The Counters Blog

Use as a buying guide to learn about the item and how to decide which you want. Don’t miss the section on buying advice for two dozen types of kitchen knives. Then put an item in your cart or wish list and buy it at some point. Some non-stick ones also have air insulation between the two aluminum layers to promote even baking. Also for use in the microwave if small enough and in the freezer. The top seller is a collapsible 3-tier rack with narrowly spaced steel wires and non-stick coating. The cups in the blue silicone 6 cup pan are deeper than in a metal pan. You can’t slow cook everything, and some like a leg of lamb won’t fit in the slow cooker. I now have a stainless steel one with thick aluminum core and a non-stick rack. I can’t imagine having a opaque metal one and not knowing how much has been drawn into the baster. Use when grilling vegetables (both on the grill, and in the oven). Misting action doesn’t last long before having to pump it up again. Can turn small pieces of jerky into powder, but it is not ideal. Also use to grind together raisins and nuts to make fruitnutballs. You can also buy a container that has a blade for dry materials. If you are into using blenders and can afford one go for it. The food loses little of its moisture because it is surrounded by steam, creating a tender, flavorful dish. The pot is mainly used to cook meat like pork roast, chicken or stew in an oven. This allows meals to be prepared with the addition of fats or oils and the ability to cook meats and sides together. Now they have smooth bottoms for use on the cooktop or in the oven, and a porcelain enamel coating. Creuset has been the well known brand for this, but it is terribly expensive. It has been shown that plastic wrap should not touch food, as the food will absorb the chemicals. The lid can be used on an 8″ frying pan and is the cheapest solution for that. Ideal for storing leftovers that you know you will be reheating. Each corner has a different radius to find the best fit into the pot corner. A few are ceramic, but they are fragile, heavy to carry, and harder to wash. I use one when hand washing more than an item or two or if the item is very large. There are 250 entries of free buying tips organized into 36 categories. Useful for baking green or red peppers, and winter squash halves. My first roasting pan was thin stainless steel that warped and juice could easily burn. It keeps enough moisture in the roaster to keep the chestnuts moist, but still enables you to get the flavor of roasting instead of boiling. Barbecue basting brushes are also sold as part of a barbecue tool set. These are a way to get a pure olive oil spray on baking pans. Pictured is the best selling marinade injector which is made of plastic and stainless steel. Paleo mayonnaises are limited, so homemade paleo mayo is an option. They are great not only for mayo and dressings, but good for making almond milk, fruit shakes, thickening soups and sauces right in the pan by pureeing vegetables. It did no better than a decent blender and the dry container option costs more than a meat grinder, which is the best for grinding jerky. Dutch ovens have been used as cooking vessels for hundreds of years. It has a water reservoir that creates steam when you put the grill on low. Brush bristles usually are stainless steel, though some are brass.

How To Make Your Look Luxurious On A Budget by blesserhouse.com

I love lighting a candle on our coffee table or on our kitchen counter after a long, exhausting weekday. Our hallway bathroom, laundry room, and dining room have come to life because of it. Our living room transformed practically overnight using this trick. Olivia’s bathroom, and it’s become an instantly interesting piece. The best deals are online but it’s scary to spend so much when you can’t touch and see it! Tangier 88″ upholstered tuft sofa in avanti deer trail! Would definitely be a splurge, but oh boy, what a stunning piece! T have a french styled homes that is a bit more refined than the typical farmhouse. In all honesty, the word “luxury” is not tossed around all that often at our house (okay, never actually). But when guests walk into our house for cookouts or family reunions or whatever gathering we have happening on any random weekend, apparently that’s the word that pops into their heads. If you hang a single framed 8×10 on a large wall, it can feel kind of dinky and like it’s floating in space. You can print an 8×10 directly from your computer and buy a large mat to place it in a 10×13 or 16×20 frame to make your photo feel high-end and important. Classic items don’t ever really go out of style, so if you do buy one that is a splurge, you at least can know it will last for years and years to come. If you don’t want to paint entire rooms but have plain white doors, try painting your doors charcoal or black instead to add something chic to every room. Do you have any tricks of your own that have jazzed up your home? I tend to neglect over other areas of the house people “see” more) for over a year. Arhaus is a perfect place to shop for unique items that fit the style beautifully!

VGranite by vgranite.com

The biggest issue with putting a hot pan on granite is that if you touched the spot it could be as hot as the pan itself and therefore cause you an injury. With the ability to choose from variety of granite colors you are assured your countertop will be unique unto itself. Some stones are more porous than others, so it is important to use a penetrating sealer to prevent stains from oil, wine, or other liquids from soaking into the surface. One feature of honed marble is that it doesn’t show etching as readily, or wear patterns on floors. Granite adds elegance and style to kitchens, baths and other areas of the home with a richness that cannot be duplicated in synthetic materials. Impervious to heat: daily kitchen activities pose no problem and it can take a hot pot without the use of a trivet. For example, a puddle of water left on the counter, for some colors, may show a dark spot when the water is wiped away. A stone sealer is highly recommended for all granite after installation. The samples you see on the computer may not be absolutely correct due to variations in computer systems, monitors and software compression. A good place to incorporate seams is near sinks or cook tops. The visibility of seams will depend on the granularity, color and pattern. Our sales associates will help to explain the seam process in further detail to you. This may be changed for whatever reason due to cabinet configuration, cabinet installation, and/or personal tastes. You can cantilever granite up to 12″ with sufficient support on the fixed end and with a large enough piece. You must have support underneath for these situations. Additionally, marble and limestone can be scratched more easily than harder stones such as granite. This causes a chemical reaction, which removes the polish, or roughens the surface of honed marble or limestone. What’s the best way to clean marble and other stones? It is formed by material that settles to the bottom of bodies of water, and over millions of years, solidifies into solid rock. Like marble, we recommend avoiding the use of limestone in kitchens. Unsealed, some of the more porous limestones can be subject to stains. Granite sometimes has natural fissures as well, which may look like cracks, but are not structural defects and are a naturally occurring result of the immense heat and pressure that formed the granite eons ago. A granite counter top is virtually impervious to abrasions, stains and extreme heat. My granite kitchen counter top doesn’t look exactly like my sample. Granite is an organic substance and just as no two people are exactly alike, no two samples of granite will be either. What’s the difference between a drop-in sink and an undermount sink? Sometimes called “grain in the stone,” “movement” is veins that swirl and change irregularly in granite due to the massive forces at work on it beneath the surface of the earth during the eons it took to form. Does where my granite originate from affect the price? Prices are more affected by the supply and demand placed upon the quarry. With granite, the resale value of your property will also grow with time. You should re-seal after the first year and then every three to five years as needed. You can take your pots right off the stove and place them on the granite and take things right out of the oven and place them on the granite. Other stones such as marble and limestone do not perform as predictably and we discourage their use in several places, especially the kitchen. Marble on the other hand is a more porous material and therefore much more likely to be damaged by a sharp object. The darker the material the more dense and therefore the more heat it will hold. You should especially be cautious with black granite since it is the most dense and with repeat exposure may actually crack. Granite is, by far, the most durable of all surfaces used in counter top construction. Although both are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and marble’s relatives – limestone, onyx and travertine) are very different from each other. Because its main component is calcium, acids such as vinegar and citrus beverages can affect it. All stone, even granite, is porous to some degree, and will absorb moisture over time. Sales has special equipment and can hone all types of stone in our shops by removing the factory polish. Granite is highly resistant to scratching, cracking and staining. It is perfectly ok to set hot pots or pans directly from the stove or oven onto granite. A few colors may absorb some moisture with prolonged contact compared to others. Usually, no evidence remains once the liquid is removed and the granite dries. Granite is harder than your knife blades and will dull them very quickly, if you use the countertop as a cutting surface. Marble and granite are natural stones created by the forces of nature. Due to the limitation of slab size, seams on a granite countertop are necessary and sometimes unavoidable. This will help to cover most of the seam-leaving a minimum amount in view. This application often works well because the human eye has to adjust to the change in direction making the seem less noticeable. Also for clarification, take a look at the kitchen displays we have throughout the showroom. Never cantilever unsupported granite where it might receive excessive stress like someone sitting on a counter or stepping on a counter to change a light bulb. These acidic substances cause a chemical reaction, which will remove the polish. Marble is, however, sometimes used in the kitchen as a pastry slab; its perfectly smooth, cool surface is ideal for rolling out dough and piecrusts. The old rule of thumb is never to use anything you wouldn’t use on your hands. Limestone is sedimentary rock consisting mostly of organic material such as skeletons and shells of marine creatures and sediments. Earth movements over extremely long periods of earth’s history can lift limestone miles into the air. Polished limestone is highly susceptible to surface changes or damage from kitchen acids including citrus juices, vinegars, mustards, and so forth. If the limestone is polished or semi-polished, you will see a rough spot where the substance sat on the stone. Granite continues to be used and approved in food and medical applications. With regular cleaning, granite is far less likely to support bacteria than butcher block or even laminated materials with top-mounted sinks. Granite, which is crystalline in structure, always has tiny pits – spaces between the various mineral crystals. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and will not impair the function or durability of the material. Additionally, the inherent qualities of granite — its color, patterns and shades — compliment any décor. The composition of minerals and the deposit it was quarried from all play a part in the appearance of granite. Are all granite kitchen counters a high gloss finish? There is a process called “honing” that gives the stone a more matte finish yet retains its smooth feel. A drop-in sink sits on top of the cutout in your granite counter while an undermount sink sits beneath the cutout. You’ll find that red and blue tones are a bit higher priced than other colors due to their lack of abundance. Improved stone-working technology has made granite countertops very affordable compared with manmade hard surface materials.

Selling: How Many Buyers Hate Or Do Not Prefer Carpet? by trulia.com

You can always put area rugs on them for something soft underfoot. Carpeting in a bathroom or kitchen area makes my skin crawl. Berber carpeting looks tight and clean and warm at the same time. And with the proper subflooring can be used well even in the coldest climates. Mainly because of allergy issues and general matter of cleanliness. If you are thinking of upgrading your floors and looking for a resale value, it probably would be a go od decision. Anything but ceramic, brick or stone is a deal breaker for me. I can’t justify buying a new home and immediately spending app. I really like having carpet in certain rooms, but would be willing to change it if the previous had a pet. Carpet can be fine, but there are dust, allergies, and wear issues. After having two small dogs who lived to be very old, we decided to replace the carpeting after they passed with neutral-colored, middle-grade carpeting because we thought fresh carpeting would be a selling point when we put the house on the market. When we bought this house, we replaced the carpeting in both bedrooms because we thought having carpeting in the bedrooms seemed warmer and quieter. I absolutely love the tile everywhere in the main living areas. Carpet in homes and businesses has always maintained the number one spot in all flooring applications, be that residence or commercial. More upscale homes will have buyers looking for traditional hardwood floors. In my area carpets can provide a bit more warmth in the winter than a hard floor, but this hasn’t slowed the popularity of more hardwood, engineered hardwood and laminate floors. They are savvy enough to know cheap laminate flooring from distressed hardwood. Carpet that smells like pets or is a color like mauve, teal, or the like hurt a home sale. If you are considering replacing carpet with a type of wood flooring, talk with your agent on “bang for the buck” before spending money. The temp in the house got down to 40 degrees maybe even lower. What is the current trend and what is better for resale? They look classy, there is less rejection due to allergies, and everyone likes them. I would not even look at a house that has carpeting in it’s bathroom for the most part. Hardwood flooring would be the best choice because these floors don’t get dated as fast as some tile flooring does. Berber carpets which will give the home a warmer appearance. Laminate comes in a wide range of looks from stone to tile even wood. Laminate has come a long way since the 1950’s and will last for decades. Often pet owners will want hardwood or laminate flooring as carpet might be a bit more unforgiving with most pets. It will also depend on when you would be selling, if you sell a few years down the road and the trend changes (not likely) then its a different thing. I am looking for a new home and fall in love with common areas only to find carpeting on high traffic areas and bedrooms. I can’t imagine hardwood will give me the return on investment vs a decent laminate or carpet. Working with buyers is good, but only up til a certain point. No matter how often you clean them, they’ve still been worn many times before you. We now live in the southwest where tile is the flooring of choice. The rest of the house has nice 20-inch tiles placed on the diagonal which actually makes the great room look larger. We have an 8’ x 10’ area rug near the sofa and love seat which is just enough carpet for us in the great room. Our company and all other carpet and flooring companies in our area, are now covering these same floors with carpet and in extreme cases the owner is forced to remove the tiling entirely due to a variety of flooring issues driving up the cost. The turning toward tile, hardwood and laminate–provided it is one of the higher end laminates. Many buyers like hardwoods or ceramic tile in the lower level and carpet/hardwood on the upper level. Carpet versus hardwood, granite, painting, no wall paper and other upgrades. Homes that are being flipped are usually being done with laminates as an easy way to improve the look of a home and is easy care. Carpet is always desirable in the bedrooms with neutral tones. It could be due to health issues like allergies or just a trend. Typically, wood floors are preferred in living areas and if there is an upstairs, high quality and more importantly new or very clean carpet. There was a time when you could offer a carpet allowance would work but not now. There are some great new “engineered” wood floors that are great mid-point and look great. Your agent will be the best one to consult with on what are the best items to go for when preparing the home for market. A few years ago she had a week long power outage in the dead of winter snow.

Blog by chipfix.com.au

However, as time goes by, the sturdiness of a bechtop may decrease, chips or cracks may appear in time. But the fact is that most of us actually leave those chips and cracks for a long time because they seem so small to be repaired. By using epoxy, the appearance of the stone or material being used will not downgrade as it appears to have the same colour to it. It will prevent water from leaking into the surface under the benchtop. It is far more practical, too, because you do not have to spend a lot for the repair. Contact us today for ceramic basin or bath repairs as well as granite or marble repairs. Granite is popular for its natural beauty, strength and durability, and has usually been one of the best choices for countertops or benchtops. However, even how sturdy your granite benchtop is, it’s still possible that it may chip if ever you hit or dropped sharp or hard objects unto it. The role of granite benchtops and countertops in your kitchen is to help your kitchen interior appear more attractive and classy. If you will not give attention to it and refuse to have it fixed, it may worsen and can cause cracks in the long run. Therefore, if you want to observe proper sanitation and prevent that from happening, you need to have it repaired right away. Keep in mind that cracked granite benchtops are a lot harder and more complicated to deal with. So, what else do you need to do in taking good care of your caesarstone benchtop? You may also want to use them to have better results. It is specially formulated to remove stains such as beetroot or red wine while you take care of your caesarstone surfaces. Since caesarstone is non-porous, it will remain glossy and ultra smooth without the need to polish it. However, the downside of using caesarstone surfaces is that it can shortly tolerate hot temperature. So if your caesarstone surface is chipped, you need to opt for caesarstone benchtop repair. Use mats or trivets under hot placemats and dishes under ceramics, china, silver or other objects that could scratch the stone surface. If you wipe the area, there’s a tendency that you will spread the spill. So, utilize these simple steps in maintaining your stone countertops. Our scratch repair process can eliminate unsightly cracks & deep scratches on hard surfaces. The main advantage of white marble is that it is more cost-effective as compared to stone counter tops. They add ventilation and brightness to your kitchen interior. It easily get chipped and scratched when hard objects fall unto it. So, the solution is to take good care of your marble countertop and opt for marble chip repair. Our marble chip repair process can make worn out surfaces look as good as new. Rest assured that any chip and scratch repair done by our team will be handled with the utmost care. They impress with their outstanding functional properties but they are also subject to wear and tear meaning that sometimes tile chip repairs or stone chip repairs may be needed. Although engineered stone is a hard material, sometimes it is not hard enough to completely avoid damage. Most people are into granite and marble because they find them quality-wise and durable. Well, there’s nothing more frustrating and upsetting than chipped benchtops in the kitchen, especially that we tend to use our kitchen each day and we see them each time we wipe those benches. However, we should know that leaving it that way may worsen the chipped part. So, how can we benefit from chipped benchtop repairs? Therefore, by opting for benchtop chip repair, you will be given the best results possible, without needing to replace the benchtop. We do the cooking and preparation of foods there every day. But what makes a kitchen stand out is its benchtops, which are made of granite. Since this type of stone is natural and heat resistant, heat could not easily damage or affect it. If you don’t want to feel or touch it with chips, then at least have them fixed immediately after you’ve seen chips or scratches on it. So, wouldn’t it frustrate or annoy you upon seeing that your benchtops have chips? You should be aware that chips on your granite countertops can actually turn into hideouts and camps of bacteria. In fact, if you fix chip in granite benchtops, it is not as hard as most as it seems like. All you need is to take good care of its surface to make it look new as time goes by. We have listed here some of the ways on how to do stone chip repair and how to maintain the sturdiness and appearance of your caesarstone benchtops at home. Cream cleansers that are exclusively made for caesarstone materials can also be purchased on the market. When preparing food, it is always recommended that you cut on a right cutting board and not on your caesarstone benchtop so as to avoid damaging it. Our stone repair process can eliminate unsightly cracks & deep scratches on hard surfaces. Simple maintenance and care will help maintain your stone’s exquisiteness for generations to come. Listed here are some of the simple steps in taking good care of your stone countertop. Do not place hot items out of your oven directly on your stone surface or right off a stove. When cleaning the surface, dust mop floors as frequent as possible. Carefully rinse and dry your stone countertop with clean and clear water after you wash it. Use trivets, coasters, or placemats to prevent the surface from scratches and chips. Proper maintenance is important if you want your stone surface to last for years. If your stone surface has scratches, then you need a scratched stone repair service. Contact us today for scratched benchtop and surface repairs. We buy some do-it-yourself books, read, and get some useful ideas on how to do so. We have listed here some of the pros of using marble counter tops. If your marble countertop has chips, it may result to cracks if not repaired immediately. If you notice that it has chips or scratches, find a way to have them fixed as soon as possible so as not to worsen its situation. Each technician holds a current white card and the necessary public liability insurance to carry out any tile chip repairs in a guaranteed safe manner. Therefore scratches and chipped edges on a kitchen benchtop may occur, and replacing them is not easy or cost effective. Whether the scratches and marks are from sharp utensils or scratchy surfaces, they are inevitable no matter how careful you are. It will withstand exposure to tea, wine, vinegar, lemon juice and strongly coloured substances. Do not use products that contain trichlorethane or methylene chloride, such as paint removers or stripper. Should the surface be accidentally exposed to any of these damaging products, rinse immediately with water to neutralize the effect.

The History Of Quartz Countertops by msisurfaces.com

Heavy, solid slabs make for great, long-lasting surfaces that can typically be installed in one piece. Consider quartz – it’s not the new kid on the block anymore. Since that time, quartz countertops have grown in popularity as homeowners discovered what the earliest quartz pioneers knew – when the natural mineral quartz is improved upon by man’s ingenuity, quartz countertops can compete with other natural stone countertops in every way. Highly resistant to chips, dents, stains and other surface damage. The history of any building material is always fascinating, particularly when you are considering all your options for your next project. It’s a proven material full of exceptional benefits, with a half century of experience as an innovative and exciting countertop option!

Sources:

• How To Make Look Luxurious On A Budget Blesserhouse Com Tips To – blesserhouse.com
• Source – vgranite.com
• In San Jose CA – trulia.com
• Source – chipfix.com.au
• Source – msisurfaces.com