Confused about Granite or Quartz Countertops?

A countertop is the best way of adding some elegance into your kitchen. Many people, while buying countertops get confused in their types. The differences in quartz versus granite Kitchen countertops go beyond mere price. Quartz countertops, which are moulded according to their size, are the safest countertops available today.

While it is true that many homeowners prefer granite countertops, due to their cheap price and beauty, quartz countertops are also gaining popularity due to other major benefits that they offer. Quartz surfaces are easy to clean, non-porous and highly chip-resistant. This eliminates the need of using sealants for them. In addition to these features, quartz countertops are consistent in appearance, irrespective of the size of the surface covered.

Quartz countertops are generally made from a combination of resin and crushed quartz crystals. The work begins with pulverizing the quartz, which is then combined with resin, and other required materials, such as pigments. The mix thus made is placed in a mold the exact size and shape of countertops required by the customer. This prevents any need for cutting or sealing when they are installed in kitchens. This property gives a sleek look to the countertops even after years or decade of their installation.

On the other hand granite countertops are made from large piece of rock, which is cut using machines. The slices of granite are placed one by one on top of each other to form a countertop. This sometimes causes slight color mismatching between pieces and can be seen with the naked eye. In addition to this, granite countertops also need to be covered in sealant, which must be renewed every few years. A quartz countertop is chip-resistant and extremely durable. The way it is composed makes it very hard which reduces breakage to a great extent.

CaesarStone – Gaining Popularity in the South

CaesarStone is 93% crushed quartz, one of nature’s hardest minerals. The quartz is combined with high-quality polymer resins and pigments and then compacted under intense vibration, vacuum, and pressure into dense, non-porous slabs. The slabs are post cured, gauged to precise thickness, and polished to an enduring shine.

With its durability and lifetime warranty, CaesarStone is a perfect choice for a kitchen or bathroom countertop. A product that is very popular in the north is noticeably gaining traction here in the south.

Granite is always a great countertop choice, but never be afraid to mix things up a bit. And CaesarStone is definitely a product that is sure to mix things up!

Colors

CaesarStone offers an incredible product line with bold colors and matte-finish textures that are great for achieving that transitional look in your home. If you are looking for a soft muted look, than Misty Carrera from the Soft Blends texture would be beautiful with white European cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. And if you are looking for a pop of color, than Apple Martini would really make a statement in your modern kitchen.

ToviewCaesarStone’sonlinecatalogpleasevisit: http://www.caesarstoneus.com/catalog/collection.cfm

Careand Maintenance

Its hard, nonporous surface makes CaesarStone simple to clean. One of the most easy-to care-for choice for countertops on the market today. In most cases, soap and water or a mild detergent is all that is required to maintain its luster. If necessary, a non-abrasive cleanser such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel with Bleach or Comet Soft Cleanser Cream with Bleach can be used. Adhered materials like food, gum or nail polish can be scraped away with a plastic putty knife; any marks left by the blade can be removed with Soft Scrub Liquid Gel. Thoroughly rinse the surface with clean water to remove residue.

Please understand that HONED, TEXTURED and MOTIVO finishes will require more daily maintenance than the polished finishes. Since there is more exposed surface area with honed finishes, metal marks, finger prints and other signs of daily living will show on honed material. Most of these marks can be easily removed with little effort and non-abrasive cleaning products such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel.

CaesarStone prides itself in providing our customers a virtually care-free surface, but as with any product, excessive abuse can harm its finish. With a small amount of care, your CaesarStone countertops will look as great as the day you bought it for years to come.

Old World Charm Meets Modern Convenience

(Picture: Originally listed as two separate units, 3159 Jackson Street actually has two kitchens. This one sits on the second level with the main dining area and living room, while the other is on the first level. Both include CaesarStone countertops.)

3159 Jackson St., Pacific Heights, San Francisco. The asking price: $3.653 million.

What to love about it: The combination of Old World aesthetics and modern convenience. This three-level Pacific Heights home was built in 1904, and in 2005, the owners began a top-to-bottom renovation that was recently completed.

The home has hardwood floors throughout and multiple custom fireplaces. The main dining area on the second floor has room for a table for eight and features a kitchen with wrap-around CaesarStone countertops.

On the main level, there's a second kitchen that also has CaesarStone countertops and a bedroom that opens to the rear patio/garden. The home also comes with a newly constructed two-car garage.

Hidden gem: The third-floor master bedroom features an alcove with that delivers a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Size: The home was originally listed as two units, but is now being offered as a single-family home. It has five bedrooms, an office/library and 4 1/2 baths.

Agent: Antoine Crumeyrolle of Vanguard Properties

Readmore:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/20/REFP1AHSCU.DTL#ixzz0bsbtji8Q

For more information on Caesarstone Quartz Countertops & Surfaces, please visit www.caesarstoneus.com.

Why are Countertops Needed?

Have you seen any kitchen, bathroom, or area where work is performed without any countertop? If you have, doesn’t it look too messy without it? Wherever some kind of work activity takes place, it is necessary to have a support so that the work can be done smoothly and after that, if there is any need, the place can be cleaned easily. So much is the requirement for the countertops these days that these rooms do not look complete without them.

Out of all the counterparts used, Quartz countertops are the most sought after countertops. Those who want to have an everlasting look of their kitchen, bath or work room like to go for Quartz countertops due to its durability and availability in different colours. Countertops are a fun to change too, should you want to do it yourself. The satisfaction that will come from seeing your own handwork is immeasurable. You can combine functionality with self-help while choosing quartz countertops.

Kitchen countertops also give an aesthetic appeal to your kitchen. You can buy a colour according to the flooring, tiles or paint colour of your walls. Some people also like to create a sitting space in the kitchen where family can get together informally and have food together or discuss their whole day events. They also serve as a table where generation X meet oldies and try to understand their values and principles.

If you like designer stuff, you can even experiment with a zigzag cutting where the edges can be moulded so that they don’t hurt anyone. This is one of the newest and revolutionary ideas and only people with innovative mindset would actually take a step to implement it. Only quartz gives you a chance to be creative and at the same time be wild in the way you wish to decorate your home.

CAESARSTONE, THE WORLD’S FIRST QUARTZ SURFACE, IS AVAILABLE ON iPHONE

Van Nuys, CA (December 10, 2009) CaesarStone, the original quartz surface manufacturer, launches a unique, free iPhone “MobileGallery™,” application that gives consumers, designers and dealers alike a pocket-sized tool to browse and order samples from the remarkable lineup of CaesarStone countertops & surfaces, it was announced today by Arik Tendler, CaesarStone President.

“iPhone technology is a unique cultural phenomenon,” says Tendler. “CaesarStone is proud to make our product line available to our customers, architects and designers in innovative new ways. Colors can be viewed using the iPhone as a portable sample chip, helping the consumer to make informed, on the spot purchase decisions. For designers and dealers, it specifies material and allows for instant referencing of the CaesarStone library.”

CaesarStone’s “MobileGallery” application, developed by Rumble Design, Inc., was designed around the way the company’s product is presented online and in the field. “CaesarStone is offering a brand experience beyond the showroom,” said Jake Rumble, President, Rumble Design. “The iPhone’s platform and features provide powerful mobile tools for a progressive audience.”

The special functions of the application include:

Surface Browser – Allows the user to see size/color accurate samples. The scrolling features allow for viewing that goes beyond the edges of the iPhone. Additionally, the user can toggle over each sample to see how that surface looks in an application.

Surface Calculator – Allows users to calculate how much product they will need for their installation.

Free Sample Ordering – Users can immediately order free samples with one click.

FREE downloads of this application are available for iPhone users via the Apple iTunes App Store or the direct link from www.CaesarStoneUS.com.

About CaesarStone

CaesarStone is the original quartz countertops & surfaces manufacturer. The company is headquartered in Southern California with offices in Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; Miami, FL; New York, NY, St. Louis, MO and Atlanta, GA. CaesarStone produces premium quartz surfaces that compliment any design from traditional to contemporary, for both home and commercial applications. CaesarStone products are available through kitchen and bath retailers, fabricators, architects, designers, builders and distributors nationwide.

Offering a residential lifetime warranty, CaesarStone countertops are nonporous, stain, scratch and heat resistant. CaesarStone has earned the respected Good Housekeeping Seal from Good Housekeeping Research Institute and is in compliance according to stringent international environmental standards including ISO 14001 (environmental management system), ISO 9002 (quality management standard), and NSF (public health and safety). A sustainable material, CaesarStone is GREENGUARD certified and is a member of The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

For more information about CaesarStone please visit: www.CaesarStoneUS.com or call toll-free 877-9QUARTZ (877-978-2789).

Green Trends in Kitchen & Bath Design

A Recent Product Trend Report By Kitchen & Bath News Recently Visited The World Of Green Countertops. While Many People Claim To Want To Be More Conscious Of The Environment In Every Aspect Of Living, Not Everyone Is Willing To Spend For It. While The Green Trend May Not Have Fully Permeated The Kitchen And Bath Industry Yet, At Lesast In Terms Of Spending Patterns, In The World Of Countertops, Sustainable Design Seems To Be The Hottest Trend Around. At Least That’s What The Manufacturers Who Were Interviewed By Kitchen & Bath Design News Are Saying. They Maintain That The Future Of The Countertop Industry Will Be Defined By Durable, Sustainable Countertops With Plenty Of Design Appeal.

Indeed, Sustainable Countertops, New Colors And Patterns, Countertops Featuring A Sense Of Depth And Products Designed With Long-Term Cost Savings In Mind Are Clearly In Vogue Today, Manufacturers Agree.

“The Future Of Our Business Is In Creating Quality Products That Are Sustainable And Have High Performance, While Not Sacrificing Design,” States Lorenzo Marquez, Director Of Marketing For Cosentino North America, In Stafford, Tx.

Marquez, Like Many Others In The Field, Believes It Is Now More Important Than Ever For Manufacturers To Produce A Quality Product That Helps Preserve The Environment.

“Consumers Are Looking To Do Good And Feel Good About Their Countertop Choice.” Says Maureen Mcgeehan, Marketing Manager For Dupont Surfaces In Wilmington, De.

Ferron Dunham, Marketing Manager For Lg Surfaces In Peoria, Az, Concurs, Stating, “Surfaces That Give Back To Nature And Are On Target With The Color Trends Will Be The Best Sellers.”

Taly Dunevich, Director Of Marketing For The Van Nuys, Ca-Based Caesarstone, Sees That Trend Toward A More Contemporary Look, With Colors That Are “Consistent, Rich And Less ‘Noisy’ Than Granite.” Dunevich Also Notices A Movement Toward Surfaces That Have Some Kind Of Pattern Or Texture.

While Going Green And Adding New Colors And Patterns Are Popular, There Also Seems To Be A More Subtle Change As Consumers Look For Alternatives To Granite.

“Now That Granite Is Showing Up In Gas Station Bathrooms, I Think That People Are Really Looking For Something New And Different,” Says Karen Righthand, Director Of Marketing For Vetrazzo, In Richmond, Ca. “We’ve Seen This Trend In Countertops Before. Historically, Every 10 Years Or So, A New Material Kind Of Drives A Wedge In And Starts To Open The Door.”

This New Trend Is Seemingly Quartz Countertops, According To Dale Mandell, North America Sales Director For Samsung Staron. “Quartz Is Beginning To Rival Granite In A Big Way,” He Says. “Quartz Surfaces Use Mined, Natural Quartz (One Of The Hardest Minerals Found In Nature) That Are Blended With Technologically Advanced Polymers. The Result Is A Durable, Stain-Resistant, Scratch-Resistant Surface.”