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Laying down Granite Tile Countertop

December 7th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you have ever laid down ceramic tile before, then you know how easy it could be and really and truly the granite tile countertop is no different, no more difficult. The only snag in this is usually the egdes, if not taken into mind beforehand they can be a real pain afterwards. That is why, one of the first thing to take into account is how the tiles are going end up in the last stages. Luckily there are several options to choose from to lay the granite tile countertop, of which some are the custom made bullnose edge, a polished square edge, wood trim, a complementary ceramic rail or cap or a manufactured metal profile made for tile installations.

Edges to choose from:

The bullnose edge is normally made by a company which specializes in polishing stone.  The tile is first rounded over and then polished, so that it matches the finished side of the tile.  A face piece is fixed on the front of the countertop and the countertop looks thick with a polished edge and rounded at the corners.

Another option for the edges before laying granite tile countertop is to use the square polish.  The result is similar to the bullnose option, but the edges are square.  To finish the countertop edge sometimes wood moldings can be used.  You could also have ceramic tiles and have granite tiles installed inside the ceramic pieces.  Metal edges are often used to develop to finish tile edges.

Setting Pattern

After the edges have been decided, the actual laying granite tile countertop is considered.  Kitchen countertops have a standard depth and all granite tiles are exactly 12 inches by 12 inches and are butted together with a very fine grout seam.

For laying granite tile countertop in a very good kitchen, the tiles will either have a diagonal or a diamond pattern. The cuts at the back are generally small, if the kitchen cabinets are a standard size. If you have the right wood molding or a ceramic rail on the front edge, you do not need the small remainder cut at the back.  You could make any other design, by using your imagination and creativity, so that the cut at the back can be spared and yet the beauty of the stone remains.

Underlayment

Once the seal is grouted, you have to look at the underlayment while laying granite tile countertop.  This should be made of a quarter-inch cement board which is attached with adhesive and screws to fabricated wood base countertops. The seams in the board should be taped and filled with setting mortar.

Bedding the Tiles

Bedding the tiles is an important part of laying granite tile countertop.  Applying the thinset, then creating the mortar bed for the tiles have to be done carefully. Each tile has to be carefully bedded and the alignment has to be perfect.

The calculation of the number of tiles that you need is according to the footage and the width of the tiles.  If you have wide peninsulas or islands in the kitchen, they too have to be calculated.  Besides, you have to subtract the areas for cook tops, stoves, sinks or other built-ins.  Keep some extra tiles on hand, because there may always be some breakage and miscuts during laying granite tile countertop.

Laminate Countertops. Cutting and Installing them.

November 24th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Among all the many choices of countertop materials, one that stands out the most or more to say is very commonplace to homeowners everywhere is laminate countertops. For one, it is very durable, with a nice look without the ‘arm and a leg’ price tag to it. The thing is most people believe that professional installation is required, luckily however, this proves not to be true. Since, with a tin bit of ‘know how’, most do-it-yourselfers can tackle this job no problem. The following paragraphs more or less give you some helpful hints in the quest to installing and cutting countertop.

Preparation

The optimum way to begin is by removing the old laminate surface, though some people go for putting the new countertop over the old one. Next, you will need to make blanks for the new countertops by tracing the old ones on to some type of fiberboard.

You will then start cutting the countertop blanks to the precise sizes of the initial countertops. After cutting countertop blanks, you will clamp them together wherever there will be a joint. You can then drill holes where the two pieces will be fastened together.

Laminates

After the blanks are made, you can start cutting the countertop laminate to size. This material usually comes in sheets that are 3′ x 6′ or 5′ x 12′. When you are making your measurements for cutting countertop laminate material, it’s important to add some extra material to each measurement. This will allow for any errors that you make and you can trim it off later. You can cut the laminate with a carbide tip scoring tool.

After you have made all of your cuts, you can begin gluing the laminate to the blanks. This should be started on the sides and edges. After applying the adhesive and putting the laminate in place, use a roller to make sure it is smooth. This will also ensure that the entire surface of the laminate is making contact with the blank.

After this, you can begin trimming off the excess laminate. This will be done with a small tool called a laminate cutter. This tool resembles a small router. At this point, the countertop can be installed on the brackets that the old one was removed from.

Screws will be used to fasten the countertop to the brackets. This will be done from the bottom and up through the bottom of the countertop. When the countertop is in place, run a bead of clear silicone sealant around the edges where the back splash meets the wall.

After the unit is in place, you can then begin cutting your countertop sink hole. This will be done by measuring the base of the sink. Transfer that measurement to the area where the sink will be and then drill some starter holes. You can then use a jigsaw to cut out the opening for the sink. Then you can install the sink and all of the attachments.

Now that you have read through this article, hopefully you can now not have some installing your own countertop but also lighten the weight on your pocket by now having to pay a professional.

Choosing just the right countertop for your Kitchen

November 19th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Choosing the right countertop, frightening is it, just the thought of sends many new sends most new and even settled homeowners into a state of bewilderment. This in itself should be so alarming to anyone, since there are so many options, it could make your head. It’s like finding the right pair of pants to fit that new shirt or shoes for that brand new dress and to make matters worse, they are costly as well, henceforth finances come to mind.

The good news is, do not let all this scare you from a worthwhile choice in life since this really does not have to be a strenuous task since with a incite, some good tips and tricks of the business, finding the perfect countertop to fit your style, needs and pockets is only one step away.

Choose the Material

One of the first steps is going to be for you to choose the material for your countertop. To find the ideal material for your kitchen, you are first going to have to determine how much will need to be used and how much you have to spend. Obviously you can only pay for what you can afford, so if you are strapped for cash for instance, this is going to determine what materials you are limited to for your countertops.

Granite and marble are two of the most popular choices, because they are so durable and aesthetically appealing. They are more expensive than most other materials however, so again if you are on a tight budget you will more than likely have to choose another material to go with.

There are many other natural stone options that you may be interested in, such as limestone and soapstone, and although these are obviously not as attractive and high quality as the granite and quartz, they are still quite beautiful when done properly and also much more affordable.

Color

Another step is to choose the color for your countertop. This can also be tricky, because you want to choose a color that is going to go well with your existing décor – or the future design plan of the room – and one that you are going to enjoy for years to come and not grow bored of or regret.

For these reasons it is best that you choose a neutral color for your countertop, although if you are more daring you could always do it with a splash of color such as red or blue. If you think that resale value may be a consideration for you at some point in the future, you will want to keep your choice fairly low-key. Also consider whether your kitchen is visible to any other rooms in the home, because if not you have a lot more versatility and can have a lot more fun with it.

Hopefully this was in some way helpful in making your decision that much easier both on the style you choose and also on you pockets.

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Credits: Work From Home | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund