Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Best Granite Kitchen Countertop Colors


With an array of colors and designs to choose from, how do you choose the best? It is best for us to know their color compatibility and their origin and of course how they can help beautify our kitchen in general. It is also best to know what you really want for your kitchen. Do you want it to look sexy? Natural or simply daring? Whatever you choose, be sure that you consult a designer or you read through this article to know a little background on the colors of your granite countertops.

Feldspar, Quarts and Mica are the minerals that give granite its distinct colors. Granite is made up of igneous and crystalline rocks.

Your granite may come from different countries and may be paired with different colors, so you should be very meticulous in doing so. Remember that granites do last a lifetime and so we must choose the best that we can give to our children and grandchildren.

Here are the different colors that you can choose from:

  • Red- This is one of the most favorite decors for Asians. They give a feel of romance and it is very bold and bright. It was used before in Egypt as structural décors as well as in fashion. Color combinations include yellow, white, lavender and brown. Rose granites are one of the rarest of them all. It comes from Brazil and China.
  • White- White color can give you a feeling of a clean and sanitized kitchen. It can also calm you when you are under a lot of stress. It also has a more modern touch compared to the other colors. They come from China, Brazil and Italy.  Examples are the Big White Flower from China and the Bianco White from Brazil.
  • Yellow- If you want your kitchen to brighten up your day, choose this color. Yellow gives your kitchen a warmer and happy feel. Examples of this color are Tiger Skin Yellow from China. This is a must buy for all granite lovers!
  • Beige- One of the most popular colors to choose from alongside brown, yellow and green. Beige is also synonymous with natural color so that your kitchen will look just natural and subtle enough. Great for pairing beige granite countertops with a dark cabinet. Combinations would be dark brown, with and light brown.
  • Black- Black is always the more popular choices for these modern times. It can be paired with light colored cabinets. Variations with secondary colors of gray, blue, green and white. These stones come from Sweden, India and South Africa.
  • Gray- This is popular in the US. This granite is quarried in Georgia. Color variations could be in black, blue and pink and from light to dark. This usually goes well with class, wood. Examples are Sierra White and Moonlight Grey.
  • Green- This is  the  color has a wide variety of shades! It can compliment blues, blacks and greens. Examples are Emerald Pearl from Norway and Forest Green from India.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Ways to Maintain your Granite Kitchen Countertop

Buying a kitchen countertop is easy if you already have to budget for remodeling your countertop. Maybe you are in the dark on how to clean or maintain it. Sure, there are common ways but is it the proper way to go about maintaining it? Or does it make it dull? We would want to keep it in tip top shape. One we could still be proud of years from now. Let’s read on to see proper ways of maintaining your granite kitchen countertop.

Proper Sealing

It is important that you seal your countertop after purchasing it. This is done to primarily protect and shield it from stains and dirt that will leave a mark on the surface. You ought to call a professional to do this so that it can be done properly.

Proper Cleaning

Cleaning your countertop is very simple and can be done in a minute, tops! Have a neutral ph cleaner to wipe it on a damp cloth. We use this kind of cleaner because chemicals may damage the surface of granite. Do this regularly to dust off dirt and stains. This should remove all of these in a jiffy. In the absence of a neutral ph cleaner, you may use a granite disinfectant that can still do the job. Be sure to buy the cheaper ones with good quality. Remember not to use any kind of chemical other than these for cleaning.

Proper maintenance

Be sure to clean your countertop as prescribed regularly in order to maintain cleanliness and luster. When in doubt with the cleaner, ask your nearest dealer on the best cleaners for granites. This will save you a lot of guesswork and time. Avoid all sharp objects that may crack your granite when hit very hard. Remember that you cannot repair a small part when this happens. Instead, you will need to replace a whole portion, and cost will be pretty high. Frequency of sealing your countertop should be annually.

Follow these simple tips and your granite countertop will go a long way.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Granite Countertop Pros and Cons

If you think that Granite countertops in your kitchen are ridiculously expensive, you might want to know why. They are the second hardest stone after diamonds. This makes it very durable with the highest quality of material. Granites are made from the finest minerals that give it its unique color and luster: the white color is from quartz, blue is feldspar and the black color pigment is called mica.

There is no identical granite slab. This is what makes it a one of a kind countertop. It never scratches and is heat resilient. It also requires little maintenance, which is really convenient because you will not only have the best countertop in town, you will also not be spending on maintenance and repair for an extremely long period of time unlike other countertops in the market today which are of lower price but compromised quality.

What are the Pros and Cons?

Pros

  • High market and resale value- If you wish to resell your house; you can bank on your granite countertop to sell it at a higher cost.
  • Easy cleaning and maintenance- This requires only wash and wipe for cleaning and you will not have to worry about stains and bacteria. For maintenance, it is so hard that it will rarely crack.
  • Attractive- Who can resist the luminous finish of the surface and not to mention the grain like design which is classy and modern.
  • Color- the color of granite will never fade or tarnish.
  • Heat resistant- It is a coolant for heated frying pans. You will not have to worry for your countertops that will be burned because of hot pans.
  • Unique- No two slab are the same. This is one of the outstanding design features of granite countertops.
  • Sturdy- The durability and sturdiness is impeccable. You will not need to worry for any cracks or scratches. It is almost as hard as a diamond!

Cons

  • Expensive- Since it is very expensive, not everyone can afford to purchase granite as countertops.
  • Difficult to repair- if there will be a small crack; the whole portion of the cracked part has to be replaced because repair is not possible since it is very hard.
  • Extreme Density- Since it is very heavy, you will need extra support for transport. Most of the time, special machines will be used for transport.
As evidenced by its quality, the advantages outweigh its disadvantages. This is why millions are choosing granite especially when constructing their new house or remodeling their kitchen. It is a luxury they cannot afford to miss!