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Natural Stone Flooring

January 20, 2016
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remodeling your kitchen in houston

Remodeling Your Kitchen: The Guide and Checklist

By | Natural Stone Flooring, Remodel Your Kitchen

The size and scope of your Houston kitchen remodeling project is up to you. Whether you plan to replace a single part of your kitchen or gut the entire thing, you should follow this guide and checklist to help everything go smoothly.

Phase One of Remodeling your Kitchen

Before you start your kitchen remodel, complete a few preliminary steps to get your project off on the right foot. First, measure the dimensions of your kitchen. Identify any walls you want to tear down to reduce foot traffic choke points and open up your kitchen. Keep in mind that some of these may be load-bearing walls, so you might not be able to remove them.

Then, look online, in kitchen design magazines, and in your friends’ and neighbors’ homes to help you decide what features you want in your new kitchen. Take pictures or cut images from magazines to store in a “dream kitchen” folder. Come up with a list of remodeling goals to help you stay on track as you explore seemingly limitless design options. Some of the most popular areas of a kitchen to upgrade include:

  • Cabinets
  • Countertops
  • Walls
  • Kitchen layouts
  • Sinks and faucets
  • Flooring
  • Lighting
  • Appliances

Set a Budget

It’s easy to get carried away with expensive materials and custom designs, so set a budget early on:

  • Choose a budget that’s no more than 20% of your home’s current market value.
  • If you intend to hire an interior designer, include the additional costs in your budget.
  • Plan to use 80% of your budget, with 20% set aside for contingency expenses.

READ MORE: HGTV.com – Budgeting for a Kitchen Remodel

Hire Specialists for Each Aspect of the Work

While it’s possible to hire a single contractor for the entire kitchen remodel, it may be better to leave each aspect to a different professional. For example, you might hire us as your cabinet build out professional and other contractors for countertop, lighting, and flooring design and installation. To help make sure you choose reputable Houston kitchen remodeling contractors for the job, follow these tips:

  • Read online reviews and ratings.
  • Make sure the contractor is licensed and insured.
  • Get written estimates from three different companies. Rule out any low-ball prices that could result in nasty surprises later on.
  • Ask contractors about their experience on projects similar to yours.
  • Ask contractors for references you can contact to ask specific questions about reliability, cleanliness and overall job quality.

Work Closely With Your Contractors

Professional kitchen remodeling companies are here to help you make the best decisions for your budget and needs. To make sure the remodel goes smoothly, read the contract carefully and keep in close contact with the companies you hire throughout the project. Follow these tips:

  • Read the contract thoroughly before signing on the dotted line. It should include details about the project, the materials being used, brand names, start and finish dates, payment amounts and due dates, product warranties, and more.
  • In general, the contractor shouldn’t ask for more than one-third of the project’s total cost as a down payment. Don’t make your final payment until the contractor has completed everything and you can see the job has been done correctly.

If you plan to replace the kitchen cabinets in your Houston remodeling project, we’re here to help! Contact us for a free quote so you can get started transforming your dream kitchen into reality. You can learn what to expect from your Kitchen Remodel by checking out the houzz.com article, Kitchen Remodel Costs: 3 Budgets, 3 Kitchens. 

January 10, 2016
6
white quartz flooring in houston home

Designer’s Guide to Quartz Flooring

By | Natural Stone Flooring, Quartz Houston, Resources

If you want to install stone flooring in your home, you’ve made a great choice! Stone adds a natural beauty and elegance that no other material can match. Now you need to narrow down the type of stone you want to install. Learn more about quartz flooring in this designer’s guide to help you make the right choice.

Qualities of Quartz

quartz flooring in hexagonsQuartz is a common mineral found in nature, but quartz tiles are engineered rather than being quarried from a mine. Pure quartz is white or colorless, and adding polyester resins gives it the rainbow of pigments, patterns and veining you’re used to seeing in quartz slabs and tiles. The resins also make the quartz material scratch resistant, stain resistant and nonporous. In this way, the manufactured material has all the durability of expert engineering and all the beauty of a natural stone.

Quartz has a hardness rating of 7. Diamonds are rated at 10, so it’s pretty clear how hardy and scratch resistant quartz is. For this reason, quartz is commonly used for flooring, countertops, shower walls and other high-use surfaces in both residential and commercial applications. The material isn’t easily etched by acidic solutions the way other stones are, and since it’s so hard, you can power wash quartz flooring at pressures up to 1,450 psi, as long as the grout is in good condition.

Limitations of Using Quartz for Flooring

While this stone is incredibly durable, it’s not impervious to damage:

  • High impact can crack or chip quartz. Fortunately, a professional can repair damage so cracks are nearly invisible.
  • High heat can scorch quartz tiles. A sudden change in temperature can also cause it to crack.
  • Quartz is meant for indoor use only. Direct sunlight can cause the pigment to fade and the tiles to warp or split over time.

Benefits of Quartz

When comparing different types of stone tiles, consider these benefits of quartz:

  • The stone doesn’t require sealing, buffing or reconditioning because it’s manufactured to be nonporous. It sustains its beauty and opulence without much maintenance needed.
  • The material’s high strength means it can withstand some of the most demanding conditions.
  • Natural and varying pigments let you choose the precise color you want.
  • Quartz flooring is a high-traction surface. This means it becomes less slippery than many other stones when wet, making it a good choice for bathroom floors.
  • If you spill lemonade, wine or other acidic beverages on quartz, it resists etching much better than other types of stone.
  • With proper care and maintenance, quartz is resistant to stains, mold and mildew.

How to Maintain Quartz Flooring

With such a strong, durable flooring material, maintenance requirements are minimal. Still, it’s beneficial to treat quartz tiles with care to ensure they maintain their beauty for many years to come:

  • Clean up spills immediately to prevent staining the stone. Blot rather than wipe to prevent spreading the spill around.
  • Place felt pads on the bottom of wood furniture to prevent scratching the flooring material.
  • Sweep the floor regularly to remove dust, dirt and sand that can scratch quartz tiles.
  • Clean the stone flooring occasionally with mild dishwashing soap and warm water. Avoid acidic, alkaline or abrasive cleaners that could damage the stone. Don’t use scouring powders or Brillo pads since these could scratch the surface.

For more information about selecting, installing and caring for quartz flooring, please contact us today!