Do I Need a Granite Countertop Sealer for My New Kitchen?
Granite countertops are relatively hard and resistant to damage and staining. Yet, the question remains, if you’ve installed granite countertops, do you need a granite countertop sealer?
Category: Stone Maintenance
When is the Right Time to Replace Kitchen Countertops?
If you are contemplating replacing your kitchen countertops, there are several important factors to consider. The best time for a kitchen upgrade depends on your situation and when it’s convenient for you and your family.
Are Waterfall Countertops the Right Choice for Your Modern Home?
Waterfall counters are countertops that flow seamlessly over the horizontal surface of counters and change directions to run vertically until they reach the floor. With smooth lines and right angles, counters finished with waterfall edges are the hottest trend in interior design for kitchens and bathrooms. However, they aren’t the perfect choice for every home or lifestyle. Continue reading to discover if waterfall countertops are right for your home.
Fall in Love with these 5 Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Ideas to Get You Ready for the Holidays
Autumn’s falling leaves line a path that leads right to the holiday season. It’s time to remodel for the holidays so that you and your guests enjoy each gathering in style and comfort. At Academy Marble, getting your kitchen or bathroom ready for the holidays is our specialty. Our countertop and vanity updates can be completed in seven days or less for a quick turnaround and little disruption before the holidays.
Consider the following holiday remodeling ideas to make your home the destination for holiday events.
Care & Maintenance for Marble, Granite and Quartzite Countertops
With all the new developments in sealers for marble, granite, and quartzite, maintenance for new stone countertops is practically non-existent if properly sealed. However, there are some things you do need to know about maintenance and caring for your countertops.
First off, you don’t need specialty cleaners. You can use them, but they’re just an extra cost to you. All of these countertops (marble, granite, and quartzite) can be cleaned with just 1-to-3 drops of dishwashing soap and a few cups of warm water, and a good rinsing.
If you do go heavy on the soap, expect to put in extra time and effort cleaning. If you don’t rinse the counter thoroughly, you’ll notice over time that the stone will look and feel oily or greasy. That oily, greasy feel is soap residue! It means you’ve been using too much soap and not rinsing well. Soap and water is a simple solution, but you must make sure you rinse the entire surface well when you do use it.
Considering Marble Countertops? What You Need to Know about Etching
Marble’s reputation precedes itself – elegantly beautiful, but higher maintenance than other natural stone surfaces. And while many people consider marble countertops for their home given it’s striking impact, it’s the maintenance consideration that often times deters them to select a seemingly more practical stone option. Specifically, it’s the concern of marble etching on kitchen countertops that concerns homeowners, but knowing how etching occurs and how to care for marble countertops can make a difference in your final stone surface decision.
What exactly is etching?
You may have heard of etching when it comes to metalwork – it’s the process of using strong acid to cut into parts of the metal surface to create a design. Cool, right? Not so much when it comes to marble.
Etching in marble countertops is caused by the same thing – acid. Because marble is a soft stone and made of calcium carbonate, it is very prone to marking and etching. When acid touches your marble surface and reacts with the calcium carbonate, a tiny bit of the surface is eaten away and dull spots (known as etches) are created. Since etching can remove the polish or sealant from marble, the stone can become more vulnerable to scratching as well.
