GRANITE & QUARTZ
The richness of a solid Granite or Quartz counter top, not only reflects nature's beauty, it will actually protect and increase the investment value of your home. In fact, recent studies have shown that kitchen remodeling has the highest return rate in added market value to the home. We can help you find the perfect compliment to your cabinets and decor.
GRANITE & QUARTZ COUNTERS
Granite & quartz countertops lend a certain elegance to any kitchen, and therefore have grown to be one of the most popular counter top options on the market today. Most home owners recognize that these surfaces are very durable in addition to providing a unique and timeless look to the most visited space in your home. At Cochrane Floors & More, our strength lies in the quality & selection of stone we can offer as well as the ability to pull the entire look together with backsplash, accents, flooring and transitions. The key to our success is based on our commitment to working together with our customers. We make sure that your needs are accurately identified, your questions are answered, your budget is respected and that, above all, delivery is made within the time requested.
SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT
The first item to examine is your environment. What will stay and what will go in your renovation, from colour on the walls to lighting, cabinet layout, cabinet style and colour as well as existing floors and backsplashes. All these items affect how well your slab will compliment your space and "fit in" with the flow in your home. From here, our qualified Design Team will work with you on the other factors to consider to ensure you find a slab you'll love for decades!
QUARTZ CHARACTERISTICS
GRANITE CHARACTERISTICS
During the past decade, a newer countertop contender on the design scene: engineered quartz, has staked it's claim. Boasting the best qualities of arborite and stone (along with its own special features), quartz countertops are exploding in popularity. The new engineered material is actually created through a manufacturing process that mixes approximately 95 percent ground natural quartz with 5 percent polymer resins. The result is a super-hard, low-maintenance, natural stone-look countertop available in a dazzling array of colors. For many of the homeowners choosing quartz, the color consistancy & virtually unlimited color options are what sold them.
You will find several kinds of granite in today's market however, all of them include three common materials: Feldspar, Quartz and Mica. It's the ratio of these minerals that give foundations of granite their color. The wide variety of colours and movement they create, is one of the most popular characteristics of this product. With literally thousands of granite countertop colours and patterns available, picking the one that’s best for you really is a major decision and one you may have to reside with for a very long time, so here are a couple of considerations we explore with our clients to narrow down the choices.
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SELECTING COLOR & STYLE
One of the first things to consider when choosing a granite, is movement. Typically, people will know right away if they're attracted to the unpredictable and mesmerizing effect of large chunky patterns and rivers of colour washing through a particular slab or if they prefer a more subtle and consistent look. Next item to explore is your base colour. Granites can often be broken down into four basic colour groups:
1) Beige, yellow, gold (popular cost effective choice in neutral color pallets)
2) Red, brown, pink (ranging from light to very dark in rich tones)
3) Blue, crimson (bold & dramatic, more uncommon & costly)
4) Black, white, grey (popular & versatile, good range of pricing)
The next item to examine is your environment. What will stay and what will go in your renovation, from colour on the walls to lighting, cabinet layout, cabinet style and colour as well as existing floors and backsplashes. All these items affect how well your slab will compliment your space and "fit in" with the flow in your home. From here, we'll work with you on the other factors to consider to ensure you find a slab you'll love for decades!
INSTALLATION
Installing Your Granite/Quartz - The Process
Once you have selected a product, agreed to the estimate and come in to review our installation disclosures, there are a lot of details for us to co-ordinate with you to ensure a smooth installation and the least amount of "down time" for your kitchen, bath or laundry room. Read our Process Guide below to learn more about what is involved in getting your new stone countertops!
EDGE PROFILES
Selecting an edge profile for your new countertops can be a critical part in acheiving a specific look for your space. Beyond the look of your edge however, there is a little more to consider before making a final selection.
Firslty, not every granite is suited for every profile detail. For example a granite with a higher content of minerals and mica is more fragile, so an edge such as the Ogee or triple pencil may not be a good choice if you want a worry-free solution. The other consideration is cost. Almost 95% of our edges are done as either eased or bullnose (standard profiles). They are no additional cost and seem to work for almost eveyone. Some of the optional profiles shown here can run upwards of $500 - $1200 or more in an average kitchen.
Standard Profiles
PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT
Sealers for stone (also known as impregnators) are below-surface penetrating sealers, not topical hard shell sealers like those, for instance, that are applied onto wood floors or furniture.
They are delivered inside the stone by natural absorption. Some stones absorb & require more sealant than others. Granite sealer consists of a solid part, or resin, and a solvent or water carrier. The solid stays in the stone and clogs the pores of the stone to keep liquid stains out. The carrier brings the solid into the stone and then evaporates. Sealing your granite is a critical part to ensuring you have a long lasting countertop that you love!
(CLICK HERE for information on sealing options)
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
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