Find a Countertop Installer

Looking to add a granite countertop in your kitchen or bath but worried it might be out of your price range? It is possible to have a granite countertop without the huge expense. By installing the granite as tiles, instead of a massive single slab, you'll save a very large amount in the materials and installation.

There is always something to be said for a complete, natural stone counter in one or two large sections. But if the installation would be cost prohibitive, you can still get the look and feel of real granite in your kitchen or bath.

Granite tiles, usually sold in 12 inch size to minimize the number of grout lines, can cost up to a quarter less than the granite slabs. It might also be possible to split your kitchen into sections with a slab and other sections with the tile, to save money. Or, you could put up a slab or two on the counter area and save money with tiles as your backsplash.

You have the choice of highlighting the fact that you're using tiles by using a contrasting grout color or to minimize and hide the tiles with a matching grout. Either way, you'll be able to have the look, luxury, and advantages of granite in your favorite room but at a much lower cost.

If you need to find a local countertop installation company to give you an estimate on adding granite tiles in your home, consider Construction Deal. We've got a massive network of granite counter experts in your area and you can have them contact you. It's a great way to save the time and trouble of searching for and calling companies at random from your yellow pages book. The best part? It's free to use!

Labels: Countertop Material Options, granite counters, granite countertop, Natural Stone Countertops

According to Nancy Barden, of Barden Stone in Memphis Tennessee, "'The homeowner wants something different, unusual, exotic. The average homeowner is more educated about stone and willing to experiment with the myriad of stone options available.

'Many types of stone are used throughout the home, such as marble, granite, limestone, travertine and onyx. Our clients want something that speaks of their own personality and they often want a different material, a different color, in each room. We just installed red onyx for a laundry room! People have become more understanding of stone and are simply willing to enjoy it.'

Barden noted one example of the popular color mixing. 'We have just installed a kitchen that mixed two types of granite, Red Marinace and Terra Cotta Bordeaux. Red Marinace is more exotic with lots of movement and color, and was used in the most prominent area, the kitchen island. The more subtle Terra Cotta Bordeaux was used on the periphery of the kitchen. But the eye candy of the kitchen was a full slab of Red Marinace that formed the backsplash, from counter top to ceiling, behind the cooktop. This was at the suggestion of the designer, and a complete success. The slab acts just like a piece of artwork.'

She finds that this is often the case. 'Architects and designers are able to use stone like an artist uses paint to create a piece of artwork, and then integrate it into a room.' She feels that the ideas professional designers bring to the table are helpful for the individual project and the growth of the entire industry. Designers are always pushing the envelope, she said."

Read more of Nancy's predictions on countertop trends and what her company is seeing as some new, hot, popular choices in design and materials on her interview with Building Stone Magazine.

When you're ready to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom, you can start with the most important component to any redesign and remodeling project - the countertop. At Construction Deal, we've got a network of quality counter installers ready to bid on your request. And it's free for you to find one of them.

Labels: Counter Installations, Counter Top Companies, Natural Stone Countertops, Trends in Countertops

Building Stone magazine has put their finger on the pulse of some stone countertop designers to get a feel for the latests trends:

What's hot in stone counters? "'New finishes.' That's the observation of Joe Percoco of Percoco Marble and Tile Company. 'Clients are asking for something new, something different. We had been doing quite a bit of river-wash finish, but that has been replaced in popularity by a leather finish.'

"To achieve a river-wash finish, stone is flamed or bush hammered and then polished with brushes to smooth the sharpness of the surface. The process takes out some color and makes the surface more porous. A leather finish can do the opposite. 'It begins with a honed surface that is then worked with diamond brushes; the process brings back the color and closes pores, making the stone denser. The result is similar to the finish achieved by using a 300 or 400 grid. It has a nice sheen and is less porous than a honed finish.'"

"In fact, Percoco said that more inconsistency in the stone betters the process. 'The process is successful on soapstone and certain limestone, too.'"

If you're interested in having natural stone counters install in your kitchen or bath, you can post your request with Construction Deal. We'll match you with local countertop installation pros - for free - and you can get the unique bath or kitchen look you've always wanted.

Labels: Countertop Material Options, granite counters, Stone Counters