05-06-2013, 05:25 PM
Sapce,
Some hopefulyl useful information...
> I am thinking about getting new countertops. Not a must
> at this point but would be nice to refresh the look of
> the kitchen (about 8 year old cabinets)
New countertops can make a huge difference. It’s dependent upon what you have there already, though.
> I saw granite countertops at two friends' houses and
> both of them seemed very pleased with the results. They
> went through some specialized companies, but through a
> contractor from Home Depot or Lowes. They said those
> guys came and took exact measurements with some lasers,
> make sure the surfaces were flat, and several weeks
> later installed, and in one case where a crack/chip
> appeared, they replaced it no questions asked.
This is how a reputable company should do it.
> So now here are my questions:
>
> -are there various types of granite, or it's all the
> same (except the color)? I heard that some of this
> stuff is not real granite, but something else that
> looks like granite
There are many types and levels of quality. Don’t believe any company that says granit doesn’t require periodic cleaning and, just as important, sealing.
> -will this stuff crack if you put a hot pot by mistake?
Definitely possible. Always use a trivit. I recommend this for any kind of countertop.
> -around the sink there will be only 1" in the back
> (between sink and wall) and about 1" in the front. Will
> it crack here?
The granit shop will cut appropriately sized pieces of stone and mount and secure them in these locations.
>
> -The current countertop is like an "L" and the joint
> between these laminated boards is at 45 degree. Should
> I also do 45 degree or stick with right angles?
That would likely be a personal preference but ask the granite shop what they’d recommend.
> -I am also thinking about a new sink at the same time,
> I guess it will be a pain to replace it later. Maybe
> instead of one large sink get one of those dual sinks?
> pro, cons?
If you’re goign to replace the countertop, this would be the time to replace the sink. The stone will be cut to accomadate the sink of choice. It’s why I recommend purchasing a standard size/shape sink in the event it requires replacement. You’ll likely go with an undermount sink as they look great with stone countertops.
> -I am not replacing appliances at this time, the dish
> washer will stay. I assume these are standard sizes and
> in the future the next one will fit right in the place
> of the existing one, or am I wrong?
In theory, yes. However, there is no guarantee.
> there is a 5" gap between dishwasher and stove, and if
> I want a larger sink, it may make sense to move the
> dishwasher closer to the stove to make room for the new
> sink. Is there a minimum gap required between dishwasher
> and stove, or can I move them close to each other?
Good question. The stove in both my old and new apartments generate _lots_ of heat when in use and I’ve never been a fan of having another appliance next to it. In my old place, the dishwasher was on the opposite side. In my new place, it’s adjacent. Apparently, not a problem for the former owners. Maybe call the manufacturer of the dishwasher and ask.
> -back to the granite countertop, the existing
> countertop has a back-splash of about 3 1/2 inch. Would
> it make sense to ask them to see if I can make this
> taller, maybe 6"? there seems to be enough clearance
> that it would not cover outlets or switches
Personal choice. I’d rather have a tile backsplace than X number of inches of stone.
> -finally, a realtor once told me some granite
> countertops are radioactive. True or BS?
True. If I remember correctly, it can release Radon. However, this shouldn’t be an issue if you purchase the stone from a reputable company. And, you can always test it for Radon and then take it up with the granite supplier in the event of an issue.
> -how do you clean and maintain a granite countertop,
> just wipe it or something else? someone mentioned about
> sealing a marble countertop, does granite require this
> or not?
i use cleaner designed for granite countertops and have the stone sealed at least once per year. The company that does it for me steam cleans the stone, polishes it and then seals it for me. Well worth the expense. The coutnertops in my old place look brand-new as a result despite being many years old. I can’t say the same for the new place. It still looks good but not brand-new.
Give the choice, I would not purchase granite countertops again. I’d choose a Silestone or similar material, i.e. quartz, etc. No maintenance whatsoever other than a quick cleaning. No need to seal, etc. You’d still have to use a trivet for pots, pans, hot dishes and such. There are some types of quartz and similar materials that are so nice you’d mistake it for granite, just like there are certain types of porcelain tile that mimics travertine so well that you’d never see the difference.
There are lots of threads about countertops in the forum. Definitely worth a search.
Robert
Some hopefulyl useful information...
> I am thinking about getting new countertops. Not a must
> at this point but would be nice to refresh the look of
> the kitchen (about 8 year old cabinets)
New countertops can make a huge difference. It’s dependent upon what you have there already, though.
> I saw granite countertops at two friends' houses and
> both of them seemed very pleased with the results. They
> went through some specialized companies, but through a
> contractor from Home Depot or Lowes. They said those
> guys came and took exact measurements with some lasers,
> make sure the surfaces were flat, and several weeks
> later installed, and in one case where a crack/chip
> appeared, they replaced it no questions asked.
This is how a reputable company should do it.
> So now here are my questions:
>
> -are there various types of granite, or it's all the
> same (except the color)? I heard that some of this
> stuff is not real granite, but something else that
> looks like granite
There are many types and levels of quality. Don’t believe any company that says granit doesn’t require periodic cleaning and, just as important, sealing.
> -will this stuff crack if you put a hot pot by mistake?
Definitely possible. Always use a trivit. I recommend this for any kind of countertop.
> -around the sink there will be only 1" in the back
> (between sink and wall) and about 1" in the front. Will
> it crack here?
The granit shop will cut appropriately sized pieces of stone and mount and secure them in these locations.
>
> -The current countertop is like an "L" and the joint
> between these laminated boards is at 45 degree. Should
> I also do 45 degree or stick with right angles?
That would likely be a personal preference but ask the granite shop what they’d recommend.
> -I am also thinking about a new sink at the same time,
> I guess it will be a pain to replace it later. Maybe
> instead of one large sink get one of those dual sinks?
> pro, cons?
If you’re goign to replace the countertop, this would be the time to replace the sink. The stone will be cut to accomadate the sink of choice. It’s why I recommend purchasing a standard size/shape sink in the event it requires replacement. You’ll likely go with an undermount sink as they look great with stone countertops.
> -I am not replacing appliances at this time, the dish
> washer will stay. I assume these are standard sizes and
> in the future the next one will fit right in the place
> of the existing one, or am I wrong?
In theory, yes. However, there is no guarantee.
> there is a 5" gap between dishwasher and stove, and if
> I want a larger sink, it may make sense to move the
> dishwasher closer to the stove to make room for the new
> sink. Is there a minimum gap required between dishwasher
> and stove, or can I move them close to each other?
Good question. The stove in both my old and new apartments generate _lots_ of heat when in use and I’ve never been a fan of having another appliance next to it. In my old place, the dishwasher was on the opposite side. In my new place, it’s adjacent. Apparently, not a problem for the former owners. Maybe call the manufacturer of the dishwasher and ask.
> -back to the granite countertop, the existing
> countertop has a back-splash of about 3 1/2 inch. Would
> it make sense to ask them to see if I can make this
> taller, maybe 6"? there seems to be enough clearance
> that it would not cover outlets or switches
Personal choice. I’d rather have a tile backsplace than X number of inches of stone.
> -finally, a realtor once told me some granite
> countertops are radioactive. True or BS?
True. If I remember correctly, it can release Radon. However, this shouldn’t be an issue if you purchase the stone from a reputable company. And, you can always test it for Radon and then take it up with the granite supplier in the event of an issue.
> -how do you clean and maintain a granite countertop,
> just wipe it or something else? someone mentioned about
> sealing a marble countertop, does granite require this
> or not?
i use cleaner designed for granite countertops and have the stone sealed at least once per year. The company that does it for me steam cleans the stone, polishes it and then seals it for me. Well worth the expense. The coutnertops in my old place look brand-new as a result despite being many years old. I can’t say the same for the new place. It still looks good but not brand-new.
Give the choice, I would not purchase granite countertops again. I’d choose a Silestone or similar material, i.e. quartz, etc. No maintenance whatsoever other than a quick cleaning. No need to seal, etc. You’d still have to use a trivet for pots, pans, hot dishes and such. There are some types of quartz and similar materials that are so nice you’d mistake it for granite, just like there are certain types of porcelain tile that mimics travertine so well that you’d never see the difference.
There are lots of threads about countertops in the forum. Definitely worth a search.
Robert