Facts To Know About Granite And Marble Countertop Edges

Granite and marble countertops are the best option for people who want to give their home an exceptional look. If you are considering to select granite or marble countertops for your house then have some idea about the countertop edges. You can find different kinds of edges for countertops. The stores offer basic edges as well as complex or decorative edges. A homeowner can purchase it depending on his choice and budget.

Someone who has complete idea of the countertop edges can select the edges that would be best for him. Straight edge is one of the basic countertop edges. This has squared edges with slight bevel known as chamfer. Quarter round edges are one of the common modifications found in basic edges. Top as well as bottom of this edge is rounded. Another basic edge, which has gained popularity these days, is bullnose. Some people also prefer edges countertops.

If you have high budget for your home decoration then you can look for the fancy edges. You would have to pay some extra costs if you want fancy edges. Ogee is one of highly demanded fancy edges. It consists of sweeping arches with a concave and convex. This gives an elegant look to the countertops. Though Ogee is highly demanded by people, waterfall, stair tread, cove and dupont are also popular fancy countertop edges.

You can use the countertops to decorate your bathroom or your kitchen. Depending on the decoration of your house, you can select the edges. Countertop edges, which are popular among people, can be used for bathroom as well as kitchen. Therefore, you can select anything that suits your need. It is recommended to give importance to the esthetic of the house while you make the decision of the countertop edges.

There are certain things that you need to find out while you select any marble countertop edges. When you are considering the best edge for your house, you should also take care of the space that is available to install the countertops. Then one should consider about the style of the kitchen. If the kitchen has an industrial or contemporary look then one can opt for bevel or half bullnose countertop edges. To decorate country style kitchen you can install the waterfall edges. Ogee or stair tread edges would be best for kitchen that has modern look.

Whatever be the choice of edges, one should be careful about the maintenance of the countertops. The kitchen would look dull if it does not have proper maintenance. One thing that is to be noted by homeowners is creases of the edges are the best place to trap dust and food. So, more the number of creases, there would be more dust and food. Thus, it would require more cleaning and maintenance. Before deciding the type of edges, you should always have a look on the edges that would suit your home decoration. Selection of edges plays a great role to decide the look of the kitchen and so make sure you choose the right one.

Kitchen Décor—Facts to Keep In Mind While Installing Countertops

Each and every room in your home speaks volumes. Even the kitchen can have something unique and different. There are many who love the concept of modular kitchens where you have the option of making changes from time to time in the décor of the kitchens. A good way to change the décor of the room is by changing the kind of granite stone used in it. However before installing them, you should look for an accurate measurement.

Most of the granite shops offer in-home measurements along with provisions of installation. Before installing the countertop, the fabricator will ask for the measurement of the counters. At times, a full-size template is essential for making the correct measurement. However if the kitchen has cabinet section in 90 degree angles, then templates will not be needed. Round, angled or unique counters generally need the templates.

Before you make the measurements, you can create a layout. You can start measuring from a wall to the counter end. Or you can make a full measurement to the opposite wall. If you are measuring for a bare cabinet, then you can start from one wall to the end of the cabinet. You can always ask the fabricator for helping you to determine the correct measurement of the overhang. The whole measurement should be done in inches. While measuring, always mark the areas where there will be finished edges, places for appliances and backsplashes.

If you need the templates, then you can take help of the professional template makers. They generally use thin plastic strips to mark the whole area. If you do not have plastic strips, you can always rely on the cardboard boxes. The cardboard boxes can be laid on the surface. After the boxes are placed on the surface, you can mark the outline of the counter from underneath. As you mark the area, you should also mark the top so that the fabricator has a clear idea about the way which will lead to the top. All those who are tracing the lines of an empty cabinet, should also indicate the spaces for overhang. You can also determine the exact measurement of the overhang.

After marking the space for the countertop, you can also indicate the finished edges. Marking the whole place is not enough. You should look twice to see if you have left out any space. Often small mistakes can lead to big changes. If you have a plan, much depends on the way in which the plan is executed. If you do not feel confident, you can always ask for professional help. Take a good look at the corners, edges and all the empty spaces so that you can clearly measure the whole space. After the space is measured, it will only be a matter of time when the countertops will be installed.

The installation of a new countertop can enhance the décor of your kitchen. So make sure you do it in the right fashion as it can go a long way in ensuring a perfect kitchen for you.

Long Term Care for Granite Countertop

Most homeowners prefer using the granite countertops and tiles in their bathrooms and kitchens for their look and durability. The granite slabs and tiles are available in a variety of patterns and hues and a person can choose the color according to his interior. They do not get scratched or damaged easily and their heat resistance makes them ideal to be used in kitchen. They are also resistant to moisture and mold formation.

Like other materials, granite countertops also need care on the part of the users to retain the look and quality. However just short term care is not sufficient if one wants to retain the beauty and glaze of the granite countertops.

The long term care for granite countertops and slabs involve reapplying the sealant. It needs to be done two times in a year. While replacing the sealant a homemaker should not compromise with quality. It would be a good idea to ask the dealer from whom she had bought the granite countertop and find out about the sealant that is best suited to the granite surface. It is also better to hire professional services for reapplying the sealant coat on a countertop as it will allow one to achieve greater finish.

As a part of short term care measure a person needs to clean and wipe the surface of the countertop. This is something most of the users do regularly. The basic cleaning can be done with a soft cloth. There is no need to use expensive cleaning fluid for cleaning granite surfaces and an ordinary soap solution can help you to clean the surface.

However, a person needs to be selective about the cleaning solution used for wiping the countertops and floors. The Granite countertops are protected with a sealant that shields the stone from discoloration and stains. If a person uses acidic cleaning solutions this sealant can erode. Therefore, while buying a cleaner a person should look for the non acidic variants in the market.

Simple cleaning solutions are recommended for wiping and cleaning granite tops in kitchen. If no floor cleaner is found, a person can also use a mild detergent with water to clean the surface. It is not advisable to use strong cleaning products like ammonia, vinegar and bleach for granite care. Soft cloth piece and sponge should be used instead of hard and abrasive materials.

The stone cleaners should be used for cleaning granite slabs at least once every week. It cleans the surface and also shields it from damage. To ensure that the granite countertops in kitchen and bathroom look fresh and stylish over the years the users need to follow some basic rules of maintenance. While cooking, people often spill liquids and drinks on the countertop accidentally. In general Granite does not get stained easily but if the user allows the liquid to stay on the surface, then it might get absorbed. Therefore, it would be advisable for the users to wipe out the spills from the surface and not allow it to stay overnight