Electrical | General | Heat & AC | Pool / Spa | Plumbing | Roofing | Solar | LP Gas
Landscape | Contact Us | Links | Home Improvement | Home
Home Improvement Information Site Map



How To Choose The Perfect Granite Work Surface


My Grandmother used to say to me "Nothing cheap is good and nothing good is cheap". This ring true when dealing with the purchase especially on the internet of Granite Work Surfaces. In fact of all stone so read carefully.

Natural stone is graded as to it's suitability for a given task. It is also graded regarding the region of the world it originated from. This is a grade for general use but more for stone professionals to advise architects, surveyors etc which products to use for maximum efficiency in the building or home.

When buying on the internet you are usually shown samples of the very best, Granite, Marble, Limestone etc. You must be aware that this stone is probably not what you will receive. Firstly, the stone is batched. You need batched stone to get the consistent pattern throughout the surface. If you were to buy stone today and return for stone a month later to complete your project you will invariably get a mismatch that can look horrendous especially with the larger crystals such as blue pearl granite.

Always make sure you are receiving the same batch and have it itemised on your order. Also if the installer chips a corner or scratches the surface you will generally need a replacement piece. If the batch isn't available you may have a problem.

I have received numerous calls lately concerning the fading of black granite counter tops. Black granite should not fade. Black granite imported from Asia is sometimes doctored with dyes and oils to darken the surface. The fading is nothing more than the dyes and oils being removed. Unfortunately, the only fix is to re-polish the top. This can be costly.

Before purchasing a granite top perform the following test to find out if it has been doctored.

Get a clean white cloth and apply some acetone (nail varnish remover) to the surface of the granite. If any residue or black color is observed on the top, do not accept it, it has been dyed.

Take a piece of the "granite" you want to test and spill a few drops of lemon juice onto it. If you see that under the drops of lemon it develops very quickly dark spots, it means that it's a very absorbent stone and I would advise you against it. If it takes, say, a minute or so to be absorbed, then you're dealing with a level of absorbency that's easily controllable with the application of a good quality impregnating sealer.

Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd Company. Marble Master specializes in Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers.

http://www.marblemasteruk.com


MORE RESOURCES:
Electrical | General | Heat & AC | Pool / Spa | Plumbing | Roofing | Solar | LP Gas
Landscape | Contact Us | Links | Home Improvement | Home
Home Improvement Information Site Map


Sector roundup: Home improvement stores, handsets
Forbes, NY - 8 hours ago
AP 09.05.08, 2:16 PM ET CHICAGO (AP) - An analyst on Friday said economic forces weighing on home improvement chains The Home Depot Inc. (nyse: HD - news ...


Man arrested during home improvement fraud investigation
The Daily Advocate, OH - 2 hours ago
UNION CITY, Ind. - Union City, Ind., Police officers arrested 28-year-old John Henry Stanley of Gaston, Ind., for several felony warrants on Aug. 28. ...


New license required for home improvement work
Nashoba Publishing, MA - 14 hours ago
By Anne O'Connor STATEWIDE -- Planning a home improvement project soon? Starting in October, Massachusetts will require many contractors to obtain a new ...


American Chronicle

Wood Stoves & Home Improvement
American Chronicle, CA - 15 hours ago
If you're interested in home improvement, alternative heating methods, or fuel efficiency, you've probably heard about the new performance standards and ...


Beacon Equity Issues Technical Trade Alerts on Home Improvement ...
Emailwire - Sep 4, 2008
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NWL) shares slipped 1.63% to $19.87 Thursday morning. Newell Rubbermaid engages in the design, manufacture, packaging and ...


BeaconEquity.com Issues Technical Trade Alerts on Home Improvement ...
Earthtimes (press release), UK - Sep 4, 2008
DALLAS , Sept. 4 -- BeaconEquity.com announces the availability of Trade Alerts on stocks making news today. Today's Trade Alerts include: Newell Rubbermaid ...


Gaston man arrested for home improvement fraud
Muncie Star Press, IN - Sep 4, 2008
Stanley was sentenced to six years in prison by Delaware Circuit Court 2 Judge Richard Dailey in 1999 after he was convicted of home improvement fraud. ...


As the weather cools, it's time to heat up the home-improvement jobs
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - Sep 4, 2008
Take the time to research your projects, said home-improvement expert Lou Manfredini, who works with Ace Hardware. "You've got a lot of good resources ...


Check Out Line: Hope for home improvement
Reuters UK, UK - Sep 2, 2008
“Stabilization” might be a stretch. But Goldman noted that home sales fell 15.5 percent in July, following a 17.9 percent decline in June. ...
Lowe's Rises Most in 5 Months After Goldman Recommends Buying Bloomberg
all 2 news articles


Boston Globe

Lowe’s opening new home improvement store at Alamo Ranch
Bizjournals.com, NC - Aug 21, 2008
Inc. is set to open the home improvement retailer’s newest store in San Antonio. Mooresville, NC-based Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) will open its new store at Alamo ...
Rebuilding at Home Improvement Stores? Motley Fool
Home improvement won't improve quickly MarketWatch
Home improvement retailers fall with Home Depot Forbes
Xinhua - CNNMoney.com
all 707 news articles

Home-Improvement - Google News

Electrical | General | Heat & AC | Pool / Spa | Plumbing | Roofing | Solar | LP Gas
Landscape | Contact Us | Links | Home Improvement | Home
Home Improvement Information Site Map

site map

MediaRocket |