Academy Blog

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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Porcelain vs. Granite Countertops

| March 10, 2020

Porcelain vs. Granite Countertops If you’re searching for a durable yet visually appealing countertop surface for your next upgrade or project, there are many natural and engineered surfaces to consider, including porcelain and granite countertops.

You’ll find that options like porcelain and granite both offer incredible resilience, which you’re sure to appreciate from a practical standpoint. But, what are the advantages of porcelain countertops vs. granite for your home?  Considering they have similar price points, you’ll simply have to consider the function they offer, as well as your preferred design aesthetic. Here are a few things you need to know when choosing between porcelain vs. granite countertops.

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Is Taj Mahal Quartzite or Granite?

| March 2, 2020

Is Taj Mahal Quartzite or Granite? There are so many options to consider when it comes to selecting the right natural stone countertop surface for your home or project. With beautiful varieties of marble, granite, quartzite, you can quickly become overwhelmed.

However, when you’re looking for distinctive beauty, why not capture the splendor of the famed Taj Mahal? This iconic mausoleum in the city of Agra, in India, was built in the 17th century by the emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his beloved wife, as well as his own tomb. It’s generally considered among the most impressive examples of architectural mastery in the world.

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Silestone vs. Granite: 5 Differences You Need to Know

| February 28, 2020

Silestone vs. Granite: 5 Differences You Need to Know Designing your ideal kitchen or bath can be both a fun and daunting process. With so many options on the market, including natural vs. engineered stone, the surfaces for you to consider are endless.

The difficulty, as with any home upgrade or addition, is selecting the materials that best suit your needs. When it comes to choosing, Silestone quartz and granite, both resilient, stunning countertop surfaces in their own right, are two surfaces worth comparing. While one is a natural stone (granite) and the other, an engineered stone (quartz), the two are often compared due to their durability, aesthetic and versatility. Sometimes, it can even be difficult to tell the difference between the two stones, especially with Silestone options that look so similar to granite. 

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