Kristy

Brand-new marble counters are shiny and reflective. This is because your fabricator spends hours polishing them until they gleam. But as the years go by, that polish will slowly start to fade. Learning how to polish your marble counters will help you restore that gorgeous shine.

Choosing a Polishing Compound
The process of polishing marble is accomplished by rubbing abrasive particles into the surface of the stone. The abrasive particles chip off any rough areas, revealing the smooth and shiny surfaces underneath.

The quality of your polishing compound will have a dramatic effect on your marble’s final shine. To get the smoothing effect you’re looking for, it’s very important that the particles inside the compound are all the same size. Try to find a professional polish that’s intended for use on marble, granite, and other types of natural stone.

If you want to make your counters as shiny as possible, consider using two polishes of different grades. Start with a harsh or priming polish to remove the top layer of stone. Then, follow up with a fine or finishing polish to smooth out the final touches.

Polishing a Marble Counter Step-by-Step
Aside from your polishing compound, you’ll need a microfiber cloth and some water to rinse your counter when you’re done. Plan to work on one small area at a time; otherwise, the polish will dry and might damage the stone underneath.

– Clean the counter. There’s no sense in polishing dirty counters. Clean your marble counter with warm water and mild soap.

– Apply the compound. Some polishing compounds need to be mixed with water, while others come as a premade paste. Apply a small amount to the area you want to polish; you’ll need less than you think.

– Scrub the area. Use your cloth to rub the polish in small circles. Apply pressure to get the best effect.

– Rinse and repeat. Some polishes need to sit, while others should be washed off right away. Either way, rinse the area with water when you’re done. If you’re not satisfied with the results, apply more polish and start again.

– Finish the counter. Use the same technique to polish the entire marble counter. You may also want to do a second round with a finer polish to achieve the most shine.

– Reseal the surface. Polishing rubs away your counter’s seal. Remember to apply a fresh coat of your favorite resin sealer after any major polishing job.

Should You Use a Polishing Tool?
Power polishing tools can smooth large marble surfaces in a matter of minutes. However, they are also difficult to handle, and they can damage your countertop if they’re used incorrectly. You should decide whether to use a polishing tool based on how dull or damaged your counters actually are.

Power polishing is a good choice for marble counters that are stained, etched, or dull enough that the pattern has started to disappear. If you can’t revive a small area with a few minutes of hand polishing, you should save your energy and use a power polisher to finish the job.

Unless you’re confident in your skills, consider hiring a professional to complete heavy-duty polishing jobs. A misused power polisher could strip a large layer off your counter, and the damage might be impossible to reverse. A professional will be able to accomplish the task quickly and safely, and they’ll probably apply a fresh coat of sealer at the end.

Washington Marble Works is happy to help you maintain your marble countertops. Contact us to discuss polishing, repairing, and resealing the natural stone counters in your home.

Granite countertops are pieces of art that come from a complicated fabrication process. Knowing where the counters are sourced and how they are created will help you appreciate the value of adding granite countertops to your home.

Sourcing the Granite
Granite is an igneous rock that is found in massive veins close to the Earth’s surface. Quarriers use a combination of drills and explosives to cut blocks and sheets of granite away from the surrounding land. Then, the stone is carefully shipped to a manufacturing location.

Most commercial granite comes from Brazil, India, China, and Italy. Italy is home to some of the oldest marble and granite quarries, and Italian businessmen can also be credited with kick starting the Brazilian stone industry. Most Italian stone sellers curate a selection from quarries around the globe. North America also has its own granite supply, with major deposits in Canada, New England, and Texas.

No two granite deposits look exactly alike. Quarries from different regions are valued for the unique colors and patterns they can provide. Because granite is so difficult to ship, the price will be impacted by your distance from the home quarry; that’s why you’ll often find a better deal if you buy local granite sourced from within the United States.

Polishing the Slabs
Granite blocks are shipped to fabrication facilities, where they can then be cut into slabs and polished to reveal their beautiful patterns. Modern fabricators typically use computer-guided machinery with diamond blades, saws, and polishing pads.

The quality and price of a granite slab are typically determined by its thickness. Thinner slabs break more easily, but they allow for the creation of more counters from a single granite block. The highest quality slabs are made from thick pieces of granite and are carefully checked for small chips or flaws.

Unpolished granite has a rough and dull appearance. The stone must be polished multiple times to show off the hidden pattern. Most fabricators only polish granite slabs on one side; this will be the top surface of the completed counter.

Finally, the polished slabs are purchased by stone distributors located in cities across the world. Contractors and homeowners visit these distributors to view their unique granite selection and find the perfect slab for their project.

Designing a Template
As the customer, you won’t actually need to tour a stone distributor until halfway through the granite-buying process. Your first step will be to schedule an in-home visit with a local fabricator and installer.

After an initial consultation, a member of your fabrication team will create a template of your kitchen. Digital measurements will be used to figure out the exact size that your counters need to be. Always make sure you’re done designing your kitchen before you have the counters installed; once the template is finished, your counter will be created exactly to the agreed-upon specifications.

While the fabricator is finalizing the template, you’ll be encouraged to tour a stone distributor and choose a unique granite slab. Larger kitchens may require two or even three slabs to create a finished counter.

Fabricating the Countertop
Equipped with a template, machinery, and years of experience, a fabrication professional will turn your chosen slab into the perfect counter for your home. This process involves cutting the stone and polishing the edges to create a finished piece.

Granite slabs are cut using diamond bladed machines and water-jet cutting technology. Skilled fabricators, like the team members at Washington Marble Works, always cut the stone in a way that shows off the unique pattern. If there is a particularly beautiful vein, you can expect to see it running through the center of your finished countertop. Connecting pieces are also cut so that the seam is as invisible as possible.

Once the pieces are cut into shape, the fabricator will bevel and polish the edges according to your specification. Machine polishers are used for most of this process, but the fabricator may use hand tools for the final touches.

The last step is to install the completed countertops in your home. The installation team will make sure everything fits correctly before applying adhesive and sealing the counters in place.

If you’d like to know more about how our counters are made, feel free to contact us with any questions. Washington Marble Works employs some of the most skilled and talented stone fabricators around. Reach out now to order a set of custom granite counters for your home.

Granite is durable but it’s not completely invulnerable to damage. Try these tips to keep your countertops in immaculate condition.

Clean Spills Quickly
One of the main benefits of granite is its stain resistance. However, all types of natural stone can be discolored with prolonged exposure to oil or liquid. The resin seal on your counter is protective but it’s not always enough to prevent cooking oil and fruit juice from soaking through—especially if they’re left to sit.

Keep your granite counters clean by wiping up any spills as soon as they happen. Be especially careful with anything acidic or corrosive like tomato juice or vinegar. Oils are infamous for staining stone; watch out for both cooking oils and essential oils.

Use a Safe Cleaning Agent
Using the wrong cleaner on your natural stone counter can create tiny scratches or etching on the surface. Always clean with something mild and non-abrasive.

The best way to tidy up stone counters is with warm water and a small amount of dish soap. You don’t need a stronger disinfectant, dish soap breaks down bacteria and viruses. Always use a sponge or a microfiber cloth to avoid etching.

Never use lemon juice, vinegar, or bleach, on a stone countertop. Acidic or corrosive solutions will wear through the resin and damage the granite underneath. If you use a spray cleaner, check your local home improvement store for one designed specifically for natural stone.

Avoid Direct Heat
Granite is incredibly heat resistant. However, sudden changes in temperature can shock and even crack it. The sealer may also be far less heat resistant than the counter itself. Your granite will last longer and keep its natural beauty if you generally avoid exposure to direct heat.

Set down a trivet or hot pad down before you take a pan off the stove or out of the oven. Be aware of temperatures while you cook;

Polish When Needed
No matter how careful you are, accidents happen and your granite can become etched, chipped, or scratched. Luckily, your countertops are not ruined! Most damage can be polished away until your natural stone is smooth and shining again.

Consumer-grade granite polish can counteract minor etching If you have larger scratches, contact the company that installed your counters; the area can be sanded until it looks as good as new.

Apply Sealer Every Year
The best way to protect your granite countertop is to refresh the sealer on a regular basis. This ensures that you always have a thick layer of protection on your beautiful stone. Resealing also lets you check for damage and apply polish as needed.

How often you need to seal is specific to you. The sealer you use and how the surface is used determines when you need to reapply. Kitchen counters are high traffic and need annual resealing, while bathrooms may only need refreshing once every few years. Check with your stone fabricator for sealer options. There are many new products on the market that keep the maintenance for granite countertops simple and care free.

Homeowners love granite counters because they require minimal maintenance to stay beautiful. As long as you use the right cleaner and you reseal the counter on a regular basis, your natural stone will last well into the future.

Quartz countertops are made from beautiful, crystalline slabs that come in a variety of colors and patterns. But if you’ve ever seen an actual piece of quartz, you might realize that the patterns of quartz counters look nothing like the natural stone. Although quartz counters do contain quartz, they aren’t made from solid slabs like granite or marble. Learn why these man-made counters are the perfect addition to your kitchen design.

How Engineered Quartz Is Made
Quartz counters are actually made from something called engineered quartz. This material is created by mixing chipped or crushed quartz with a strong thermoplastic resin. Once the resin hardens, the result is a solid slab with the properties of natural stone.

Engineered quartz is typically made with a ratio of 90% stone to 10% resin. The appearance of the counter is determined by the type of quartz, the way it’s processed, and the color of the resin. Thermoplastics come in a wide variety of colors, which means the range of choices for engineered quartz counters is truly endless.

The stone used for engineered quartz comes from leftover pieces that can’t be used for other projects. Some pieces of engineered quartz are made from the same batch of stone, while other slabs are made using several different types of quartz. Doing this can create a beautiful rainbow effect suspended within the resin.

The Benefits of Choosing Engineered Quartz
Engineered quartz looks just like natural stone, but it’s significantly more functional and efficient. Whether you’re looking for a cost-effective or low-maintenance solution, there are plenty of reasons to choose this material for your kitchen or bathroom.

Durable: Engineered quartz is as strong and heat-resistant as other types of natural stone. The hardened resin adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring that your counters will never chip or crack.

Beautiful: Quartz counters are known for their colorful and crystalline appearance. Some counters feature rainbow designs, while others have been made to mimic the natural patterns of granite and marble.

Low-Maintenance: Because engineered quartz is 10% resin, it doesn’t need to be sealed like marble or granite. Engineered quartz never stains and is incredibly easy to keep clean; just remember to avoid vinegar, bleach, and other harsh cleaners.

Eco-Friendly: Engineered quartz gives fabricators a way to recycle the leftover bits and pieces from their other projects. Stone isn’t a renewable resource, so it’s important to use every piece that has been quarried. When you install quartz counters, you can feel great about your impact on the economy and the environment.

Affordable: Engineered quartz is often significantly more affordable than granite or other types of natural stone. if you’re looking for a cost-effective way to add stone counters to your house, quartz is one of the best solutions on the market.

The invention of engineered quartz has made stone counters widely available to customers across the world. Contact Washington Marble Works to add beautiful quartz counters to your home.