A countertop layout is when a customer views their selected stone and sees where their countertop will be cut out of their specific slabs. When customers come into Italian Marble and Granite for their layout they have usually seen their selected slabs at least once before. But during the layout they are shown their selection again. Then they go into our conference room where they see a 3D layout of their kitchen on our television. At this point the customer can see how exactly we are going to cut and put together their countertops. The customer will see grain direction, sink location, as well as the joint locations. We also pride ourselves in giving our customers a voice during the layout process. If they do not like a particular section of the stone we try our best to cut around it or move it around to a less noticeable spot.
Why do a layout? It gives the customer a say in their countertop. We want our customers to see exactly what is being installed into their home or office. Stones that have a lot of movement such as marble and granite are especially important because customers want to see how the different slabs are going to come together. When working with Quartz the layout is not as important because the pattern is very consistent and there tends to be limited to no grain direction. Check out our video to see how it all works!
Granite is a beautiful natural product that is taken directly from the Earth. Each individual slab of granite or other natural stone will look slightly different. With this said there a some natural characteristics of granite countertops that cannot be avoided.
Pits- Some granites have pits and others do not, it depends directly on the mineral composition of the stone. In some cases you will be able to feel the pits on high polished granite countertops when rubbing your hand across the stone. The pits will not get worse, and have been in the granite since purchased. So what exactly is a pit? A pit is a gap between the mineral composition or crystals.
Fissures- Like pits fissures are natural to granite and other stones as well. A fissure looks like a crack in the granite, but it is not one. This happens as the granite forms due to the heat and pressure.
Pits and fissures do not compromise the integrity of the granite countertop, but merely adds to the natural beauty of the stone. Therefore when picking out your stone make sure you are aware of the different characteristics of it. If you do not like the way the fissures or pits look, then perhaps pick another granite that does not have them. Quartz countertops may also be a good option due to it being man made.
There are many different natural stone finishes to use on your countertops. They range from leathered (antiqued), honed, polished, and many more. These finishes do not necessarily jeopardize the integrity of the granite countertops. However, additional coats of sealer may need to be applied. When a stone is leathered it creates a textured finish, which varies depending on the quartz structure of the stone. Meaning that two different granites can have a leathered finish but one may have more texture than the other.
It is important to try and think of what “look” you are trying to achieve. Some customers prefer the leathered finish when they are trying to achieve a more rustic or old feel in their kitchen. Polished granite countertops and leathered granite countertops can bring two different looks. The picture above shows a leathered granite countertop out of African Tapestry. The granite countertop below is the same stone, but with a polished finish. Both granites bring something different to the kitchen. It is important to see that leathering the stone lightens it as well.
Picking your countertop edge can be a little overwhelming for some people, especially when taking specific stones into account. When our customers are looking for edges we take three main factors into account.
The most important factor to take into account is the type of stone. A quartz countertop (engineered countertop) can have any type of edge, expect for a rockface finish. A rockface edge is rough and have a chiseled look. Many quartz companies will not warranty the stone if this edge is used. As for the marbles and granites, different characteristics of the stone need to be taken into account. Some granites and marbles and more susceptible to chipping so an ogee edge, or an edge with a sharp point may not be recommended. If the granite or marble has a “sugar” charactertistic to it, a rockface will not be recommend as well. The potential for the countertop to break during fabrication is higher.
The feel of the room/design. Some edges look more modern, where others have a classic look to them. A bevel edge can almost have a more modern look to it. Where the ogee or ogee stepback has a formal look, like a furniture piece.
Lastly the budget is taken into account. In our company we have four standard edges. Built-up edges, ogees, and bullnoses are additional money due to the increased amount of labor.
So when picking your edge, make sure your fabricator or sales person helps with the process. Make sure they go over the characteristics of the stone and you understand what edges are best for the stone. They can also help you understand which may fit the room in your house.
It’s that time of year again! Everyone is coming over and surrounding your beautiful marble, granite, or quartz countertops. Food and different beverages will be passed around, but how safe is your countertop.
If you have a marble, you are probably aware of the different factors that can hurt your counter. Different foods and beverages can stain or etch your stone. In regards to the granite, it is still a natural product. Staining is not as much of problem as it is for marble. However, it is not recommend to let spilled red wine sit there for awhile. If you have overhang on your island or peninsula make sure no one is standing or sitting on it. There is not as much support at the overhangs and the countertops can break.
So what can you do to help prevent damage to your countertops?
Check to see if your countertops need to be sealed. (QUARTZ DOES NOT NEED TO BE SEALED) It is a common misconception that granite needs to be sealed every couple months. We use high quality sealers that can last up to ten years, especially on granite. Take some water and put it on your counter. After a couple minutes if the water starts to bead then you do not need to reseal your granite or marble. If the water in being absorbed into the stone, then it needs to be sealed. If your counter needs to be sealed call your local granite fabricator. They have high quality sealers that are easy to apply.
Make sure you have your guests use coasters, especially on the marble. The last thing you want are marks from everyone’s red wine or food.
Do not allow anyone to sit or stand on the countertops.
If you are using quartz make sure you are not putting hot pans directly on the surface, you run the risk of melting or damaging your counter tops.
Sometime stains happen. If they do, call your fabricator as soon as possible. There are different products they can use to try and remove the stain.
We hope this helps during this busy time of year. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
