Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Do I Have to Seal My Granite Counters Again?
You just bought some granite countertops for the kitchen in your St Paul home. All sorts of tales have been told about granite countertops and their need to be resealed every so often or annually or who knows how often. So you begin to wonder. You have family, friends and neighbors who have granite countertops in their homes, you have asked so many of them whether they have theirs resealed or not. Mom says no, a best friend says yes. What should you do?
The great bulk of manufacturers of granite slabs seal their granite prior to them being fashioned into what they ultimately will be used for. One type of granite may be more porous than another type of granite. A general thought amongst proprietors in the industry is that sealing will not have to occur on a regular schedule.
Indicators emerge when resealing is called for, however. Watch for the after effect of when you place a glass upon your granite countertop and a water ring is left behind. Another widely spotted reason to have your granite counters resealed is water beading—if it ceases or no longer happens—it is likely that a resealing is needed. These are the two easiest to spot tests that you can conduct to indicate whether there is a need for resealing.
Maintain and clean your granite counters often. Manage spills or staining occurrences right away. If a spill occurs—even if it is just water—sop it up immediately. Potential staining type spills or other such messes will help prevent some headache, money and difficulty down the road.
Other things that may concern you regarding your granite counters needn’t. Granite is heat resistant, place any super-hot pan or pot just off of the stove and no damage is done.
It all boils down to the type of granite you purchase—some types will never once require a resealing. Some will. Nonetheless, all of the fabricated granite from Minneapolis Granite is sealed during that very process, at the very least.
Always remember the simple water test. If it beads, no worries. If beading no longer occurs, your granite counters need to be resealed—this being a sign that the water is being absorbed into the counters themselves.
If you are looking for granite for your St Paul home, call Minneapolis Granite at 612-822-3135 or contact us for a Free Estimate.
Labels:
granite
Location:
St Paul, MN, USA
Thursday, May 19, 2016
How to Prep Your Kitchen for Your Granite Countertop Installation
Chaos is the norm during a kitchen renovation. You are working with contractors, plumbers, electricians and granite kitchen countertop installers. If you are prepared well for the installation itself, it can be a pain-free process. The pros at Minneapolis Granite, St Paul granite counter fabricators and installers, know this only too well. Careful as can be with your kitchen and all of its wares, we aim to minimize the hassle you face while enduring the remodeling process, as well as getting the job done right, on-time and not beyond budget.
Keep your day open when we come to install your granite countertops. Installing granite countertops typically takes anywhere from 3-6 hours depending on the scope of the job. You will want to be present just in case any of the team doing your overall remodel has any questions for you. Last second decisions and adjustments are needed from time to time and they will require your approval.
You will want to remove all damageable items from your kitchen before the installation process begins (pictures, wall hangings, throw rugs, dishes, &tc.). After all, some mishaps cannot be prevented. We want to be sure that none of your personal belongings are damaged while we are there and installing your new granite countertops.
Make sure your sink is there and ready to be installed, but keep in mind we are not plumbers, so any plumbing work that needs to be done should be completed by a licensed plumber. The same goes for any electrical work, and we cannot install any appliances either. Please give it at least 24 hours before you have a plumber hook up your sink in order to allow the silicone to dry.
It is of paramount importance that you advise any of the other workers taking part in your kitchen remodeling to not use your new granite countertops as work benches. Keep all paint, glue or any other harmful material as far away from them as is possible—even if protective covering has been placed over them—it is not worth the risk. Materials such as the aforementioned can harm your granite counters, causing irreversible damage. It is better to be safe than sorry and just not allow anyone to use them for anything besides preparing and serving food.
If you would like more information on granite for your St Paul home, call Minneapolis Granite at 612-822-3135, or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.
Labels:
granite
Location:
St Paul, MN, USA
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Granite is Timeless, Classic and Formed in Lava
Your St Paul home is regal, refined and deserving of only
the highest quality aesthetic. Those old formica countertops are screaming to
be put out of their misery. Perhaps a custom granite
countertop installation is for you.
Granite has been used in building and construction
throughout the ages and is a countertop favorite for many reasons. Granite is a
felsic intrusive igneous rock with more than 65 percent of its content being
silica. The slow cooling and crystallization occurring below the earth’s
surface allows for large crystals to form in the molten rock.
Its strength, durability, colorful nature and well-textured exterior
have made granite a décor staple around the world. Highly resistant to wear,
tear and deterioration, a granite countertop installation will do more than
just add elegance to your kitchen, it will also bring long-lasting value.
Even the ancients saw the value of granite. Throughout Egypt,
pyramids, columns and sarcophagi were made of this material. Built in 1010, The
Brihadeeswarar Temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) in India was the world’s first
temple made entirely from granite. Granite tombstones and memorials became the
order of the day during the late 19th century on the island of Great
Britain, thanks largely in part to advances in steam-powered rock shaping
technology.
Modern computer-based cutting technologies have made granite
easier to modify for furnishing purposes, up to and including your St Paul
kitchen. With free estimates and an approximate four to six hour set-up
process, a granite countertop installation will have your home in touch with
the old world with fresh feet planted in the new, in short order.
Would you like to learn more about granite countertop
installation in St Paul or any of the surrounding areas? Call us at Universal
Stone at 952-746-4690, or you can feel free to contact us to receive a Free Quote.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Five Myths about Installing Granite Countertops
We have helped many homeowners by installing
granite countertops in their Plymouth homes. By being in the business, we
also hear many different myths and rumors about granite. So, we want to set a
few of these myths to rest. Here are a few that we hear most often.
Myth #1: Granite is too expensive for most homeowners
Truth: Installing granite countertops is actually quite
affordable for most homeowners. In recent years, the cost of granite has
dropped some, which makes it even more accessible. Plus, we can work with you
to ensure you get a lovely slab of granite for a reasonable price. We’ll even
provide a free estimate so you know how much you can expect to pay.
Myth #2: Granite needs to be resealed on a yearly basis
Truth: Granite countertops do not have to be resealed on a
yearly basis. In fact, there are several different types of granite that will
never need to be resealed. Every piece of granite we fabricate is sealed before
it is installed. If you are concerned about your granite countertop, there is a
simple test you can do to see if it needs resealed. Pour a small amount of
water on your countertops. If the water beads up, then your countertops are
fine. If the water is absorbed into the countertop, then you should look into
having it resealed.
Myth #3: Granite care is difficult
Truth: Granite is incredibly easy to maintain. All you need
to do is wipe the counters down on a daily basis and be sure you clean up any
spills immediately after they happen.
Myth #4 Installing granite countertops is a lengthy process
Truth: Normally, installing granite countertops takes only a
few hours. We usually tell our clients to expect four to six hours for the
installation process, depending on the scope of the project. The fabrication
process takes about two weeks, again depending on the size of the project.
Myth #5: Granite contains high levels of radon
Truth: Although radon is a naturally occurring gas found
just about everywhere in the world, granite is not known to harbor dangerous
levels of radon.
We hope this helped counter some of the myths about granite.
If you would like more information about installing granite countertops in
Plymouth or any of the surrounding areas, please call Universal Stone at
952-746-4690, or you can contact us to learn how to get a Free Quote.
Friday, October 30, 2015
How to Care for Natural Stone Countertops
If
you just had natural
stone countertops installed in your Plymouth home, you might be
wondering what you should do first in order to keep them looking
their very best. The professionals at Universal Stone have a few
suggestions on what steps you need to take to help them stay looking
great.
You
should always wipe up spills as soon as possible after they happen.
Never allow any liquids to sit on your natural stone countertops for
too long, especially dark liquids like red wine and coffee. While
most natural stone countertops are stain resistant, that cannot
guarantee that nothing will ever stain them. It is better to err on
the side of caution. Use water and a soft and dry cloth to mop up any
spills.
On a
regular basis, about once a day or every other day, depending on how
often you use your natural stone countertops, be sure to wipe them up
with warm water and a specially formulated cleaner. The type of
cleaner you get will depend on the specific stone you have. Just be
sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions when you use it.
Finally,
have some basic rules about your natural stone countertops and what
they can be used for. Do not allow anyone to paint on them, and do
not allow anyone to use glue or to make crafts on them. You might
think your natural stone coutnertops will be safe if you lay down a
protective layer, like newspaper, but it is still not a good idea.
Again, it is better to err on the side of caution.
If
you suspect that your natural stone countertops need to be resealed
at any point, just be sure to use a drop of water to test them. Drop
some water onto your countertops and watch how it behaves. If the
water beads up, then your counters are fine. If the water is absorbed
into the natural stone, then the counters need to be resealed.
Universal Stone can help with that!
With
a little bit of maintenance and care on your part, your new natural
stone countertops could last you a lifetime!
Would
you like more information on natural stone countertops in Plymouth or
any of the surrounding areas? Call us at Universal Stone at
952-746-4690, or you can contact us to learn how to get a Free
Quote.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Preparing for Granite Countertop Installation
Now that you have
scheduled your appointment for granite
countertop installation at your Minnetonka home, you might be
wondering what you should do to prepare. Here are a few suggestions
from the professionals at Universal Stone.
You should make sure
that you or another adult decision maker is at your home during the
entire installation appointment. That way, if we have a question or
if there is a last-minute decision to make, someone is there to
answer our questions. We want to make sure your granite countertop
installation appointment goes smoothly, so we will need to have some
questions answered while we are there.
Make sure you remove
all wall hangings, pictures and any other fragile items. That way,
there is no chance that they are accidentally damaged while we are
there doing the granite countertop installation work.
Be sure all items
that are in your cabinets are also removed. Again, this is a
precaution to make sure nothing is lost or damaged during our work
there. We always take the utmost care to ensure we do not damage
anything while working, but it is always better to err on the side of
caution!
To make things
easier for our crew, please make sure there is a clear path between
where we will park our work truck and where we will be doing the
granite countertop installation work. This will make it easier for
our team members to carry their materials in and out of your home.
We will probably be
installing the sink during the granite countertop installation
process. Please make sure the sink is there and ready to go. We
cannot handle the plumbing aspect of the job, but we will definitely
make sure it is properly installed in your new granite countertops.
You should inform
any other contractors who will be at your home during this time that
we will be there working too. This helps avoid “traffic jams” or
scheduling conflicts.
Finally, please make
sure your kitchen is well ventilated for everyone's safety. Please
have a fan running or some windows open if possible. Epoxy and some
of the other materials we use can give off harmful fumes, so some air
moving through the room is beneficial to everyone.
If you are
interested in learning more about granite countertop installation in
Minnetonka, call Universal Stone at 952-746-4690, or you can contact
us to get a Free
Quote.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Frequently Asked Questions about Granite Remnants
Granite is an incredibly versatile stone that can be used
for many different purposes. While it comes in slab form, the smaller pieces
are known as remnants. And there are plenty of uses for remnants, from table
tops and small bathroom vanities to fireplace surrounds and mantles. We sell granite
remnants near Bloomington, so we thought we'd take the time to answer some
of the questions we hear the most frequently about them.
Q: What are some of
the benefits of granite remnants?
A: Granite remnants are a cost-effective way to get the
beauty and durability of granite for your next home improvement project. You
can use granite remnants to make table tops or fireplace surrounds, or we can
turn them into a small bathroom vanity. They are also great for outdoor
kitchens. You get the beauty and luxury of granite at a reasonable price
.
Q: Where do you get
granite remnants?
A: When we fabricate granite slabs, sometimes there are
pieces left over. These are what are known as granite remnants. Rather than
throw them aside and waste them, we offer them for sale to customers who want
them for smaller projects. And artists can use them for art projects and
sculptures.
Q: What are some
ideas for granite remnants?
A: Your imagination is the limit with granite remnants. But we
can give you plenty of ideas! You can use them for bathroom vanities, fireplace
surrounds and mantles, table tops, tiles, artwork, kitchen backsplashes and
much more.
Q: Why should I buy
granite remnants from you?
A: At Universal Stone, we sell high quality granite at
reasonable prices. We have a great selection of granite remnants, and you are
sure to find the exact one you need for your project.
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