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Archives for July 2021

Why Consider Soapstone for Your Kitchen Countertop

When it comes to countertop materials, the top-of-mind preference is always granite. It is undeniable how the durability and appeal of this stone captured a lot of attention of homeowners. It is durable, can resist stain, moisture, scratching, and more. But if you want your home to be different from the usual American homes, a soapstone countertop should be on your list of options. 

This material can provide the benefits that granite countertops can, and they also make your kitchen look effortlessly elegant and sleek. This article will tell you about the properties of soapstone that make it a worthy choice.

It Is Highly Durable

The kitchen countertop is the one area in the house that gets the most impact through daily usage. When choosing a material for this section, you would want something that could resist the daily impact and make it last for a long time. You can compare its hardness level to marble. While it might be slightly softer than the good old granite countertop, its density makes up for it. Soapstone is composed of highly compact particles than what marble, quartz, and granite have. 

It Can Resist Heat

A kitchen will not be a fully functional kitchen if there is no presence of heat. If you are to place heating equipment or hot tools on your kitchen countertop, you would want to use a material that would not cause inconvenience. 

With soapstone as your material, you do not have to worry anymore about a fresh-from-oven meal melting your countertop or causing any discoloration. That means you can also directly put your hot frying pan on top of your counter without needing any trivet. Here is how soapstone works: when exposed to heat, it would immediately absorb it and gradually release the heat back to the air. 

It Makes Cleaning Easier

Remember how compact the particles of soapstone are compared to other countertop materials? Another benefit of it is how you can quickly remove any dirt or spills that go on top of it. Since the material is porous, it would not let any of these elements seep. You can also guarantee that it would not encourage any bacterial buildup. 

It Is Chemically Inert

What makes this material extra special is how it would not react to any chemicals. Soapstone is not acidic and is also not considered alkaline. Therefore, you can use any type of cleaning solution you want on it. Whether you use a natural lemon juice or a strong chemical for cleaning, it would not generate any bad reaction. That means you do not have to deal with any staining!

You Have Many Color Options

You can get soapstone in the various color schemes of grey. You can also find soapstone with green, white, and blue undertones. What makes the material more interesting is how you can manipulate its natural color. When left alone, your medium gray soapstone would eventually change into a soft patina color. If you want to make it darker, you simply have to rub mineral oil onto your counter and let the material soak it. You would get a dark black countertop with clearly popping veins. 

Conclusion

A soapstone countertop can immediately make your kitchen look like one of those featured in high-end lifestyle magazines. If that is something you want to wake up to every day, consider using soapstone as your countertop material. Besides the instant aesthetic appeal it brings to your home, you can also enjoy the mentioned advantages in this article. 

Cutstone Company is a custom countertop expert in Birmingham and Alabaster, AL. If you want a quality kitchen countertop according to your style and budget, we can bring that to life. If you wish to use natural stone in your home, whether soapstone, granite, quartzite, or marble, we can provide you with that. Contact us today to get started!

Granite Stone: How Can It Beautify Your Commercial Space?

Your workplace’s appearance not only affects your customers’ impression of your business but also plays a vital role in employee satisfaction and productivity. Since the layout, design, and colors can significantly impact your business, you must pay special attention to these details. This is why you need to pick the right decor to beautify your commercial space.

One of the best ways to elevate your property’s look and feel with a modern touch is to use granite stone. It is a popular go-to material for interior decorations because it reflects timelessness and evokes a sense of professionalism. It also blends well with flooring, desks, walls, and ceilings, so it is easy to mix and match with your current workspace’s aesthetic. 

Is Granite Stone Ideal for a Commercial Space?

Granite is considered as one of the hardest natural stones on earth. Because of its durability and aesthetic appeal, it became a fan-favorite among many property owners. 

Most people consider granite as an ideal building material for certain areas, like high-end bathrooms and kitchen countertops. However, since it is a versatile stone, it can be incorporated into any setting. 

Using granite will add a sense of elegance to your property. It can also be used in different design concepts, ranging from classic to modern. Additionally, depending on the design, it can be added as a timeless piece or the center of attention. Since it helps you make a positive impression, it might attract customers or encourage like-minded professionals to invest in your business. 

While granite is slightly more expensive than other natural stones, it is worth your every penny. It resists stains, heat, and scratches. It is also extremely durable. With the right care and maintenance, it can even last a lifetime. 

How Can You Use Granite in Your Office?

Granite is a versatile building material. Regardless of the appearance and ambiance you are aiming for, this natural stone can help you achieve that. Here are several ways to incorporate it into your office’s different areas:

Reception Area

Your reception area is one of the first areas your guests or clients will see as they set foot in your property. Seize the opportunity to make a good impression by making this area as inviting and aesthetically pleasing as possible. To do this, use granite countertops and match it with your flooring. Consider opting for dark granite to give your lobby room a sense of elegance.

Desktop Surfaces

You can boost employee productivity by ensuring that all desks are easy to maintain and comfortable to use. Instead of purchasing commercially available tables, choose to have custom-made desks made of granite. Besides being appealing, they are durable to handle scratches, stains, and other forms of damage.

Conference Room Tables

Traditionally, most conference room tables were made of hardwood. Although it is generally durable, this material easily gets chipped or stained, which means they don’t last. If you want to ensure your tables last for many years, choose granite since it does not stain or scratch, making it a more valuable investment in the long term.

Conclusion

When building your commercial property, you want to use materials that are appealing and will stand the test of time. You must pick the kind of decor that reflects how you do business and speaks a lot about your brand. Thankfully, you can reap both practical and aesthetic benefits by using granite stone. 

To start wowing your guests and establishing your positive image, reach out to Cutstone for commercial custom countertops in Birmingham. We work harmoniously with designers and architects to complete any project and installation without problems. Contact us to schedule a free consultation!

Granite Countertops: Why Knowing Its Porosity Matters

Kitchens are the heart of modern homes and have evolved from being a utilitarian room into a multipurpose space, so it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the most exciting areas to decorate. Being one of the busiest parts of the house, the countertops serve as the centerpiece that harmonizes the overall style and flow of the kitchen. 

There’s a wealth of countertop choices in the market, too, all of which have their distinct charm and strengths. But granite countertops are a perennial favorite among homeowners for their unprecedented durability, no-fuss upkeep, and visually impressive finish. 

While granite countertops add a luxurious yet functional feel to your kitchen, there is one crucial factor you may be forgetting to consider: porosity. 

Is Granite a Highly Porous Material?

Granite follows closely behind diamond as one of the hardest natural materials in the world, but its drawback is its high porosity compared to other natural stone options. Kitchens see plenty of action that involves liquids, so getting the countertops wet can be an inconvenience since liquid can easily penetrate the surface.

The pristine and stunning look of granite countertops can fade over time as stains start to cover the surface, but what makes matters worse is that the moisture can weaken your granite’s integrity over time. Fortunately, sealing the granite countertop can keep it in its pristine condition despite being banged up in a busy kitchen. 

Protecting Your Granite Countertops 

Adding a sealer leaves your granite countertops in a protective layer, one that closes off the pores to keep any liquid from penetrating the material. All granite countertops come with a sealant, but you should re-seal them every six to twelve months to keep them in tip-top shape. 

The good news is that sealing granite doesn’t require you to break a sweat since most can get sealants in an easy-to-use spray bottle.

Keep in mind that granite is highly resistant to hot temperatures, extremely durable, and relatively easy to clean, so caring for it once or twice a year is a good price to pay for the material’s incredible looks and reliable functionality. 

The Bottom Line: Protecting Granite Countertops with Some TLC 

Granite is a porous natural stone, but it shouldn’t give you plenty of trouble so long as you regularly re-seal the countertops. Seals protect the materials from getting wear and tear even as chaos ensues in the kitchen, allowing homeowners to enjoy the luxurious look of granite countertops for years to come. 

Are You Dreaming of Installing Custom Countertops for Your Home in Birmingham?

Countertops are stunning features that offer functionality and style to your home, but the best part is that there’s plenty of materials to choose from! Here at Cutstone Company, we offer a wide range of custom countertops for our residential and commercial clients. 

Whether it’s marble for a classic elegance to granite for a luxurious look, we offer something that is sure to fit your style and needs all within your budget. Browse our extensive selection of countertops today and see what catches your eye! 

Choosing the Best Countertop Materials for Your Kitchen

Kitchen countertops can be deemed as a centerpiece when it comes to home amenities. You have your silverware, that porcelain chinaware, and crystal wine glasses to impress every guest at the dinner table. Still, it would all seem lacking at best and completely empty at worst without a good countertop in the background.

For the most part, you may treat your kitchen countertop as a subtle highlight, meaning that they can be an integral part of your kitchen that can greatly complement the space’s overall aesthetics without hogging up too much of your guests’ attention.

Thankfully, you can do something to make it stand out from the rest. Upgrading your countertop by choosing the most appropriate material for it would enhance its overall look and add a couple of advantages that would come into play when it’s time to cook up a delicious meal. 

The following are some of the most common material recommendations for your new kitchen countertops:

Slate

There is a reason why slates are called handsome materials. Their color and aesthetics—which usually consist of black, charcoal, gray, and pewter—are an indication of classic and timeless. If you aren’t shy about showing off your new countertop, choose this very eye-catching material.

Not to be limited to their aesthetics alone, they are also a perfect match for beginner chefs who tend to spill ingredients from time to time. Slate is a non-porous material, which means that it does not absorb any form of stain, may it be oils, tomato sauce, or soy sauce marinades.

Marble

If you would like to invest in a gleaming surface instead, go for a marble countertop. It is fairly affordable and gives off that well-polished look, but it would need a little grit in terms of maintenance. Unlike slate, marbles are porous materials, which means that you will need to be extra careful when working with raw ingredients, as they can easily absorb the stains. 

They also get scratched easily and are prone to losing their shine as well when exposed to certain acidic ingredients for a very long time. Be sure to invest in big containers and chopping boards for your ingredients if you want to maintain its overall clean and shiny look.

Granite

If you want a more vibrant look for your kitchen, granite countertops are the answer. They’re characterized by their varying shades of reds, blues, whites, and browns. Pick this if you are willing to experiment with the color combinations within your dining area. 

The best thing about this material is that you may either go for a glossy or matte look, but make sure to choose whichever matches your overall plan and preference. They are also durable and heat-resistant, ensuring no burns if you were to place hot pots on them mistakenly.

Conclusion

Choosing the best countertop material for the kitchen would be one of the most fulfilling activities for any homeowner who is hoping to impress their guests. Regardless of their cooking skills, a dinner host would be able to bring out their delicacy prowess with the help of a good countertop that would make the whole cooking process more convenient in the long run. 

If you happen to be one of them, choose wisely and pick out a material that would bring out the core beauty of your kitchen! 

If you are on the hunt for residential custom countertops in Birmingham, AL, Cutstone Company has you covered. We offer only the best in residential and commercial custom countertops, so contact us to learn more! 

3 Myths About Granite Countertops That Need Clearing Up

Countertops are an essential part of the kitchen. They are the space that homeowners often use for food preparation. Choosing the wrong material can ruin your kitchen’s aesthetics and affect the productivity of the residents. If you want to avoid all these hassles, you need to be mindful of your material choice from the start. 

If there is one popular countertop material that most homeowners consider, it is the graphite countertop. Considered as the king of countertop materials, this option, with its natural and timeless beauty, is rock-hard, durable, and easy to maintain. However, despite all these positive attributes, some households are still hesitant to invest in a granite countertop because of some myths and misconceptions surrounding it.

Here are some of these myths that need to be corrected right away:

Myth 1: Granite and Marble Are Just the Same Material

Most people assume that granite and marble are the same just because both are natural stones. However, these two materials are different in many ways, from the kind of stone they are to their porosity level. When it comes to these two materials, marble is softer and more absorbent. 

When we say soft, it does not mean supple. Hardness, as it relates to minerals, is a measure of how easy it is to scratch. The stone has a high chance of reacting to acids. That is the same reason marble countertops require more attention and maintenance. Meanwhile, granite is tougher. It is an igneous rock second to diamonds in terms of its hardness level.

Myth 2: Using Granite Countertop Requires More Work from You

Granite is not hard to maintain. In fact, unless your current granite countertop is damaged beyond repair, you don’t need to replace it. People think that granite is a complex material to maintain just because it is a natural stone. However, it is a countertop material that is stain-resistant, scratch-resistant, heat and chemical-resistant, and more. 

Myth 3: Granite Is Not Safe for Food Prep

If you are the type of person who wants to cut meat and vegetables on their countertops rather than cutting boards, granite countertops can be useful. Since it is made from durable materials, your countertops would not get damaged at all. 

Now, you might be thinking that this is not a safe way to prepare food. The truth is that granite countertops can resist bacterial growth due to their less porous nature. Just make sure that it is properly sealed and always cleaned with soap and water.

Conclusion

Granite is a durable material and a good option for countertops if you are looking for a long-term home investment. It is made from a tough element that can resist chips, scratches, stains, and cracks. Because it can also withstand heat, it is an ideal material to use near the cooktop or range. In addition to those mentioned, it is a beautiful material that immediately makes any space look luxurious. If you are looking for a quality countertop material, granite would definitely be a worthwhile investment.

If you are looking for granite countertops in Birmingham, AL? Cutstone Company customizes granite countertops to provide homeowners with their desired stone surface without breaking the budget. Our experts are trained to design and create your personalized stone countertops. Contact us today at (205) 624-3538 to learn more about our service. 

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