertops at favorable prices and have a wide selection of countertops to choose from.

Before you settle on your budget, first visit these stores, see what is available and compare the prices.

Your cabinets

While cabinets are important, only consider them if you plan to keep them. If you will keep them, as you are choosing the countertops, you should consider the cabinets’ materials, colors, style, and design. If you aren’t sure about the right countertops to go for, get the input of a professional that will help you match all these factors.

Use of the countertops

How will you be using the countertops? This is an important factor to consider. If you love cooking and spend long hours in the kitchen, you should go for tough, durable countertops. If you entertain a lot, chances are there will be people sneaking into the kitchen and seeing what is going on there. Install beautiful, high-end countertops such as granite and marble to impress the guests.

If you have young kids, it would be unwise to buy high-end, white countertops as it’s a matter of time before they stain out from finger paints, jelly, Kool-Aid, and other materials.

Kitchen layout

The countertop materials you choose should match the kitchen layout in color palette and finish. The purpose of this is to build a connection between the kitchen, living room, and other spaces and, as a result, create a sophisticated look.

In most cases, you have to consult an experienced professional to help you choose the right countertop.

Aesthetic look

Your kitchen and even the entire house at large should function as one. This means that the countertops, kitchen cabinets, and other kitchen features should tie together and give you a unique look and feel.

Before you head to the stores, you need to think about the look you want to give your kitchen. Do you want an expensive look? Contemporary or modern? Farmhouse or non-traditional? You need to think about this.

There is no right or wrong look—it all depends on your preferences.

Care and maintenance required.

To keep the countertops in top shape, you have to take good care of them. The beauty is different materials require different levels of care and maintenance. While you will need to clean almost all countertops, some require extra care.

For example, granite and marble countertops are porous, so you will need to regularly seal them to prevent water and other liquids from seeping through and staining them.

Others such as butcher-block countertops need regular sanding to remove scratches and knife marks. They also need oiling to prevent water damage.

Think about your time and the work required to maintain the countertops. If you have the time and don’t mind putting in the work, you can go for plenty of countertops, but if you are lazy or lead a hectic life and don’t have time to give attention to the countertops, go for laminate countertops.

Parting shot

Choosing the right kitchen countertops Raleigh takes time and dedication. Due to the many countertop materials available in the market, it’s easy to be confused about the right one to go for. To have an easy time, work with a professional to guide you.

After getting your desired countertop, have it installed by a professional who knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is wasting so much time and money finding the countertops of your dreams, then they are haphazardly installed.

Can You Have Two Different Countertops In Kitchen?

kitchen countertop replacement

If you are wondering, can you have two different countertops in kitchen? Yes, it’s possible. Besides doing this, giving your countertops a unique look, also can save you money. To get the most from the two countertops, you need to consider several tips that include:

Practicality

As much as you want to have kitchen countertops of different materials, you should ask yourself whether the countertops are practical. If you are installing them in your kitchen, can they withstand the stains, spills, and moisture?

In most kitchens, the spills happen next to the sink and cooktop. In these areas, you want to place easy to clean and maintain countertops. One of the best materials to go for is quartz.

Balance

The two countertops you choose should give your surfaces some balance. To do this, you should install the shiny, attractive countertops on the focal point of the house, such as the kitchen island, and the less shiny countertops on the hardworking areas of the kitchen.

For example, you can install marble and other luxurious countertops on the kitchen island while you fit quartz, granite, or butcher block on the cooking surfaces. When choosing the best material for the countertops, go for one that complements your lifestyle.

The last thing you want is to install countertops with two styles that clash. You should remember that when you install countertops with significant movement or pattern, pairing them can overwhelm your kitchen design and distract the eye.

If one material has busy designs, find a complementary countertop that is solid colored or minimal pattern. By so doing, you ensure that, one countertop material doesn’t compete with the other.

One great combination is pairing marble, granite, or other natural stone with toned-down quartz or solid surface countertops.

Color

To avoid giving your countertops a two for one, salvage yard look, ensure that the two materials connect visually.

For example, pair the warmer marble such as Marfil marble with quartz or granite with brown or taupe undertones. If you are going to install a marble island with cool, gray veining, black or dark gray granite are the ideal perimeter countertops to go for.

For the perfect balance, ensure that you have contrast lightness. For example, if your kitchen island is neutral in nature and light in color, choose a darker accent surface for the remaining countertops.

Flair

There is no point in using two different countertop materials if you aren’t going to showcase your style. If you want to give your surfaces a luxurious, sophisticated look and feel, go with marble such as Carrara white or Calacatta gold, then pair it with granite or quartz.

Edge

With a mixed and matched look, contrast and variation are key. To extend the look and beauty of marble and add a modern sentiment, install a waterfall edge. Install the right edge that will beautifully frame the countertops if you want to create a beveled, eased, or bullnose look.

If you aren’t sure about how to go about it, get the input of a professional to guide you through.

What are the common countertops you can go for?

If you are wondering which are the best countertops you can go for, there are plenty of them, with the common ones being:

Laminate

Laminate countertops are made from sheets of plastic laminate bonded to a particleboard core. The beauty is they come in a variety of colors and styles to choose from. They are often affordable, and due to this, they are attractive to budget-conscious homeowners.

While they are great, their major downside is they are susceptible to splitting, bubbling, warping, scratches, and other forms of damage. Due to this, you are advised against installing them in highly active areas of the kitchen.

Marble

We have been mentioning marble as it is a highly popular material known for its luxurious look. Although marble countertops Durham are elegant to install, they are expensive, so not the best for those working on a tight budget.

Other popular countertop materials include: quartzite, travertine, granite, and soapstone. There is no right or wrong material to go for—it depends on your intended look and budget. If you aren’t sure about the right material to go for, get the input of a professional.

How to Pick Countertops for Your Kitchen

Is this the first time you are looking to buy kitchen countertops? You must be wondering how to buy them, right? To help you out, here is how to pick countertops for your kitchen:

Think about how you are going to use the countertops

What kind of a homeowner are you? This will significantly affect the type of countertops you go for. If you are a heavy cook and spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you should get tough, easy-to-maintain countertops such as quartz.

On the other hand, if you rarely cook or spend time in the kitchen, you can get away with high-end, luxurious countertops such as limestone, granite, or marble.

If you are in the middle homeowner, you can mix and match the countertops. For example, you can install the easy-to-maintain countertops on the kitchen island then place the other countertops in the adjacent counter spaces.

Your budget

This is another important factor that significantly determines your choice of countertops. Of course, you want to go with countertops that are within your budget.

Many homeowners don’t know the right amount they should set aside for countertops. If you are in such a predicament, a good rule of thumb is to never spend more than 15-30 percent of your budget on the countertops.

To avoid buying extraordinarily cheap and low-quality countertops, never go below 15% of your budget. At the same time, don’t spend more than 30% of your budget on kitchen countertops as you will be overdoing it.

The look you want to create

We all have different tastes that significantly affect the pick of countertops that we go for. Before you head to the countertops store, you need to think about how you want your countertops to look like.

What color do you want for your kitchen? What about the appliances? Which ones do you want? All of this will influence your choice.

To be on the safe side, you want to choose a kitchen countertop with a versatile color. This way, you don’t have to change the countertops every time you change the kitchen appliances and colors.

When it comes to the countertop material, choose a material with veins or splashes of color that will help you keep your options open.

The size of your kitchen

Some countertop colors will be unideal for your kitchen, so you will have to avoid them depending on the size of your kitchen. For example, if you have a small kitchen, you should avoid dark colors as they make your kitchen look too small.

In such an instance, you are better off with brighter colors that will make the kitchen look much bigger.

What countertops are available in the market?

Well, there are many types of countertops you can buy for your kitchen. They include:

Natural stone countertops

They have been around for a long time, and they are loved by many as they provide interesting veining and unique patterns. One of the most popular natural countertops is granite, and it comes in different colors ranging from pinks, reds, browns, greens, and blacks.

When you are buying natural countertops, you should note that not all are made equal. This calls for you to be cautious when making the purchase. As a rule of thumb, pay attention to the porosity and hardness rating of the stone.

Man-made quartz countertops.

Quartz countertops have recently risen in popularity majorly due to their durability and stain resistance. They also come in different designs, colors, and veining styles.

Paper composite countertops

Paper composite countertops are comprised of recycled paper and/or cardboard that is resin soaked and heat pressurized.

The beauty of composite countertops is they are environmentally friendly and easy to work with and customize.

Their major flaw is they have limited colors to choose from and are easily damaged by scratches and hot pans, as they aren’t heatproof.

Parting shot

It’s good, but buying the right countertop isn’t enough—you need to ensure that it’s properly installed.

So, regardless of whether you have settled on marble or granite countertops NC, you should take your time and find an expert that knows what they are doing.

4 Excellent Kitchen Countertop Options

Kitchen countertops set the tone for the kitchen, so you need to be cautious and ensure that you buy the right material that reflects your style and stays in line with how you use your kitchen.

Thankfully, there are plenty of kitchen countertop materials in the market you can choose from, with the most popular ones being:

Granite countertops

Granite countertops are one of the most popular countertop materials in the market. The material is quarried into blocks and then sliced into slabs. Granite is obtained from different countries, including Italy, China, and South America.

Good quality granite doesn’t come cheap, so you should have a large budget to install the countertops of your dreams. You should have an even deeper pocket if looking to install countertops of unique colors such as red.

While anyone can install these countertops in their kitchen, they are best suited for those that love countertops with unmatched natural beauty and at the same time don’t mind occasional maintenance to keep the countertops in top shape.

You should note that while the countertops are tough, they are highly porous which makes them highly risky to own as the kitchen liquids can easily seep into the deeper layers in the event of a spill.

To protect your investment, ensure that you seal the countertops at the time of installation. You also should seal them at least once a year to maintain the sealant.

Quartz countertops

Quartz is one of the hardest materials on earth, mined and formed with binders and pigments. Quartz quality varies depending on the source so take your time when purchasing and ensure that you buy quartz with a National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) rating. For a durable surface resistant to marking and staining, go for a countertop with 93% natural quartz and 7% binders/pigments.

You should highly consider quartz countertops if you are looking to give your countertops a high-class look without having to do a lot of maintenance.

Quartz also makes a great countertop material if you have a high traffic kitchen with plenty of young children, therefore, looking for a surface that is less susceptible to staining and marking.

Although quartz requires little maintenance, you still need to keep an eye on it especially if you have installed lighter colored surfaces.

Marble countertops

The first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they hear the term marble is the luxurious pillars and breathtaking sculptures. In short, elegance comes into the minds of most people.

If you want to give your low traffic kitchen a classic luxury look, marble is the way to go.

Marble comes in various textures and colors such as black, creamy white, slate gray, beige and many others. Your color of choice should be influenced by your likes and the color of the cabinets. For example, if you have white cabinets and a white backsplash, go with gray toned marble to create a unique premium look.

Like granite, the cost of marble varies depending on the marble species. If you don’t have a large budget but still want the high-end marble look, go for Carrara marble. Although the material has a high end look, it’s not as pricey as the other marble countertops in the market.

Carrara marble has also been shown to be highly effective at disguising unsightly chips and stains, so your countertops retain the spectacular look for a long time.

Before installing marble countertops, you should note that they are porous, so you will need to seal them at least once a year. You also should regularly clean the countertops to prevent dirt and other forms of debris from penetrating the deeper layers.

Solid surface countertops

Do you prefer your kitchen countertop surface warm to the touch, with a modern matte look that gives you seamless molding options for the sink and other technology integrations? Solid surface countertops are your answer.

Popularly known as Corian, solid surface countertops are made from a synthetic product formed from mineral derivatives and binders.

Unlike marble countertops NC, the countertops are nonporous, so you don’t need to seal them. While this is the case, the countertops aren’t resistant to stains and can scratch so you need to handle them with care and keep a keen eye on what you place on them.

What are Corian countertops?

Most people know about granite, marble, and quartz countertops, but there are plenty of other countertop materials you should know about. For example, you should know about Corian countertops.

Corian is the brand name of a solid surface countertop created by DuPont. These countertops are made from a natural mineral blend and acrylic polymer composed of Alumina Trihydrate. Although the countertops mimic the appearance of a stone, they have several distinct properties that make them great countertop choices.

Corian countertops pros and cons

Like other countertops, Corian countertops have their good and bad sides.

Pros

Affordable

Compared to granite, quartz, marble, and other countertops in the market, Corian countertops are much cheaper, making them affordable for most people.

They conduct electricity

This is a unique feature that you won’t find in most countertop materials. While this feature might sound gimmicky to most homeowners, it’s real, and you can work with your technicians and install it on your countertops making it possible to charge your phone wirelessly on the countertops.

While this feature might not be attractive to most homeowners, it comes in handy to those that love cooking while reading recipes on their phones or iPads.

If you are thinking about installing this feature on your countertops, you should note that it will cost you, and you will need to give your countertops special care.

It’s non-porous

Unlike marble and granite, Corian countertops are non-porous, meaning that wine, water, and other liquids won’t easily seep through when you spill on them. This makes the countertops easy to maintain and gives you peace of mind that stains won’t easily come about.

The non-porous nature of the countertops also means that you won’t have to keep sealing the countertops to keep them impermeable to liquids.

Cons

Corian isn’t durable.

Although Corian is affordable, it doesn’t have a long life. This means that when you install it, you will have to replace it several times in your lifetime, and as you can guess, this makes the countertop expensive to have.

One of the reasons the countertop has a short life is because it’s prone to scratches and heat damage, so when you consistently place hot pots on it, it gets damaged, and you have to replace it.

How to maintain Corian countertops

Like other countertops in the market, the key to extending the life of Corian countertops is to take good care of them. How do you do this? Here is how to go about it:

Clean the countertops routinely.

Like other countertops, you have to clean the countertops to keep them looking good. The beauty is you don’t have to be fancy how you go about it. Clean the countertops with dish soap and water to eliminate everyday dirt, grime, and food residues.

Once you are done, dry the countertops with a soft cloth to prevent hard water marks and streaks from forming. The soft cloth also makes the countertops look glossy.

For stubborn dirt, get rid of it using an ammonia-based spray cleaner. When buying the cleaner, pay close attention to the packaging and ensure you aren’t buying a glass or window cleaner. While these have ammonia, they will leave streaks on your countertops, and you don’t want this.

To prevent hard water marks and stains, make it a habit to clean spills as soon as they happen.

Regularly polish the countertops.

Corian countertops come with a semi-gloss, matte, and high gloss finish that you can easily maintain by regularly polishing them. While there isn’t a countertop that will give off the same shiny look you find in granite, you can buff and enhance the look of the countertop with glossy finishes.

All you need to do is spray the polish on the countertops, then buff with a dry, soft cloth.

Protect the countertops from damage

As mentioned above, the reason Corian countertops don’t last as long as granite countertops Raleigh and other countertop materials is because they are easily damaged, so you should protect them from damage.

One way to do it is to protect them from hot pots and pans using oven mitts, trivets, and thick towels. You also should avoid cutting directly on the countertops or sitting on them.

Corian Countertops Pros And Cons

Compared to the more “glamorous” kitchen countertops such as marble and granite, Corian countertops are regarded as old-age countertop materials whose time has passed, but this is not true.

The countertops have evolved over the years, and if you are looking for kitchen or bathroom countertops, you should highly consider them. Would you love to know more about the countertops? Here are Corian countertops pros and cons.

What are Corian countertops?

Before we proceed, it’s wise we have a backstory about these countertops are. Corian is a brand name for a solid surface countertop invented by DuPont in 1967. The countertops are made of a material derived from a blend of acrylic polymer and bauxite. Now that is out of the way, let’s proceed.

Corian countertops pros

The countertops come with several great features that include:

They come in a wide range of colors.

The first countertop colors trended towards the earthen shades with a dappled pattern, but the modern designs are built with a wide array of hues that range from pure black or white to yellow, blue, purple, and gold. It’s also not uncommon to come across some countertops with neutral shades of brown, gray, and beige.

The countertops also come with a wide range of patterns that vary from pebble to sand to glass. You can also get customized colors and patterns.

They are easy to clean and maintain

Unlike other countertops in the market, Corian countertops are easy to clean and maintain. The cool thing is there are plenty of ways you can clean the countertops. You can spray the countertops with household cleaners, wipe them off with a handheld scrub pad, use soap and water, among many other ways.

When cleaning Corian countertops, you should note that they aren’t resistant to chemical damage, so use pH-neutral cleaning agents.

You don’t need to seal the countertops.

Since the countertops are non porous, you don’t need to seal them every year, saving you a lot of time. The countertops’ non-porous nature also means you don’t have to worry about the surface staining when spills happen.

Although, you should get rid of the spills as soon as they happen, you don’t have to worry that the spills will cause stains, as it’s the case with granite, marble, and other porous materials.

The countertops’ nonporous nature also means the countertops can’t suffer from mold, mildew, and bacterial growth.

They create a seamless appearance.

Since the countertops don’t have visible joints, they create a seamless appearance of your worktop. This feature also makes the countertops easy to repair and resurface in the event of scratches and other types of stains.

If you have minor scratches, you need to undertake minor resurfacing by sanding or rubbing the surfaces with an abrasive scrub. While you can rub the countertops, avoid rubbing them vigorously as you risk causing physical depression on the surfaces.

Corian countertops, cons

Like the two sides of a coin, the countertops come with their fair share of negatives. These negatives include:

They aren’t durable

Although the countertops are easy to clean, maintain and repair, they aren’t as durable as granite and other countertop materials. This means that you have to install them several times in your lifetime compared to the other countertops that you install once, and you are done, of course, unless you want to change the look of your house or you damage them.

They are expensive

Although not as expensive as natural stone countertops, they still don’t come cheap. This means when you install them two or more times in your lifetime, you will be parting with a lot of money compared to when you would have installed granite, marble, or other more long-lasting materials.

They can’t withstand heat.

Corian countertops can’t withstand heat at all. In fact, they are easily scorched by hot pans. Due to this, you need to use trivets, hot pads, and other protective materials to protect the surfaces from extreme heat.

They aren’t easy to find

The countertops aren’t easily available in home centers like the other countertop materials. The only place to find them is in specialty building supply outlets catering to professional markets. This drives the countertop prices high making it hard to find expert installers. In most cases, you are forced to hire granite contractors Raleigh who aren’t Corian countertop installers.

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.

How Often Should You Seal Marble Countertops?

Due to its porosity, it’s no secret you need to seal marble. The big question is, how often should you seal marble countertops? Should you seal them daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly?

Marble is softer than other natural stones, so it’s more susceptible to scratches and less resistant to acids, so it requires more frequent sealing.

The frequency at which you seal the countertops depends on their use. If you have a family and regularly use the countertops, seal them more often than a bachelor that rarely uses their countertops.

There is no definite oftenness when you should seal the countertops but most experts agree you should seal the countertops once at the time of installation then at least once every 3-6 months.

How do you know your countertops are ripe for sealing?

The good news is it’s easy to tell when your countertops need sealing, as all you need is a water test. To do the test, pour ¼ cup of water onto a small area then wait 5-10 minutes then wipe off the water with a paper towel or soft cloth.

If the area shows any discoloration or darkness compared to the rest of the countertops, it’s time to seal the surfaces.

Do you have to hire a professional to do the sealing?

The answer to this question is yes and no. If you have the skills, you can do the sealing by yourself, but if you have a large kitchen and looking for an expert touch, hire a professional to help you out.

If you opt to do the work by yourself, follow the right process to get ideal results.

Step 1

Start with clearing the counters of any items present, then use a damp cloth to wipe down the counters so they are free of dust and other particulates. For even better results, clean the countertops with a cleaning solution specifically designed for marble.

Step 2

Once the countertops are clean and dry, apply the sealer. You only need to spray a generous amount of it on the countertops, ensuring you cover the entire countertop surface.

If you have a large kitchen, work in sections so you don’t get overwhelmed or lose track of the areas you have already applied the sealer to.

Step 3

Once you have covered the entire surface, let the sealer dry while observing its condition for at least 15 minutes. If the sealer soaks into the pores and crevices before 15 minutes erupt, apply more sealer and repeat.

If after 15 minutes there is a sealer left on the surface, wipe it off. It’s common for the sealer to dry on the surface before you can wipe it. If this happens to you, don’t fret. Simply spray more sealer, wait a few minutes, then wipe it up.

Step 4

After applying the sealer you will have done with your project but don’t rush to use the countertops. Instead, leave them alone for at least 24 hours for the sealer to get to the bottom of the surfaces. Giving the surfaces time also ensures the seal stays in place without being compromised.

Other ways to keep your marble in top shape

Besides sealing it, there are plenty of other things you can do to keep your countertops in top shape. Some of these things include:

Wipe the spills as soon as they happen

Even if you have sealed the countertops, there is the risk of the countertops staining when they are exposed to liquids for a long time. To prevent this from happening, make it a habit to wipe the spills as soon as they happen.

Whether it’s soda, coffee, fruit juices or any other liquid, wipe it with a sponge, paper towel, or soft cloth as soon as it happens. To have an easy time, have a hand towel on the countertops at all times.

Other than spills, you also should make it a habit to clear stains as soon as you notice them.

Use coasters, trivets, cutting boards, and placemats

These items create a barrier between the countertops, hence protecting your kitchen countertops Raleigh from damage.  By having the items on your surfaces you prevent scratches, etches, and burn marks from occurring and scarring your precious marble.

How To Polish Marble Countertops

Do you have dull marble countertops and don’t like their unappealing look? Don’t worry as you can easily restore gleam. How do you do it? Here are steps on how to polish marble:

Step 1: Clean the countertops

Cleaning the countertops ensures you start with a clean slate. Use a soft, dry cloth to remove any surface dirt and debris, then wet a non-abrasive sponge with warm water and use it to wipe the marble top again.

Spray the marble surface with a commercial stone cleaner and wipe it off with a clean, soft rag or a mild dishwashing liquid. Once you are done, rinse it well with plain water.

If you used a commercial cleaner, use a clean damp rag to wipe the marble cleaner. You should then dry with a chamois or an unused microfiber cloth.

Step 2: Remove stains

Since marble is porous, it tends to easily develop stains, especially if you don’t take good care of it. Before you proceed with polishing, you need to get rid of these stains. How do you do this?

If you have the budget, buy a commercial marble stain remover. If you don’t have the money or you love making your own things, you can make your own stain remover by mixing one tablespoon of ammonia into a half cup of hydrogen peroxide then slowly add just enough baking soda to make a thick, creamy texture.

You should then spread the poultice over the stained areas using a clean paintbrush and cover it with a plastic wrap. Leave the poultice in place for 12-24 hours, remove the wrap and let it dry out completely.

Using a razor blade, carefully scrape the crumbly poultice while taking care you don’t gouge or dig at the marble surface. You should then clean away any remaining poultice residue with a damp cloth then wipe the marble dry.

Step 3: Buff out the etching with a polishing powder

If your countertops have severe etching, don’t waste your time or money with polishing powder. Instead, hire a professional to look into it. On the other hand, if your countertops have minor etching from acidic foods and cleansers, you can remove them easily using a polishing powder that you can buy from a home improvement store.

After getting the powder, wipe it over the etched areas with a water-dampened cloth, then sprinkle small amounts of the powder onto the etched spots. You should then gently buff the powder into the blemishes with a damp cloth, then follow with a clean, damp rag to the powder residue.

You should finally wipe the countertops dry to reveal the restored shine.

Step 4: Seal the countertops.

After polishing the surfaces, seal the marble countertops to retain the shine and resist major stains. You can use topical or impregnator sealants.

From their name, topical sealants sit on the top of the marble and prevent staining while impregnators go below the surface and repel water and oils while still allowing marble to breathe.

Your countertops will look best when you seal them with an impregnator.

You can do the sealing by yourself or let a professional handle it. If doing the work yourself, begin purchasing the sealant from your local hardware store, then apply it on the surface.

After applying the sealant, give it a few minutes to dry. You should note you shouldn’t let it fully dry as it will streak. After 10-20 minutes, wipe off the sealant residues using a dry cloth.

You should then allow your marble to sit 6-8 hours without placing anything on it.

Retaining the shine

Other than sealing the countertops, you need to take good care of your countertops, so you maintain the shine. How do you do this?

Clean the surfaces with the right products: While you might be up to good when cleaning the surfaces, you might be harming them by using the wrong products. As a rule of thumb, you should never use bleach or cleaning products containing alkaline or any acidic substances as they will degrade the sealer and expose your countertops.

Remove spills as soon as they happen: Even if you have sealed your kitchen countertops Raleigh, it’s stupid to leave the liquid on the surfaces for a long time as it tends to penetrate the porous marble, leaving ugly stains that are difficult to remove.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, make it a habit to clean spills as soon as they happen or as soon as you notice them.

Is Marble Easy To Maintain? Marble Countertops Experts Answer

Marble is one of the most popular countertop materials in the market. While it has been around for a long time, many new homeowners are skeptical about installing it due to its perceived high maintenance. Is marble easy to maintain? You will hear them asking.

Like any other countertop material, marble requires some care. To help you out, here are tips on how to care for marble countertops:

Apply a good sealant

Marble is porous, so you need to seal it to protect it from staining. At the time of purchase, the countertops don’t have any sealing so you have to apply it. If you are a dab hand at DIY, you can do the sealing or, let the countertop company do it.

Thankfully, applying the sealant is simple. Ensure the surface you are working on is clean and dry. If applying the sealer on an old countertop, use acetone to remove the old sealer. By following the instructions on the sealant’s packaging, proceed to apply the sealant to your countertops.

Applying the sealant is easy as all you need to do is to pour it directly on the surfaces then spread it evenly with a clean white cloth. Let the sealer soak for 3-4 minutes, then sprinkle a little more over the treated areas.

This way, you will collect and gather excess sealer during cleanup. You should use a clean, dry cloth to remove the excess sealer that hasn’t soaked in. In most cases, a second coat is unnecessary unless the sealer manufacturers recommend it.

Get rid of stains as soon as you notice them.

To avoid stains, it’s recommended you clear spills as soon as they happen. Unfortunately, sometimes they happen, and you are unaware of it. What is the result of this? The liquid gets into the inner layers of the countertops, and you have a stain.

To restore your countertops, you need to get rid of the stains. There are plenty of products you can use to do it. It’s up to you to choose the right ones depending on the type of stain you have.

If you have oil-based stains such as milk, cooking oil, makeup, and others, clean them using a liquid cleanser with ammonia, acetone, mineral spirits, or bleach.

Got mildew stains? Combat them with a solution of three parts household bleach with one part water and a dash of dishwashing detergent in a spray bottle. You should mist the surface thoroughly and repeat the application until the entire stain goes away. Finally, rinse the area with clear water.

Have you spilled tea, wine, paper, tobacco, coffee, fruit, or any other foods on your precious countertops? Use a 12% hydrogen peroxide solution and a few ammonia drops to clean the surfaces. You should then rinse the surfaces with a wet cloth and dry with a chamois.

If you accidentally spilled paint on the surfaces, remove a small drip with a lacquer thinner dabbed on with a clean cloth. You can also carefully scrape it off with a razor blade. If the paint stain is large, use a paint stripper to remove it. Remember to re-polish the affected area after removal.

Protect the surfaces from damage

Sealing the surfaces is enough, and you can do whatever you want with the surfaces, right? Wrong. Even after sealing the countertops, you still need to be cautious about how you handle the countertops. As a rule of thumb, don’t allow citrus, vinegar, or tomato on the countertops as they can etch the countertops.

You also should avoid sitting or standing on the countertops. Its true marble is strong and tough, but it’s not strong enough to take a lot of weight, especially near the edges. So don’t sit or place heavy objects there as the counters can break.

Clean the surfaces

This is probably the most important thing you have to do to your kitchen countertops NC. And the good side? You don’t have to be fancy about it.

At least once a day, wipe your surfaces with a damp mop or sponge to get rid of loose dirt and any bacteria that might be present.

To avoid damaging the surfaces, avoid using vinegar and other harsh products that can etch the surfaces.