Types of Counters Lake Norman
1. Granite Counters
Granite is the countertop material of choice when there are no other things to think about – like money. It defines elegance in a kitchen. As the use of granite becomes more widespread, the price comes down. The beauty of the stone contributes to the beauty of even the most modest kitchen.
Pros: holds up to heat; comes in a range of almost 3000 colors; looks permanent and substantial; will last a lifetime; new sealers are almost maintenance-free; 2nd highest hardness rating after diamonds; has a high value to home buyers.
Cons: expensive, but becoming more affordable; requires some maintenance; some stones absorbs stains if not sealed; knives can become dull if you cut on it; can crack if stressed or improperly installed.
2. Engineered Stone
Engineered stone is composed of 93% quartz particles. It is available in a larger range of colors than granite and has a nonporous surface that resists scratches. It’s easy to maintain, without the annual sealing required by natural stone. Some brands on the market include DuPont Zodiaq®, LG Viatera®, Cambria Quartz, and Silestone®.
Pros: Resistant to stain and acid; easy care.
Cons: Expensive. Continue reading »
Kitchen Design: How to Avoid a Dozen Pitfalls
By: Barbara Winfield
To-the-ceiling cabinet storage is great, as long as you have an easy way to scale the heights.
A corner sink with cabinets overhead can create a trap for steam when it’s time to pour out a pot of hot water.
In a kitchen lined with hard surfaces, dishwasher noise can rise to practically deafening levels.
Let’s face it. Even the best-planned kitchen remodels hit rough patches. Unreliable contractors, late deliveries, and mismeasured materials just seem to go hand-in-hand with shocking estimates and shiny new faucets. But at the end of the road, it’s often the little things—the greasy fingerprints on the stainless-steel fridge, the dings in the bamboo flooring, or the veneer peeling off of the cabinets—that drive us to distraction. We asked homeowners who’d recently endured the rigors of kitchen remodeling to vent: What would you do differently if you could remodel your kitchen all over again? Here’s what they said—and how their battle scars can prevent you from making the same mistakes. Continue reading »
Painting Kitchen Cabinets
By: Scott Gibson (Page 1 of 7)
Photo: Geoffrey GrossColors for cabinets and walls that complement each other are more pleasing to the eye than dramatic color differences.
Photo: Geoffrey GrossThese site-built cabinets from the 1960s still had years of service ahead of them, but their look was outdated.
Transformed by paint and new hardware, the cabinets now the focal point of a brighter, more welcoming kitchen.
To paint the cabinets, painter Vytas Misenis, of Woodbury, Connecticut, starts with a wash to remove dirt and grease and ensure a good bond between the old surface and new paint.
Sanding prepares the surface for a primer coat by removing any remaining surface grime and giving the old wood “tooth.”
Misenis will move these doors to the garage for prepping and painting, minimizing mess inside the house.
Fill nail holes and other defects, and then sand them smooth. You might need to put on a second application of filler after the primer has dried.
An orbital sander makes more dust but speeds up the job, and in the garage the extra mess doesn’t matter.
Photo: Geoffrey GrossAfter you have removed the sanding dust, apply the primer.
A smooth topcoat is the reward for careful prep work. Misenis uses a high-quality natural-bristle brush and finishes with long strokes for a finished surface that doesn’t show brush marks.
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