Granite, although a durable countertop material, can be scratched by knives being used directly on its surface. It might not happen with all granite colors, but the risk is still there. Cutting directly on the granite countertop can also remove the sealer placed on the surface quicker than normal. Without a strong sealer, the risk of staining said countertop is greater. Also, cutting directly on such a hard surface can damage your knives. It’s recommended to always use a cutting board on your countertops.
Sealer is the common name for a chemical that is applied to the surface of your countertops to help prevent staining. There are two types of sealers: penetrating and topical. Topical sealers are the most common. The liquid is applied to the countertop surface, creating an extremely thin barrier that sits on top of the granite surface itself. This microscopic layer stops liquids from entering into any of the pores that exist in the natural stone. Penetrating sealers are applied in a special way, where a skilled technician applies the chemical in a manner that allows the sealer to soak into the granite. This method allows all the tiny openings to be waterproofed vs. just creating a thin film over the top of the entire surface.
It is not recommended that a homeowner apply sealer to their countertops. While there are many instructional videos available online that show how this application can be done themselves, undoing incorrectly applied sealer is not an easy task. Countertops are a huge investment in a house and should be treated as such. Alps Craftsman provides a service to clean and re-seal countertops. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
Granite countertops come in many different colors and patterns and are sourced from around the world. The largest suppliers of granite are in Brazil, Spain, and India, but certain colors can come from other locations. At Alps Craftsman, we work with a handful of local suppliers that offer quality granite slabs. These trusted partners work with their overseas counterparts to source materials that are not only beautiful but can withstand fabrication, installation, and use in your home.
Alps Craftsman believes in letting the experts in each field do their own work. Some fabricators bring in their own materials and sell them directly to homeowners. While said companies may try and convince homeowners to buy slabs directly from the fabricator, that’s often not a good idea.
Alps Craftsman offers 2 types of granite pricing. We have a stock program, which is a curated collection of colors across multiple price levels. Said colors are sold by the square foot, meaning that a homeowner is only purchasing a portion of the slab that corresponds to the size of their job. Since this program is offered across many customers, we expect that we’ll use the leftover material from the slab on another customer’s project. Since we work with multiple trusted stone suppliers, we always have stock of said colors because we can purchase any needed material from a group of companies.
Customers are also welcome to select granite colors that are outside of our stock program. In this situation, the customer will visit our trusted suppliers to find the color(s) they love and want for their home. Based on the cabinet layout, design requirements, and other specifications, the Alps Craftsman team will determine how many slabs are needed for the project. Since these selections are custom, meaning they aren’t part of our stock program, whole slabs will need to be purchased in full. Said another way, if an additional slab is needed for a small countertop piece, that entire slab will need to be purchased as part of the job because we cannot guarantee that the rest of the slab will be used by another customer. In these situations, we often ask the customer if any other rooms in the house could use a new countertop so that more of the slab is being used. We’ve installed countertop material in some interesting locations, allowing for a fun, unexpected pop in the home!
Each project starts with a design consultation. That can occur in person at our beautiful design center or over the phone. Once we get a good understanding of your requirements, we come up with options for your choosing. Specifically for countertops, we’ll quote your project in our stock program and provide information on our trusted suppliers, specifically on how you can view their current offerings both online and in person. The color selection process might take a few rounds because slab sizes and material availability might change the overall quote. Once a color is selected, we sign the quote, our warranty form, and any other necessary paperwork.
After a job is sold by the design team, it moves to our operations department, where a project manager will oversee the completion of the job. These experts work with the customer to get all the finer details, like corner radius selection and the placement of holes that need to be drilled into the countertop. The project manager will also schedule the template and installation appointments. After the template is complete, we review all in-home measurements and findings against what we quoted. In certain circumstances, we revisit the quoted amount with the homeowner if the in-field dimensions do not match the quote or if in-field realities, such as access to the room, affect the original design. Any change orders are figured out before the job moves to fabrication. At the installation appointment, we place, secure, and seal the granite countertops.
Granite countertops vary greatly in price. The cheapest granites are very speckled. There is no distinct pattern or veining, just a random assortment of colors combined in the brown, tan, green, or gray families. More expensive granites have an increase in the dramatic colors, patterns, or veins running through them.
Our design team at Alps Craftsman is happy to work with you to figure out how your countertops will be cut on the slab so it can be determined which slab sizes work best for your design. In some cases, picking a more expensive color in a larger slab size will actually make the job cheaper because you’ll be able to fit the countertops out of fewer slabs.
The common finishes for marble countertops include polished and honed finishes. A polished finish gives marble its characteristic glossy, smooth surface, which enhances the stone’s color and veining but makes it more susceptible to etching. Another popular finish is honed, which offers a matte, less reflective surface. While honed marble is less prone to showing etches and scratches, it still requires careful maintenance to avoid damage.
Etching occurs when acidic substances, such as coffee, citrus juices, wine, or vinegar, come into contact with the marble, causing a chemical reaction that corrodes the polished surface. This results in a dull, lighter spot where the surface layer has been removed, exposing the raw marble beneath. Unlike staining, which happens when a liquid penetrates the marble and causes discoloration, etching is a corrosive reaction that affects the stone’s surface.
There are several types of marble available, each offering unique characteristics in terms of color, veining, and overall appearance. Here are the main categories:
These categories cover the most common types of marble, with various color and pattern variations within each group having their own unique names.
Marble countertops are available in a wide range of colors, each offering its own unique aesthetic. Here are some common options:
When comparing marble to granite and quartz, several key differences stand out:
Marble:
Granite:
Quartz:
Several factors influence the cost of quartz countertops:
1. Design and Look: Solid colors are typically cheaper than those with veining and intricate patterns. A good rule of thumb is the more complex the design, the higher the cost.
2. Quality of Materials: The quality of quartz, resin, and other materials used in the production affects the price. Higher quality materials result in more expensive countertops.
3. Brand: Certain brands command higher prices due to their reputation, quality assurance, and product warranty.
