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When your countertop is installed, it’s imperative that everything gets done correctly and precisely. Not “almost perfect” or something close to it—you want your installation done exactly right to make sure that your countertop lasts as long as it should.

Most countertop materials require a professional installer—and even though you have to pay a bit extra to have it done, the price is worth it. There are a few situations in which you can complete the project in a DIY fashion, but more often than not, you should call in the pros who know what they’re doing.

The Scope of Your Project

If you’re dead set on installing the countertop yourself, it’s important to have an idea of the size of the project you’re working with. If you’re just replacing your kitchen countertop without getting any alterations done, DIY should be fine.

But things get more complicated when a countertop calls for custom cutouts or a decorative backsplash. Other complicated design features like ventilation systems or strange angles will also require time and expertise that you might not have.

Before you jump into a remodel, take all of these aspects into consideration and be honest with yourself about whether it’s something you should tackle yourself.

Benefits of Hiring the Pros

If you decide that your project is too complex to handle on your own, it’s time to call in the pros. We promise, you’ll be glad that you did. Here are some benefits to having professionals install your new countertop:

They have experience.

Some materials (like granite, quartzite, marble, and quartz) require a professional. They will have the right tools to complete the project and install the countertops correctly.

There’s no stress surrounding your installation.

If you try to tackle a natural stone installation yourself, you may worry that you could mishandle the material and damage it. A professional will handle the materials properly and delicately to prevent them from cracking or breaking so you don’t have to stress. They also know how to avoid costly mistakes like incorrect measurements.

They make good time.

The last thing you want is for your kitchen or bathroom to be torn apart for weeks while you complete the project slowly. A professional can handle the job quickly and efficiently while remaining thorough.

They have the correct tools.

Installations call for specific tools that the average person might not have. Purchasing them for a one-time project may not be cost-effective, and they could even be dangerous if you don’t know how to use them.

Hiring a Professional

If you want to ensure that your countertop turns out exactly the way you envisioned, hiring a professional is always the smartest choice to make, even for an added price.

To talk to one of our professionals about your countertop installation, contact Washington Marble Works today.

Taking the first step in a countertop remodeling project can be overwhelming. It can ease stress to know exactly how the countertop installation process works.

When you partner with Washington Marble Works, you’ll have the opportunity to tour our showroom to see what materials jump out at you. With our skilled experts, the process of acquiring your new countertop won’t just be easy—it’ll be fun too.

Selection

At Washington Marble Works, we offer the best quality granite, marble, quartzite, and quartz slabs. In our showroom, you’ll find a variety of design options so you can choose a specific pattern and color that matches your style. After you make a choice, we’ll give you a price estimate, then you’ll sign a contract that guarantees materials, products, and the schedule of installation.

Template

To make sure we cut your slab to the correct size, we’ll need to create a template. On your scheduled template date, our experienced technicians will come to your home to take measurements for your new countertop.

Fabrication

After we take measurements, your template will be digitized so adjustments can be made. From there, we use top-of-the-line technology to cut the slab with the utmost care, precision, and accuracy. After the slab has been cut, it will be checked for quality, then edged and polished.

Installation

On the day of installation, our team will arrive at the scheduled time and get to work safely installing your countertops. The amount of time it takes depends on your space, edge details, and the type of countertop. The project might take a bit longer if your old countertop needs to be disassembled and removed.

As long as you clear the intended space and keep children and pets out of the installation area, the project should go off without a hitch. Once your new countertop is installed, our team will go over important information with you so that you know how to take care of your investment for years to come.

Top-Quality Installation

At Washington Marble Works, we believe that high-quality countertops deserve high-quality installation. To get started on your project, get in touch with us today.

One of the greatest things about kitchen design trends is that they are always changing. As of late, many architects, designers, and decorators have been gravitating toward a “mix and match” look that combines two different cabinet colors or two different countertop colors.

While interesting, this trend is easy to get wrong. Keep reading to see if your kitchen space is right for the two-toned look.

Does My Kitchen Work?

Before you get invested in the two-toned look, first take stock of your kitchen layout. Unfortunately, if you only have a single countertop or a handful of small wall counters, the mix and match look probably won’t do your space any favors. But you can always add an interesting tile backsplash for some visual appeal!

An ideal two-toned kitchen is medium to large in size with an island in the middle. Use of the island is so the two-toned style looks purposeful, not accidental, and it gives you space to show off the pop of color while keeping the room balanced.

Cabinet vs. Countertops

Some people get so excited about the two-toned style that they want to mix and match the cabinets and the countertops. While we understand the enthusiasm, it’s best to stick to mixing just one component of your kitchen. Four different colors can quickly turn “interesting” into “hectic.”

By sticking with the two-toned style for just one of the components, you allow the rest of the details to play their important roles in the painting that is your kitchen. If you’re mixing and matching your countertops, your white cabinets are the furthest thing from boring. That shade plays an important role in the overall color scheme of the room.

What Stones to Use

If you decide to go with the two-toned countertop look, you’ll want to choose colors or patterns that complement each other. Stay away from mixing stones that look too similar, as this can cause your mixing and matching to look accidental instead of innovative.

Play it safe by choosing a consistent and solid stone pattern for the countertop near the wall, and jazz it up with an exotic pop of color for the stone on the island. The solid countertop along the wall will create the perfect backdrop for your island to take center stage.

For example, if your kitchen has white cabinets, Absolute Black granite would be a great choice around the perimeter with a pop of white or gray stone for the island.

This rule doesn’t just apply to the stark contrast of black and white, it can extend to earthier colors as well. For example, in a kitchen with warmer tones, you could put Absolute Black granite on the island and use a neutral-colored stone for the perimeter countertops. This way, the Absolute Black slab would act as an anchor to tie the room together.

Soft, dark-gray stones with lighter veins always make a great choice for the quieter half of a duo. This color complements many other shades.

If you’re looking to spice things up a bit, you could always pair a soft, white stone with a bold and confident pop of color for the island—something like a royal blue or a flamboyant red. As long as you choose colors that meld cohesively instead of clashing, you’ll be good to go.

Your Two-Toned Countertops

These tips should give you a good springboard to get started on planning your mix and match kitchen. Before you dive in, it’s essential to consider all of the details in your space to avoid any potential clashing shades. The colors that you choose and the places you put them can make or break your entire remodeled room, so choose wisely and carefully.

But decorating is also supposed to be fun, so don’t forget to trust your instincts and do what feels right for your kitchen. After all, you know what best catches your eye! And at the end of the day, Washington Marble Works is here to help. To talk more about two-toned countertops, get in touch with us today.

Marble is one of the oldest and most classically beautiful natural stones, formed from limestone exposed to huge amounts of pressure within the earth. It’s been popular for a very long time, dating all the way back to Ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

The Ancient History of Marble

Much like today, marble drew in the Ancient Greeks and Romans with its striking beauty—but it was much harder to acquire then. To get it out of the earth, they used hammers and wedges, and this took a lot of manpower and time. After the marble slab was freed, they used pulleys, winches, levers, and wooden beams to get it where they wanted it to go.

Since it was so difficult to come by, marble was a material used in the mansions of the extremely wealthy. It could also be found in churches and government buildings.

In these establishments, marble was commonly used for figurines, pillars, and flooring. It was used for so many applications because of the unique colorations available due to the presence of varied minerals. For example, calcite typically creates white marble, hematite creates red, and limonite creates green and yellow.

Marble in the Present

Society began building with marble over two thousand years ago, but it’s still just as prevalent today—maybe even more so than back then. Its sophisticated and unique aesthetic is appreciated all over the world.

Since the method of acquiring marble has advanced significantly, it’s not just for the ultra-rich anymore. Now you can find marble all over—in homes, commercial spaces, and places of worship in the form of flooring, walls, and countertops.

The Beauty of Marble

If you’re interested in variety, marble is the stone to choose. People today enjoy its diverse coloration options, just like the Ancient Greeks and Romans did.

Installing marble in your home brings an air of luxury and high-class living. Because of the way marble takes advantage of natural light, a pure white slab has the potential to create a bright, striking kitchen in a modern home.

But white is far from the only option. There are many colorations, shades, and veining patterns to choose from, all of which are capable of creating different moods in a remodeled room. Because marble is created from within the earth, every slab is unique.

Marble Benefits

The beauty of marble goes much deeper than the surface. This natural stone is long-lasting, as made clear by the thousand-year-old structures that still stand today. If the marble columns of the Parthenon are still standing in 2022, there’s no doubt that your marble countertop will last.

While some people shy away from the price that comes with marble, it’s important to view this stone as an investment. Just look at how long it can last—clearly, you won’t have to pay to replace your countertop in the near future. That alone will give you a return on your upfront investment. Marble countertops can also increase the resale value of your home, which is another way to pay yourself back.

Maintaining Marble

In order to help marble’s beauty stand the test of time, it involves a degree of maintenance that’s a bit higher than other natural stones. First up on the maintenance list is making sure that your marble slab is sealed and gets resealed periodically. Marble is a very absorbent stone, and this coat of sealant helps protect it from liquid damage, along with any potential chipping.

Acid is no friend to marble. Never use acidic cleaners when maintaining your slab—instead, use gentle dish detergent (or soap), warm water, and a soft cloth. Also, be aware that spills from substances like red wine have the potential to stain your stone.

Marble’s Past, Present, and Future

Marble, once reserved for only the rich, can now be enjoyed by people of all statuses around the world. If you’re interested in learning more about this classic natural stone, contact Washington Marble Works to talk to our experts.

Granite countertops can be found in all types of residences and commercial spaces across the nation and the world. This countertop material is popular and highly sought after because of its durability and timeless looks, but there’s much more to granite than meets the eye.

Before you decide on your new countertop, it’s best to know the ins and outs of the material. We put this article together in order to give you the rundown on granite—from what people love about it to what they could do without.

When you decide what countertop material to use for a remodel, you should be familiar with every facet of that material. This article is a great resource to help make your decision, so if you’re on the fence about granite, keep reading.

The Pros of Granite

There are plenty of benefits when it comes to this natural stone:

• It can increase the value of your home.

Natural stone is all the rage these days, which means that home buyers are looking for it. Much like marble and quartzite, having granite countertops installed in your home will rank it higher in a buyer’s mind.

Granite has a sophisticated, high-end appeal, and it’s a wise investment for both indoor and outdoor countertops. People love how long these countertops last.

• Granite is sustainable.

Granite lasts for generations, which means that it’s unlikely you’ll ever need to replace your countertops—this is an eco-friendly aspect of these countertops that many people appreciate. Granite is also readily available, and it comes ready in its natural form with no alterations needed.

• It’s tough and durable.

Granite is one of the sturdiest natural stones that you can find. It’s heat resistant, and it’s not vulnerable to staining or scratches either. As long as you take care of it properly and reseal it regularly, it will last for generations.

Granite’s heat resistance goes over well with a lot of people. This makes it a great asset in the kitchen, especially if you live in a home with kids who don’t always exercise caution around the countertop.

• It’s classy.

Granite is available in many patterns and colorations, and each variation has a certain degree of class. Because granite is formed within the earth, every slab is different. Even if your entire neighborhood has granite countertops, there will be no other slab exactly like the one in your home. It’s like having your own piece of art installed.

The Cons of Granite

As many benefits as there are to granite, it’s not perfect—nothing in life is. Here are the cons of granite:

• It can be expensive.

If you’re on a tight budget, granite might be difficult for you to swing because it can get expensive. Remember: the thicker the slab, the more you’ll pay.

You also need to factor installation into the equation because you’ll want your new countertops to be installed by a professional.

• It can crack.

If a heavy object is dropped on granite, especially on the corners, it is possible for the surface to chip or crack. It doesn’t happen often, but it is possible.

Because granite is such a heavy stone, cracking can occur if it is not installed correctly—that is, installed by someone who is not a professional. Granite’s bulk and weight are a major reason why it should always be handled by the pros.

• It comes in earthy colors.

Though this isn’t a downside for most people, granite isn’t a countertop that’s known for its ultra-vibrant colors. It’s formed by mother nature, so it is limited to colors that the earth can create.

There are plenty of naturally occurring patterns and veining designs to choose from, but granite colorations are not made to order.

Your Granite Countertop

Making a choice regarding granite countertops means weighing the pros and cons and deciding what really matters to you. If you need help deciding, get in touch with us at Washington Marble Works. We’d be happy to assist you.