Blog
May 20 2010 • 09:01:45 AM
How hard is Soapstone to take care of?
Soapstone is making a comeback in the home market. It is a soft stone generally imported from Brazil or India. It scratches and nicks, but those can be sanded out. The stone is grey in it's natural state, however, the standard treatment is to oil the tops with mineral oil. This gives the tops a deep black or dark green hue. There is a picture of a beautiful soapstone kitchen in the showcase. It is not hard to take care of...as long as you don't mind oiling it periodically. Customers usually oil it weekly or monthly at first and then as it ages, less often.
April 9 2010 • 09:37:46 AM
Does my Sink Have to Have a Reveal?
Most sinks can be mounted without a reveal (edge of the sink showing...read as 'crumb catcher'). You do need to specify that this is how you want your sink to look, otherwise you may get the sink manufacturers recommended reveal. There are a few sinks out there that do require a reveal. These will usually have a double step down to the bowl.
April 5 2010 • 02:00:44 PM
How do I support my granite bar?
There are two ways to support an overhang of granite. The first way is to put corabels under the granite. These can be wood or metal, made a cabinet maker, purchased at a box store, or custom fabricated. Some folks like to have a 'floating' look for their granite...no knee knocking corabels. The best way to do that is to recess steel into the granite. It gives a nice clean look to the bartop. It's not free, but it's worth it to never knock your knee again!
January 25 2010 • 01:44:09 PM
The truth about Granite/Radon
A few years back there was an outcry from the quartz manufacturers that granite gave off Radon Gas. Here's the link to the Marble Institute's rebuttal... www.marble-institute.com/industryresources/consumerradonbrochure.pdf
December 14 2009 • 12:20:33 PM
How do I choose a stone color?
I like to start in the customers home with a wide variety of samples. Usually customers are able to eliminate 75% of the samples right away. The remaining samples, we then compare with cabinet and floor color. We eliminate a few more and then head to the slab yard to see full slabs of stone. Occasionally, what a customer likes in a 2x2 sample is overpowering in a large amount. It usually takes about 15 minutes to narrow down to two slabs and a another 30 minutes to choose one. We are here to help you the entire time...we will help as much or as little as you need!
December 13 2009 • 03:58:24 PM
Why don't you have a showroom?
So many reasons why... (1) I don't have a showroom, I do have a lovely office to meet clients in, but I prefer to meet clients in their own home. In your home, I can get an idea of your color scheme, your lighting and your lifestyle. All of these play into the granite or quartz that you choose. You are always welcome to meet me in my office if your home is not available. (2) Showrooms are beautiful, and expensive. I'd prefer to keep my prices low by having little overhead! (3) Granite colors and samples get dated quickly! It's much better for you to see full slabs that can be yours, not small chunks that may or may not still be available.
October 15 2009 • 05:03:58 PM
Can I cut directly on my granite?
It won't hurt the granite, but it will dull your knife! Protect your fine cutlery by using a cutting board.
October 13 2009 • 09:32:42 AM
I plan on doing my own tearout, what does that involve?
Doing your own tearout is an option that some people choose. It may save you $200. Keep in mind that torn out means the kitchen is ready for the new tops to be carried in and put directly in place. All plumbing needs to be unhooked and removed, old counters removed and any remaining glue scraped off. If you have a drop in cooktop, that also needs to be unhooked and out of the way. If you are in doubt, ask about what is expected or opt for us to do the tearout. We will disconnect the plumbing and cooktop and remove all tops, as well as haul away the old.
October 2 2009 • 04:39:33 PM
Can I see your work?
Yes! Our work and our satisfied customers are our best feature. Call and we will make an appointment for you to see our work in a home near you.
September 29 2009 • 11:29:55 AM
How does our process work?
Our initial meeting with customers is in their home. This allows us to get a good idea of decorating style, we also measure the existing countertops. From these measurements we draft a quote for multiple price levels of granite. If the quote is acceptable, we meet with the customer at a stone yard to choose their granite. A formal measurement is taken soon afterward and the new countertops are installed a couple of weeks later.
August 26 2009 • 01:18:24 PM
What should I use to clean my granite?
Mild dish soap and water will get off most stuck on food and dust. For stains a professional can use a variety of products to remove or minimize the stain.
July 11 2009 • 02:52:49 PM
Why should I see go to see my slab of stone?
Choosing a countertop from a sample in a showroom is not a good idea. The small sample (even 12 x 12 is small) does not represent the stone that is available currently. Samples get outdated quickly…my samples of Blue Pearl from 4 years ago are nothing like the grayish Blue pearl that is on the market today. I rarely sell a customer a kitchen without their approving the slab prior to purchase. Any given slab may have a vein, or stone design, within it that you don’t like. If you are there to look, you can point that out and another slab several pieces later in the lot may be perfect. How many times will you be buying granite in your life? It’s worth a trip to a slab warehouse to see the variability and beauty of the different stones.
June 17 2009 • 07:33:17 AM
What product should I use in my outside grill?
The two issues in an outside grill are heat and grease splatter. Heat generated from the sun and from the grill. The grill should be classified for outdoor island use (I’m sure you already knew that.) Best countertop products for an outside grill are Soapstone, Granite and Quartz (like Cesearstone or Zodiaq). The catch is the heat; dark stones get much hotter in the direct sun, yet are the most durable. The quartz products are good (consider a brushed finish), but they won’t handle the heat that soapstone or granite can handle. Granite that has a busy pattern and is brushed will handle the heat, disguise the splatter and look good. If the splatter is going to bother you, soapstone which can be oiled uniformly is the best solution. Any polished granite that you like, can be brushed to dull the finish and make it suitable for the outside. Icestone is not a good product for the outside grill. It has a concrete base material that needs to be waxed for full protection. The wax would probably not hold up in direct sunlight. Other things to consider are the other material involved…is the base made of brick, limestone, or cabinetry? I would be glad to help you pull together an aesthetically pleasing and durable grill area. Pictures of Soapstone (dry and oiled): http://www.soapstones.com/soapstone_collection.html
April 29 2009 • 10:58:07 AM
Where to start?
Knowing where to start in a remodel is the difficult part…floor? Cabinets? Paint? Countertops? Which comes first….If the project budget and scope allows for all of the project to be completed at once, the answer is easy….start at the bottom and replace the flooring first. If the project is dependent on big pop for the money….counters and floors have the most dramatic impact. Unless your floors are drastically bad, I would say counters will give you the most bang for your buck. Counters encompass a lot of visual space, a change from stained tile or bad formica to granite, or quartz will dramatically change your room.