Tag Archives: granite expert

Tips to Consider When Sealing Granite Countertops

If you have a beautiful granite countertop in your kitchen and want to preserve it in good condition, you might need to seal it.

Some countertops are pre-sealed, but if yours was not (or you’re not sure if it was), don’t wait to give it the necessary protection.

Improper cleaning, overlooked spills, and other consequences of daily use can easily damage the countertops. Thankfully, a quality sealer will soak into the granite countertops, filling the porous crevices and preventing damage.

When you are sealing the countertops, you need to consider a number of valuable tips. These tips include:

Use the right sealant

You can use two main types of sealants for your countertops: water and solvent-based.

Water-based countertop sealants are environmentally benign, but solvent-based sealants may be a little better at permeating the stone.

When looking for the best granite sealer, read the labels of both water- and solvent-based sealants and look for the active ingredient fluorocarbon aliphatic resin.

Though the sealer will be more expensive than those containing siloxane and silicon, it will provide better protection. Usually, 5 to 10 years of protection, compared to 6 months to 3 years for other sealants.

Furthermore, fluorocarbon aliphatic resins reject oil and water, ensuring your granite is unaffected by a salad dressing spill.

A quart of fluorocarbon aliphatic resin sealant covers 100 to 250 square feet, depending on the brand. You may need to reapply a 24-ounce spray container of a less potent solvent every six months.

Test the countertops before applying the sealer.

You shouldn’t start sealing the countertops simply because you feel you should seal them. Instead, you should determine whether they are ready for sealing. This calls for you to test the surfaces.

The cool thing is that there are plenty of ways to test the surfaces.

You should consider sealing the countertops when they fail the water test. To test if the countertops are ready for sealing, apply a few drops of water and oil separately to two ordinarily out-of-sight locations on the countertop. If the counter discolors in any location, it is time to reseal.

You also should consider sealing the countertops if they are stained. You should look for new stains on the granite. Granite stains are distinguished by the discolored forms they leave behind; these are often black but can occasionally take on the color of whatever generated the stain (e.g., red from wine, orange from rust, etc.).

While this is the case, a lighter or rough-textured mark indicates etching caused by a chemical reaction rather than absorption.

Seal clean countertops

There is no way your dirty countertops will absorb the sealant, so you need to clean them first before applying the sealant.

A good way to go about it is to clean a granite countertop 24 hours before sealing it. When doing the cleaning, avoid vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, bleach, and aggressive commercial cleaners, as all of these can damage your surfaces.

Start with removing everything from the counter and wipe it down thoroughly with a clean, dry microfiber towel to eliminate any surface dust.

Next, combine 1 teaspoon of dishwasher detergent and 2 teaspoons of isopropyl alcohol. Spray the countertop liberally and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, buffing it in a circular motion.

Wait 24 hours before continuing. The cleaning agent occupies the same region that the granite sealant will penetrate, so be sure the cleaning liquid has completely evaporated before applying the sealant.

Apply the sealant on a small area.

Before you spread the sealant onto the entire countertop, first apply it on a small area.

Put on rubber gloves and gather some soft rags or washcloths. Test the sealant in an area typically occupied by a small kitchen appliance to verify it will not damage the finish.

Spray or pour a tiny amount onto a cloth following the manufacturer’s instructions, then rub it evenly over the test area.

Allow the specified time for the sealer to permeate into the granite. Allow it to sit for no longer than the manufacturer’s recommended time, as the stone may discolor.

If the sealant test area appears good, go ahead and apply the sealant to the rest of the countertop. If the countertop has discolored, remove any residual sealant with a clean rag.

Snap a few images of the area and present them to an associate at your local home center for guidance on a more suited product. Once you have a new sealant, clean the counter again and test it in an inconspicuous area.

Properly apply the sealant.

If the sealant passes the test, you should go ahead and apply it on your surfaces. Start doing the application at one end and make your way to the other.

Apply the sealant in circular areas (approximately an arm’s length in diameter) to achieve even covering. Allow the manufacturer’s specified time for the substance to absorb into the countertop.

After the absorption period, remove any excess sealant using a clean, dry rag. Some products require a second coat; therefore, follow the instructions to do so.

If the product takes only one coat, leave it to cure for 2 to 48 hours.

While this is the case, granite specialists recommend waiting at least 48 hours before wiping a newly sealed granite countertop with anything moist. Avoid returning cookware to the counter until the curing process is complete.

Parting shot

These are some of the tips you should consider when sealing your countertops. Remember that the countertops might need resealing after some time.

Before you do the resealing, always do a test to confirm that the surfaces are ripe for it.

Obviously, you shouldn’t proceed with the sealing if the surfaces aren’t ready for it.

You can always do the sealing by yourself, but if you have never done it before or aren’t confident in your skills, let experienced granite contractors Raleigh help you.

For peace of mind that the contractors you hire are experienced and know what they are doing, always do background checks on them. As a rule of thumb, read the reviews or hear what the past clients have to say.

4 Things That Will Destroy Your Granite Countertops

Did you know that your granite countertops can be destroyed even by the most mundane things? Here are some of the things that can wreak havoc:

Raw meat

As much as it appears harmless, raw meat can be highly harmful to your countertops. The harm comes when the fluids from the meat seep into the granite layers.

Here bacteria and other microbes grow and not only give your countertops an ugly look, but also easily give you food poisoning.

The situation is even worse when you decide to chop the meat on your countertops. As much as granite appears tough, it’s not immune to knife damage. This means that when you decide to chop the meat directly on the surfaces, you are bound to damage your precious countertops.

Don’t make it a habit to place your raw meat directly on the countertops to protect your surfaces. When you accidentally do it, move with haste to clean and disinfect the surfaces.

As you use disinfectants, be cautious, as you can easily cause more harm than good. As a rule of thumb, don’t use vinegar or bleach solutions as they have been shown to discolor the countertops. In other cases, they have been shown to cause extensive wear and tear.

To protect your surfaces, don’t cut directly on them. Instead, always have a chopping board on hand.

Hot pans

The other thing that will destroy your countertops is a hot pan. As much as granite appears tough, it’s not fireproof.

You might get away with placing hot pans on your countertops a couple of times, but when you repeatedly do it, you stand, causing significant damage to the surfaces.

It’s normal to have accidental slips and place the hot pans on your surfaces, but to stay on the safe side, don’t place hot pans or any other hot item on your surfaces. The right way to go about it is always to have trivets or hot pads on your surfaces.

If you don’t have these, always let the pans and hot pots cool completely before you place them on the countertops.

Food

Yes, you read that right. Food can be harmful to your countertops. A classic example is a red wine. As much as it makes you feel relaxed and happy, red wine is acidic and can be extremely harmful to the countertops when you let them sit for a long time.

The acids in the wine etch the countertop surfaces, degrading the seal and exposing the vulnerable stone underneath. This not only gives your countertops an ugly look but also makes your countertops develop stains that are hard to remove.

To protect your countertops and keep them in perfect shape, ensure that you wipe all the spills as soon as they happen. As mentioned above, don’t use harsh liquids such as vinegar and others as they might cause more problems than were originally there.

Children

You must have visited a friend and found them bathing their child in the kitchen sink. While this looks fun, don’t try it in your kitchen.

This is because doing it puts too much pressure on the countertop sink, putting it at risk of getting damaged.

As much as the sink in your kitchen appears tough, it’s not designed to handle too much weight. This means that placing the baby in the sink increases the chances of it getting damaged.

Regardless of how happy you want to make the baby, don’t bathe them in the sink—use your regular bathing area for this.

The same way you shouldn’t use the kitchen sink for bathing your child is the same way you shouldn’t sit or stand on your countertops.

Most homeowners are guilty of this. They will sit on their countertops while waiting for the food to cook. Others will stand on the surfaces as they reach the top shelf or replace the bulbs.

To protect your granite kitchen countertops Durham, don’t sit or stand on them. Have a chair to sit on while in the kitchen. It’s also wise to have a ladder to step on when looking to replace the bulb or reach the top shelf.

How Do You Protect A Countertop From Heat?

As much as they appear tough, most countertop materials will get damaged by heat. You don’t want to replace your countertops as it’s too expensive regularly, do you? To ensure this doesn’t happen, you should protect the countertops from heat.

How do you do this? Here is how to go about it:

Use silicone mats

They are large, thick, and highly effective at protecting your kitchen countertops from heat. The mats work by blocking the heat emitted by your appliances, and to protect your countertops, you should place the mats under your stove, coffee maker, toaster, microwave, or any other appliance you might be having.

The cool thing is that besides the mats protecting your countertops from heat, they also protect the surfaces from spills, scratches, and grease.

Silicone is non-slip, which means that your appliances will stay in place, without moving around, which comes in handy in ensuring that the appliances remain where you want them.

The mats effectively take heat ranging from 40 degrees to 446 degrees Celsius, keeping your countertops as safe as possible.

Heating pads

You place heating pads beneath hot dishes and pans where they block the heat from getting to your precious countertops. Most of the pads are made from cloth, but they can also be made from other materials such as cotton, rattan, cork, or even silicone.

Some people use towels for heating pads. While they work, you should be ultra cautious when using them as the loose ends can be a hazard for accidents that could lead to a serious injury.

The condensation from the pad can get trapped beneath, damaging the surfaces.

For peace of mind when preparing your meals, use silicone pads or thicker cloth pads specially designed for hot pots and pans. These will keep your food accessible and your counters safe from heat damage.

Ceramic countertop protectors

These protectors are highly effective when looking to protect your surfaces against high temperatures. Some manufacturers make higher-grade protectors that can withstand as high as 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the protectors are highly effective at taking high temperatures, the downside is that they sometimes get hot, putting your countertops at the risk of getting damaged.

To prevent your counters, go for protectors with a protective base to ground them. These bases can be made out of rubber or silicone.

Ceramic protectors come in all colors and designs, which gives your surfaces a splash of color.

The cool thing is that they always come with a cork backing that ensures that scratches and other possible accidental surface damages don’t happen.

As you are buying ceramic protectors, you should note that they aren’t the most durable materials on the market. This means that after some time you will have to replace them. The good thing about this is that they are easy to replace when they chip or crack.

Peel and stick countertop covers

From their name, these are covers that you can easily stick to your countertop, and in the process, you not only alter their look, but also protect them from damage.

The covers are sold by the roll, making it easy to cut and tailor them to the exact dimensions of your countertops.

To install them, you need to measure the size of your countertops, cut your desired countertop, peel off the backing, and get ready to go.

Should they get damaged or change your mind about their design, they are easy to remove as all you need is to peel them off without worrying about damaging the countertop beneath or leaving residues behind.

Wooden countertop protectors

Besides being highly decorative and improving the appeal of your kitchen, they protect your counters from excessive heat.

The only downside of the protectors is they aren’t as heat resistant so if you aren’t cautious in the kitchen, you can easily damage your granite kitchen countertops NC or any other countertop surfaces you might be having.

To get maximum protection and stability, go for countertop protectors with rubber feet and a rubber base.

Things to Do When Using Two Countertop Materials

kitchen countertops

If you visit many homes, you will find their kitchens with only one countertop material. While there is nothing wrong with this as it gives the kitchen a uniform look, did you know that you can combine two or more countertop materials to give your kitchen countertops a more interesting look?

Unfortunately, you can’t achieve ideal results out of the blue—you need to do a number of things. Which are these things? Here they are:

Pay attention to the countertop patterns

When shopping, pay attention to the countertop patterns and design. As much as you want to have different materials on your countertops, you don’t want them to clash, do you?

To ensure this doesn’t happen, choose countertops with an almost similar movement or pattern.

There is no way to tell you which is the best style and design to choose, as this depends on your preferences, but you need to ensure that the two countertops complement each other.

For example, if you are drawn to busy designs, ensure that the second countertop is solid colored or has a minimal pattern—this is to prevent one material from competing with the other, giving your kitchen an overwhelming look.

Coordinate your countertops with accent colors

Accent colors come from linens, furniture, plumbing fixtures, and even cabinet hardware. You can use the colors to guide you on the countertop colors to go with. If you have a shade in your house that you love, you can pick a countertop design that matches or incorporates the tone in its pattern.

While this is a great strategy, the downside is that the countertops might look out of place if you replace the cabinets or any other item you used to inform your color of choice.

Keep the accent colors the same to keep your countertops looking in place. This means that when you get sick of a piece of furniture, replace it with another of the same color and preferably the same design.

Have an accent piece of your island

If the rest of your kitchen has a neutral or muted color scheme, create a focal point that will stand out and give your kitchen an interesting appeal.

You might have the impression that you need premium over-the-top accent pieces, but this isn’t the case. You can go for simple styles that are appealing and still mesh with the rest of the house. If you aren’t sure about the right ones to go for, get the input of a professional.

Balance dark and light

Here you simply need to mix light with darker colored countertops. If the first countertop is on the lighter side, go for one on the darker side. There are plenty of options in the market you can choose from. Your choice will be influenced by your preferences and your desired final look.

As you are creating the light and dark dynamic, try to be creative in your approach. For example, if you have mixed cabinet colors, go with light countertops with light-colored cabinets. By doing this, you create a dramatic contrast between the two designs, which gives your countertops an interesting appeal.

You can also opt for balance by placing your darker selection of cabinets on lighter cabinetry.

If your cabinetry is the same color throughout, consider other factors when choosing the ideal cabinets. For example, consider how well each countertop design stacks up to your backsplash material.

Use both countertop materials on the same surface.

If you are unsure how to use two polar opposite materials, you can always use both. For example, you can use quartz and porcelain countertops on natural surfaces such as granite or soapstone.

If you are edgy, mix two different stone materials, such as mix granite countertops Durham and travertine.

While this will give your countertops an interesting look, the downside is that you often have difficulty cleaning the surfaces. This is because one cleaning material is often insufficient to clean both countertops properly. Sometimes you even damage the countertops when using one cleaning material.

For example, when you use Windex on engineered stone surfaces, you can’t use it on natural stone countertops as you will damage them.

How Can I Make My Kitchen Counters Better?

kitchen countertop replacement

If you don’t currently like the look of your countertops, you must be wondering, how can I make my kitchen countertops better, right? If you are asking this, you are in luck, as there are plenty of ways to do it. Some of these ways include:

Painting the countertops

When well done, paint can do wonders to your countertops. The cool thing is that painting is quick, affordable, and extremely easy.

If you don’t have money to hire a professional, you can always do the painting by yourself as all you need is sandpaper, painting supplies, your preferred paint, and sealer.

Although you can paint any countertop, paint works best on linoleum countertops. Use a heavy-duty polyurethane finish for the ultimate excellent results, and be generous in your application.

Refinish your butcher block countertops

The beauty of butcher block countertops is you can easily strip them down and refinish the wood, giving your kitchen an entirely new vibe. This gives the surfaces a new look, but you can easily get rid of any dings, scratches, and marks that might have accumulated over the years.

You need to sand the surfaces using sanding paper and wood finish to do this. Sand the countertop to remove the old finish, then apply a few coats of your preferred wood finish or stain.

You can do the work by yourself, but let a professional help you out for the best outcome.

Apply a concrete coating

Concrete is tough and durable, but pouring it on your countertops is no easy feat. The beauty is that you can easily fake the look. All you need is a bag of feather finish cement and food safe concrete sealer.

Begin with roughing up the old countertop surface with sandpaper for proper adhesion, then using a trowel or drywall knife, apply multiple coats of cement leveler. Complete the look with a food-grade sealer.

When installing faux concrete, remember that the cover is exceptionally durable and may be prone to scratches and stains. Installing it can also be back-breaking, so approach it with care. For the best outcome, let a professional help with the installation.

Tile over the countertops

Tile is excellent for covering all surfaces from walls, showers to floors, and there is no reason you can’t use it to cover your old countertops.

There are many types of tiles you can use on your surfaces, but for the best outcome, use grazed ceramic, and porcelain tiles as they are stain and heat resistant, and they come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors.

You can use natural stone tile, but you need to seal the stone frequently to prevent stains from coming about.

When installing tiles on your surfaces, ensure that the surfaces are flat and stable enough, so the tiles don’t crack.

Take advantage of a refinishing kit.

A refinishing kit is like paint on steroids as it comes with everything you need to cover a standard-sized countertop completely.

Using the kit is simple and straightforward, but it tends to be messy, back-breaking, and you need to pay close attention to detail.

For the best results, follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.

Add a wooden overlay.

Have you always wanted a butcher block, or been drawn to the beauty of real wood? You can have the look by covering your old counters with wide planks of solid hardwood, plywood, or bamboo.

Regardless of the wooden covering, you apply, ensure that you thoroughly seal or oil it to get stain and moisture resistance.

Install modular granite

Also known as granite or stone overlay, modular granite is a system of small, thin slabs of stones designed to cover old countertops.

The beauty of modular granite is that it covers the countertop’s entire front and back distance. Since the countertops are 16-18 inches wide, you cover the old countertops with just a few joints.

You might argue that improving the countertops with modular granite isn’t different than using solid granite countertops Durham, but you can cut the costs by installing modular granite yourself.

How To Deal With Common Countertop Problems

Both bathroom and kitchen countertops develop a myriad of issues that you have to deal with to keep the countertops in top shape. Which are these issues?

Cracked countertop surfaces

The countertop will crack due to various reasons such as imperfectly shaped joints, installing the countertops on uneven surfaces, and placing excessive weight on the surfaces.

How you fix the countertops depends on the nature of the cracks. If you have small cracks, repair them using epoxy resin. For deeper cracks or damage brought about by placing excessive weight on the countertops, replace the damaged part using a drill before applying a special filler.

When choosing filler, choose one that flawlessly mixes with your countertops. If this is the first time you are doing it, you will most likely get it wrong, so it’s best to have the work done by a professional.

Scratches and chips on the countertop surface

When you routinely place blades, containers, and other utensils on the countertops, you are bound to cause scratches and chips.

If you have covered countertops, you can easily fill the cuts or scratches using a repair pen or paste. Remember to fill exactly in the respective marks and avoid overfilling or underfilling as you will have a problem removing the filler later on.

For the best outcome in removing the chips or scratches from the countertops, you have to follow the right procedure.

Begin with applying concealing tape over the encompassing shelf space to leave the damaged area uncovered. Using an extremely sharp edge, rub off the excess filler to achieve a smooth wrap-up.

You should then place a piece of clear tape over the recently filled chipped surface to power the gun further into the chip to have a more solid seal.

Finally, mix an epoxy pitch with the fading shading colors to match your granite color.

Dull countertops and chemical stains

Your countertops will get dull due to you using the wrong cleaning products. Thankfully you can brighten them using one part isopropyl alcohol and three parts water, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid.

If there are steaks on your countertops, remove them by spraying a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

Are there coffee, grape juice, or wine stains on your surfaces? Remove them with a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water.

Once you are done, you should wipe and buff the surfaces with newspaper until they are dry.

To prevent your countertops from getting dull again, don’t use abrasive cleaners or abrasive pads, as these cleaners will remove the finish, leaving your countertops dull and unattractive.

Never use acidic cleaners such as vinegar or lemon juice on your surfaces.

Also, stay away from ammonia-based cleaners. To prevent stains, wipe the spills immediately.

If you are using a commercial countertop polish or cleaner, ensure that it’s specially designed for the countertops in question, so they aren’t damaged.

As a rule of thumb, never set hot pots and pans on your countertops as you will damage them. Use trivets at all times.

Stains on the countertops due to hot pots and pans

Even the porous countertops are designed to withstand high temperatures, unfortunately, when you keep exposing your surfaces to the high temperatures, they are bound to get damaged.

Due to the high temperatures, giving your surfaces an ugly look.

To remove the stains, you need to apply some lemon juice on the stain, then leave it to dry for 5-10 minutes. You should then apply a layer of toothpaste to the surface using a rubber spatula then use a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush to scrub the stain.

Once the stain goes away, wipe the surfaces and clean them with a crisply wet towel.

Parting shot

Whether you have marble, wooden, or granite countertops Raleigh, your countertops will develop problems that you need to fix to restore sanity. You can fix some of the problems by yourself but if some of the issues are complex such as large cracks on the surfaces, let an experienced professional help you out.

As a rule of thumb, never try to fix a problem you don’t understand as you will cause more problems than were originally there.

How Do I Choose A Kitchen Countertop? Here Are 5 Things To Consider

Are you thinking about revamping your kitchen and wondering how do I choose a kitchen countertop? There are plenty of factors you should look out for. These factors include:

Your lifestyle

How you lead your life will influence the type of countertop you should go for. If you are in the house most of the time and love cooking, you need tough countertops such as granite countertops that will take up the abuse and give your kitchen an exciting look.

On the other hand, if you are a busy person and are rarely in the house, so you don’t have time to clean and maintain your countertops, you should go for easy-to-maintain units such as quartz and others.

Young children

Do you have children? This will also significantly influence the countertops you install. If you have young children, it means they will be jumping and sitting on the countertops. They also most likely will be drawing and even hitting the counters.

To keep your counters in top shape, you need tough and easy-to-maintain surfaces. This calls for you to avoid granite, marble, and other porous countertops as they easily stain.

In such an instance, you should go for tough, easy-to-maintain countertops that won’t stain easily.

Your budget

The other factor to consider when buying kitchen countertops is your budget. How much are you looking to spend on your counters?

If you have a large budget, there is no wrong countertop to go for, but if your budget restricts you, you should go for cheaper counters.

As you are shopping, you should note that different stores sell their counters at different prices. This means that you will need to take your time and enter different stores, and compare the prices they charge for their counters.

If you can’t afford premium counters such as marble and granite, there are cheaper options such as quartz and others.

If you are looking for counters for small areas such as Kitchen Island and don’t have a lot of money, consider countertop remnants that go at extremely low prices. Some countertop companies even give them out free.

Your desired look

We all have a look we want to give our kitchen, and to achieve this, one of the things to do is install the right kitchen countertops.

You have to install countertops of the right color, texture, and any other feature that aligns with the look you want.

If you aren’t sure about the countertops that will give you a look you want, get the input of a professional.

As you are choosing a countertop color, choose one that is versatile. This way, you can easily change the kitchen paint and accessories without changing the countertops.

To keep your options open in the future, install countertop materials with veins and splashes of color.

Before you buy large countertop pieces, take samples with you at home, place them in your kitchen, and see how they blend with the rest of the room. Get a second or even a third opinion if you aren’t sure about the look.

Of course, you should only buy the countertops that match your desired look.

The amount of care you are willing to give the countertops

Although, this goes hand in hand with your lifestyle, it’s common to have a lot of time, but you don’t like cleaning or taking any care of your countertops.

If you love showing love to your countertops, install porous countertops such as marble, granite, and limestone. If taking care of countertops isn’t your thing, go with easier-to-maintain materials such as quartz that only need you to wipe them down.

Professionally install the countertops.

Regardless of the type of countertops you install, ensure that you professionally install them. If you are a dab hand at DIY projects, you can install the countertops by yourself, but let experienced granite companies Raleigh help you out if you have never done it before.

For the best outcome, take time to hire a countertop installation company and ensure that you are hiring a reputable company that knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is to hire a contractor that damages the precious countertops you have spent your fortune on. You don’t want this, do you?

How Should I Organize My Kitchen Countertops?

Are you looking to keep your counters clean and organized and wondering, how should I organize my kitchen countertops? There are plenty of ways to go about it, as given by experts. These ways include:

Create zones

One of the best ways to keep your counters organized is to create zones. Create zones for cooking, serving, prepping, and so on. You should then sort your things into these categories and store them in the areas where they make the most sense.

For example, place the cooking tools, oils, and foods that need cooking near the stove or oven. Place them near the largest surface space for the prep tools and place the serving pieces near the sink or dishwasher.

Experts also recommend creating stations for the specific things you do regularly, such as tea, coffee, or smoothies. Here, store all the things you need for the task, such as spoons, glasses, and other ingredients.

Use kitchenware meant to save space.

To have an easier time, use kitchen appliances meant to save space. For example, go for pans that nest together and ensure that the pots, pans, and bowls you buy have universal lids.

It also doesn’t hurt getting cookware with a magnetic storage rack and canvas lid holder.

To keep the knives in one place and organized, go for appliances with a standard knife block and utensil holder.

Use shelf risers and hanging baskets.

Shelf risers keep your counters clear and your items in one place, making your kitchen surfaces neat and organized. For the perfect look, get risers that complement the look and theme of the kitchen.

Get a triple-duty sink.

If you are out in the market looking for a sink, get one that does more than one task. For example, get a sink with mini ledges that you can easily pop in a drying rack, cutting boards, and wash pan. This not only saves you money as you won’t have to buy the extra items, but it also saves you space as you don’t have to find new places to store the items.

Move items to carts

If you are one of the lucky people and have a large kitchen or you have a small empty corner, you can make use of the space with old filing cabinets, bar carts, and work tables that you can use to host small cookbooks, extra mugs, small appliances and so on.

Minimize the decorations

As much as you want your kitchen to look great, you should minimize the number of decorations you have there. A good rule of thumb is to decorate the kitchen with items that are both decorative and functional.

For example, hang a beautiful cutting board on the wall that you can use to improve the appeal of the kitchen and use it when you want to cut something.

To avoid having your kitchen look cluttered, don’t decorate your kitchen with things that aren’t functional.

Wipe your dirty counters every night

A few crumbs of bread on your counters might seem harmless, but they can make your counters look cluttered and dirty.

To avoid this, take a few minutes every night to wipe your kitchen counters of any dirt and clutter that might be there.

Have a “junk drawer.”

It sounds counterintuitive and hypocritical that you should have a “junk” drawer while trying to declutter your kitchen, but it comes in handy when keeping your surfaces clean and organized.

You should note that you aren’t storing junk in the drawer, but rather the miscellaneous but functional items that might make your countertop look cluttered.

All you need to do is to have one dedicated drawer in your cabinets where you store the items that you aren’t using, but you might need later.

Install plain countertops

This might sound weird, but it’s true. Plain countertops look much better than patterned countertops. When you are in the market choosing kitchen countertops, choose those that are plain as they will make your kitchen look clean and easy to maintain.

If you aren’t sure about the right ones to go for, get the input of granite contractors Durham or other professionals.

What To Put On Kitchen Counters To Decorate?

Whether you have installed granite kitchen countertops or any other countertop material, you will agree that the countertops don’t reflect your personality, and they can be boring to look at.

Luckily, you can place several items on the countertops to give them your personal touch, express your taste, and improve their look.

Wondering what to put on kitchen counters to decorate? Here are some of the best ones:

Fresh fruits

Since fruits don’t need refrigeration and you can leave them at room temperature, you can definitely use them to decorate your counters. All you need to do is place the fruits in a beautiful bowl and place them strategically on your countertops.

To get the most from the fruits, go for fruits with bright colors such as bright yellow, green, or orange. Some of the excellent fruits to use for decoration include: lemon, lime, orange, and apples.

Fruits dry out with time so remember to replace them with fresh ones every few days.

Cookbooks

Cookbooks are an excellent way to polish your cooking skills and improve the look of the countertops. To decorate your counters, stack a couple of hardboard cookbooks on your counters. You can also lay them flat, vertically, or horizontally, depending on the look you want to achieve and the style of your countertops.

To amp up your presentation, display books with a bit of color and keep them color-coordinated with the rest of the kitchen theme.

You can use any cookbooks, but it’s best you use books of your favorite cuisines. For example, if you love Asian Cuisine, use books with an oriental touch.

Plants

Plants are easy to carry, and they give life to your kitchen. You can use a single plant if you have a small kitchen or several plants if your kitchen is large.

The beauty is there are many types of plants you can choose from, and you can display them in different ways. For example, you can display them in a stylish pot or planter.

As you choose the plants, choose low-maintenance plants, as they will survive even if you aren’t in the house for days or don’t expose them to sunlight.

If you aren’t sure about the right plants to go for, get the input of a professional.

Cutting boards

Many homeowners use cutting boards as places to chop their vegetables and meat, but did you know that you can also use them as decoration surfaces?

To decorate your countertops using the boards, you should collect a few boards of different shapes and types and stack them together on your counter. If you don’t like the look, lean them against your kitchen’s backsplash to transform the look of your kitchen.

To make the boards even more exciting, mix boards are made from different materials such as marble and wood as they will create a significant visual contrast with the rest of the kitchen surface.

The boards also come in handy at improving the kitchen texture and adding a warm touch to the countertops.

You should be cautious about the type of boards you go for as some might make your kitchen look tacky, and you don’t want this, do you? So, if you aren’t sure about the boards you should go for, get the input of a professional.

Fresh flowers

A colorful bouquet of fresh flowers can transform boring basic countertops into beautiful surfaces you can’t get your eyes from. The beauty of fresh flowers is they are soft and give your surfaces a subtle touch.

To decorate your surfaces, put the flowers in a vase and place them in strategic areas of the kitchen counters.

To make your counters even more interesting, place several flower bouquets in different areas of the kitchen, then switch them up every week to give your counters a brand new look. If you have the budget, granite contractors NC recommend that you get different vases and switch them regularly.

You should note that flowers tend to wither with time, so to prevent your kitchen from looking dead, get fresh flowers at least once every two to three days.

Why Is Granite So Popular?

If you have been searching for kitchen countertops, you must have realized that everyone recommends you go for granite countertops.

Why is granite so popular? You must be wondering, right? Well, there are plenty of reasons for this. The most common ones being:

Granite is durable

Granite is one of the most popular countertop materials, and if you take good care of it and protect it from cracks, chips, dings, and scratches, it will last for years.

One way to keep your countertops in good shape for a long time is to seal them. You should seal the surfaces the first thing after installation, then once every one year. You can do the sealing by yourself but for best results, let a professional help you out.

The key to getting the most from the sealing is to use a high-quality-sealing product, preferably specifically designed for granite countertops.

Granite stays clean

No, we are not saying that granite will self-clean itself. Since granite is tough, it easily shields itself from mold, mildew, and bacteria, so as long as you have taken good care of the material and there are no cracks, and you routinely seal it, you won’t have to worry about mold growing on the surfaces.

Every piece of granite is unique.

Given that granite is a natural stone, all the granite pieces are unique, meaning that you won’t find any two similar slabs when you go to a countertop store.

The unique nature of the countertops means that when you buy a given slab, you are sure that there is no one else in the world with an exact similar slab. This makes you feel unique, doesn’t it?

The distinctive nature of granite also means that you can find all types of countertop colors you might be interested in. So, whether you fancy black, pink, silver, white, or even green countertops, you will find them in the countertop store.

Granite countertops are form-fitting.

This means that granite easily attains your intended shape without you having to put in a lot of work. Using wood countertops as an example, to attain your intended shape you have to sand down the edges after cutting them, which can be a lot of work.

This isn’t the case with granite countertops that don’t have a lot of imperfections after cutting. Since the granite edges are much smoother after cutting, you don’t need to put in a lot of work to attain your desired shape.

The result is a better-looking countertop that is easier to install.

You can repair granite counters.

It’s true granite is tough, but this doesn’t mean that it’s indestructible. Now and then, granite will develop cracks and chips that give the countertops a beaten-up look.

Should you remove the countertops and dispose of them due to tense imperfections? Absolutely not, as you can fix them using DIY granite epoxy resin.

All you need to do is to buy the resin from your local store and apply it. The beauty is you don’t need to hire a professional to help you apply it—you can easily do it by yourself, even with no home improvement experience.

Granite instantly increases your home value.

If you have been house shopping lately, you must have realized that houses with granite surfaces tend to sell at a higher price. This is because these houses have a higher perceived value. And you can justify it as the kitchens and bathrooms look stunning.

While the countertops will increase your home value, don’t go at it blindly. If you are simply revamping your house to sell, don’t install premium and unique granite countertop colors such as red and others, as you won’t recoup your money. The reason for this is because the unique slabs go at ultra-high prices than the potential house buyer is willing to pay for.

To ensure you don’t lose your money, work with experienced and knowledgeable granite contractors Durham to advise you on the best slabs to install.

Granite countertops are a great choice.

If you are looking to install new countertops in your home, seriously consider granite. The material is classy, timeless, natural-looking and a perfect fit for any home.