Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Quartz Worktops

There is no home that will be complete without a kitchen included in the plan. Individuals must take great care when selecting a suitable material for their countertops, sink and kitchen cabinet, seeing that the selection of materials could make or break your décor as well as the overall visual appeal of your kitchen. Below you will find a few ground rules for choosing the most suitable material for your worktops:

First of all, the material must be durable enough to last for decades without showing any visible signs of wear and tear. In addition, the material must not be too costly, yet it should lend opulence to the kitchen. Quartz worktops fit all of the criteria that have been outlined above. Quartz worktops are built from a mixture of quartz mineral that is naturally occurring and epoxy resins. The resins serve as the adhesive or bonding agent which joins together the quartz crystals.

In contrast to kitchen countertops made out of wood, quartz worktops are tremendously resistant to scratches. In addition, they are extremely resistant to heat. Hot pots and pans can be taken directly from the stove or oven and placed on the quartz worktops; you will not have to be concerned about causing any damage at all to the surface. Having such a relaxed attitude towards placing hot pots and pans on the countertop would be impossible on laminate or plastic kitchen worktops.

In addition, quartz worktops appear comparable to granite worktops in terms of its durability and other functions but it is important to note that quartz worktops are more cost-effective. Despite the fact that the visual appeal of granite countertops cannot be undermined, the expenses that are associated with installing granite countertops in your kitchen will make it hard to rationalize selecting them over the quartz worktops, which provide a visual appeal that is similar to granite at a mere fraction of the price. Of course, individuals have a large budget can opt to make use of granite worktops; however, for the majority of individuals who are operating from a limited budget, quartz worktops will be the shrewd choice.

Quartz worktops have a matte finish and they are without a doubt the next best surface to granite countertops. Countertops that are made out of quartz require very little maintenance. Regular cleaning agents that are used in the kitchen can be utilized to keep the worktops clean. If required, an individual could even use warm water and soap to clean the stains caused by foods without being concerned about any scratches to the worktops. Once it is installed, quartz worktops will not require polishing or re-sealing.

Granite Worktops

Granite worktops are incredibly effective at making sure that bacteria do not build up beneath those surfaces that are hard to clean and as a result, these worktops are hard-wearing and an absolutely exceptional alternative for any kitchen, regardless of the size of the space. There are a number of misconceptions in relation to granite worktops which must be dispelled, with the most important one being that buying black granite from your countertops will result in the cooking space looking smaller and more cramped. Without a doubt, this could not be any further from the reality. In view of the fact that a number of the available materials are highly reflective and as such, a mirrored effect is achieved, you will possibly get additional light into the room by installing black granite worktops than you imagined initially.

It you are still harboring a bit concerned in relation to choosing a black worktop, this is quite okay as well. There is a vast assortment of colors available with all of that granite surfaces that are on the market. Whatever color you choose, you will be able to take advantage of this long-lasting and durable solution for your kitchen worktops, the choices are really up to you.

It is important to note that there are necessary precautions that you will have to take in order to ensure that your granite worktops keep looking new for many, many years. Firstly, you must pay careful attention to the cleaning solutions that you use on granite worktops. Ideally, you should not expose your worktops to harsh sunlight which may beam in from a window nearby or to artificial UV lighting. These lights will have a damaging effect on the quality of the granite worktops in which you have invested.

However, do not be overly concerned, seeing that this issue can easily be remedied by installing roller or Venetian blinds in your kitchen. This will provide your space with added ambience and extra style and will also keep the granite worktops looking as spectacular as the day when you first had it installed.

In addition, cleaning your granite worktops will ensure that they stay blemish free and spotless. The following guidelines will assist you in giving the proper care to your granite worktops. For example, if a limescale stain is on your countertop, applying a splash of vinegar to the area that is affected for 60 seconds at the most will be sufficient to get rid of the stain. This will make sure that the limescale stain will no longer be visible.