Tag: Countertops Surrey

Granite countertops are highly resistant to stains, nicks, and cracks, but only when looked after well. One of the ways to extend the lifespan and preserve the beauty of these natural stone surfaces is by sealing them. If you are looking to seal your granite countertop, you might be overwhelmed by which sealant to choose – after all, there are many options on the market. Naturally, you should consult with the retailer that installed or sold your granite countertops first to see what they recommended for your type of granite.

Why Sealants are Necessary

A sealant should infiltrate deep into the stone to help it protect the surface from stains, fight off a bacterial invasion, and make it easy to clean. Look at products carefully before choosing one and pay attention to its capacity to penetrate deep in the stone. Professionals prefer products with penetrating capabilities because it absorbs profoundly and keeps your granite looking new for longer. These sealants help keep moisture away, reduce the risk of mould, and prevent bacteria from getting into the creases of the stone.

What to Look for When Choosing a Sealant for Granite Countertops

While you stand in the aisle of a home improvement store confounded with all the sealant options, consider the following features to help narrow down your choices:

• Stone Sealant - Make sure the sealant you choose is for natural stone. Some sealants are for laminate or other non-natural stone surfaces. A stone sealant should be gentle enough to polish and seal the surface of your stone without scratching it.
• Gentle for All Stone Types: Avoid cleaners or sealants that are specifically designed for one type of stone. Instead, look for a sealant that is gentle to use on all stones, or pick one made especially for granite. If you have mixtures of non-granite gravel on the countertop, such as a custom-made product, then you want to choose an all-stone friendly type.
• Coverage - You want enough of the product to cover all granite surfaces in your house, so look for something that has at least 160 to 180 square feet per quart.
• Invisible Dry - Some products leave a yellowish tinge behind, and some will even make your countertops look dull. Look for a sealant that dries clear and will not change your stone’s colour, even if you have a white finish. Also, the sealant should be fast drying, only taking ten minutes from the time of application to dry.
• Resistance - The finished sealant should be able to repel any water-based and oil-based liquids.

Choose the right granite countertops for your Langley home

You will need a high-quality granite that was designed to reduce imperfections, making it easier to seal. The team at Leenlong has an array of granite countertops for your choosing. We can help you pick and install the perfect countertop and offer advice and suggestions for sealing your countertops each year. They will look as breathtaking as the day you had them installed. You can also contact us online or call to ask us about our granite countertops and customized kitchens.

[tm_pb_section admin_label="section"][tm_pb_row admin_label="row"][tm_pb_column type="4_4"][tm_pb_text admin_label="Text" text_orientation="left" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid"] Kitchen countertops can be an expensive investment for your home. As such, they need to be treated with the proper care in order for them to stay looking as gorgeous as when they were first installed. If you’re unsure about whether or not you’ve been treating your countertops well, go through this list to make sure you’re not ruining your counters.

Harsh Cleaning Products

Many countertops don’t require harsh products to get them looking shiny and new. Supplies containing bleach or ammonia, specifically regarding granite and quartz countertops, will remove the shine and possibly any protective coating applied. Use mild soap and hot water for all daily messes.

No Protection From Hot Pans

Depending on your countertop material and whether or not it’s sealed, placing hot pots, pans and other appliances can damage the surface. They can experience discolouration, cracking or permanent scorch marks. Use a pot holder if you need to place something hot on your counters.

Too Much Weight

Any hard and inflexible countertop will crack or chip if an excessive amount of weight is applied. If heavy items are placed on the corner or joints of the countertop, you’ll run the risk of causing damage that difficult to fix. Particularly with laminate countertops that are experiencing peeling edges, leaning on them will cause more stress and further damage it.

Acid and Water Buildup

Pools of water left out can result in water staining, depending on your countertop material. It’s easier just to clean up any spills as they happen, instead of risking future damage that can ruin your expensive counters. If you’re cutting or pouring acidic foods and beverages and spill some, these are guaranteed to damage your counters if left sitting out. The acid will eat through any sealants, etch the surface and make the material vulnerable to other weaknesses.

It’s Not a Cutting Board

You have less to worry about regarding granite and quartz countertops, as they’re scratch resistant and more likely to damage your knives than being damaged themselves. However, other countertop materials aren’t so lucky. Using a knife directly on your countertops will lead to scratches developing, disturbances in the surface sealant and can create holes for bacteria to grow in.

Direct Sunlight

Having a bright and sunny kitchen makes the space appear as open as possible. However, having direct sunlight hitting your counters on a consistent basis, particularly if you have laminate, the colouring will fade. The sealant on wood and granite countertops are also vulnerable to fading in sunlight, so close your kitchen blinds during the sunniest hours of the day.

Prepping in the Same Area

Over time, preparing food in the same area constantly can lead to scratched or etched countertops, creating obvious and uneven signs of wear and tear in one area. For a countertop that looks as even and uniform as possible, spread out while cooking. Use different areas of your countertop regularly, it’ll last much longer. At Leenlong Construction, we’re here to help you design your dream kitchen. Located in Langley, BC, we provide customers with premade cabinets, quartz, granite and marble countertops, sinks and faucets. Call us today to talk to one of our experts or visit our website leenlong.com for more information. [/tm_pb_text][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][/tm_pb_section]

[tm_pb_section admin_label="section"][tm_pb_row admin_label="row"][tm_pb_column type="4_4"][tm_pb_text admin_label="Text" text_orientation="left" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid"] While granite is one of the toughest stones on earth, it’s still vulnerable to a few substances and occurrences of everyday life. To avoid destroying your natural stone countertops, here are six things you should bypass in order to keep your counters in good condition.

Raw Meat

Granite is a natural stone, meaning that without proper sealing, liquids and bacteria can be absorbed into it over time. While staining and dullness isn’t something you want on your expensive countertops, the bacteria leftover from preparing raw meat is a concerning matter regarding your health. Unsealed stone can absorb the harmful germs from raw meat and cause the issue of cross-contamination. What’s left behind from improper cleaning can make you sick, so it’s best to use a separate surface when dealing with raw meat.

Knives

With a proper application of stone sealant, your granite countertops should be resistant to scratches, but that’s not to say your knives will survive the encounter. Granite is a hard stone and using a knife directly on it can cause the blade to dull quickly, even damaging it in some cases. It’s best to be safe and use a cutting board when meal prepping, instead of taking a chance and destroying your knives.

Acidic Substances

Anything that holds acidic properties shouldn’t make contact with your granite countertops. Cutting up citrus fruits? Use a cutting board. Spilled vinegar or soda? Wipe it up immediately. Thinking about using harsh cleaning products like bleach? Keep them far away from your counters unless you’re looking to replace them soon. Acidic foods and liquids can compromise the structure of the sealant, allowing for staining and etching on the surface to occur and causing permanent damage to the appearance of your countertop.

Leftover Spills

If you do end up spilling soda or lemon juice onto your counters, make sure to clean it up as soon as it happens. The few seconds it sits on the surface isn’t dangerous, but leaving it for a few hours or overnight will cause the sealant to wear away and staining to occur. Using warm water with mild soap and a soft cloth will clean up the spill and any remaining residue.

Hot Pans

The intense heat from a hot pot will have little effect on the natural stone countertop. However, it’s the sealant itself that you need to worry about when placing hot objects directly onto granite. The extreme heat will weaken the sealant’s effectiveness against stains and scratches. Have a potholder on hand while cooking so you can safely place your pan onto the countertop for long periods of time.

Heavy Objects

Dropping heavy objects, sitting or standing on granite countertops can cause them to crack or chip. Granite isn’t a flexible material. Instead of bending to accommodate for the added weight, the pressure will cause the granite to snap. Granite is difficult to repair, so if you need to reach a high cabinet or change a light bulb over the island, grab a step ladder. Located in Langley, British Columbia, Leenlong Construction offers custom and premade cabinets as well as quartz, granite, marble and laminate countertops. We’re here to provide you and your family with the best kitchen materials, helpful design ideas from our experts and installation services. Call us today or visit our website at leenlong.com.   [/tm_pb_text][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][/tm_pb_section]

[tm_pb_section admin_label="section"][tm_pb_row admin_label="row"][tm_pb_column type="4_4"][tm_pb_text admin_label="Text" text_orientation="justified" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid"] With all the options available for kitchen countertops, it’s hard to determine what will work best for you and your family. It’s a good thing this guide will be able to tell you about the various countertops available to you.

Granite

One of the most durable countertops on the market, natural granite is heat resistant. Like with any natural product, granite countertops have to be sealed on a yearly basis to keep it shiny, resistant to scratches and staining. Cleaned with mild soap and a soft cloth, this natural stone is available in a variety of earthy colour, every slab one-of-a-kind.

Engineered Quartz

An engineered stone product, quartz countertops are a great option for any kitchen. Resistant to both heat and staining, quartz is easy to clean and doesn’t require any sealing. There are several different Engineered Quartz brands, each supplies slabs in different price, quality and design. The white engineered quartz is very popular as an alternative to marble.

Stainless Steel

A material that’s been popular within professional kitchens for decades, stainless steel countertops are extremely durable, stain resistant and naturally sterile due to the non-absorbent material. It’s an expensive option, but these countertops allow for a modern look that can go with almost any design style. They’re vulnerable to smudges, fingerprints and denting, which is difficult to repair.

Corian

Available in hundreds of colours, textures and patterns, Corian countertops can be made to resemble stone or concrete finishes. It’s resistant to staining, and moisture. Easily repair if damaged, solid surface counters are virtually maintenance free.

Laminate

The cheapest option on this list, laminate countertops are stain resistant and easy to clean. Made of plywood (or particle board) and resin, this durable material is available in hundreds of colours and patterns, with the ability to mimic stone, metal and wood. However, scratches and cracks aren’t easily repaired.

Tile

A classic look for any kitchen, tile countertops come in a wide variety of colours, textures, patterns, making it completely customizable, if not a bit expensive. Although, these counters require a lot of maintenance in terms of keeping the grout stain free, deep cleaning and sealing often. Tiles are also vulnerable to cracking, chipping and staining but somewhat easy to replace.

Wood

Made of solid or eco-friendly reclaimed wood, butcher block countertops need to be sealed or oiled regularly. They’re also vulnerable to staining, heat and moisture, so be careful when choosing this option.

Concrete

Concrete countertops can be finished to resume natural stone. Available in all colours, these countertops can be customized by embedding pieces of tile, glass, shell or whatever you want. During installation, the concrete is poured directly into the kitchen, which is great for dealing with odd shapes and sizes. The only downfalls are that regular maintenance and sealing is required. Concrete is also very heavy and difficult to repair. At Leenlong Construction, we’re here to listen and help you design the best kitchen for you and your family. Located in Langley, British Columbia, we offer quartz, granite, marble and laminate countertops along with custom-made or premade cabinets, sinks and faucets for a complete kitchen. Our team of experts are here to design and install whatever you need, as well as provide custom-made countertops. Call us today or visit our website at www.leenlong.com. [/tm_pb_text][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][/tm_pb_section]