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!