Quartz products and services Colorado Springs? Countertop Maintenance: Most experts agree that granite requires moderate maintenance when compared with solid surface, quartz, laminate, glass or ceramic tile. Marble is moderate to high maintenance. The care involved is keeping it sealed, avoiding acidic materials and wiping up spills quickly. Granite countertop prices are slightly lower than marble countertop costs. Granite begins at about $75 per square foot installed. Marble starts at closer to $100 per square foot installed. The best granite countertops can cost $175 per square foot installed while marble can top $200.

Remove stains and etching: When cleaning with mild soap and water doesn’t work, or on areas that are “etched,” you’ll need to take more aggressive action. Step up to a cleanser such as Soft Scrub or even Ajax with bleach, applied with an abrasive sponge. That will remove the sealant and allow you to scrub down to the stain. “When you’re done, you’ll find that the area you’ve worked on looks brighter than the rest of your counter,” says Bruno. “So then you need to go on to clean the rest of the counter the same way. Then rinse it thoroughly and let it dry completely—maybe even for a couple of days. Once it’s dry, pour the penetrating sealant all over the surface and spread it around with a soft cloth.”

Every natural stone has its own level of required maintenance. Even among granites or marbles, there are variations. However, most granites are lower maintenance than most marbles. For granite, all stones except black should be sealed shortly after installation. A well-sealed stone will bead water on its surface. When the water stops beading, the stone must be resealed. In addition, always wipe up spills as soon as they are seen to prevent potential staining, and wash the stone with a PH-neutral cleanser to prevent etching or removal of the finish.

You don’t have to scrap an all-white kitchen to stay on trend. Dip your toe in the color pool instead, whether you store colorful pottery in glass-front cabinets, bring in colorful furniture, or paint a large piece like this kitchen island in Tropical Moss by Dunn-Edwards Paints. Maximize living space by making the family room and kitchen one large room. A mix of lighting helps differentiate the areas, while a uniform wall color keeps everything cohesive. Gone are the days of having a dark little pantry to house dry goods hidden away from prying eyes. Today’s kitchens boast roomy pantries with shelving aplenty for your cereals and collectibles. Proud of your organizational skills and want to show off? Finish the pantry space with a screened porch door painted in an eye-catching color, like this bright green hue. See additional details at Premier designer stone and quartz Denver.

Appearance: The appearances of both marble and granite is quite different from each other. Granite’s color variation appears as freckling throughout the stone because granite has meddled stones in it like feldspar, mica and amphibole. Marble, on the other hand, has a grayish or cream color with veins running through it. The veins in marble are usually due to impurities like iron oxide.