Uncategorized

Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen or building a new home, the materials you use for your countertops matter. Price is always a factor, along with durability and style.

You aren’t limited to only a few types of material—you have plenty of options. Wood is a common choice, along with synthetic materials. If you want updated and stylish countertops different from your neighbors, here are four excellent materials you haven’t considered.

Quartz

Durable and resistant to stains and burns, Quartz countertops can last a lifetime with minimal care. The engineered stone has veining similar to marble, but it doesn’t require sealing. This material is nonporous and nearly impossible to scratch. You don’t have to worry about stains ruining the appearance of your quartz countertops.

You have a wide range of color options with quartz. You can find the perfect slab to match or complement your kitchen. Choose cream or another earthy tone, or go for something unique. Quartz also comes in attractive blue and pink tones.

Installing quartz countertops is easier than some other materials that require sealing. You can turn it into a DIY project, but the quartz slabs are heavy and not easily moved around. It’s always best to let a professional take care of the installation process for you.

Once installed, your quartz countertops will add maintenance-free flare to your kitchen for years to come.

Granite

Besides each slab of granite having its unique pattern, style, and aesthetic, there are additional benefits that come with using granite.

With proper care and cleaning, granite is a long-lasting material. With the sealant coating we apply, cleaning up messes is quick and easy. As long as you clean stains up promptly, you should have no problems with your new countertops getting any permanent marks.

Granite is scratch-resistant, which is extra handy for the kitchen. Granite also does not have any issues tolerating heat. This makes it safe to put hot dishes and pans on. It also makes it safe to use in steamy, warm places like the bathroom.

Marble

If you want to make sure your countertops are unique, marble is your best choice. Each sheet of the natural stone is different. You won’t find two exactly alike. Marble countertops are pricey, and the material is not known for its durability. However, if you love the look of marble countertops, the investment is worth it.

Marble is an exceptionally beautiful stone, and it also adds value to your home. The unique veining gives a luxurious feel to any kitchen. It can scratch, and stains are common if the countertop isn’t sealed. It is water and heat proof, so you don’t need to worry about burns or moisture rings.

Quartzite

It can be easy to confuse quartzite countertops with quartz. The names are similar, but quartzite more resembles marble in color and pattern. The natural stone is becoming popular with homeowners that want to update their kitchens. The material is durable, and with the right care, it can outlast granite.

Quartzite is a porous material, even after being sealed. It’s something to consider if you’re concerned about watermarks.

Quartzite is resistant to scratches, so your countertops will look great for years. It’s also heat resistant, so burn marks won’t mar the gorgeous color or veining. If you have a busy kitchen constantly filled with guests, the countertops will catch everyone’s attention. With colors ranging from rosy pinks to light blues and whites, you can find a sheet that complements your kitchen design.

Custom Installation

Replacing your countertops can make it seem like you remodeled your entire kitchen. You also have more options when it comes to materials than you may think.

Wood and laminates are fine—the materials are durable and come in a variety of colors and patterns. But if you want your kitchen to stand out, you may want to consider another type of material.

Whether you go with quartz, granite, marble, or quartzite, you want the countertops installed to your specifications. You don’t want to worry about sealants or the material coming loose when you’re showing your remodeled kitchen off to friends and family.

There has been a rise in popularity with the use of granite countertops in homes. While the first place you may think to use granite is the kitchen, you can utilize this popular material in a multitude of places in the family home.

All About Granite

Few materials are as versatile and popular as granite for countertop installation. Granite is a natural stone and comes in shades of white, pink, black, and gray. If you worry about its porous surface, we apply a sealant that keeps stains at bay.

Many clients prefer the natural design of granite because it’s always unique and pleasing to the eye. With over one hundred styles in our inventory, we handpick the best granite patterns that beautify any room.

Granite is a unique material. No two pieces are going to match exactly. Using granite in your home can enhance the aesthetic appeal of any room you choose to use it in.

Benefits of Using Granite for Your Countertops

Besides each slab of granite having its unique pattern, style, and aesthetic, there are additional benefits that come with using granite.

With proper care and cleaning, granite is a long-lasting material. With the sealant coating we apply, cleaning up messes is quick and easy. As long as you clean stains up promptly, you should have no problems with your new countertops getting any permanent marks.

Granite is scratch-resistant, which is extra handy for the kitchen. Granite also does not have any issues tolerating heat. This makes it safe to put hot dishes and pans on. It also makes it safe to use in steamy, warm places like the bathroom.

Where Else Can You Use Granite within the Home?

The use of granite is not limited to the kitchen! Some other areas where homeowners can utilize granite are in areas such as the bathroom, laundry room, even dens!

One of the positives about using granite in these areas is that there is a lot less to cover compared to redoing your entire kitchen countertop area. This makes granite a cost-efficient way to spruce up your living space without breaking the bank!

These high-traffic areas often get neglected as we focus more on decorating our living rooms and sitting areas. However, you should not underestimate the time that your family and guests spend in these areas. These areas are also susceptible to heat and water conditions that weaker countertop materials like laminate will not stand up to. With weak countertop materials, you’ll find yourself frequently replacing the same areas in just a few short years.

Simple changes such as adding granite countertops to your bathroom, laundry room, and den can enhance their appeal and create durable and easy-to-clean surfaces that will last much longer than other materials. Laminate and other weaker countertops may be less costly up front, but they lack durability and will eventually require replacement sooner rather than later.

Besides that, granite is a much more sleek and elegant countertop design that will enhance the look of your home. With all of these benefits, you are sure to want granite in all of these spaces!

While granite will be a more costly investment upfront, the benefits will last you and your family for years to come.

Custom Installation

At Washington Marble Works, our custom installation services help homeowners revamp the look and feel of their home’s surfaces. We offer a select range of high-quality countertops in Pierce County, King County, Thurston County, and Kitsap County that last for years to come. If you’re unsure about the type of material you need but have a concept in mind, give us a call.

We offer counter materials including granite, marble, quartz, and quartzite to makeover your countertop areas within your home.

Using the beauty of nature as a base, we infuse your rooms with natural elements that add life to your room. Our specialists ensure that your new countertop installation project meets your expectations and compliments your space. Contact one of our specialists today to learn how we can help you customize your next remodeling project.

Conclusion

While there are many amazing materials to choose from, granite is a long-lasting and ever-popular choice. Its use is not limited to the kitchen area. It makes a wonderful addition to bathrooms, laundry rooms, and dens. At Washington Marble Works, we have a large selection of granite and other materials that are sure to add some appeal to any room you use them in.

To get a better idea of what we can do to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom, check out the design tools on our website or give us a call!

The beautiful shine of marble countertops exhibits a strong feeling of elegance in your kitchen or bathroom. This luxurious countertop option comes in various colors, vein designs, and sizes to deliver superior brightness to your home. The unique thing about marble is that every piece is different and offers a special vein design.

This article examines the many advantages of marble countertops, why they make sense for your home, and other essential factors to consider.

1) Heat Resistant

Marble remains cool for optimal baking use, but it also has heat-resistant properties. A marble countertop will not melt, catch fire, or burn. This benefit provides peace of mind, but you should still avoid placing hot pots or pans on the surface. Keeping hot items off the marble will prolong its finish and extend its life.

2) Elegant Appearance

Marble comes in many beautiful colors, including black, white, gray, green, rose, and yellow. This countertop type has always been a staple of warmth and elegance for interior home design. When visitors walk into your home, they will marvel at the shining, polished surface.

Each marble sheet also has a unique appearance, making it a prized countertop option for the home. Marble color depends on its location, mix, and combination of minerals from the initial limestone. The most popular marble color is White Carrara, a marble type used in homes since Ancient Rome.

3) Durable and Long Lasting

Marble consists of a robust natural stone. Its durable properties make it resistant to cracking, breaking, and scratching. Compared to other countertop materials, it will withstand a lot more threats. When you hire a reliable company to install, seal, and maintain the marble properly, you can enjoy its benefits for your entire life.

Although marble requires diligent maintenance, it is much more long lasting than other types of natural stone. Marble often served as a reliable building material for hundreds of years. Several renowned structures worldwide are made of marble, including the Washington Monument, the Taj Mahal, the Pantheon, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Lincoln Memorial.

4) Cost Effective

Depending on what type of marble you purchase, it is usually an inexpensive countertop option. Carrara marble, which consists of gray color and subtle veins, is the most cost-effective option. It is also the most accessible material on the market.

Calacatta marble is the most expensive, luxurious option. This rare stone contains a whiter appearance and surface. The vein design is also more dramatic. When you evaluate marble options, the price point will be higher the more complex the veining is.

Here is a quick breakdown of the average standard costs of marble by type and square foot:

• Carrara: $40 per square foot
• Calacatta: $180 per square foot
• Statuario: $50 per square foot
• Danby: $80 per square foot
• Cultured: $65 per square foot
• Punk: $25 per square foot
• Black or Travertine per square foot
• Makrana: S12 per square foot

Installation costs are separate from these price points. If you collaborate with a trustworthy company like Washington Marble Works, a job well done will save you maintenance costs in the long run.

5) Excellent Surface for Baking and Cooking

Marble countertops do a quality job of staying under room temperatures and remaining cool. This stable temperature regulation makes it the optimal spot for bakers who work with dough, pastries, chocolate, and ice cream.

The home amateur chef can lay pans, pots, and other hot items on the counter without causing a fire. Although marble countertops are ideal for baking within the home, they do not always serve as a good solution for a bakery, restaurant, or pizza shop.

Looking to Transform Your Countertops into Beautiful Marble? Partner with Us Today!

Are you looking to raise the elegance of your kitchen or bathroom countertops? The team at Washington Marble Works makes the process easy and straightforward for you. We assess and address your needs every step of the way, including through all phases of planning, estimation, template creation, fabrication, installation, care, and cleaning.

If you are ready to begin your journey, request a quote or call our office today (253) 891-1823 to speak with a friendly member of the customer service team. We can help you design your ideal bathroom or kitchen while working with you on a good game plan that meets your budget goals.

When you have a growing family, sometimes changes around the house are necessary—whether it’s expanding the bathroom, purchasing furniture to accommodate more people, or upgrading your kitchen or bathroom countertops. It may seem like your countertops don’t matter much, but think about how much time you spend in the bathroom and kitchen.

You benefit from durable, quality countertops that can stand up to wear and tear. That’s where we come in; we suggest quartz because it has numerous benefits for growing families. If your countertops need a little TLC, consider upgrading to natural quartz.

Quartz: Material & Construction

A quartz countertop is primarily natural quartz. The quartz is blended and crushed with polymer resins and colorfast pigments to produce finished counters. Your quartz countertops can also blend with granite pieces, colored glass, and recycled mirror particles.

Benefits of Quartz for Growing Families

Quartz is one of our most popular countertop choices, and for good reason! We’ve listed the most crucial reasons why we suggest quartz counters for families that are growing and need to save money where possible while also keeping their home intact. Here are the top reasons to choose quartz for your counters:

1. Quartz Countertops Are Stain Resistant

When it comes to care and maintenance, quartz is among the top materials for counters. Quartz comes in a slab form, and it is nonporous. This factor makes it exceptional at resisting acids and stains in general. Essentially, you simply wipe your counters down every once in a while with a mild detergent and warm water. Be sure not to use an abrasive product such as bleach. Additionally, steer clear of oils, polish, and wax.

Other porous stones, such as granite, absorb moisture and liquids. Over time, they may get stained from juice, wine, and oils. Those substances will be hard to remove as a result of the absorption. To prevent staining, you’d have to get the counters periodically sealed, which is time consuming and costly. If left unattended, it can eventually harm the countertop material.

Quartz, on the other hand, is a solid substance that doesn’t need to get sealed. The upkeep is extremely simple, and quartz looks great with minimal effort—overall, much less work to have and maintain in your home.

Growing families can appreciate the low maintenance of these counters as they’ll be busy tending to other needs. The less care it requires, the better!

2. Quartz Countertops Are Resilient

Quartz counters are also perfect for growing families because they are resilient to impact and scratches. They don’t crack or chip as easily as other stones. They cost a bit more than other materials, but the level of quality that you would receive makes it worth the extra money. On top of this, the durability is hard to match; it’s not only an incredibly strong material, but it’s heat resistant up to 150°F.

This benefit is something that you’ll want to consider as you’re thinking of upcoming financial obligations for your family in the future. Quartz counters are a long-term investment that you can trust will pay dividends over time as your family continues to get bigger.

3. Quartz Countertops Offer Competitive Pricing as a Long-Term Investment

The biggest cause for a pause that we usually come across when discussing quartz countertops is the price tag. Quartz is a high-end material for counters, and it costs, on average, $115–$200 per square foot. That price is competitive when it comes to other high-end materials like concrete, marble, and granite.

What’s more, because quartz doesn’t require the same maintenance, such as sealing and polishing, you’ll save money in the long run. It costs about $450 every decade to polish materials like granite and about $1.50 per square foot to seal them every year. This necessary maintenance is in conjunction with having a similar price tag to quartz.

As a long-term investment for your home, quartz reigns supreme for quality and durability are of the utmost importance. With a growing family, you want to choose to invest your money in reliable renovations that will be there for your family for years to come.

Interested in Getting Quartz Countertops? Call Us Today for a Consultation

Washington Marble Works is a family-owned business founded in 1984. Our team prides itself on customer satisfaction and high-quality products. We are your number one source for exceptional quartz countertops.

We’re friendly, professional, and dedicated to bringing your vision to fruition when it comes to your home. Our staff members will work with you every step of the way with excellent customer service.

Our vast selection of stone is sure to meet your needs, especially our premium Quartz counters. Please visit our website to view our previous renovations, and don’t hesitate to give us a call today at (253) 891-1823. We’re waiting to give you the home of your dreams!

A good quality countertop is essential for bakers, whether you’re a baking hobbyist or a professional. A sturdy, flat surface offers low maintenance and high quality for all your baking projects. Historically, marble was the top choice for home baking. Though, in recent years, granite became the ideal option for several reasons. Before you make renovations to your kitchen, consider the advantages of granite countertops and why they are best.

Choosing your countertop is one of the most critical steps in renovating your kitchen. A granite surface is one of the most high-quality options for your kitchen and a recommended choice for any home size or layout.

1) Granite Countertops Are Flat, Less Porous, and Resistant to Damage

The first benefit you’ll notice about a granite countertop is the perfectly flat surface, which makes it easy to roll dough or shape your pasta or dumplings. Granite is less porous than other materials, which means less contamination from debris or small food particles. The flat surface is effortless to keep in good condition, and it’s family-friendly, making it ideal to use for baking projects with children.

Granite countertops are durable. They can handle a hot pan or spills and are resistant to scratches and burns. Kids, pets, and kitchen utensils will not damage the surface, making granite perfect for families and in areas of frequent use. In the event of scratches or damage, granite is simple to repair and maintain.

From the day you install your granite countertop, you’ll find that no dirt or bacteria collects on it. A quick wipe over the surface with a cloth and disinfectant is required. For this reason, granite is sanitary and safe for everyone. It’s one of the easiest areas of your home to maintain.

2) They Add Value to Your Kitchen and Home

If you plan to sell your home, a granite countertop is an ideal way to increase your house or condo value. Its durability is well known, and future homeowners will appreciate the granite’s pleasant appearance and low maintenance. While granite countertops don’t typically increase the monetary value of your home, they add to the physical appeal for potential buyers.

Surprisingly, many homes do not have granite in the kitchen. Marble is another material option for aesthetics, though granite is a top choice if given an option for overall durability. It’s also an environmental choice, as it is a natural rock polished to resemble a high sheen and an appealing pattern. There are alternative patterns available, if desired, such as marbled or speckled designs.

If you enjoy the value and aesthetics of your granite kitchen countertop, you may consider adding granite to your washroom and other areas of your home. It’s an ideal material that’s versatile and appealing in every home or decor.

3) Granite Is an Affordable Option

Granite countertops are highly affordable, which is a significant reason to consider purchasing and installing one in your kitchen. They are also unique because each slab or piece offers its distinct pattern or design. The natural beauty of granite lasts for decades since it doesn’t easily break or warp from heat or scratches.

If you decide to upgrade your current countertop or switch to another style of granite, the cost is reasonable, and it’s a worthwhile investment. There is a variance in price depending on the size and thickness of the slab. You can also choose granite tiles, which are less in price, plus the cost of installation. Overall, all expenses included, granite is the perfect long-term fixture for your kitchen.

Choosing a Granite Countertop for Your Home

Granite is one of the most durable rocks on the planet, next to diamond. You’ll find the material adaptable to any size kitchen, and with the correct support brackets, it will last a lifetime or longer. Granite countertops match everything in your kitchen due to the neutral colors and tones in the grain of the rock. In addition to being an affordable investment, granite is a great conversation piece due to its unique style.

Remodeling your kitchen, whether it’s a complete renovation or partial changes, is a significant change in your home. Installing high-quality granite countertops is a significant way to increase the physical appearance and value of your home. Granite provides the advantages of affordability and quality to last for thirty years or more.