Joshua G, Author at Bill Parsons Countertops

8 Truths About Granite

Granite countertops are commonly used as a building material for high-rise buildings due to its ability to withstand gale force winds and rain.

Truth #1: Granite countertops do not stain easily.
Granite counters are resistant to stains. Liquid spilled on a granite top, will not stain if wiped up in a few minutes. Water can soak into a granite countertop and leave a dark colored spot but this will evaporate in minutes. Liquids that do not evaporate, such as oils will cause stains if left to soak into the stone.

Truth #2: Stains in granite countertops are usually not permanent.
Most stains can be removed from granite counters. Even oil stains can usually be removed using a poultice or paste that will draw out the oil from the stone.

Truth #3: Granite countertops will lose its polish over the years depending on use.
However, most often granite will shine years from now just as if it was brand new with residential use. Granite counters are highly scratch resistant and will not show wear from daily use.

Truth #4: Granite countertops do not require a lot of maintenance.
Routine cleaning of your countertops with mild soap and water is all that is generally required. Once a year, a re-application of a penetrating sealer should be performed, which only takes about 15 minutes—less time than scouring a solid surface countertop with a cleanser to remove scratches. Spray on the sealant and then wipe 15-30 minutes later depending on the product.

Truth #5: Heat will not cause granite countertops to chip and crack in most cases.
Granite counters are heat resistant and can withstand the heat of hot pots and pans without damage. The impact from a heavy object may chip granite but the heat from anything short of a blowtorch will not affect your countertop.

Truth #6: Dark-colored granite countertops are not harder than light-colored granites.
Granites are composed of a variety of minerals, each of which has specific performance properties. The hardest mineral commonly found in granite is quartz, which is normally a somewhat translucent, white to grey colored mineral.

Truth #7: Granite and marble countertops are essentially not the same.
Both natural stones and can be polished, but they are otherwise very different. Marble is much softer and is generally a calicoes stone, formed from oceanic deposits and then compressed under pressure (metamorphosed). Granite, however, is an igneous rock, essentially molten magma, which is cooled and then hardened below the earth’s surface.

Truth #8: Granite countertops are usually less expensive than quartz.
Granite counters are usually competitively priced compared to Corian-solid surface and other high-end surfacing materials. You will be amazed when you compare the price of granite to other popularly famed “luxury surfaces”. Granite offers you an unmatched value with its unique natural beauty, elegance, and longevity.

What You Need To Know About Quartz Countertops

Quartz surface is an engineered stone (manmade). Quartz counters provide a kitchen surface with the look of natural stone, minus the fuss of maintenance.

Quartz slabs are made from one of the hardest minerals on earth; they are the most durable option for kitchens. The tops have some of the most eye-catching colors and designs integrated into the stone.

These counters are stain and scratch resistant—and nonporous, so they never need to be sealed. Compare that with granite, the reigning king of high-end countertops, which typically requires a new protective top coat every one-five years depending on use.

In the past, the biggest knock against quartz was that it lacked the patterns. They come in a wide variety of colors. White is the most popular. Other colors are earthy browns, blacks, and creams, with sparkles and veining for the look of granite or marble.

They were once available only with a polished finish; now you can get one with a honed, sandblasted, or embossed treatment.

So if it’s the look of matte limestone, textured slate, or glossy granite that you want, there’s quartz ready to rock your counter, just a stone’s throw away. Click here!

Facts About Laminate Backsplash

What Is Sheet Backsplash?

Kitchens and bathrooms are high impact areas. The wall behind the sink and countertops is prone to moisture, while the area behind the stove is subject to heat and food splatter.

Tile these areas with mosaic glass or porcelain tile, cover it with metal ceiling panels, or simply coat it with glossy paint–almost any water-resistant material or treatment can act as a backsplash.

Sheet backsplash is the catch-all term for any large, continuous material that is used for a backsplash, usually behind a kitchen or bathroom counter.

Few or No Seams Aid in Kitchen Clean-Up

The beauty of the sheet backsplash is that it provides protection with zero, or minimal, seams. Seams make kitchen clean-up difficult and are one reason why tiled countertops are not more widely installed.

Sheet backsplashes are in sharp contrast from those that are constructed of hundreds of smaller individual units such as tiles, which in turn create grouted seams. Seams collect dirt, need maintenance in the form of sealing, and can eventually fail.

Key Features of Sheet Backsplash

Height: Height is at least 18″, as that is the minimum distance between countertops and the bottom edge of wall cabinets. Sheet backsplashes never have horizontal seams.
Length: Length is determined by the type of material you use, as some sheets have maximum production lengths at 144”.
Usually One Sheet, but Not Always: While one large piece is typically used as a sheet backsplash, some are formed from several large bonded panels. As long as these panels are imperceptibly seamed, They too qualify as sheet backsplashes. Solid surface and quartz are examples of two counter materials that can be bonded with nearly invisible seams.
Costs: Kitchen and bath designer Nicolette Patton says that the installed cost for sheet glass backsplashes is about $40 to $60 per square foot. Quartz, stone, and solid surface backsplashes cost the same per square foot as countertop materials.
Typically Solid Color/Texture: Solid color sheet backsplashes remain the most popular.
Other Graphics Available: Large sheets of veined, striated marble are found in many kitchens. Laminate offers the widest range of non-solid visuals. One design blogger notes that she used a linen-look Formica for her sheet backsplash–Jonathan Adler Collection Crème Lacquered Linen pattern.

Advantages of Sheet Backsplash

Easy to Clean: Continuous sheets mean no seams or cracks. Seams and cracks harbor food particles and other debris that hinder wipe downs.
No Seam Sealing: Because tile grout is porous, it needs to be sealed right after installation and then again on a regular basis.
Up-to-Date Looks: Sheet backsplashes are found in many high-end kitchens. If you want to impart a premium look on an ordinary kitchen, a continuous backsplash is one way to do this.
Finish Coat Cannot Scratch-Off: In the case of glass sheet backsplashes, the paint coat is applied to the back side of the glass and cannot scratch off from daily use.

Disadvantages of Sheet Backsplash

Professional Installation: Due to the large size of the material, sheet backsplash installation is usually best left in the hands of professional technicians.

Sheet Backsplash Materials

Glass: Glass is a popular type of sheet backsplash material because of the back-coating process and because it is non-porous.
Countertop Material: Any kind of homogeneous material used for countertops–solid surface, quartz, and natural stone–can also be used as a sheet backsplash. Countertop thickness material can be prohibitively expensive, though. Solid surface is one countertop material that is available in a thinner, 1/4″ version (countertop thickness solid surface is 1/2″ thick).
Countertop Laminate: Laminate materials are the most cost-effective way to create a sheet backsplash.

The History of Formica Laminate

Laminate as a building surface was pioneered by the Formica Products Company in 1930 from their headquarters in New Zealand.

It was such a revolutionary product that its use as a decorative surface quickly spread worldwide.

The Parsons Plastic Company was one of the first adopters of the material in the US serving the Midwest and Chicago from its Indiana base.

Colorful and durable Formica® Brand Laminate became a popular choice for the interiors of cafes and nightclubs, as well as railway cars and luxury ocean liners like the RMS Queen Mary.

During the post-war boom, sales of Formica Brand Laminates reach $24 million and the Company advertises vigorously to promote designs such as Brooks Stevens’ iconic “Skylark” pattern. Raymond Loewy Associates creates the Company’s “Sunrise” line and Prince Sighard Bernadotte of Sweden, the classic “VirrVarr” pattern.

Finally, Formica Brand Laminates become a symbol of modern lifestyles and the Company begins to build a worldwide presence. Formica Corporation also continues to emphasize design, establishing the Design Advisory Board and organizing “Surface and Ornament,” an exhibition of ColorCore® laminate artwork that debuts at the Art Institute of Chicago.

.Bill Parsons now uses other prominent brands in addition to Formica, such as WilsonArt and Panolam.

Author: Joshua G

Posts by Joshua G