Posted by Beth Jackson on Thu, Feb 25, 2010 @ 07:22 AM
Are you a "natural stone person" or are you an "engineered stone person"?
Written By: Bob Faust
Actual Photo of a Granite Boulder Rock
Many people have asked me the differences between natural and engineered stone. Both are great choices for your kitchen countertops as they are both hard durable surfaces that should give you a Lifetime of service. Compared to other options, such as Formica or laminate tops, which may only last has little has a couple of years. Even "solid surface " tops do not last long. Solid Surface countertops are easy to hide the countertop seams, but will appear dull or plastic like and do not hold up to heat and or cutting (which last I checked happen quite often in a kitchen).
Quartz Countertop
Between the premium surfaces, (Granite or engineered stone and quartz), the costs can be a non issue as some engineered stones are both higher and in some cases lower then exotic granites. The maintenance aspect ,which is almost always highlighted by the engineered and quartz people, can easily be neutralized by the addition of "Lifetime sealer" application which makes both materials comparable.
The biggest difference between the materials is the cosmetic differences. While all engineered materials are uniform in appearance and are manufactured to engineered specifications, natural stones are almost always different. Even from the same block of granite stone, you will have many different shades and patterns as well has colors.
So when selecting the crowning glory of your kitchen, decide first "What kind of person are you?" If you want uniformity and consistency then perhaps the engendered stone or quartz materials best suited for you. But if you embrace the diversity that only Mother Nature can provide, feel free to consider natural stone, such as granite, for your countertops.
Posted by Beth Jackson on Mon, Feb 22, 2010 @ 08:44 AM
Granite countertops versus concrete countertops
By: Lisa Dean
Recently I had a customer ask about the difference between using granite for her counter tops vs concrete counter tops. After some research on my part, I found there are quite a few differences between granite countertops and concrete countertops, the biggest difference being cost. The upkeep with concrete counter tops requires a lot of work as well.
Concrete countertops:
The biggest advantage I can find in using concrete is the wide variety of colors to choose from.
The concrete can be tinted to any color you choose to use in your countertop. There are a few textures to use as well. After these two advantages, I could not find any other advantage over using concrete rather than granite.
Concrete is one of the most expensive types of countertops you can use. The average cost is $100 per sq. ft. Compare that to the average granite installation at $45 to $55 per sq. ft., you can see the big difference. The other biggest disadvantage is the up keep. You must seal the concrete on a regular basis. Depending upon your time spent in the kitchen, you may have to seal it every month. This can get costly depending upon your sq. footage. Concrete countertops are not usually a few days process. After the template and molds are made, they must be poured and cured before being brought out to your home for installation. As far as cleanliness, concrete is the middle of the road.
Granite countertops:
The number one reason for using granite is the look.
If you are selling your home, the fastest way to impress the buyer is with granite countertops. Besides tile, granite is the oldest material used in building to date. There are many different types of granite to choose from. Most granite comes from Brazil, India, and Italy. Other countries with granite quarries are Africa and China.
The cost of granite varies depending upon the rarity and supply and demand. The average cost of granite installed is between $45 and $55 per sq. ft. There are a few texture techniques available for granite. Leathering, river rocked, honed, brushed, and of course, polished are a few of the finishes available with granite.
Another advantage of granite is that granite is virtually scratch resistant. You can cut and prepare food right on the surface. The only two things that scratch granite are granite and diamond.
Remember, if you ask for a piece of granite to use for a decorative piece, you must put some type of protective covering on the underside of it to protect your granite countertops. Granite is also heat resistant. Hot plates and skillets could be placed right on the surface without damage. Granite is the most durable and best looking source for your countertops. The most important advantage, I think, in using granite is that no two slabs are exactly alike so, your granite countertop is a one of a kind countertop.
Posted by Beth Jackson on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 @ 11:57 AM
Charlotte Homes Need Granite!
Granite Countertops are becoming a must-have among Charlotte homes. Charlotte homeowners and builders alike are starting to see that Granite Countertops do not cost as much as it used to.
While your builder may have tried to charge you thousands for granite in your home -- a typical Charlotte home owner can also purchase new countertops for one, low, whole sale price.
Charlotte homes are now typically being built with granite countertops and what is called a "gourmet kitchen". Inside this gourmet kitchen, the charlotte home owner can enjoy a custom tile backsplash with 3CM granite counters.
If you have a charlotte home, now is the time to remodel!
Charlotte Homes Need Granite!
Just check out these photos of Charlotte homes!
Posted by Beth Jackson on Mon, Jan 04, 2010 @ 12:20 PM
Granite Countertop Support
By: Rene
If you have a granite countertop installed that has an overhang, most likely you will need some type of reinforcement or support underneath it. This reinforcement will help support your countertop on your cabinet or bar area. A rule of thumb for overhang reinforcement is that a support is needed anytime when you have more than one-third (1/3) of the overall countertop space as an overhang.
There are many different types of supports that can be used, such as wall brackets (which stay hidden) , T-brackets, or corbels.
Many people choose corbals because corbels are designed to be more appealing to the eye and come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors. Corbals are a more decorative option rather than brackets that remain hidden beneath the countertop space.
I recently had a customer that had installed a center island cabinet in their kitchen. When I measured for their countertop, they explained how much they wanted the countertop to extend over the cabinet.
I measured the length, and it turned out that the granite was going to overhang more than 21" over the cabinet (more than 1/3 the overall countertop space). This was the first time I had encountered something like this, so I suggested the use of wall brackets. That was not right. When the granite installers came out, they could not install the wall brackets because there was no wall in the cabinet for the wall brackets to connect to! This is a very common mistake that is made with overhangs -- some people do not even realise they need a support to be installed!
We supported their island with a temporary support before coming back out again to install a T-bracket support.
This was definately a learning expirence for myself and my customers as we discovered why we needed to use a T-Bracket. Our T-Brackets are specifically designed to support longer overhangs. The T-Bracket is 24" long and is mounted to the cabinet and countertop. Its strong material can carry the weight of the granite and support their island properly.
Here is a final photo of their granite countertop island in their kitchen -- supported by a T-bracket:
When you have any kind of overhang, you always need to be sure there is a support underneath. Granite weighs about 18lbs per square foot. It is a very heavy material and if not properly supported, it can cause damage to your home, cabinets, floors, or to anyone near it.
Here are some additional photos of granite bar tops, overhangs, supports and corbels:
Posted by Beth Jackson on Wed, Dec 30, 2009 @ 08:32 AM
How To Measure a Countertop
By: Paulette Faust
My daughter is a Junior in High School. One of her projects in Math class is to interview someone who job is impacted on a daily basis with Mathematical skills. Who better to interview but her own mother! The question might be raised did she take the easy way out or was she really interested? I thought I would give her the benefit of the doubt. It seems that because I have a small business that I use math every day, but one of the questions that I run across consistently is how do I figure out the square footage of my countertop?
I am in the granite countertop business in Charlotte, NC. Although math comes easy for me, I must say some kitchen configurations are more complicated than your basic length times width.
To start figuring out the square foot of a countertop take measurements of the total length of each piece of countertop you want granite on. This measurement should be along the back where the top meets the wall.
Make sure your measurements are in inches, (FYI 1 foot = 12 inches). Typically, I multiply the length by 25.5 inches since most cabinets are 24 inches and the granite will over hang the cabinet by 1.5 inches. Once you get that figure divide that by 144 to give you square feet of granite. Example total length (102 + 60 + 18) x 25.5 = 4590 /144 = 31.9 sq ft
If you want to include a back splash multiply the length along the wall by 4 inches. Divide that number by 144 and that should give you square feet of granite backsplash needed. Example Total length (108 + 126 + 25.5) x 4 = 259.5 / 144 = 1.8 sq ft
If you have an island or a bar top you need to measure the length times the width in inches and divide that by 144. Example (78" x 48")/144 = 26 sq ft
Once you have all the square feet just add them up and you have the total square foot of the kitchen! It as easy as (length x width)/144! Example 31.9 + 1.8 + 26 = 59.7 total square feet of granite is needed for this kitchen!
My math skills have improved as I use math every day. I can honestly say that I realize how important mental math is and how much I rely on my calculator. It is probably one of my most used tools.
Posted by Beth Jackson on Wed, Dec 30, 2009 @ 07:14 AM
When choosing a granite company to buy from, this is why the best price might not always be the best value.
Written By: Bob Faust
Fireplace & Granite Distributors
There are many factors that go into creating a quote for granite countertop prices. Factors such as 1) Material cost 2) overhead 3) Labor cost 4) Specialty tools and equipment 5) advertising and service.
These should all be evaluated when you are considering the "Risk vs. Reward" scenario when choosing the right company for your granite needs.
Lets consider one of factors: Material Cost
All granite slabs are sold at different levels of quality or "grades". Just as diamonds are graded from "commercial grade" all the way up to to "FL" (flawless), granite slabs prices vary the same way. Granite is available in commercial grade, fabricator grade, second choice, and first choice. The cost range of these materials are considerable.
A granite slab of Santa Cecilia commercial grade has a cost as little as $4.00 per sq ft whereas a similar slab of first quality material could easily cost $8-$10/ft. (NOTE: these are direct prices from the stone Quarries)
How is granite graded? What is the difference in granite slab grades?
Just some of the factors that go into this grading process are color, clarity, fissures or cracks, and pocked (pitted) slabs. Fully 80-90% of the granite fabricators locally to our area (Charlotte and surrounding) buy there materials from slab distributors. They then in turn add on their overhead and profit. After that, they then add wholesale these slabs to fabricators for $7-8 for commercial and as high has $12-14 for first quality slabs. Many Charlotte companies advertise first choice materials but sell lesser grades.
(The photo above shows the same granite: 3CM Baltic Brown Granite -- The same granite but in different grades can appear different in color, have more granite fissures or cracks, and an overall difference in quality)
We, at Fireplace and Granite Distributors, buy directly from quarries overseas, thus insuring the best price and best quality materials.
This allows us to provide a premium quality material at wholesale prices or "Builder price levels". (Passing all the savings and discounts onto you, the customer)
I am sure you can see why the best price may not always be the best value. If you pay a lesser price, you may very well get a lesser material. After all when the job is said and done and you are showing off your new tops to your friends and relatives, would you rather say "Look at my beautiful granite tops!" or "Look how little I paid for my granite tops!"
A low per sq ft granite price, a cheap granite countertop price still gets you a cheap granite countertop. Sometimes the lowest price will not offer you the best granite countertop and best overall value.