Countertops
More Than Just a Stone
From cooking delicious meals, to hanging out with family and friends, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Countertops are an essential part of the kitchen, and it is important to be informed about their qualities so you can choose the perfect one for you.
Take a look at our material description, as well as fabrication and installation process, so you can know what happens every step of the way when we transform your countertops.
Granite
For the past five decades, granite has been the most popular countertop material chosen by homeowners. This natural stone is characterized by its unique and colorful patterns, which can vary from a slab with a single color base with a few specs of a different color, to a slab with multiple colors and crystals in unique patterns.
Granite is distinguished in a very simple way; when looking at it up close, it tends to have a lot of smaller rocks or crystals of different sizes, and it is never uniform.
Because granite is a natural stone, it is very porous and is subscetible to liquid spills. In order to avoid damage from spills, it is recommended that granite be sealed at least twice a year to preserve its shine and durability.
Quartz
Quartz has recently soared in popularity thanks to the fact that it is very durable, as well as stain resistant, making it a strong contestant when choosing material that can withstand the rigorous work done in a kitchen. Quartz can come in almost any color imaginable, as well as have any design.
Quartz can come in a wide variety of patterns, but is always distinguishable by its uniform base color. When looking at the slab up close, you can see lots of little dots which are almost laid out in a uniform and even pattern. It looks "man made".
Quartz is not a natural stone; therefore, it does not have to be sealed like a natural stone would. It is non-porous, which makes it higly resistant to liquid spills.
Quartzite
Quartzite is the perfect material for homeowners who want a slab with an exotic look. This material tends to have a more dramatic look, while still preserving a soft flow in design throughout the slab. Just like granite, it can come in multiple colors and designs made naturally by the earth.
Unlike granite, quartzite has a more soft look. Instead of having lots of little rocks and crystals throughout the slab, the slab itself seems as one stone alone and still has a very natural look.
In order to preserve the natural beauty of quartzite, it will have to be sealed at least twice a year. This helps the material shine and closes the pores to avoid liquid spills from penetrating.
Fabrication
Fabrication is the most important step in the countertop process. During this step, we cut the material to the correct dimentions according to the cabinets, as well as make any cutouts necessary (sink, cooktop, faucet, etc...), and also do an edge finish.
Fabrication is a very delicate process which requires precision work in order to ensure it is done correctly. Certain add-ons such as waterfall, mitter edge, and laminate edge, are also done during this step. These require more intricate work due to the way in which they have to be cut and installed.
Template
Cutouts
Edge Finish
Waterfall
Installation
Installation is the final step of the process. After the material has been fabricated, it is transported to the job site so it can be laid out on top of the cabinets for installation. This step is also very important, as there are multiple details which have to be accounted for to ensure the material is installed properly. Some of these details are, checking that the material is level when installed, checking that the material is placed evenly and has the same overhang on each end of the cabinet, and adding enough adhesive to make sure the stone is set in place and will not move.
Sink
Overhang
Adhesive
Shims
Proper Care and Maintenance
Natural stone and quartz countertops are very delicate materials which require proper care and maintenance to ensure they last for decades to come. A very important note to always keep in mind regarding your countertops is: all countertops should be treated with the same delicacy regardless of what material they are.
Here are some important details to help you maintain your countertops.
Fill a bucket with warm water and add a bit of dish soap. Soak a rag or kitchen towel in this water, then drench it so that it does not drip on the material. Softly clean the material to remove any spills, dust, food, etc...
Avoid leaving any liquid spills sit on the material for an extended period of time. This prevents the liquid spill from penetrating the material, which can cause it to stain and leave a mark.
Ensure that natural stone countertops are sealed at least twice a year. This keeps the pores closed, and preserves the finish of the material so it always shines.
Do not place any hot pans or pots directly on the material, instead use silicone or rubber mats to avoide leaving any burn marks on your countertops.
For any stains that will not come off, you can use a small amount of acetone in a rag to try to clean it. Go over the stain with the rag until it slowly starts going away. Please note that some stains might not come off if they are deep inside of the pores.
Avoid writing, cutting, or hitting anything on the countertop to prevent stains, cuts, and cracks in the material.