Concrete countertops are gaining popularity for their durability and ability to infuse a rustic, industrial or even farmhouse style into any space – but some drawbacks have homeowners asking themselves, “Are they worth the investment?” We’ll let you decide.
Concrete Countertops
Just as the name implies, concrete countertops are made from a mixture of general-purpose mortar, sand and pigments, which makes them a strong countertop choice. Homeowners love the unique beauty and rustic appeal, as they lend a new dimension and style to today’s kitchens. There are several pros and cons of concrete countertops which can help you decide whether they are the right choice for your remodeling project.
Pros of Concrete Countertops:
· Customizable to suit any décor by staining or adding pigments to transform the surface into a unique look that’s all your own
· Can be formed into various shapes
· Heat-resistant
· Virtually indestructible
· Recyclable
Cons of Concrete Countertops:
· Require regular sealing
· Stain easily (even when sealed, markings from spills will be visible)
· Installation can be tricky, depending on if you opt for a concrete slab or poured concrete
· They can easily crack
· Can be expensive, depending on custom options such as finishes and embedded stones and tiles
· Can be hard on glasses and dishware
· You cannot cut directly on the surface
· Porous in nature, which means the concrete will likely absorb and retain moisture and bacteria
A Better Alternative – Concrete Look without the Drawbacks
View our full palette of countertop colors, including all our collections. If there’s one you think might work for your design style or vision, find a location near you and give us a call. We’ll come to your home for a free design consultation and provide you with an all-inclusive quote. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how fast and easy the remodeling process is with us. See how it works, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Last Updated on February 19, 2018
Who doesn’t love an upgrade? Upping your game when it comes to kitchen design innovation is part of today’s trendy kitchen rave, as homeowners are enhancing their kitchens with luxurious upgrades and conveniences to match their lifestyles. If you’re looking to add a trendy tweak to your kitchen, then check out these hot kitchen upgrades. They’re sure to take your kitchen to the next level.
1. Convenient Cabinetry
No matter how much cabinet space we have, it seems we’re always falling short on storage space. Pullout kitchen cabinets, built-in organizers for drawers, and pullout shelving units are popular kitchen upgrades as they all offer the convenience of putting go-to items within arm’s reach. There are so many options available. Whether it’s a slide-out Lazy Susan, pullout pan organizer, or slide-out shelves – there’s something to fit every need. TREND and Granite Transformations offer built-in cabinet organizers, which can be installed when you get your cabinets refaced. Just ask your local store about the specific options available in your area.
2. Warm Hardware
Call it a “facelift for your cabinets.” Switching out your existing knobs and handles for warm, newer hardware like brass or copper is an easy way to enhance the look of your kitchen without breaking the bank. And if you already have some hardware that you love – your kitchen faucet, for instance – you’re in luck, because mixed metals are a popular look for today’s trendy kitchens.
Photo courtesy of Pinterest
3. Full-Height Backsplash
Today’s savvy homeowners are extending standard, shorter backsplashes by taking them to new heights. Glass mosaic tiles from TREND and Granite Transformations can change a backsplash into a work of art, doubling as the perfect backdrop to accent your kitchen’s best features. Ceiling height backsplashes can really elevate the look of your kitchen by giving it that “wow factor” all your friends and neighbors will be sure to notice.
4. Extending the Countertop Up the Backsplash
If you love your countertop selection, why not use it as your backsplash, too? The Statuario quartz countertop from our Classic Marble Collection, featured in the kitchen below, is too gorgeous not to extend to everywhere you possibly can. Plus, it’s stain-resistant, so any splashes are easy to clean.
5. Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are giving granite a run for its money, as these beautiful and durable surfaces are becoming an increasingly popular upgrade for today’s kitchens. Homeowners love the fact that quartz is nonporous, which makes it easier to clean and maintain. Additionally, they are offered in numerous colors to suit any décor. Featured in the kitchen below are King Ivory quartz countertops and a modified Subway Honey backsplash, both from TREND and Granite Transformations.
6. Eco-friendly Products
When we think of eco-friendly kitchen upgrades, what usually come to mind are energy-efficient appliances – but the options go way beyond that. Green building practices are designed to have minimal impact on the environment, and green materials use recycled and/or sustainable materials. Fortunately, TREND and Granite Transformations have both areas covered. The TREND and Granite Transformations remodeling process requires no demolition because the countertops are installed directly over existing ones, which reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills. The countertops are also 1/4 inch thick, which means they are lighter and easier to ship. This White Star recycled glass countertop from Granite Transformations is made with up to 78 percent post-consumer recycled glass. This is the ultimate trendy kitchen upgrade – bringing beauty to your home while keeping our environment beautiful.
Being eco-friendly and mindful of our environment has become a way of life for many homeowners, especially when it comes to home improvements. If remodeling your home was on your list of New Year’s resolutions, then read on to learn how you can employ green home remodeling practices and use sustainable materials for your eco-friendly home renovation projects.
Eco-friendly Countertops
Replacing your kitchen or bathroom countertops can elevate the look of the room while adding class and elegance to your décor. Today’s countertop manufacturers, including TREND and Granite Transformations, are in tune with green home remodeling practices and offer beautiful eco-friendly products such as recycled glass and quartz countertops, as well as gorgeous hand-cut mosaics that are all made from up to 78% post-consumer recycled materials.
Reface Instead of Replace Your Cabinets
Kitchen renovations can be costly. If your cabinets are in good condition and the footprint of your kitchen isn’t changing, then you may want to consider refacing them instead of replacing them. Cabinet refacing is when you keep the cabinet boxes, but replace the doors, drawers and hardware, and match the base and crown moldings to your new cabinet color. Cabinet refacing prevents a great deal of debris from being deposited into landfills; something not possible if you choose to tear out and replace entire cabinets. Plus, refacing often costs significantly less than replacing your cabinets. So, this is a good choice for both the environment and your wallet.
Use it Up Before You Tear It Down
Are you thinking about expanding a space or taking down a wall? You may want to first take a step back and reevaluate. Take a look around the space and make a checklist of things you can salvage and reuse, such as light fixtures, molding, tile, wood flooring planks and even bricks. Think about how you can use some of these items in other rooms in your home (or for future remodeling projects) instead of just throwing them away. It’s an eco-friendly way to renovate. Plus, you’ll be surprised at how much money you’ll save.
Use Upcycled Materials
Upcycling materials from garage sales and consignment and antique shops is a thrifty way to repurpose quality items, such as knobs, light fixtures and other furniture or décor items. You can also buy a cheap piece from a yard sale and fix it up to match the style you’re going for or the “vibe” of your space. A simple paint or sanding job can transform the look of almost anything. It’s a fun way to find a new home for an old treasure.
Solar Savings
Things are heating up when it comes to saving money on your energy costs. Just as the sun rises and sets every day, your home can benefit from solar panels to make it more energy-efficient and save money on your electric bill. Depending on where you live, the time of year and whether you buy your panels or lease them, you can start seeing savings right away – anywhere from $20 – $30 per month. Solar panels and skylights are becoming great additions to eco-friendly home renovations.
TREND and Granite Transformations do a lot to contribute to sustainable and eco-friendly remodeling practices and materials. Here are just a few ways we ensure sustainability:
We use the blue glass from recycled SKYY Vodka bottles in some of our mosaic tiles and recycled glass countertops. Our recycled glass countertops are only 1/4″ thick and use fewer natural resources than other popular materials.
Our products use fewer raw materials, and many of our kitchen and bathroom remodeling products are composed of up to 78 percent post-consumer recycled content.
Our manufacturing facilities utilize water recycling systems that reduce water consumption.
Our slabs fit over existing countertops so there’s no demolition, which saves millions of pounds of construction debris from going to landfills each year.
Our recycled glass countertops are lightweight and require less energy consumption when shipped.
Our certifications highlight our commitment to eco-friendly products and services. Granite Transformations’ products are certified by GREENGUARD and can contribute to LEED points. We are also affiliated with the U.S. Green Building Council.
For centuries, marble has been revered as one of the world’s most luxurious stone materials. It has graced countless buildings and was the preferred medium for many famous sculptors. Today, marble is more popular than ever among homeowners who are embracing its old-world style and designing their homes with the inclusion of marble kitchen countertops.
But depending on the needs of your household, marble may not be the best choice for your countertops. Don’t worry, though. You can still achieve the timeless look of marble without investing in marble itself.
Why true marble may not be the ideal solution
In its natural state, marble is rather delicate and requires a fair amount of maintenance. Marble is naturally porous and can stain, chip or crack easily. If you spend a significant amount of time working in your kitchen or you have young children, a marble countertop will be more prone to damage.
Additionally, natural marble requires sealing every year to prevent any kind of permanent staining or damage. To further protect the surface, you should only use non-abrasive cleaning products. While this step may not seem daunting at first, if you don’t typically use non-abrasive cleaning solutions in your home, cleaning marble will require a definite learning curve.
None of these are dealbreakers, as the beauty of marble has historically drawn people to it. But what if you could achieve the same sophisticated appearance as marble without all of its drawbacks?
Thanks to modern technology, you can have the best of both worlds. There are newer countertop options that capture the glamor and beauty of natural marble, while making it more durable to stand up to today’s busy lifestyles.
More than meets the eye
Introducing the Classic Marble Collection from Granite and TREND Transformations. Our Classic Marble Collection is made with quartz and recycled glass but looks just like marble. The result is that you get to incorporate the timeless beauty of marble into your home without having to worry about excessive maintenance and upkeep.
This line uses our remarkable ForeverSeal® technology to ensure the surfaces are nonporous, stain-, scratch-, heat-, and mildew-resistant—and maintenance-free.
Homeowners crave the luxurious look of marble but need durability and ease of maintenance to match their busy lifestyles. Our Classic Marble Collection is therefore the perfect solution. It offers a high-end look without all the maintenance.
The Classic Marble Collection features three stunning color options:
Carrara: This countertop is a tribute to the traditional gray-veined marble. Its refined beauty will carry you off to Italy, all from the comfort of your kitchen!
Calacatta: Named after a rare type of marble used by Michelangelo for some sculptures, Calacatta boasts gorgeous gold and gray veins.
Statuario: Classy dark and gray veins adorn this beautiful countertop.
Our Classic Marble Collection has countless benefits. Some of them include:
Made from quartz with the look of marble, making it more durable than natural marble
Offered in multiple styles, so you can find the perfect complement to your décor
Nonporous, which makes it scratch-, stain-, and heat-resistant—perfect for kitchen countertops
Mold and mildew-resistant, making it the ideal solution for bathroom vanities, tub and shower surrounds
Easy to clean and maintain over time
Comes with a Lifetime Limited Warranty
Lasting Luxury
Marble is timeless. Just one look at Michelangelo’s statue of David is proof enough that marble is luxury set in stone (pardon the pun). The same holds true for marble kitchen countertops. Whether you choose to use marble in select spaces such as a kitchen island or go all out with countertops, backsplashes and bathroom vanities, marble has the staying power to bring years of warmth and beauty to your home. Plus, you’ll benefit from installing a timeless product, which over time holds its value for a lifetime of use.
However, don’t take our word for it. Please take some time to look at our collections and see what catches your eye. Then contact us to schedule your in-home design consultation. We’ll come to your home with our full line of surfaces, mosaic tiles and cabinets, and we’ll help you build the kitchen or bathroom of your dreams, using products that are eco-friendly, beautiful and will last a lifetime.
