Granite, Quartz & Marble Concepts For Your Home

A lot of people don’t realize how easy it is to remove your own countertops…even for people who are not particularly handy. Always be careful and it’s good to have someone to help you.  

1. Clear the area.  Remove everything from the top of your countertop and cabinets – enough that you can access the inside back of the cabinets.
2. Disconnect plumbing. Before you start taking the plumbing apart, make sure you shut the water off using the main water shut off valve (this will shut down water for the entire house so make sure you go to the bathroom before) or shut the water off with the shut off valves that will stop the water to the area you’re working. Do not turn the water on until the sink and faucets are installed.
3. Score where the backsplash/countertop meets the wall.  Run a utility knife along the back wall where the backsplash or the counter  top meets the wall
4. Unscrew the countertop.  From the underside of the cabinets, remove every screw that you can find attached the countertop to the cabinet.  Usually, you will find them along the front and the along the back.
5. Lift and remove the counter top.  Place your hands under the front edge and lift the top using your legs and then arms. The area where the sink is may require a helper. Lift the countertop off the cabinets. Now that the counter tops are off, it is a good idea to make sure the cabinets are level. Unlevel cabinets are a common cause for the seam breaking in the counter top and sometimes may cause the counter top to crack.  Split seams or any damage due to cabinets that are not level are not covered under warranty.

Consult a counter top expert if you have any questions.

If the goal in your kitchen is to be as green as possible, Latitude offers the best options for countertops.  Our knowledgeable sales people are always on hand to answer any questions that you have about the green qualities of the countertops that we offer at Latitude.

The new environmental craze that is happening, in regards to granite, is the testing for Radon gases in granite slabs.  Many people have asked us about Radon gases in granite, and what effect it can have on your home.  Granite, and other natural stone products, always contains traces of NORMs (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) that produce measureable amounts of radiation and sometimes Radon gas.

Although all granite is tested for radon, it is possible that small amounts of the radioactive material can still be found in the slab.  Not to worry though, as Radon gas usually becomes insignificant when diluted with the quantity of air in your home.  Most Radon gas that is produced in your home is from the actual soil that your house is built on.  I have included a pie chart that shows the most abundant locations for radon gas in your home.

 Although granite does not usually have enough radon gas in it to be harmful to your family, you may still be cautious of putting granite in your home.   In that case, Latitude offers 5 Natural Quartz Surfaces that are all leading the charge in safer countertop options.   For your information, I have included links to each of these suppliers “Green Qualities” on their websites.

Silestone

Caesarstone

Hanstone

Zodiaq

Eco by Cosentino

If you have any other questions regarding the green qualities of countertops, please visit our showroom, or showroom locator for a Latitude dealer near you!!

Happy Holidays!!

C

Marble and granite materials have been used as kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities for quite some time around the world. Marble typically only comes from a couple of locations on the planet whereas granite can be found on almost every continent.

There are some very obvious pro’s and con’s to both solutions.

Marble:

Marble is a type of metamorphic rock composed mostly of calcite. Marble comes in a variety of colours and patterns, especially in the coveted light colours which people enjoy in both the bathroom and the kitchen. Unfortunately, marble has several disadvantages, it is very porous and can easily be chipped, cracked, or stained. It is recommended that marble is sealed often to maintain it properly.

Granite:

Granite is a crystalline stone that is known for being much harder. Granite also contains a medium to high concentration of quartz, quartz being one of the hardest minerals on the planet. When properly sealed, it is much more resistant to staining as it is less porous.

Conclusions:

Kitchen – Marble would be suited best in a decorative kitchen that does not have high traffic or children. There’s no question it adds elegance to any room but it is much less practical due to how soft and porous it is. Granite would make a much better choice for the average person with the amount of use their kitchen counter tops receive.

Bathroom – This is an area of the house I personally would prefer to put marble, either as a stylish vanity or as unique marble shower walls.

Cost:

There is no real difference in cost between the two of them. If you’re shopping on a level by level basis they are exactly the same price here at Latitude. However, don’t forget to check out our ongoing remnant sale and you may be able to save up to 75% off which ever surface you choose.

Latitude fabricates granite, marble and quartz countertops in 8 business days, AND beginning 2011, we will be fabricating in 7 business days. So from template or from when a layout is provided, you only have to wait 7 business days beginning in January 2011.

What’s the catch? There are no catches.  But there are a few things that we need to make this happen.  We need all the details confirmed on the confirmation sheet (we have to know what we are making – the colour, edge profile selection…) and if we are templating, all the cabinets must be secured and installed in their final location.  We create digital templates and they are very exact (within a milimetre!). Have your sink there too so the templator can ensure that it fits in your cabinet. Have a slide in stove? The templator will want to take a look at that too.  Essentially, if it affects the countertop, the templator will want to know about it.

Once the templator has plotted all the points into the computer, he translates everything into CAD. From there, in goes to the sawyers, to the laminators, CNC machines, water polishers, into installers trucks and to your home…in SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS!

 Want us to make it from your drawing? No Problem! Ensure that your layout has the shape clearly drawn, and all sides have the exact measurement that you want us to make the top.  The centre of the sink must be clearly marked since that is how we need that to cut the sink top out.  Edges that need to be finished should be marked with an “o” on the drawing and we need to know how many faucet holes to drill (typically single, 3 hole 4” centres, 3 holes 8” centres drilled either straight or curved.

We will look over the drawing and let you know if we have any issues with the drawing that you give us.  And again, from there, in goes to the sawyers, to the laminators, CNC machines, water polishers,into  installers trucks and to your home…in SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS!

We do recommend that you have one of our professional templator come to your home to digitally templator your kitchen, since the space tends to be bigger and more complicated.