Tips for Kitchen Remodeling With Granite Countertops

When remodeling the kitchen one of the most pivotal decisions that any individual make is the decision to remodel with granite countertops. Granite not only boosts the value of any home, it is far more durable than laminate or other artificial countertops. Granite millions of years old cultivated from the earth. That should be a good indication of the length of time that granite countertops will be in a home.

It is nearly impossible to scratch countertops that are made of granite. This is a very attractive feature of kitchen remodeling with granite countertops. There isn’t a hot pot in the world that is capable of burning granite countertops. The durability of granite continues to resurface because as a long-term investment, it is a wise one. Most homes that have renovated using granite kitchen countertops do not ever have to change countertops while still a resident of the home. In fact, granite has proven itself to have a life that long outlasts the human lifespan.

UV rays and other harmful rays that penetrate kitchen countertops are often directly attributed to the fading and cracking of countertops. Kitchen remodeling with granite countertops eliminates that threat. The harmful rays that the sun emits do not have an effect on the appearance of granite countertops. In fact, the colors that are revealed in each granite slab will remain for as long as the countertop remains. It is not susceptible to color fading which makes this stone an excellent choice for kitchen remodeling.

Kitchen remodeling with granite countertops is obviously an ideal road to travel. There are however a couple of downfalls to choosing this. In order to make a remodeling decision, it is important to know all of the positives and negatives. As with anything in life, the good has to come with its share of bad in order to provide balance.

Avoiding stains on granite countertops

cleaning sponge dipped in mild soap and water can be used to gently scrub a granite countertop, then it should be rinsed with water and dried with a soft cloth. There are some substances that should always be kept away from granite slabs, such as acidic liquids from natural citrus fruits. Lemon juice, vinegar and strong wine can leave unwanted color stains on a granite countertop, especially light colored countertops. If a recipe calls for use of these acidic liquids during food preparation, just remember to wipe down the granite countertop quickly with mild soap and water.

Fresh meat should also be kept away from a granite countertop, because it can leave blood stains or an unpleasant odor that will stick in your countertop. This can happen even if it has been properly sealed, so home cooks should place a protective material like tin foil, plastic or parchment paper under the meat. This will help absorb some of the water and blood that seeps out of the meat, so as long as the countertop is wiped down afterward it should be safe.

Spilling oil can also damage a granite countertop; in fact, oil is the one liquid that stains granite countertops the most. Cooking oil seeps between tiny pores in the granite surface and stains it from the inside out. This can be prevented by having granite countertops sealed on a regular basis, and by careful food preparation.

Granite countertops are very durable and do resist most stains, but every surface has its natural enemies. Avoiding abrasive cleaners, fresh meats, acidic liquids and oils should help avoid most granite stains. Having kitchen countertops sealed at least once a year is the best way to avoid stains, which is one reason why this material is a bit more high-maintenance than other counter materials. The extra work is well worth the beauty it achieves, though.

Why You Should Choose A Granite Countertop

Installing a granite countertop has become more and more popular over the years with renovated and new homes alike. And there are a lot of reasons why this is so because of the many benefits of granite when used as a countertop material. The entire list of advantages and benefits would be too long to enumerate here but this article will list a couple of them.

The first advantage of a granite countertop is the natural beauty of granite. Granite comes in large arrays of shades, colors and textures. There are colors that will compliment any dйcor you will surely find a granite countertop that will satisfy your personal tastes. A note has to be made here, if you'll need more than one slab to complete your granite countertop you should make sure that they come from the same mine batch.

Probably the most useful of a granite countertop's benefits would be its durability. Granite is one of the most durable materials around, it's the second hardest material on the planet surpassed only by diamond. It can't be burned by hot pots or pans and it is ala highly resistant to staining and discoloring when property sealed on a regular basis. Sealing a granite countertop can be easily done by anyone, and a properly sealed granite countertop will maintain a beautiful shiny luster for a lifetime.

Another particular beauty of granite, as a material for countertops is that every slab of granite will be different from the next. Patterns, color textures, distribution and depth can all vary from slab to slab, providing thus different character. A granite countertop will add richness to your kitchen that simply cannot be duplicated by other materials.

Although granite will add some expense to your kitchen remodel project, there are few better investments you can make in your homes value. Using granite countertop will increase your home value, whether you're planning on selling your home soon or not

Granite Countertops Still Number One

American adults prefer granite to any other countertop surface for their dream kitchens, and believe granite countertops increase home resale values, according to a new national survey's findings.

The survey of 2,021 U.S. adults aged 18 and over was conducted in October by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Marble Institute of America (MIA). It asked respondents which countertop they would most want in their dream kitchen. At 55 percent, "granite countertops" was the most popular choice, followed distantly by "synthetic stone" at 12 percent.

Asked how much they agree with the statement "granite countertops increase the resale value of a home," 90 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed.

"After months of inaccurate reporting and questionable research aimed at raising doubts about granite, it's gratifying to know consumers believe granite countertops are as safe as they are beautiful, practical and durable," said MIA President Guido Gliori.

In fact, 84 percent strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement "Granite countertops are among the most safe, beautiful and durable kitchen counter surfaces on the market today."

Atlanta Introduces a Quartz Countertop

Granite Countertop Atlanta by G & L Marble, a Georgia based supplier, quarrier and distributor of natural stone tiles and slabs announced the introduction of the Masada Stone quartz surface. Masada Stone is a quartz surface that blends the toughness and stain opposed to qualities of granite with the consistent appearance of an engineered quartz surface.

Granite Countertop Atlanta by G & L Marble is a confidentially owned operation located in Winston, Georgia and now has 90,000 square feet of warehouse space that stocks granite, marble, limestone, travertine, slate and onyx that is imported from all in excess of the globe. With the center on service and selection, Granite Countertop Atlanta by G & L Marble is known for delivering fine natural stone for granite kitchen counters during Atlanta, Alpharetta and Georgia with hundreds of varieties of granites in stock.

Masada Stone offers 12 color options with a brilliant, pure white that is not often found in natural stone. The Masada Stone palette replicates the neutral tones of natural limestones and marbles with the practicality of a quartz surface. Masada Stone is very flexible and can be used most areas that require aesthetics and consistency.

Granite Tile Countertops: Naturally Elegant

Granite tile countertops are much easier to avail of these days than in the previous years. This is good, because there is quite a large demand for granite tile countertops recently, as people are getting to appreciate the beauty of nature more.

In a world that has been bombarded by electronics and artificial objects for so long, things such as granite tile countertops make us realize the splendor of nature that we have been taking for granted.

The process of changing these natural beauties into functional parts of our homes is a marvel in itself. The next time you look at your granite tile countertops, just imagine that thousands of years ago, these rocks were buried under the mountains of what we now call China, or South America, or Europe, being created and designed by mysterious powers before there were even people on earth.

Because granite tile countertops come from real rocks, no tile is exactly the same as another. This inherent uniqueness is just one of the things that make them so attractive to many homeowners. Knowing that the patterns and mixture of colors in your particular granite tile countertops are one in a million makes them more beautiful and more personally significant to you.

The beauty of granite tile countertops, though, is not only in their appearance. There is even a deeper and more essential beauty in what they represent. They serve as a reminder to humanity that we must give more appreciation to nature, and reflect on its magnificence more often.

Some people who have the luxury of time commune with nature by going on vacations in the woods or on faraway islands. For those of us who cannot do that, we can now commune with nature simply by gazing at our granite tile countertops, and reflecting on their natural elegance.

Stone Maintenance/Restoration

You can use diamond abrasives to the restoration of your stone surfaces. The use of diamonds in the grinding and honing phase of restoration will provide you better clarity and more reflectivity after polishing. We also give cleaning, sealing, crack/chip repair and stain removal for marble, granite, travertine, terrazzo and all other natural stone surfaces.

Following are the restoration / maintenance services and what they involve:

Grinding: To remove deep scratches and remove lippage (uneven tile edges).

Honing: To remove minor scratches and wear from everyday foot traffic. This process is also done by machine with diamond abrasive pads and water which creates no dust.

Polishing: To give marble or stone the sheen you want, enhance the veining in marble and to protect the marble or stone from everyday traffic and spills.

Cleaning: To remove dirt, stains and bacteria and to remove waxes and polymers that has become embedded.

Sealing: To protect and preserve natural stone.

Color Enhancing: The use of penetrating sealers / impregnators formulated to enhance or enrich the color of your stone.

Stripping: To remove coatings that block stone's ability to breathe which causes spalling (when the stones crack, pop and shale). Some examples of common coatings are, crystallization, janitorial waxes, and polyurethane.