Thursday, July 23, 2015

Sealing Your Granite Countertops


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Everyone loves the look of natural stone slab countertops, with their stunning polished raw beauty. However, as with most natural materials, there are some special treatments you will want to consider to protect its attractiveness and longevity. A number stones are very dense, like soapstone, some granites and travertines, etc., making the penetration of liquids difficult or even impossible, while other stones stain quickly if a spill isn't wiped up very rapidly.

As you may know, granite is often somewhat susceptible to staining. Although much of this will fade away over a short period of time, in order to avoid permanent staining, granite countertops are should be treated with different products to reduce that likelihood. Granite may be moisture-resistant by nature, but it's also porous. Adding a sealant is a key step to protect your investment as it blocks liquids from seeping into the granite. A properly sealed countertop will cause liquids to bead on the surface, while also resisting dirt.

Your granite countertops will need to be sealed during the installation process - and typically about once a year to maintain their natural beauty and prevent staining. But there’s good news: there are special treatments that can be applied to your granite countertops that will help them last as much as 15 years before sealing is required again. Of course, treatments range in expense, and the sealing option you choose will impact the cost of your granite.

With the addition of a specially formulated sealant and a little tlc, you will be able to enjoy your granite countertops for a long, long time.

Stop in & see us!
At Granite Warehouse, we love providing you with the best product options of the highest quality in Tennessee. Our sales, office, fabrication and install staff all have many years of experience and are experts in the field. Stop in and see us at our McKenzie or downtown Nashville Granite Warehouse showroom. We look forward to meeting you and helping you design the project of your dreams!

or click HERE for special offers & updates!


What Factors Affect Slab Pricing?

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People generally assume that price is directly related to quality. When it comes to natural stone slab pricing for  countertop fabrication, this is only partially true. While granite prices tend to range per square foot, a number of different factors affect the price of the granite you choose. You may be surprised to learn that structural quality is not the chief determinant in pricing. Cost for natural Granite and Marble slab are typically dependent upon these three basic factors:

1) Size - while granite is sold by square foot, the size of the slab needed will affect the cost. Achieving a top quality countertop fabrication will require choosing as few pieces as possible when selecting your countertop material to avoid unnecessary visible seams - which will pronounce natural color variations between slabs. Unfortunately, choosing larger pieces from the same slab means the cost tends to be higher.  

2) Location -  if the slab you select comes from across the country, or even across the world, you will be paying a much higher price. That means more readily available locally harvested slabs will be much lower in cost.

3) Color - some colors and variations of hues are rarer than others, being natural products. As with anything else, the rarer an item is, the more expensive it is.

4) Availability - the availability of the color you are looking for can also affect the cost. If the product is in high demand and low supply, it is often more expensive to obtain, which increases the cost factor. At times, demand for the color you choose is low, and the supply is high, which is beneficial as well, as the cost will be lower.

5) Appearance - natural slab is inspected and designated as one of three material grade levels. Those levels are based on structural quality, color and appearance.

3 levels of Material Grade
  • First Choice Material - has the most even looking coloring and movement
  • Second Choice Material - minor color variations make it slightly less desirable
  • Builder Grade Material -  has spots/eggs of color that do not match the “norm”

Stop in & see us!
At Granite Warehouse, we love providing you with the best product options of the highest quality in Tennessee. Our sales, office, fabrication and install staff all have many years of experience and are experts in the field. Stop in and see us at our McKenzie or downtown Nashville Granite Warehouse showroom. We look forward to meeting you and helping you design the project of your dreams!

or click HERE for special offers & updates!


Friday, July 10, 2015

Create a Luxurious Look with Custom Countertop Edge Profiles


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Marble and Granite are lovely, elegant, natural materials for your special countertop. Once you’ve chosen a color, and then selected the individual slab that will be cut for your home, it’s time for the next step: choosing the design pattern.

As you see in the picture above, your countertop can be crafted into a one-of-a-kind, uniquely elegant design that elevates your kitchen’s style profile to strikingly sophisticated. Featuring a stunning double ogee edge profile carved into the granite, the slab has been specially shaped to perfectly overshadow the intricately carved corbels on both the island and the counter.
Edge profile selection is one of the most underrated choices in kitchen and bath design creation. However, as you see above, it can truly be the pièce de résistance that pulls an entire scheme together. In selecting edge profiles, most people choose an edge that highlights the shapes and styles of their cabinetry or other focal points. The pattern is then created, the slab cut, and edges etched into the piece. Finally, your countertop is hand finished like the finest sculpture, ready to give your space the luxurious look that you will adore for years to come!

Stop in & see us!
At Granite Warehouse, we love providing you with the best product options of the highest quality in Tennessee. Our sales, office, fabrication and install staff all have many years of experience and are experts in the field. Stop in and see us at our McKenzie or downtown Nashville Granite Warehouse showroom. We look forward to meeting you and helping you design the project of your dreams!

or click HERE for special offers & updates!


Friday, June 26, 2015

Transform your Space with Beautiful Quartz Countertops

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With so many beautiful countertop options to choose from, how do you know which is the best for your space? The first place to begin is always to educate yourself about those options. Today, we’d like to help you learn a little more about one of the more popular choices of homeowners everywhere: Quartz Countertops.

A naturally quarried mineral, Quartz was the mineral upon which the Stone Ages were based. Did you know that most early stone tools were fashioned of quartz? That should tell you something about it’s durability. Quartz countertops are even stronger than Granite. It is literally one of the strongest materials on earth. In fact, one of the only things that is stronger than quartz is a diamond. Quartz is also very versatile; it comes in an endless variety of colors, allowing you to adapt it to any type of home décor. Quartz Countertops will not stain, are easy to clean, and are resistant to bacteria. They also don’t require sealing, like many types of Granite Countertops.

Today, although some Quartz Countertops are made of quarried slabs of the natural stone, the new engineered material is created through a manufacturing process that mixes approximately 95 percent ground natural Quartz with 5 percent polymer resins.

There are two main differences between engineered Quartz and naturally quarried slabs. The first is that a large range of consistent colors not occurring naturally in nature are possible with created Quartz products. Thee second is that engineered Quartz adds an antimicrobial to the product, a very attractive feature to many.



At Granite Warehouse, we love helping homeowners and general contractors learn more about the terrific selections available in contemporary countertop materials! We can guide you to picking out the perfect color and style of Quartz Countertops for any use. Why not stop in and see us at our McKenzie or downtown Nashville Granite Warehouse showroom, and check out our wide selection of stunning Quartz samples in person? Contact us today at (615) 237-8987, or click HERE for info on special offers and updates.


Granite Warehouse Nashville | 74 Trimble St. | 615-627-0920
Granite Warehouse McKenzie | 25155 Highway 22 | 731-234-5599

Granite Warehouse is Middle Tennessee’s premier importer and fabricator of fine countertops.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Granite: The Perfect Choice for Your Outdoor Countertops

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It’s that time of year again. The warm summer sun upon your face, sweet, balmy breezes swirling about… Ah! It feels good to unwind outdoors with your family, friends or coworkers. Why go out when you can create the perfect outdoor relaxation station at home with an outdoor kitchen or bar with stylish granite countertops? When it comes to looks, functionality and durability, granite is the perfect choice for your outdoor countertops.

With Granite Warehouse’s incredible selection and talented designers at your disposal, you will be quickly on your way to achieving the stunning outdoor oasis you’ve always dreamed of! Whether you choose granite tiles for your outdoor countertop or a shape cut from a solid slab, Granite Warehouse will help you design a countertop that brings a stunning natural beauty to your outdoor space. An excellent choice for outdoors because of its durability, granite, as a natural stone, is one of the strongest materials on Earth.  You can be sure that rainstorms and extreme temperatures will not damage your granite countertop.  

Caring for granite countertops outdoors is just as easy as cleaning anything else outside. Basic cleaning remains the same regardless of location. Simply rinse with water and use mild soap. To cut down on the need to clean off debris from trees and animals, cover outdoor granite countertops when not in use.

Stop in & see us!
At Granite Warehouse, we love providing you with the best product options of the highest quality in Tennessee. Our sales, office, fabrication and install staff all have many years of experience and are experts in the field. Stop in and see us at our McKenzie or downtown Nashville Granite Warehouse showroom. We look forward to meeting you and helping you design the project of your dreams!
or click HERE for special offers & updates!


25155 Highway 22, McKenzie, TN 38201

Friday, May 22, 2015

The Luxurious Beauty of Marble

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Marble is a type of limestone or dolomite, generally formed from limestone undergoing metamorphism. When exposed to extremes of pressure or heat limestone turns into calcite or dolomite crystals, the primary materials in marble. Typically white with mottlings or streaks of color, marble can take a high polish and is hard enough to be very useful. Although most commonly seen in white with “marbled” streaks, it is available in a wide variety of colors.

A distinctively beautiful natural stone, marble’s appeal is enduring, and a good investment in a high-end environment. Somewhat eclipsed in popularity by granite, many are still drawn to marble as their interior decor element of choice for countertops, flooring, and a number of architectural accents, such as columns and fireplace mantels and surrounds. Marble emanates a luxurious, regal elegance like no other material, with it’s rich history as the choice of kings, queens, and luminaries throughout all history.  

Long prized as a premier material for kitchen countertops, marble well maintains chilled items during food preparation, and is also resistant to damage from heat. It does require special maintenance to continue to perform well in a kitchen setting, as it is softer and more porous than other materials like granite or quartz, and therefore more susceptible to scratches and staining.

Marble is not to be used outdoors, as water corrodes its crystalline structure. It is also very smooth and therefore tends to be slippery, which makes it unfavorable to use in high traffic areas. Marble is a great way to brighten and elevate any space, with its stunning visual appeal - particularly in bathrooms.

If you have been considering adding the unparalleled beauty of marble to your home, stop in and see us at our McKenzie or downtown Nashville Granite Warehouse showroom. Granite Warehouse is Middle Tennessee’s premier importer and fabricator of fine marble countertops. Contact us today at (615) 237-8987, or click HERE for info on special offers and updates.


Granite Warehouse Nashville | 74 Trimble St. | 615-627-0920
Granite Warehouse McKenzie | 25155 Highway 22 | 731-234-5599

Friday, May 8, 2015

Recycled Glass Countertops from Vetrazzo®

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One of the products we are proud to offer you at Granite Warehouse is a beautiful, eco-friendly line of surface materials crafted from recycled glass called Vetrazzo®. With over 85% recycled glass content, Vetrazzo allows homeowners, architects, designers, and builders to exhibit both their style and their respect for the earth and environment.

What is Vetrazzo?
Vetrazzo was invented by a passionate glass scientist in 1996 in Berkeley, California - back when "green" was just a color. Vetrazzo contributes to the beauty of our built environment by manufacturing sustainable recycled glass countertops. Recycled bottles and jars turns into a work of art creating a story in every surface.

How is it made?
When you dispose of your glass bottles into your curbside recycling bin, it ends up at a facility where it is processed by color and glass type. Once sorted, it's crushed and packaged for companies like Vetrazzo to purchase for reuse. We look for interesting colors and also source from post-industrial glass sources and demolition sites to get an array of options for making slabs. When the glass arrives to our plant, it's further crushed depending on the slab being made, and mixed with cement, water, and other proprietary ingredients. Glass comprises 85% of the total product content, so you can expect an extremely durable and gorgeous surface thanks to the big pieces of glass that appear in many of our surfaces. Once a slab color is mixed, it's poured into a pan and baked (much like making a cake). After the cooking process, the slab undergoes polishing and quality assurance procedures to ensure that every slab leaving our plant meets our quality control requirements.

How long does it take to make each slab?
Right now, it takes almost a month for one slab to be produced. Unlike other surfacing materials, our product receives a lot of human attention from our production team. From the woman who expertly applies the patina to our patina'd surfaces to the man who carefully monitors each slab's polish, Vetrazzo gets a special touch. You can be assured when you buy Vetrazzo that you are getting a product that many people are passionate about, especially the people who make it.

How will Vetrazzo hold up in my kitchen?
Vetrazzo is very durable and more resistant to surface damage than other stone. However, all stone can be damaged by force and no stone is chip-proof. Objects hitting edges particularly at sinks or dishwashers may cause chips.

Stop in & see us!
At Granite Warehouse, we love providing you with the best product options of the highest quality in Tennessee. Our sales, office, fabrication and install staff all have many years of experience and are experts in the field. We invite you to visit us at Granite Warehouse and see the stunning beauty of Vetrazzo for yourself. We look forward to meeting you and helping you design the project of your dreams!
or click HERE for special offers & updates!