countertop suggestions

We also use this countertop process in the US as well.

| > ITS THE uk | > who cares | >

| | We also use this countertop process in the US as well.

I have used it in the US it is crap! | |

OK...question how does it stand up to things such as heat or cracking or chipping?? say a pot or dish or glass or coffee mug was dropped from either cabinet height or something like that? is it repairable?? excuse the questions please, but i'd rather hear fom people who have this ytpe of knowledge rather that a salesman or business owner pushing something for the $$$.

mike......

Heat from cookware shouldn't be a problem. Glass or coffee mug dropping on it shouldn't be a problem either. Dropping a heavy cast iron skillet would be a different story. You may chip it or even crack it. Surface scratches you could polish out with diamond pads - messy as the pads require water. Chips you could color match and fill - I've tried it but very hard to make it match both in color and texture. If the granite has patterns of color movement it would take some skill and the repair won't be as strong as the granite. Cracks you could fill and polish. Don't think the results will be satisfactory unless you found someone with some high level skill. Acid from juices will also attack the granite surface - use a sealer.

I have been putting in ceramic tile counter tops in my rentals for years. Never have had any problems. I have them in my house and will never have anything else. You will have grout lines, things break if dropped on them but they are beautiful, easy to do and cheap.

I'm did a cemet top at my friends house last month, also easy, we stained the mud prior to pour then randomly scattered a differnt color on top before polishing. No seams, peice of cake.

I hate tile counter tops. It looks dated, it sounds unnecessarily "loud" when dishes laid down on it. You can't use the counter to roll dough out on. There are just way tooo many reasons I'd never have tile.

Ceramic for rentals are ok especially you could really dress it up on the back splashes. I'm beginning to put 3/4" solid granite sheets on my rentals as a follow landlord turn me on to it a few years ago. I didn't understand why she put new oak cabinets and solid granite tops for her rentals until she told me it only cost her $4,000 installed. That was about three years ago.

Concrete countertops are nice!

Tile counter tops do look dated, but now that "everybody" has granite, it won't be long before it (and stainless appliances for that matter) looks dated, too, because.....once upper management finds that the cubicle dwellers have them, they will have to find something new and more exclusive for their kitchens....and everybody's quest for the newest and most fashionable will start over again.

Large (12 inch) granite tiles can be used to create a really nice countertop -- all the benefits of granite at much lower cost than custom fabrication from slabs.

In terms of bang for the buck, it's hard to beat, IMO.

Use minimal grout lines and a sandless grout. You will need to decide how to finish the front edge -- options include such things as special tiles or a hardwood molding.

Corian and its clones are seamless.

Corian can be installed with no seams. Granite cannot unless you have the right layout.

Light colors of corian do not show scratches but dark colors can. Visit Lowes or Home Depot and bring a key...

"Art" wrote

What's the objection to seams? If they're done right, they're hardly noticeable, and if you get someone who knows what they're doing, you can get long runs with no seams.

Steve

Where you have 8 mos to a year and a half why dont you look into polished concrete. You have plenty of time to even do a mock up in your basement/garage and run some tests to see if you could do it yourself. There are plenty of resources on the net and at the bookstore/library about concrete countertops and with a modest investment in some fairly basic tools you could have some great countertops AND some tools to put in the garage when your done.

Just an idea, Mark

Hear hear. Unless you're fixing to sell (in which case why invest in granite), that something looks "dated" is a dumb reason not to do something, if you really like it otherwise. All this stainless-appliance/cherry cabinetry/dark granite/wood floor/stainless hardware look in the kitchen is just gonna scream

I went for granite for several reasons (I just plain love stone, the primary reason), but tile is fairly practical if the grout is chosen right and is sealed, and gives certain looks, like country or Spanish/Mexican that others don't. Disadvantages like chipping, advantages like price and DIY friendly. Don't pick a light grout. I picked chocolate brown grout in my terra-cotta colored procelein kitchen floor tile and my beige bathroom floor has dark grey grout. Seal it, wipe up spills right away for good measure, enjoy it, take a vacation with what the granite would have cost if you're not really into the granite.

If you like it, do it, but do what you can afford. Houses are for the living.

Banty

If you install a granite countertop it should look great and last for years, if not forever.

But that won't be good enough for some people. I can just picture a woman on one of those home improvement shows looking at a kitchen in the year

Why do you install crap? Professionals don't install crap.

thetiler