DFW Granite Dallas Fort Worth Tx Finest Kitchen Granite Counter Tops

Why People Choose Granite by DFW Granite

2011-01-20T10:35:00.000-08:00

Why Choose Granite for your Countertops

Granite is the traditional favorite kitchen counter top material for its unique colors and patterns, proven durability and lasting value. Granite is a natural stone that is heat, scratch and stain resistant and nearly impossible to damage with proper care and cleaning which is simple once you know how. Granite is a good choice for any project inside or outside including walls and floors.
Granite can be used indoors and outdoors.

Here are just a few ways Granite is being used today:

Countertops, vanities, Desk tops

Exterior and interior cladding panels - i.e. tub surrounds, shower walls & trim

Pavings and floor coverings

Fireplace hearths

Window sills

Signage

Granite Countertop Maintenance Tips

Daily Granite Countertop care is as easy as cleaning with a gentle cleanser like Murphy's Oil Soap or mild dishwashing liquid. If needed you can use a synthetic scrubbing pad to clean your granite counter. With the proper maintenance, Granite Countertop stay new-looking for a long time. Here are easy steps to follow:

Wipe up spills immediately

Use mild soap and water

Rinse

Use soft cloth to dry

Removing Stains

Unfortunately, a lived-in kitchen will eventually experience a stain or two even on your granite counter. How to remove the stain will depend on what caused the stain. Use the suggestions found on the following chart:

How to Treat Stains on Granite Countertop Stain Treatment How to Use

Most Stains 1 cup flour, 1-2 T mild dishwashing soap, create a thick paste by mixing with water Apply to stain, cover overnight with plastic wrap, in the morning scrape mixture from stain with wooden utensil and rinse.

Oil based stains 1 cup flour, 1-2 T mild hydrogen peroxide, form a thick paste by mixing with water Apply to stain, cover overnight with plastic wrap, in the morning scrape mixture from stain with wooden utensil and rinse.

Organic stains Combine 12 percent hydrogen peroxide with 2-3 drops of ammonia This should help to remove stains like coffee and tea.
Ink on dark Granite Lacquer thinner or acetone Apply to stain.
Ink on light Granite

Hydrogen peroxide Apply to stain.
Wine Make a mixture of molding plaster and bleach until it becomes a paste Apply to stain for 30 minutes, remove and rinse.
[edit]

Resealing Granite Countertop

Before you reseal your Granite Countertop, check with the manufacturer or installer to be sure it is necessary. Most granite counters do need to be re-sealed on an annual basis, but not all of them require this.

However, for those that do require sealing to retain the color and clarity of the granite counter top, it is necessary to reseal the counter every six months to two years. Check with your installer to find what they recommend. How much you use your kitchen will play a part in how often it needs to be re-sealed. When you do re-seal, be sure to choose a non-toxic sealer, since counters are used for food preparation.

Two Types of Sealers

Two types of sealers can be found on the market. A penetrating sealer penetrates into the stone. The second, a topical sealer, does not penetrate but instead coats the top of the counter's surface.

* Penetrating sealers – Protecting the structure of natural stone, a penetrating sealer absorbs into the Granite for three or four minutes. When almost dry, add a little more sealer to the counter and rub with a soft, dry rag. Apply to a section at a time. Wait two hours and apply a second coat. When shopping for your sealer, look for one that says it is an oil repellent impregnator, which will help stop oil from seeping into the stone.

* Topical sealers – These sealers form a film designed to protect the countertop's surface. Usually made from some form of natural wax, acrylic, and other plastic compounds. Topical sealers come in two types:

Strippable

Just like it sounds, topical sealers are made to be stripped or removed from the stone countertop with little work. As with any project, read the label and talk with the manufacturer before using any product.

Permanent

Once you apply a permanent sealer, it becomes difficult to remove. Comprised of solvent-based or water-based polymers, most often these are not recommended for Granite.

Water Spill Test

Once you've sealed your counter, test it to be sure that it is adequately sealed. As a test, spill a little water on your countertop and leave it set. After 30 minutes, wipe it up. If the water leaves your counter darkened, the Granite is not sufficiently sealed.

Warnings and Cautions

Because Granite is so durable, it's easy to think you can use anything on it. However, this is not true if you really want to keep your counters in good condition. Avoid products with ingredients that include lemon, vinegar or other acids. In fact, it's a good idea to use coasters to protect your counter under glasses containing acidic drinks like alcohol or citrus juices.

And as a final note on Granite Countertop maintenance, let me remind you that even though you can use harsher chemicals to clean your counter, doing so may dull or even etch the counter's finish. Stick with milder solutions and retain that natural beauty you fell in love with in the first place. Once you've applied a topical sealer, your maintenance really shifts to maintenance of the sealer..
Retrieved from "http://homeimprovement.lovetoknow.com/Granite_Countertop_Maintenance"

Can Your Cabinets Support Granite Countertops by DFW Granite.com

2011-01-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

Can your Cabinets Support Granite Countertops in Kitchen or Bathroom

Most cabinets will hold the weight of granite just fine. The thing you might need to worry about is if you have an exceptionally large overhang for a bar. Then you should have corbels or some sort of brace for any overhang over 10 inches.

If you have any doubt about the sturdiness of your cabinets or any other questions about installing your granite, be sure to ask your granite installation company. Most kitchen cabinets are all made the same and will support any type of counter that is put on the top. If the cabinets are installed right they should not be wobbly in any way. Therefore the countertop will be supported by the cabinets and should not cause the countertop to crack or warp. This is if the counter is installed right. The cabinet manufacturer does not have any clue what kind of countertop will be used, so they make all the cabinets the same

How to Measure Countertops by DFW Granite.com

2011-01-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

How to Measure Countertops

In order to obtain a bid for your granite countertops, you must measure your kitchen or vanity countertop. Accurate measuring will be very important to the fabricator that you work with. The more information that you give them, the more accurate your proposal will be. Again, this will be a proposal based on your measurements. When a fabricator visits your home, they do the measuring and come back later to establish a template, which will be the final numbers used for square footage.

Get some paper and a tape measure and begin measuring at a corner of your kitchen or vanity countertop. Continue around the room until you get back to your starting point. Please mark on the drawings where your main sink, veggie sink, stove or cook top, and refrigerator are placed.

Make sure to write down the measurement for the length both for the front and the back. Write down the measurement for the depth of the countertop starting from the wall to the edge of the countertop.

Granite Countertops and Radon -Marble Institute of America by DFW Granite.com

2011-01-20T07:46:00.000-08:00

Key Quotes Regarding Radon in Granite Countertops

"No action needs to be taken to remove granite countertops in existing homes. For those who are concerned, valid radon concentration monitoring should be conducted in the living areas of the home. Radon measurement devices should be placed where they measure the ambient air of the room. If the granite countertop is believed to be a cause for concern, some action might be considered. However, it would be more effective in terms of risk reduction to take steps to mitigate radon concentrations throughout the home. The cost of such mitigation would likely be less than 10% of the cost of replacing kitchen countertops and would very likely result in a much greater overall risk reduction."
"A considerable amount of research has been published in peer-reviewed scientific literature and all of it comes to the same conclusion: the levels of radon coming off a granite countertop are not excessive and not showing any risk for the population in their homes. To properly measure radon, one must calculate the emission rate in connection with the volume of air in the home. Much like paint fumes do, radon generally dilutes harmlessly into a home's air. To get even close to the type of dangerous levels of radon exposure that's been reported in news articles recently, a consumer would have to completely seal off the room, stay in that room 24/7 - for 72 years."
While natural rocks such as granite may emit some radon gas, the subsequent levels of radon in the building that are attributable to such sources are not typically high."

DFW Granite Dallas's Finest Kitchen Granite Counter Tops

2010-02-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

DFW Granite Dallas's Finest Kitchen Granite Counter Tops

Why Choose DFW Granite located in Dallas Fort Worth DFW Metroplex

2008-11-17T10:38:00.000-08:00

Why You Should Choose DFW Granite

* Finest Workmanship
* Quality Natural Stone Materials ~ Granite, Marble, Quartz
* Well Established ~ in Business for over 10 Years
* Many Satisfied Customers [we show you our references]
* Some of our standard items are upcharges for other similar or competitive
companies.
* Installed in 2 to 4 days from day of fabrication
* 9 Standard Edges at No extra charge
* We Provide Tile Services such as Flooring & Backsplash too.
* Wholesale 18 gauge sinks that come in 3 sizes, styles, some come in reversible too.
* We are very thorough in our explanation of your job and try hard to cover all
realistic expectations from start to finish.

2007-12-17T04:29:00.001-08:00

See more at http://www.dfwgranite.com
email at: dfwgranite@yahoo.com
Ofc: 972-671-9324