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A Look at Honed Granite
If you’re looking for something a little different for your kitchen or bathroom, consider honed granite countertops. Granite is already the most demanded materials for countertops in the kitchen and bathroom thanks to its beauty, durability, and ease of maintenance. Honed granite offers all of these benefits without the high shine thanks to its matte finish.
With honed granite, the polishing process ends before buffing to create a low-gloss sheen that is quite opposite the highly reflective, mirror-like look of traditional granite. Honed granite countertops look great in kitchens or bathrooms that aspire for an aged or casual look.
Visit a countertop showroom in Baltimore to compare honed granite and traditional granite countertops side by side. If you are in the process of remodeling, bring color samples to compare against honed granite and traditional granite slabs.
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Services You Can Expect from Unlimited Stone
Discount Granite Express is focused not only on installing custom countertops in Baltimore , but also on serving our customers on a timely basis and with a positive attitude. Whether you want granite countertops in your kitchen, a marble countertop in your bathroom, or a quartz countertop on your kitchen island, Discount Granite Express has what you need. Continue reading to learn more about what you can expect from Unlimited Stone.
Discount Granite Express is available to give you an in-home consultation where we measure your kitchen or bathroom to give you an accurate estimate. During an in-home consultation, we will also be able to tell you more about the fabrication and installation involved for each of our products. Simply fill out our online form for a quick response within 24 hours, or give us a call to schedule an appointment. With over 200 colors and 420 varieties of natural stone and granite at Unlimited Stone, it can be a challenge to pick the right type and style for your home. Our design experts will assist you with this as well. We also provide fabrication, installation, and sealing services.
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A Look at the Different Types of Granite
There are many different types of granite countertops available, each of which offers a unique design for your kitchen or bathroom. At Unlimited Stone, we offer a wide selection of granite colors in Baltimore . Read on to learn more about the different types of granite colors available.
White
This is an excellent color for your granite countertop if you want a classic white kitchen. It works especially well with warm-colored cabinets in pure white, warm white, or beige. Even stain-grade cabinets in walnut and medium oak look great with white granite. White granite countertops are also attractive when paired with nickel- or bronze-colored hardware, as this highlights the gray, cream, white, and deep red veining of the stone.
Green
An earthy green shade of granite with overtones of gray or brown looks beautiful in the kitchen. In this shade of green, some of the markings in the stone are mesmerizing when exposed to natural light. Green granite looks wonderful when it’s polished and pairs well with painted cabinets as well as bronze, copper, and satin nickel hardware.
Green-Blue
While it varies from slab to slab, this type of granite usually reminds homeowners of ocean colors. This is what makes it match so nicely with white cabinets. The green-blue color palette matches well with nickel fixtures and hardware, stain-grade cabinets, and plenty of natural light.
Black
Black granite is striking in just about any kitchen. Many homeowners like the contrast created by pairing white cabinets with polished black granite. Painted cabinets in just about any color will pair well with this granite color, as well as hardware in bronze, chrome, or nickel. If you are pairing your black granite with stain-grade cabinets, you can create a terrific style with walnut or medium oak.
Bordeaux
The red veining in some types of granite are typically very dark, like red wine. This leads many people to say that the granite has Bordeaux veining. Bordeaux granite looks fantastic with kitchen flooring that has subtle red undercurrents.
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Important Facts About Kitchen Countertops
There are a number of things to keep in mind as you look for the perfect kitchen countertop. At Discount Granite Express, we offer an excellent selection of natural stone countertops near Baltimore . For some tips that will help you choose the best kitchen countertop, watch this video clip.
Consider how you use your countertops. Do you have kids at home that make a mess? Are you looking for something attractive above all else? How willing are you to maintain your countertops regularly? This information will help you select the type of material that will work best as a kitchen countertop. Marble and granite countertops, for example, require routine maintenance but they are durable and beautiful. Call Discount Granite Express for more advice on what to consider while you shop for kitchen countertop options.
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Exploring the Granite Countertop Installation Process
At Discount Granite Express, we are proud to offer a great selection of custom countertops in Baltimore . We can even install your granite countertops for you. To learn more about the process of selecting, fabricating, and installing a granite countertop, read on.
Consultation and Selection
The first step in the granite countertop installation process is calling a granite countertop company and scheduling a time for them to come to your home for an estimate. They will measure your cabinets, vanities, or countertops to get an idea for what will be involved in the installation process. Then you will have to choose a type of granite. At Unlimited Stone, we have more than 200 colors and 420 types of natural stone and granite.
Template and Fabrication
Before we begin the fabrication of your granite countertops , we make sure that measurements and templates are taken of your new countertop. We complete this step without removing your current countertops. Measurements and details such as appliance openings are carefully noted. After this, we begin the fabrication process, which can take up to two weeks. We will bring the granite into your home in a sequence. First, we cut large blocks of the stone into small pieces, also known as slabs. Then we shape the slab and polish it to prepare it for installation in your home.
Installation and Sealing
Installing a new granite countertop in a home usually takes us between two to five hours for normal projects. For large, complex projects it can take an entire day. When installing the granite, we will hold the granite in place using a special epoxy. If the epoxy is at a granite seam, we mix it with colored resin so that it blends perfectly with the granite. We also apply silicone between the slabs to allow for contraction and expansion. After the installation process, we carefully clean the installation area and seal the granite.
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Selecting the Right Kitchen Countertops for Your Home
Installing a new kitchen countertop in Baltimore will increase the beauty of your kitchen and add value to your home. For a great selection of natural stone countertops, Discount Granite Express has exactly what you need. For tips on how to select a kitchen countertop for your home, read on.
Lifestyle
Before selecting a material for your kitchen countertop, it’s important to consider your lifestyle. If you have kids, a marble countertop is probably not the best choice. Granite and quartz, on the other hand, are both very durable.
Natural Stone Choices
Granite, quartz, and marble are the three most common choices for natural stone countertops. Marble offers a beautiful and unique look, but is very soft and must be handled with great care. Furthermore, marble requires more maintenance than granite and quartz. Granite and quartz, on the other hand, are very durable and hard. And if your granite countertop is chipped slightly, you can repair it using supplies from the hardware store. Quartz is even harder and more durable than granite, but must be repaired by a professional if it is damaged. Granite needs to be sealed after installation and then once a year after that to ensure a decent resistance to stains, but quartz is resistant to stains without a sealant.
Combine Multiple Materials
If you cannot decide on just one material, we recommend mixing and matching. Use one material on the kitchen island and another material on the countertops to create a more interesting kitchen. You can even ask your countertop installation company to inset a different material inside the kitchen countertops you’ve chosen. For example, you could inset a butcher block for chopping, or a marble area for baking.
Edges
Once you have the material or materials picked out for your kitchen countertop, you’ll need to decide on the design of the edges. Square edges are a popular and classic look. Decorate edges such as the radius, bullnose, egg, ogee, and bevel edges are more expensive but guarantee a custom look to your kitchen.
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Tips for Cleaning Your Marble Countertops
Marble surfaces require routine maintenance to ensure longevity, durability, and an attractive appearance. If you have marble countertops in Baltimore , watch this video clip to find out how to clean your marble countertops or marble vanity tops so that they look like new for years to come.
First, use a soft dusting cloth to dust off the marble surface. Then clean the surface using warm water and a clean sponge. Using harsh chemical cleaners can damage your marble countertops, so if you need an extra clean only use a drop of mild dishwashing fluid. Never leave water on your marble surface because it can leave water marks. Use a high-quality paper towel to dry the marble. Once it is dry, polish the surface with a sham. Apply a sealer every six months to preserve the marble.
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Granite vs. Quartz: Which Material is Right for You?
If you are looking for natural stone countertops in Baltimore , granite and quartz are excellent choices. Each material has something unique to offer in terms of style, durability, and required maintenance. To learn more about granite and quartz countertops to decide which material is right for you, read on.
Natural Material
Both granite and quartz countertops primarily consist of natural materials. Granite is 100 percent natural, as slab granite countertops are sliced from quarries, and then cut and honed until they are smooth. Quartz, on the other hand, is about 93 to 97 percent natural.
Appearance
Both natural stone countertops are known for being very attractive. Granite is usually described as looking natural and unique, while quartz is known for offering a wide range of patterns and colors.
Maintenance
Whether you go with a countertop made of granite or quartz, you will have to provide regular maintenance. Granite needs to be sealed after it’s installed, and then sealed again every year after that to ensure it is resistant to stains. Minor scratches and chips in granite can be taken care of with color-matching resin or epoxy, but your countertop installation company will have to repair larger cracks or damage. Quartz does not require as much maintenance. It is a nonporous material, so it naturally repels oil, coffee, and even food coloring without sealing. Damaged quartz is harder to repair, so it must be left to a professional.
Durability
Because of its resistant to cracks and chips, granite is widely regarded as the most durable natural stone countertop material available. But in fact, manmade quartz is actually harder and more resistant to damage than granite.
Installation
Granite and quartz countertops are both extremely heavy and difficult to handle. Cutting holes in the slab for the sink is not easy either. To ensure proper installation of your countertop, leave it to the professionals.
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Reasons to Choose Unlimited Stone for Your Kitchen Countertop Installation
If you are thinking of upgrading your bathroom or kitchen countertop in Baltimore , Discount Granite Express is the company to contact. With more than 25 years of experience installing natural stone countertops, we offer the expertise and tools you need to ensure a smooth installation. For more reasons why you should go with Unlimited Stone for the installation of your kitchen countertops, read on.
We offer a lifetime warranty and even a satisfaction guarantee. From custom slab fabrication to bar top and countertop installation, we always offer competitive pricing and time-efficient installation. We have more than 200 colors and 420 varieties of natural stone materials that can be used in your kitchen space. To begin, call and us and request a free estimate. Before we begin fabrication, we will take a variety of measurements. Installation usually takes just two to five hours. Visit our website to learn more about our long record of customer satisfaction and our full selection of natural stone countertops.
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Getting to Know Unlimited Stone
For more than twenty five years, Discount Granite Express has offered top quality countertop installation near Baltimore . Our team is completely dedicated the satisfaction of our customers. Whether you are looking for granite countertops, marble countertops, or other natural stone countertops, our showroom is sure to have custom countertops that are perfectly suited to your needs. We offer a variety of countertop services, including custom slab fabrication and top quality countertop installation. Using our customized approach, we will make sure that your new countertops are designed and installed to your exact preferences. In addition, we work on each project on an individual basis. When we create your new kitchen countertops or bathroom countertops, we will pay attention to each and every detail. When you work with our Baltimore company on your next countertop installation project, you will be able to create the gorgeous new countertops of your dreams.