Today the homeowner has so many
possibilities to choose kitchen countertop is difficult to make a decision. The materials that can be
made countertops cover a variety including synthetic glass, laminate, plastic,
ceramics, artificial stone and others; in most cases, providers try to make a
product that looks like natural stone. Even within the natural stone it can
choose from granite, marble, slate, soapstone, limestone and stone tablets. Buy online Granite
kitchen countertops clarksville md from http://unitedgranitemd.com.
In today's market, the granite is
usually the preferred option, and represents 35 to 45% of demand from buyers.
The advantages are numerous and granite, being natural stone, variations in
color, veining and movement make every countertop is a single piece.
Buyers find that granite is easy to
maintain and even put hot dishes from the oven to the counter, which is not
necessarily recommended, but it would be unthinkable in the case of a top of
another material. Another advantage is that granite stone is a "green
product", which means it is environmentally friendly and recyclable. It's
always cool to the touch because it does not transmit heat and is a good
insulator product. Adds economic value to the home and colors that no other
product can offer. Nothing is better than granite for a kitchen countertop and
is very difficult to scratch or spoil.
If some granites stain is because
they have not been sealed properly, and have manipulated acids or oily products
on the surface without having protected the stone. The stone requires minimal
maintenance and should be cleaned after use with water and mild soap. We must
protect countertops as if it were a beautiful mahogany table we want to last us
a lifetime. There are products to clean the stone, hold and seal regularly.
Anyone can keep a granite countertop if information is provided on how to do.
Today there are hundreds of varieties
of granite to choose from, as well as a wide range of colors, designs and
finishes. Many providers may even offer long-term savers with guarantees to use
your stone.
How can we choose granite and select
a stone to our kitchen?
Many methods are used. Some people
choose a designer to coordinate and design the kitchen cabinets, and granite
installation. Others prefer to do it themselves. Before choosing a stone, the
buyer needs to be educated on granite in general and is also important that the
supplier or manufacturer-installer is skilled in the art. You can choose
granite visiting a factory or a producer, or visiting a distribution warehouse
there granite and select tables, or you can choose from a store from small
samples of the stone. It is recommended to know something about the granite and
buy it as if to buy a car. We show below some ideas for this selection process.
1. Many of the granites offered and
selected have streaks. Architects and designers often choose for their
buildings a more commercial rock that has no designs on granite but that is
consistent grain structure. For countertops, however, many buyers want
variation, multicolored, veins and movement. To achieve this, select the
general color you want to limit the choice of what fits their installations,
walls, appliances, flooring and overall design. Visit various showrooms and distributors
to see what they can offer, since there are always two sites have the same
offer. Once you choose from a small sample stone that interests you, then at
least three choices when you go and limiting the field, insist on seeing the
entire table of these materials. This will open your eyes and you will see
yourself asking is this the same stone I saw in the showroom? You will see
movements and a balance or imbalance in the table where one end may have all
color and streaks liked them and the other end does not have them. It is
important to have a balance.
2. You need to know how granite is
needed before buying. If possible, bring your plans with them, and thus can
even design how each of the parts of the counter would once cut the table. In
some cases it will be necessary to make L-shaped pieces and it is important how
you design them. I just did a kitchen in which the manufacturer made the
L-shape from a continuous table, so that by making the board felt it was a
single piece of stone. When I searched and selected tables, I chose three or
four tables considering them to keep a balance between them in color, streaks,
etc., so that no matter how they were to be cut and the design remain in the
center of the counter. Most countertops are 62.5 cm deep, but the tables are
125 cm high, therefore a table by leaving two long, so I needed to know if
evenly matched top of one of them with the bottom of the other. For the longest
parts of the island, I made sure that the cuts are made where I told the
manufacturer that wanted and I agreed with him to do exactly what I wanted. I
made sure that the place had to be cut to couple the appliances was at the
table where I wanted it to be. This takes time, but it is worth spending time
and money to get what you want
3. Some colors are more problematic
than others. The white granite and very black granites show more imperfections
and scratches than other colors. Many are not genuine absolute black granite
and contain quartz that protects wear countertops. These stones require more
care and maintenance to be used. Make sure the manufacturer will provide any
information on how to care for your countertop and ask the dealer. The more
information you have, the better.
4. Edges and thickness of the stone.
Personally, I think that the best tops are 3 cm thick, and do not cost much
more than 2 cm, but add a perspective that 2 cm cannot. Sometimes the
manufacturer will suggest using a table of 2 cm 2 cm and put other laminate and
have an end edge 4 cm. Okay, but look at examples of this work and ensure that
accepts the size of the board, the color used to glue the board and how will
the corners. The corners are also important and I think it is advisable to
round them. Finally, we must look at the designs of the edges or profiles, as there
are many to choose from, more than 20. Some manufacturers will show only 2O 3,
but there are many others you may prefer and each has a different cost. It
depends on your budget and design. Ask to see some examples of profiles in the
color you have chosen and, if necessary, ask to make a sample profile for you.
Use this sample to control the work and to choose other colors you require for
your kitchen.
Some of the most common countertop
edges
5. Make sure you have chosen the
tables are to be used and the manufacturer's control. Take pictures of the
tables, numbering them mark each photo and design manufacturer wants the court
how, as surely he will want to tell you how to do it or will simply tell who
will take care and that you know what you want. The key factor knows who you
can trust. Now you can set the price of the counter and the time it will take
to install.
6. Choice of finishing top.
Traditionally, polished finish has been chosen by the buyers, but now designers
tend to honed or textured finish to avoid glare and harmonize more with the
finish of the furniture. My personal taste leans toward a countertop with a
combination of brushing and rubbing down slightly, which creates a pleasant
texture, which is still smooth enough for a glass container can be moved easily
over the surface without easily tip over.
7. Granite prices are reasonable and
now compete with most other products offered. In the same way that you choose
the stone, you should choose the manufacturer, and note that prices can vary by
40% of each other. Be sure to see examples of their work, photographs, get
recommendations from other customers who have worked with that provider, check
their credibility and whether complaints have been filed against him. Make sure
the surface is clean the hob after installation, so you can check for damage.
Many types of granite have small cracks on the surface and you need to know
that this is natural in stone and should have seen them in the tables when
selected if was close enough, and he should have given the seller. It should
spare no effort in choosing the manufacturer / installer, since this is the key
factor and granite as the main component of your kitchen becomes the center of
attention once it's all done.
8. Make sure the furniture supply
company knows you are using a granite countertop and what is its thickness,
since it is responsible for giving adequate support and structure to support
the weight of granite. Check with the manufacturer of granite where you are
cutting the hole for the sink or kitchen and if you are leaving enough to the
front margin and the bottom, which may be only 5 cm, and sufficient
reinforcement to prevent breakage after a few years of use or kitchen sink and
to hold additional weights, as these areas are fragile stone. Many buyers
purchase made plans including granite design to ensure that everything is done
the right way.
Recommendations after the election
Make sure you have a written record
of all that has been treated, the choice has been made and, where appropriate, the
agreed special instructions.
Make sure the granite company that is
making your countertop known selection, range, plans, profiles, corners,
leveled, and who knows to work planning, monitoring the cutting tolerances, the
sub-tops, if they are necessary, the colors of gaskets, seals and extensions
where the top protrudes from furniture such as bars or eating areas, and the
extra support furniture company need to do to hold these extensions.
Put in writing not want repaired with
glue, chips, cracks, scratches, nicks of certain dimensions material because
some very fine are normal in stone. Often there are small cracks in the surface
of the stone; after the stone is installed; decides in this case with its
manufacturer written what type of seal is more convenient and if surface or
impregnating and how to maintain that granite for years.
Care: Countertops resinated. Many
countertops are covered with a resin on the surface of the tables to help hide
certain natural imperfections in the stone. Usually it is an automatic process,
but sometimes done by hand. In many cases this is a surface treatment and can
cause the edges of the stone when cut and finish is not fit 100% with the
surface of the counter, or color (may darken slightly when applied the resin)
or polished. Ask if your table is resinated to ask the manufacturer to show you
examples of their work profiles to see the difference. It is more difficult to
assess the integrity of granite when the table has been resinated. This same
resin caused problems when applying a protective stone or joints, causing
stains in some cases. If you are using resin-stone for outdoor kitchens make
sure that the resin used is not affected by ultraviolet rays.
Do not use abrasive on your granite
countertop for maintenance. Use only water and mild soap, and clean it
immediately after use, not hours later. Periodically reseal the stone. There is
some recommended market for granite cleaners. If the hob is properly installed
and maintained, it will last longer than any other countertop market, since the
life of the granite countertops typically more than 50 years. Click here to
know more about Granite kitchen countertops
clarksville md.
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