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Archives for September 2021

4 Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Countertops in Good Condition

After all the investment and planning you put into designing the most stunning of kitchens, you’d at least stay looking great, right? After all, there’s no point making your kitchen look pretty if it all falls into disarray within the next couple of days. Fortunately, keeping your kitchen clean is a lot easier than you might imagine, especially when it comes to keeping your kitchen countertops in perfect condition. However, some homeowners do not know how to treat their kitchen countertops, hurting the countertop’s integrity and aesthetics.

If you are unsure of how to keep your kitchen countertops in good condition, you’re in the right place! Today, we’re going to share with you a few tips on how to maintain your countertops:

1. Seal the Counters

You might assume that stone is impervious to spills because they’re solid objects. However, stones are quite porous, meaning that if liquids like oil, wine, and soy sauce come into contact with it, the liquid will be absorbed and stain the stone. For that reason, your countertops must be sealed if made of natural stone. 

Depending on the sealer, you might need to seal the countertops every six to twelve months. If you are unsure if your countertops are sealed, test them with some water. If a wet spot remains after leaving it there for around ten minutes and wiping off with a towel, it needs sealing.

2. Wipe Any Spills Quickly

Even if your countertops are sealed thoroughly, you should always wipe any spills off the countertop as quickly as possible. This is because certain liquids like vinegar and tomato sauce are acidic. The acids can easily etch right into the counter, wearing the sealer away and staining the countertop.

3. Use Trivets for Protection

When handling hot pots, pans, and appliances, you might assume they’re alright to be placed on the countertops. This isn’t the case. High heat can hurt the sealant and even crack the countertop. For that reason, you must use trivets to place your hot items on to prevent any risk of cracking on the countertop.

4. Clean Using a Soft Material

Whenever you want to clean the countertops as a routine, avoid using abrasive materials like scouring pads. These can easily scratch the countertop, leaving ugly marks. As such, if you need to wipe the top of your countertops, use a sponge or a microfiber cloth along with water mixed with dish soap. If your countertop is stained, then purchase some poultice to absorb the stain rather than trying to scratch it away with an abrasive product.

Conclusion

There are plenty of other tips we can share with you, such as avoiding dragging heavy objects across the countertop or avoid putting too much weight onto the countertops. Regardless, all of the above tips will help you maintain your kitchen countertops in the best condition possible, maintaining their stunning look and extending their lifespan. Just be sure to treat your countertops with love and care, and not only will your countertops look excellent, but so will the rest of your kitchen!

Cutstone Company are residential and commercial custom countertops experts trained to design and create stunning and affordable countertops. If you are looking for residential countertops in Birmingham, AL, schedule a free consultation with us today!

Granite vs. Quartz: Finding the Best Office Countertop

Sometimes, office worktops are not often given much consideration. Given their many hours of usage, however, that should not be the case. 

Using stone countertops in the workplace may significantly improve the look of your workspace. Its color and appeal can bring tremendous effect on the atmosphere it creates in your workplace. You may choose a lighter-colored countertop to make a room seem bigger or a darker-colored countertop to refine the area. If you want an earthy vibe to the room, a shade of brown is a good choice. 

Whatever your preferences will be, this article will take you through the best choices for stone office worktops, whether for your company or a home office.

Choosing the Most Appropriate Office Countertops

Granite and quartz are the two best countertop materials for workplaces. Both materials are both visually appealing and long-lasting, making them excellent options for any area. Furthermore, both materials will offer you a nearly limitless number of color and design choices. 

Defining Granite and Quartz 

Granite is one of the most popular countertop materials available. Because of the material’s beauty and durability, many commercial property owners choose granite for their worktops. These good characteristics transfer to the workplace as well. Granite is an excellent choice for a work surface. 

Quartz is a manufactured stone made by mixing approximately 90% quartz and 10% polymer resin. These figures may be slightly higher or lower depending on the brand of quartz used, but they will always be in the same ballpark. The attraction of quartz, like that of granite, is mainly based on its beauty and durability. Quartz countertops are an excellent addition to any home or business office. 

The Benefits of Using Granite or Quartz 

1 – Attractive Appeal 

Granite and quartz materials are among the most visually appealing for a countertop. There is a fashionable kind of granite available to suit your tastes, whether modest or stand-out. Similarly, the surfaces are not natural stone and do not make quartz counters any less appealing. Several kinds of quartz countertops are designed to appear like genuine stones like granite. 

2 – Wide Array of Choices

With granite, you may pick from hundreds of different designs. The sheer amount of choices almost guarantees that you will discover at least one, if not many, styles that appeal to you. Nonetheless, another benefit of quartz engineering is that the material provides a plethora of choices. 

3 – Simple to Maintain 

Granite is very simple to care for, particularly given that it is a natural stone. You may clean the surface with warm soap and water regularly. Your first focus will be ensuring that the surface is adequately sealed. On the other hand, a granite countertop will only need to be re-sealed around once a year. Quartz countertops are non-porous, making them one of the most external surfaces to clean and maintain. 

4 – Highly Durable

Granite countertops are durable surfaces. You won’t have to replace these durable stone countertops anytime soon. Quartz countertops, if you select them, are designed to be very durable. The surfaces are as long-lasting as granite worktops. 

Final Thoughts 

If you are replacing laminate or solid surface worktops in your workplace or constructing a home office, granite and quartz are two of the finest choices you have. Reviewing this information may help you get on the right track when choosing your new office countertops. 

Cutstone Company is the finest choice if you need a reliable supplier for granite or quartz countertops for your office near Alabaster. We also provide a wide variety of bespoke countertops to suit your needs. Call us today at (205) 624-3538 to learn more! 

6 Tips When Buying White Marble for Kitchen Countertops

It’s no surprise that when it comes to kitchen countertops, white marble is a popular choice. The subtle sheen it gives evokes an air of elegance, and it delivers a crisp brightness to your kitchen. However, marble isn’t perfect. Unless you’re getting the ones from Carrara, Italy, you need to know some tips that can help you choose the suitable white marble you can use for your countertops. 

1. Consider How Marble Slabs Go Together

When it comes to marble for kitchen countertops, you don’t just choose the one you think will look good in your kitchen. You need to choose slabs and understand where the veining will be located before you install it on the countertop. It has to be placed tastefully to make it look aesthetically pleasing; otherwise, if you don’t think it through, it will look all over the place. 

With that, consider how marble slabs will go together. It’s best to choose longer pieces with no seams. On the other hand, if there are seams, book-match the marble. 

2. Consider the Veining

As mentioned, the veining of marble is a crucial thing to consider because putting marble slabs together is an art, and it will look like art when you carefully think it through. Veining that doesn’t go well together may be an eyesore; so, look into it before you purchase. It will take some time, but it’s going to be worth it. 

3. Consider the Marble Finish

A popular marble finish choice is polished that looks glossy and matte. However, there are other finishes you can choose from because of the new ways to finish stone, like a brushing technique. Explore your options.

4. Choose an Edge Profile

You don’t necessarily have to do this, but edge profiles can take the sharpness off a straight 90-degree corner. This is also the reason marble is popular—it’s easy to work with. An edge profile can help prevent chips at areas where the marble will hit a 90-degree corner. 

5. Call in Advance

Sure, you can always walk through the doors of a marble store without an appointment, but do you really want to do that? If you already know the exact white marble you want, calling ahead to ensure they have it available is going to save you a lot of time. On the other hand, if you don’t have a specific type yet, calling ahead and asking them to organize a tour will be helpful. By doing so, when you arrive, you will be taken directly to the right area. 

6. Be Familiar With the Difference Between Fissures and Cracks

Cracks on marble mean it’s not handled properly or it’s been dropped. So watch out for this. On the other hand, fissures are different from cracks because they are naturally occurring in the stone. Your fingernail should run across a fissure without catching it. Moreover, fissures don’t affect the integrity of the stone; in fact, it’s part of the stone’s character. 

Conclusion

There are varieties of white marble countertops you can choose from today. Find the best one for you by using the tips we discussed in this post. 

Get high-quality marble countertops in Birmingham, AL here at Cutstone Company. We believe every space deserves beautiful countertops. Contact us today.  

Solid Surface vs. Quartz Countertop: Which Is Better?

Countertops are subject to constant and hard usage. So, you should be wise in choosing the best countertop material if you are planning to have one in your kitchen. Keep in mind that the material for your countertop must have excellent performance, providing heat resistance and boosting resale value. 

If you’re in the market looking for one, you will encounter a solid surface countertop and a quartz countertop material. Some say that solid surface and quartz are the best material you can have for a countertop. But, as a homeowner, you should know which one is better so you can have a countertop that can last you a long time. 

To help you make an informed decision, here are the things you should know about solid surface countertops and quartz countertops. 

What Is a Solid Surface Countertop?

A solid surface countertop has been widely popular since 1967. The material is made of mineral dust (mostly marble) mixed with various resins and pigments. If you look at solid surface countertops, you can see that it kind of looks like a stone, but it’s a different story upon closer look.

The best thing about solid countertops is that they can be easily fabricated, and you can create invisibly seamed countertops. If you are not interested in laminate countertops, a solid surface is a perfect alternative because it’s a decided improvement.

However, if you want something that looks like granite particles, a solid surface countertop may not be the best choice. It’s also not ideal if you want to have all-natural products because it’s composed of many materials that are not purely natural. 

What Is a Quartz Countertop?

A quartz countertop is more modern than a solid surface countertop. It consists of stone products of about 95% ground natural quartz and 5% of binding resins. Compared to laminate, wood, and tile countertops, quartz is more in the higher-end. 

If we take a closer look at quartz countertops’ composition, 5-10% of its binding resins are either polymeric or cement-based. The other 90-95%, on the other hand, is composed of hard, stone-like industrial waste products like marble, quartz, glass, and mirrors. 

Is It Possible to DIY Their Installation?

While it is possible, do-it-yourself installation of solid surface and quartz countertops can be challenging. However, if you weigh the two, solid surfaces are more manageable to install as long as you have the materials for cutting and seaming. On the other hand, quartz needs special tools that can be difficult to use.  

Which Is More Heat-Resistant?

While solid surface countertops rarely give in to heat, quartz countertops provide higher heat resistance than solid surfaces. After being exposed to scorching heat, solid surface materials must be sanded out and repolished to remove the stains. On the other hand, quartz doesn’t need one because it can manage and survive extreme heat temperatures. 

Conclusion 

After knowing these pieces of information, you can now choose which countertop material can provide you with longer-lasting results and optimum performance. It’s crucial to know these important details so that you won’t regret your buying decision. But, if you’re not confident to choose and unsure which among the two materials is suited for your kitchen, better to call for a professional who can guide you. 

If you are looking for contractors who can help you with your countertops, Cutstone Company is here to help! Our experts can provide you with the best countertops in Birmingham, AL. They have been trained to maneuver and design stone surfaces that catch consumers’ eyes without breaking their budget. Get in touch with us today!

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