ConstructionDeal.com Update

Bamboo flooring is all the rage. In fact, I'm installing it in my house this weekend. Everyone loves the sustainable aspect of using bamboo for their floors. It looks good but it's also considered a very green material.

What you haven't thought about is that you can use the same material for your cabinets. Yes, the same bamboo plant that can be crafted into planks for your floor can also be used to make cabinets for your kitchen.

Bamboo? Really? Seriously?
Bamboo is not a wood. It's really a grass. And it grows like crazy. It's almost considered a weed in some parts of the country. This means that you can feel happy about the idea that you're not destroying a tall tree that took decades to grow to make your cabinets.

Sustainability is more than just a home improvement buzzword these days. It's here to stay. Some will pay any amount to lower their impact on the planets natural resources. But many more will go with the green product if the prices are comparable. And bamboo cabinets are priced right.

The nice about using this cabinet material is that it's very durable. More durable than most hardwoods. There are a variety of colors available, too. The lighter, natural blond color is most popular today, but no matter what you choose... you'll have an exotic look in your kitchen that everyone will be talking about.

It might be next for my kitchen, but for now - - I need to concentrate on installing my bamboo floors. Pictures and details on the project to follow soon!

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Do you need someone to install bamboo cabinets in your home? We can help. Submit a simple request and we'll match you to local cabinet installation pros. It's a no cost, easy way to find bamboo cabinet contractors.

Not ready to install exotic bamboo? Bookmark our blog and come back often for the latest trends in home improvement.

Labels: Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling

MIA Challenges Radon Test Results of Granite Countertops "Cleveland, OH - The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has refuted the findings of BuildClean, a Houston-based non-profit organization whose recent in-home testing found that potentially harmful levels of radon are emitted by granite countertop surfaces.

The MIA, a trade association whose members include granite and other natural stone suppliers, issued 'an alert,' calling attention to the claims by BuildClean, which has tested radon levels in a variety of countertop surfaces.

'The issue of granite containing radon has surfaced repeatedly over the years,' said Gary Distelhorst, MIA CEO. 'The origins of these concerns [emanate] from manufacturers of radon detection devices and competing synthetic countertop materials.' However, Sara Speer Selber, BuildClean's president, defended the testing's validity, noting it was based on inspections by certified and bonded technicians, and was conducted 'by a science advisory panel of leaders in their field.'"

What is Radon?
The jury is still out with me. I'm not sure if granite and other stone counters contain enough radon or pose enough of a threat.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking cigarettes). It's an odorless and colorless gas that is emitted when uranium decays. And there is uranium in nearly all soil deposits. This gas can be inhaled and, over time, can cause cancer.

So, you can see. It is a big deal. And if there is a considerable amount of radon trapped in the granite, marble or other stone materials, then it could possibly affect your indoor air quality.

From all the testing that has been done and all the studies that have been made, this much is clear - there is almost always some radon or radioactivity in natural stone countertops. People working within the stone industry have an agenda and people who compete with natural stone countertops have an agenda. It can be hard to find out what you need to know.

What Can I Do?
If you have a granite counter or plan to get one installed, know that it's possible to have your home checked for radon and you can even use a do-it-yourself kit to check for it. As long as your monitor your living conditions and air quality in your home, and make corrections if you find any problems, you and your family should be fine.

If you still plan to get a granite countertop installed in your home, we can help. ConstructionDeal.com is a free resource to help you find contractors online. It's fast and easy to use. And there is no cost for our service.

Just tell us about your granite counter project and we'll match you with local installers. It's that simple. Submit your granite countertop project today. There's no obligation.

Labels: Countertops, Granite

Continuing with the ConstructionDeal.com theme of hot design trends, the next big thing in kitchen remodeling could be the glass countertop. Everyone still wants granite counters and stainless steel appliances in their new kitchens, but a few things could trigger the rise in popularity of a glass kitchen counter:

• Sustainability
• Health Considerations
• Uniqueness

Sustainability:
The Green Movement is not going away anytime soon. People want sustainability. They want products that will last a long time and not need to be replaced. They want products that are environmentally friendly. They would like to have recycled materials whenever possible.


A lot of the choices for countertops include laminates, vinyls, and engineered materials that are petroleum-based and require a large amount of chemicals to create. Even production of the vaunted granite counter material requires harmful quarry mining procedures. It's also environmentally costly to ship the heavy stone slabs across the country.

A glass countertop can be made from recycled glass. The finished product can contain up to 80 or 90 percent recycled materials. It's durable to last a long time and the counter can be recycled again after use. The price is comparable a granite installation, but the counter can be customized with choices of color and size that will be perfect for your kitchen decor.

Health Considerations:
A glass countertop is a solid surface that is as durable as stone but without being as porous as a granite or marble. It won't require a sealant to be applied to prevent stains. The finished product can be cleaned with normal, everyday household cleaners. This type of surface can prevent harmful bacteria or germs from hiding in and being transferred to other foods.

Uniqueness:
Many people might be imagining the glass top on a coffee table, end table, or cheesy desk from the 80's or 90's. But many beautiful things can be done to a glass countertop to give it a truly unique presence in a new kitchen. While everyone is stuffing granite counters into their kitchen remodeling project, no matter the style of house they have, one could easily imagine how a glass countertop would stand out.

Glass has a natural green tint color to it, but colors can be created with coatings on the underside of the counter, or colors can be added in the manufacturing process. Shattered glass can be laminated to the counter. The Vetrazzo countertop, filled with recycled glass, gives an option that is filled with flecks of colored glass. The glass kitchen countertop can be installed with a smooth finish, or it can be textured or have a pattern or grooves etched into the surface.

The edges of a glass countertop don't need to be hard, sharp, and squared. They can be rounded and even beveled -- but keep in mind that the more detail on the edge, the greater the expense.

On top of health benefits of a non-porous surface, the glass countertop is also heat resistant. Most heavy glass can withstand temperatures of up to 700 degrees.

What's not to love? It could be the next great option for your kitchen remodeling needs.

If you're in the market to remodel your countertops, you might consider using glass. We know of a few counter installation specialists across the country -- if you'd like help, post your countertop project with ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you with a counter pro at no cost and at no obligation.

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Labels: Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling, Kitchen Renovation

Concrete countertops are the fastest growing countertop option on the market today. Of course, if you've never seen a concrete counter in someone's kitchen, you might be in for a surprise.

A counter made of concrete is not a dull, gray slab like you'd see out in the driveway. It actually looks a lot more like a stone surface, like granite or marble. It's a beautiful and durable counter material that can save you a lot of money.

Concrete can be custom made, poured and set directly in your kitchen, or it can be manufactured and delivered for installation. A custom job can can some time for the product to cure and set up before it can be worked on again, so plan for additonal time.

While the concrete is a very durable hard surface, there can be cracking or chipping to the surface. But most of those dangers come during the installation process. The concrete counter can be pre-cut to fit your kitchen or you can order slabs and have them cut onsite - they usually come up to 10 feet long. Your counter installer can fill in the seams between slabs with a clear silicone caulking.

Concrete counters usually cost about $85 to $100 per square foot. This can be a substantial savings over a granite countertop, which usually runs from about $100 to $200 a square foot. You'll get the look and feel of the natural stone at a fraction of the price.

Depending on the finish sealer you have installed on your concrete countertop, you surface can be very stain, heat, and scratch resistant. These counters are considered to be very low maintenance and are easy to clean. Although, it may require regular sealing, perhaps once a year, to keep up the surface durability. Consult your countertop professional for more details.

To find a countertop installer in your area, post your project with ConstructionDeal.com. We'll help you locate a quality professional to help you update your kitchen and give you a unique and stylish look that will be the talk of your neighborhood! It's a fast, free, and easy process to let our network contact you (saving you time) and give you multiple bids on the job (which will save you money!)

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technorati tags: concrete countertops, concrete counters, install concrete counters, kitchen remodeling, kitchen renovation, countertop companies, countertop installers, countertop installation, new kitchen counters, concrete kitchen, concrete companies

Labels: Concrete Countertops, Countertops

Bamboo has been huge in flooring lately. Well, now there is a bamboo option for countertops.

Can't imagine using wood on your kitchen counters? There's a company in North Hollywood, California, called Totally Bamboo that carries many bamboo products -- but they've also developed a bamboo counter application.

According to their site, "Ready for contractor installation, Totally Bamboo brand countertop sheets are constructed with cross-band laminates that we call Multilam(TM) (patent pending). In early testing, we discovered that this is the ideal way to glue bamboo. This method keeps the sheet both flat and true, as well as lessens the tendency to twist or warp."

The other great reason to use this for your next countertop, besides the fact that bamboo is a more renewable resource than wood -- it uses a Formaldehyde Free Adhesive. In 2004, the World Health Organization re-designated formaldehyde-based glue as a proven human carcinogen. The company has several styles and several sizes as well as a choice in thickness.

If you're going for a totally unique look for your countertops and kitchen islands, bamboo is an amazing choice to make your new kitchen the talk of the neighborhood.

And if you decide to order your bamboo countertop from the company, you'll need to find a countertop contractor to install it for you. ConstructionDeal.com has a full network of countertop contractors and we'll find someone in your area to install this beautiful and unique product!

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Labels: Bamboo, Bamboo Flooring, Countertops

Everyone dreams of the perfect kitchen. They all want to toss their laminate counters from the mid-80's and replace them with a warm granite countertop.

Besides granite, however, there are a lot of countertop materials you can use in your kitchen.

(I've got an article, Countertops 101, on our main site that covers a lot of the basics of new kitchen countertop materials - check it out here.)

Here's a quick sample of what's available and what's hot in the latest Kitchen Countertop trends:

Butcher Block or wood counters are made from strips of maple or oak that has been glued together. But just about any hardwood can be made into countertops. Bamboo countertops are the latest trend! Wood counter material has a warm, beautiful look that can come in a variety of shades and textures. It's perfect for people who want to cut directly on the surface of their counter.


Granite countertops are the most popular but also the most expensive. Why? Besides the beautiful surface, granite is extremely heat and scratch resistant. A granite countertop is very durable and will last a long time. A granite countertop will never go out of style and granite slab installation will greatly increase the value of the house.


Stainless Steel Countertops are for more than just restaurants. They've come back in a big way due to the durability, stain and water resistance, low maintenance, a myriad of size and shape choices. It's also very easy to clean and you can put a hot plate or pan on the surface without worry of damaging it.

No matter what type of counter you want in your kitchen, submit a request to ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you to local countertop companies who can install, repair, or seal your counter.

Simply submit a request and get 4 quotes from countertop installers. It's that easy. And there's no cost and no obligation.

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Labels: Counter Options, Countertops