Looking out for a cheap and best granite deals? - Consider these tips

Check out the thickness of the granite slabs offered in the bid - 1-1/4" is usually considered to be the standard granite thickness in construction industry. The thinner granite types are usually used in bathrooms and laundry rooms. Thinner varieties are no good to be used as kitchen worktops or counter tops. So make sure that the thickness of the granite is included on the bid offered to you.

Granite slab pattern viewing - One variable that should not be ignored is to check the quality and pattern of the granite in the cost of completing granite. Not all of the standard granite slabs are the same. There are shops that use every square inch of the granite available regardless of the pattern. However you will never appreciate to have such parts on your kitchen island. If you can get the view of the slab you are purchasing and layout your project on the slab, you can see how the granite flows before it gets fabricated and installed.

Edge detail also needs to be taken into consideration as different edges take different amounts of time to fabricate. To get the most accurate bid, pick up the edge detail you wish to have and have it priced with that edge.

Granite cut-outs and Granite Sealer – Many companies charge per cut-out needed in the granite. Study your cut-out requirements (cut-outs for sink, faucets etc) and ask for it to be priced accordingly. Also make sure that you choose the bid that provides you with at least 15 year sealer to keep your granite sealed and protected.

Granite Delivery and Installation – The last and important thing to look out for is the installation and sales tax. Make sure that your granite worktops bid includes the deliver charges, installation charges and the sales tax.

Polishing Granite worktop to keep it shiny for long time?

Firstly, the handy tips to do it by preparing polishing solutions from things available in your kitchen.

1. Take a mixture of half cup baking soda and three cups of warm water and apply it on the surface of your worktop. Wipe off the excess liquid and buff with a soft sponge. This will help remove any stains and deposits on your worktop’s surface.

2. Prepare a mixture of 1/4 cup of isopropyl rubbing alcohol, water and a few drops of any mild detergent or liquid dishwasher soap. Fill the solution in a spray bottle and squirt it over the worktop surface. Rub the surface in slight rubbing motion to bring back the shine on your granite worktop.

Ready made kits available in market to polish granite surfaces.

3. Buy a commercial non-abrasive granite polish and sealant from a hardware store. Clean you granite worktop to make sure no residues or any liquid is on the surface. Apply polish to the area and buff with a soft clean cloth. After applying polish on the surface, proceed by using sealant on the granite as an added protection. There are also ready made granite maintenance kits available in the market to guide you how to polish the worktops.

Why granite stones make excellent worktops and countertops?

1. Granite stones can hold too much pressure and is fire resistant, heat resistant, abrasion or scratch resistant, frost and slip resistant.
2. Granite stones are highly rigid and stable in character for constructing household walls, floors and especially kitchen worktops and countertops.
3. Natural stones make you feel very close to the environment providing a natural look to your surroundings.
4. It is available in earthy colours and varying patterns providing versatility to the natural stone that best fits the elegance and simplicity of every home.
5. Granite stones are timeless in terms of uniqueness and durability.

An important granite archaeological find in Alexandria, Egypt

Egypt: A huge granite block thought to have once formed part of a 'Cleopatra temple' pillar in a sunken palace of Cleopatra has been raised from the sea at Alexandria. This nine-tonne stone, said to be from a temple to the goddess Isis, was lifted by crane out of the waters which have covered the palace for centuries.

It was cut from a slab of red granite quarried in Aswan, some 1,100km (700 miles) to the south, officials say. There are plans to exhibit it in a new museum devoted to the sunken city. Earthquakes are thought to have toppled the city in the 4th Century.

This is one of the most important archaeological finds in Alexandria, among the 400 items recovered by the Greek archaeological team that has been engaged in underwater research since 1998.

Article source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8419746.stm

Restoring your granite worktops that have been damaged by hot pans

Firstly, if your granite worktop has come with a warranty, then take advantage of it. But you will have to make sure that the damage was incurred within the warranty duration. A representative from your granite manufacturer should come to repair the damage caused by hot pans and other hot kitchen accessories.

There are many restoring liquids or pastes available in market that can be used to polish your granite countertop and remove stains and marks. Most of the kitchen granite worktop manufacturers recommend their own line of products for the maintenance of their worktops. These solutions can be used directly on the damaged surface of your granite countertop.

For deeper marks that would not come off, you should consult your manufacturer or professional granite countertop servicemen who can come to your home and attend to the damage right away.

Factors that affect the price of granite slabs

We all know that using granite in any home improvement work is not a cheap preposition. That is why it is important to help people understand some of the costs and realize that Granite worktops are a luxury and beautiful addition to your home as well as an investment.

There are four major factors that seem to affect the price of the granite stones.

1) The country of a particular granite stone’s origin.

2) Hardness: This factor majorly affects the granite price. Hard granite would require expensive diamond tooling to quarry, cut, shape and polish as compared to the softer varieties.

3. The cost of shipping and receiving the granite from the ports.

4) Supply and demand of the particular varieties of granite stones. Low quality and less attractive granite is always cheap and visa-versa.

Buying Granite over the Internet.

You should do a little research before you decide to purchase what should be the dream worktop for your kitchen Here are a few points that consumers buying granite worktops over the internet should be aware of.:

1. Granite stones vary in quality and not all granite is the same quality. Some types have been seen varying quite a lot.
   
2. Some granites put up for sale over the internet, may bear the same name as those stones seen in granite showrooms and the supplier may even say it's the best quality, but if it is ultra cheap, believe me - it certainly won’t be the same quality!
3. One thing that you need to keep in mind is with the surface colors and blemishes which could be visible within the granite stone. Several other problems can also be present, including; fissures or fault lines in the granite. Make sure the granite supplied to you does not greatly differ from its natural colour and pattern profile that is commonly seen with that type of granite stone.
   
4. In lower grades of granite, problems like blemishes and fault lines can be extremely noticeable thus spoiling the overall effect of the surface colour and pattern. The better manufacturers will always make sure to treat the lines and blemishes by cutting around and confining these faulty stone to the waste pile. But the cheap suppliers cannot afford to cut out all problem marks and blemishes, or their profit would also be in the waste pile.
5. Some cheaper varieties of granite may also vary in colour across a batch or even a single piece which may look ugly as your worktop may not have a fluent colour flow across the joints. But for the cheap suppliers it is very difficult to reject such granite and they can put it for sale with the name of “cheap affordable quality granite” and still make a profit.