Tag-Archive for » Granite Surface «

Saturday, July 04th, 2009 | Author: admin

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Granite countertops in your kitchen can change the look of the kitchen. It can convert an old and dull kitchen to an attractive one. But to retain the elegance of the kitchen, you need to take care of the granite surface. You should know that the natural stone needs frequent cleaning. To retain the shine of granite, you should maintain it regularly. For the maintenance of granite countertops, you need to follow some simple tips.

The first thing that you need to do is cleaning the surface when a stain occurs on the surface. Unless you do this, the stains would penetrate inside the surface, which can cause severe damage to the stone. Another thing that you can do is, get the worktops cleaned with mild soap or a neutral cleaner. Use smooth cleaning pad for rubbing the surface else there would be marks on the surface.

To remove the chemicals and extra dirt from the granite surfaces, get the surfaces rinsed with warm water and then pat the surface dry. This should be done with clean cloth to avoid marks. If there is a stain on the surface then you can get it cleaned with a mixture of dish washing liquid and flour. The mixture should be applied on stain and left for some time. A plastic layer should be placed on the paste. This should be left for a fortnight. Then, the paste should be scraped with wooden spatula and the granite tile should be left with fresh water.

In case of an oily stain, it might be a bit difficult to remove it. You can use solution of hydrogen peroxide to remove the oily stains on the granite countertops. A solution with ammonia liquid can also be effective for the cleaning of kitchen countertops. This can also be effective on stains caused by grease or milk. Fruit juice, tea and coffee can also stain a granite surface. Mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide can be helpful in the removal of these stains. The surface should be rinsed with water and dried after the completion of this process.

Some stains on granite surfaces are extremely difficult to be removed. To remove a difficult stain, you need to use a granite cleaner that is effective on that particular type of stain. You can also appoint a professional for the cleaning job and give a new look to the tiles of your kitchen. If you have a granite countertop or worktop in your kitchen then you should get it resealed after every couple of years.

By cleaning the granite surfaces regularly you can maintain the beauty of the surface for a several years. Worktops of granite, in these days are used in offices as well as residences. The natural stone granite is preferred than the other building materials for their elegance and durability. Though it is expensive than other building materials but the natural qualities of granite has always retained its popularity. Granite worktops can be cleaned easily if a person follows the simple tips.

 

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Sunday, June 28th, 2009 | Author: admin

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Granite surfaces can be found in several modern homes and offices. It is the toughness and elegance of granite that have attracted people for ages. If you have granite surface in your house then provide proper maintenance to it for saving it from stains and damages. You should know that tile sealant plays an important role in the process of installation. Sealants applied on the granite surfaces solidifies after sometimes and checks penetration of water, smoke, fire, dust and air inside tile surface. Applying proper sealant can increase life of tiles.

Sealing granite countertops and surfaces at the time of installation is not all. It should be re-sealed at regular intervals so that it can prevent stains and damages for years. You should re-seal the surface if the granite tiles soaks water from the surface. To seal the granite tiles, you need to purchase sealer from local hardware store and follow some simple steps. You should purchase the sealant that is best for the job.

Before applying the sealant remove everything from the countertop. Clean the surface of the tile with a cloth. Stains or any dust particles should not remain on the tile surface. Trace of oil, water, dust or air on the surface can affect your tile. Therefore, remove them properly.

After cleaning the surface, you need to spread stone cleaner on granite tiles. Let the solution to remain on the surface of the countertop for thirty seconds. This cleaner would soak stains and help them to be removed easily. Then, get the surface cleaned with sponge. Dry the surface before applying sealant.

Get the sealant spread on granite countertops with brush or fresh cloth. To make it work accurately, leave it for four minutes. Once the sealants dries up, apply another sealant layer on granite countertop. Repeat this process some time. The last thing that you need to do, is get the tiles dried for sometime. Once the surface dries up, they can carry out the regular kitchen works.

With the help of these simple tips, you can easily have a kitchen countertop made up of granite for your entire lifetime. Sealing and re-sealing is necessary for all natural stones. There are different types of natural stones that people use for home decoration. Slate, limestone, granite and marble are the commonly used natural stones for purpose of building. The sealing process of each natural stones differs highly from the other.

Natural stones are made of crystals which interlock them together. Striations and colors of the stones come from actual minerals present in them. The spaces between the crystals are extremely important. Lesser the space between crystals, less porous is the stone. Sealing process of the natural stones depends on the constitution of a stone. So, a homeowner who wants to retain the elegance of their house should be careful about the sealing of the stones. He should use the best sealant for the stone. Appropriate sealing process and use of appropriate sealant can increase the life of the natural stone surfaces.

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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 | Author: admin

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Stone grinding is one of the effective ways of removing the scratches and the dull spots from the surface. This abrasive process is also known as natural stone restoration. As you look at the marble surface, you will note a natural shine. Marble does not need a layer of wax for this preferred finish. All you need is a skilled worker and some diamond pads which will be used to retain the shine. A delicate polish will ensure that you have a smooth and shiny texture for days.

If you are looking for a matte finish, you will need a large number of diamond powders or pads to get that special shiny touch. Most restoration experts are careful about protecting the furniture and walls from dents and splashes while they work on smoothening the surface. In case of diamond grinding, you will need water. This may damage the wooden floor. So they prefer using the floor covering while they work on the restoration process. For granite restoration, the abrasive brushes or the abrasive powder will be used. This is called the flamed finish.

The same technique can then be used for outdoors. The granite surface is generally heated with a flame and then cooled rapidly with water so that inner circles pop out before the flamed finish. You will need the open flame torch for this purpose. Before you start with the flaming process, all inflammable items should be removed, and the room should have ample ventilation. With marble, one has to be extra careful with the restoration process. Marble is generally soft in nature. It is porous and can be damaged with any acidic element like orange juice, tomato juice or the vinegar. Some can also develop stains and spots.

The tumbled marble or the limestone’s are extremely popular among the homeowners for their elegant colors and fine textures. Marble can be sealed to avoid stains, but you will need an expert for sealing the floor. When you select the floor tile, you should consider either marble or granite as both of them are durable and beautiful. The polished marble tiles on the floors can be protected with a sealant. This should be reapplied on the surface so that the floor remains sparkling and clean.

Common kitchen detergents contain harmful chemicals which might cause damage to the floor. This may lead to corrosion or may cause the floor to discolor. After you apply the solution on the floor, you should wipe the portion clean to reduce the chances of blemishes and spots. The marble floor should be free of dust. You can clean and mop them with a dry cloth. A mild neutral ph cleanser should be helpful in keeping the floor clean. You can install a floor mat at the entrance of the room to keep away the gravel, sand and dirt. From time to time, you can polish the floor so that the luster and smoothness of the stone remains intact.

However despite all precautions taken with the passage of years marble at times lose its shine. In such a scenario, make sure that you get the perfect person for natural stone restoration and restore that shine.

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Monday, June 22nd, 2009 | Author: admin

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How often have you felt that it was becoming humanely impossible to clear away all the soot, oil stains and dirt from the walls? They look ugly and moreover you spend hours cleaning, wiping and moping without any satisfactory results. Things would have been different, if you had a granite countertop. They are easy to clean and keeping them stain-free is relatively easy, only if you know the right methods. There are a few specific guidelines about cleaning the granite. Are you keen to know more about granite cleaning methods? Wondering how you can easily but efficiently clean the granite surface? Then read on as we share a few tips with you…

Before you do anything else, you should always think of protecting the granite surface. You can follow a few simple rules and even teach your children those rules in order to keep the surface clean. You should always use coasters under cans, bottles and glasses and pads for the hot pots and warm dishes. This ensures that the surface does not come in direct contact with the heat. If there is a spill, you should clean it immediately, so that the stone does not retain the stains. As for the granite floors, it is better to use the pads for avoiding etching.

If you have a granite floor, you can simply put a rug near the door which will protect the surface. You should keep the granite countertop as clean as possible. Make sure that it is cleaned daily. You can wipe away all the dirt with warm water and a soft cloth. If there are water spots, you can use the soft cloth to wipe them. Make sure that after water is used on granite surface you pat it dry with a soft cloth as else water stains are likely. There are a number of granite cleaners available in the market. You can use them to clean the granite surface. The mild granite cleaner will be good for the surface. The solution should not contain any harmful chemicals which can discolor the countertops.

There are natural granite cleaners available in the market. They are not only good for the granite, but they are mild enough for human health. Although they are mild, they will be strong enough to keep the granite countertop clean. You can use the granite sealer which is most effective in protecting the surface. If you want to apply the sealer, you should consult a professional. During the installation process, generally the granites are sealed so that the stain does not penetrate in deeper levels. You can ask the manufacturer, how often the floor or the countertop should be sealed.

If you follow the guidelines carefully, you can be assured of at least one thing. Without any fail, you will notice that the granite tops look clean and shiny. They look absolutely amazing. With a few tips, it is possible to keep the granite as good as new. Take good care of the granite tops so that they do not look shabby or worn out even after years!

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Thursday, June 04th, 2009 | Author: admin

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Granite countertops have an aura of extreme elegance and sophistication apart from looking innately exquisite and classy. The charm of granite is rivalled by few other stones and it is a remarkably resilient material that can do wonders for your home decor and offer it an embellished look. The material has the power to give your interiors a complete face-lift coupled with a durable disposition. Though granite countertops require minimal care and maintenance due to their no-fuss and enduring nature, there are a few handy tips that will help you keep you countertops sparkling clean.

Use a specially devised stone cleaner to cleanse your countertops and utilize hot water for power-packed speedy clean ups. Avoid excessive usage of dish soap and harsh cleaning agents as they are known to corrode the countertop sparkle. It will help to use a mild ph balanced cleaning liquid. Generic cleaners may help you save money initially but you’ll end up spending a lot more for maintaining your countertops in the long run. Hence it is best to avoid common cleaners when scrubbing your granite countertops. Before cleaning the countertops with a cleaning agent, wipe off any liquid spilled on the tops with a sponge. Avoid keeping hot pots and pans on the surface. This practice will avoid staining and abating the value of your countertops over a period of time.

To protect your countertop surface from scratches use cutting boards and as far as possible get into the habit of utilizing coasters under cups, bottles and cans to avoid any damage to the surface. It will keep your countertops protected and as new as ever without any signs of a wear out or repulsive scratches. Use a mop to clean the countertop rather than a vacuum cleaner. The latter has a high tendency to get the surface scratched or worn out.

Take care to ensure that acidic foods don’t come in contact with your surface very often. Foods like lemon and vinegar are known to scrape the granite surface. Although granite as a stone is extraordinarily durable it isn’t totally immune to damage. A lot of people who upgrade to granite commit the fallacy of taking the virtues of the stone for granted and are of the belief that it is completely impermeable. That really depends on the way you handle it and the stone does require care and attention for it to last long and retain its sheen.

Granite countertops can bring a lot of warmth to your kitchen in addition to a rich and colourful look. Small albeit important maintenance tips as part of your daily routine will go a long way to protect the durability and lustre of your tabletops.

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