Academy Blog

4 Stylish Kitchens with PentalQuartz Countertops

| September 16, 2020

Kitchens with PentalQuartz Countertops There’s no denying the appeal of quartz. This engineered surface not only delivers the beauty of natural stone, often mimicking the look of favorites like marble and granite, but it offers the resilience and utility of a non-porous, food-safe surface designed for strength and durability.

PentalQuartz, in particular, offers several attractive collections that feature over 100 colors and styles to choose from. Featuring abundant solids, patterns and finishes that let you customize to suit your home interior and your personal aesthetic, there is a style for every home. When you choose PentalQuartz countertops for your kitchen, bathroom or other project, you’ll not only increase the beauty, function, and value of your home, but you’ll enjoy a 15-year warranty that ensures long-term satisfaction.

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How to Measure Countertops in 4 Easy Steps

| September 10, 2020

How to Measure Countertops Whether you’re looking to undertake a complete kitchen or bathroom renovation, or you’re simply tired of cleaning the grout in your underwhelming tile countertops, you may be thinking about upgrading to beautiful, natural stone slabs like marble, granite, or quartzite. These surface materials can not only serve as the showpiece of your interior design, but they offer the durability every busy household requires, and they add a lot of value to your home.

Of course, conscientious homeowners want to know what the pricing might look like before committing to the investment, so one of the first things you need to know is your countertop dimensions, as pricing is based on the material cost per square foot. If you’re purchasing a pre-cut slab, this means taking accurate countertop measurements to get the best possible quote.

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How to Clean Granite Countertops: 5 Simple Steps to Follow

| September 2, 2020

How to Clean Granite Countertops Granite countertops make for an eye-catching addition to kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other areas of the home. With a diverse range of colors to choose from, dynamic patterning, and depth and dimension unique to this natural stone, granite definitely makes for a statement style in any setting.

Of course, if your granite is dulled by dust or spattered grease, or worse, stained by foods and beverages, it won’t offer the same visual impact and appeal. If you want your countertops to remain polished and pristine, you’re going to have to follow a regular cleaning regimen. 

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4 Carrara Marble Countertop Design Ideas for Your Next Remodel

| August 31, 2020

4 Carrara Marble Countertop Design Ideas The bright, white foundation and subtle gray veining of classic Carrara marble have made it a go-to countertop choice among homeowners, interior designers and builders.  Beloved for its classic appeal and versatility, this marble surface can be transformed to fit your style preferences.  If you’re looking for a sophisticated way to update your kitchen, you really can’t go wrong with Carrara marble.

Of course, like any home improvement project, you need to consider how a range of design elements work together to create a harmonious and attractive space. While neutral Carrara can easily pair with lighter hues for a monochromatic look or darker shades for more dynamic appeal, there’s more than paint and woodwork to consider. 

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4 Don’ts for Cleaning Countertops Made of Natural Stone

| August 13, 2020

Cleaning Countertops Made of Natural Stone If you’re like most homeowners, you probably put a lot of careful thought into the selection, installation and maintenance of the natural stone countertops in your kitchens and/or bathroom. You may have visited showrooms and warehouses in search of the perfect color and pattern, and even the perfect stone slab. Now that it’s been cut to size, sealed, and installed to perfection, the last thing you want to do is mar the surface and create damage. It’s important to know that there are special cleaning considerations for natural stone countertops in your home, such as granite, marble or quartzite. … MORE

New York Kitchen and Bath Designs to Inspire Your Next Project

| August 11, 2020

New York Kitchen and Bath Designs With so many tried and true countertop options, such as granite and marble, and newer surfaces on the market, such as quartz and porcelain, to choose from, there is a lot to consider. Fortunately, if you’re doing at-home research into the right countertop for your home, there are many free resources to use, like Pinterest and Houzz. Discovering your personal design aesthetic can help you to narrow down your options and give you an idea which direction to head when it comes to color, texture, pattern and veining.

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Everything You Need to Know about Quartz Countertop Edges

| July 13, 2020

Quartz Countertop Edges While you might put a lot of thought into certain aspects of your countertop surface, from the color and finish, to accurate sizing, many homeowners treat edging as an afterthought. This could be a huge mistake. The edge profile you choose could play a role in how well edges stand up to daily wear and tear. Edging also affects the overall look of your finished countertops. In addition, if you have children in the home, you’ll certainly want to consider their safety.

Quartz countertop edges vary between each type of stone. For example, certain styles may be suitable for softer materials like marble, while other styles are ideal for thick granite slabs.

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3 Antimicrobial Countertop Options for Your Home


| June 18, 2020

Antimicrobial Countertop Options for the kitchen and bath It’s not unusual for homeowners to address the spread of germs on household surfaces during regular cleaning, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a renewed focus on cleaning, disinfection and sanitizing within the home. Outside of COV-19, there are also more common germs, bacteria and pathogens that can live on your kitchen and bathroom countertops. While the use of suitable soap and sanitizers is an obvious first step in combating the spread of contaminants, many homeowners want to do more to keep their households clean and free of germs.

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How to Effectively Clean and Disinfect Countertops during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

| May 28, 2020

How to disinfect countertops How to appropriately clean and disinfect natural and engineered stone countertops have always been a common question from homeowners. However, given the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, homeowners have grown increasingly more concerned about how to disinfect surfaces in order to help minimize the risk of infectious disease spread.

First, we do not recommend cleaning your countertops with bleach or abrasive cleansers. The gritty texture of abrasive cleaners are made of small particles, minerals, or fine steel wool, copper, or metal particles, and these particles can damage the stone surface. Even a natural option like vinegar can cause harm as frequent uses of acidic substances can dull appearances and weaken the sealant.

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