Rustic Chiseled Edge Blue Storm Granite

Can I just say WOW!!!! This job was fun and amazing!!! This kitchen shows off a 6cm chiseled edge in Blue Storm granite purchased from Carpets Plus in St. George! The accentuated wave of the chisel really gives this kitchen a look of natural stone being cut from the mountain and placed in this home.

This customer used a Blanco granite composite sink, and re-used their existing cooktop. They also shortened the bar overhang to increase the size of the dining area. A granite windowsill really topped off the finish in the kitchen.

Crema Bordeaux Granite with Tile Backsplash

This kitchen is done in Crema Bordeaux granite with a 3cm soft chiseled edge. This was a remodel, and the customer wanted to keep the beautiful existing tile backsplash. The removal crew carefully removed the existing tops, being careful to cut away at the tile backsplash. They measured carefully for heights for the installation of the granite.

When the granite was installed it lined up perfectly with with existing tile backsplash! The finishing touch of sanded caulk made the tile look like it was installed just for this kitchen!

Simply Perfection!

The large single bowl stainless steel sink is also a nice added touch to this kitchen. Single bowl sinks are great for large pans and dishes. They are becoming very popular. It adds beautifully to this kitchen.

Crema Bordeaux granite has soft creams and reds in the stone that blend beautifully with the Southern Utah landscape. Bringing this stone into the home adds a feel of nature and peace to the decor of the homes interior. The feel was exactly what this customer was looking for.

Lapidus Kitchen Remodel

This first picture was the kitchen before the remodel!

This is after the remodel! These pictures were provided by the customer. She is sooo excited with the transformation of what she calls her '80's kitchen to today. She bought all new cabinetry, flooring, and countertops. We did the countertops, of course :-).  The countertops are 3cm Lapidus with a waterfall edge. Lapidus is one of my very favorite granite colors! The colors are all in the browns, and they go with just about everything. Lapidus also has a lot of movement, and is a very fun exotic stone. Worth the extra cost! The sink is an undermount Blanco granite composite sink.

I want to add that she will love the sink! I have had this same Blanco sink at my house for the last 6 years, and I love it as much today as the day I put it in! They are very scratch resistant, stain resistant, and withstand heat up to 536 degrees farenheit!

I would recommend doing a tile backsplash for this kitchen, which I think she is doing. Hopefully I get another picture of the tile splash and I will post it for everyone to see :).

Unique Backsplash

It is so fun to do different backsplashes! This customer wanted the backsplash to resemble the beautiful mountain view out of their windows! They even custom painted their outlet covers to match the color of stone. Turned out fabulous country :)

Here in Southern Utah we have a lot of plateaus, which also make a very fun backsplash to mimic!

Doing the windowsill in the granite is also a nice touch, it ties in with the stone, and give a better shelf to decorate with!

Always be creative, and enjoy your countertops! Granite is awesome because it is custom :)

Vessel Bowls in Granite

I love the look of a beautiful vessel bowl on a granite countertop! This client wanted their bowl partially recessed. We carefully measured and recessed the bowl so that the faucet was just one inch over the bowl. It turned out stunning!

You can also put a vessel directly on the counter, and not recess it at all. When doing this, you will need to buy a faucet that is specifically for vessel sinks. This faucet will come much taller than a regular faucet. I have found the best place to find this type of faucet is online, or you have to special order them in at Lowes or Home Depot.

Granite Countertops with Corbels

Sometimes my customers really want granite countertops, but do not want corbels (the supports for the overhang). When 3cm granite overhangs over 8", we recommend the use of corbels. This generally occurs on islands, and peninsula overhangs. These corbels should be placed every 3 feet, and be supported at each end.

If no corbels are used, there is a chance of the granite breaking. Children love to hang and swing on the overhanging edge of a countertop. Or it is also a great place for "Uncle Joe" to half sit on while telling a great story.... whatever the case is, corbels really should be used.

This is a picture of a kitchen that we put the corbels in. Corbels can be wood, cast iron, or granite. This customer wanted wood corbels to match his oak cabinets. To save on money, we purchased pine corbels and stained them with an oak finish. They turned out beautiful, and the customer is happy, and saved money.

Getting Ready for Granite

We just got the job for a local hotel. We are excited to show you the progress as the front desk and prep area are completed. These first photos show the cabinets ready for granite! We will be showing the process and the completed work as it unfolds. We expect to have this project completed in 2.5 weeks :).

You can see the white templates on the cabinets, this is what we use to cut the granite. This customer has chosen Caesar Stone Baja Quartz. I highly recommend quartz for any commercial project because of the low maintenance. Quartz never needs to be sealed, and has all the benefits of granite. It is a mid-price stone to put in, but well worth it, especially in the commercial area :).

Outdoor Granite Barbeque

Custom outdoor barbecues are a great way to enjoy afternoons with family and friends! This customer built his own barbecue area with plywood, and is planning on using stucco for the final finish. We used "Exotic Forest" granite from Brazil with a 2" apron edge. Our shop pays particular attention to detail, if you notice the lines that run vertical follow through on the horizontal plane. These details are important and add immensely to the finished product.

I find that you get what you pay for. Often the "cheaper" shops do not pay attention to these details. The "cheaper" shops also often have poor seams. I have also heard customers complain of these shops actually fabricating in their driveways. Be leery of these types of granite shops. 

Simple Yet Sleek Kitchen

Using granite in your kitchen does not have to be expensive. This is a basic color, which adds elegance and design to this vacation condo. The earth tone colors allow you to decorate with a wide range of paints or add a splash of color with towels. Using a burgundy or navy accent in this kitchen would draw a wow factor to an already sleek kitchen style. The white cabinets give a clean feel and the granite ties in the beautiful hard wood flooring. I would recommend doing a full high tile backsplash to add some pizazz, or an antique finish on the cabinet doors.

Caesar Stone Quartz!

This is fun studio kitchen! The customer chose Quartz for the benefits of low maintenance, like never having to worry about re-sealing or staining. This countertop is a chocolate truffle Caesar Stone, and turned out very modern for this beautiful condo. Notice the undermount sinks, and how the stone flows. Also, to add a little more countertop in a smaller bath, we added an 8" shelf over the toilet!

Overlay Over Existing Tops

This granite was able to be placed over the customer's existing concrete countertops. We fabricated the edge to the same width to cover the countertops, and re-used the customers existing topmount sink. The project turned out absolutely stunning!

Radius work in kitchens is absolutely beautiful! Our customers love a large edge showing the granite radius work!

This is also a great example of a kitchen that we did not have to take out the existing countertops, and just laid the new ones over the top!

Granite Fireplace Surround

 

A great way to tie in your kitchen to the living room is to do the fireplace surround in the living room in the same color as the kitchen countertops. You can also choose a different color to help accentuate that they are different rooms. Either way, granite around the fireplace is a beautiful touch to any room. Many of our customers just do the hearth, when the fireplace is elevated.

Sorry my pics are sideways, couldn't figure out how to get them rotated :)! I'll have to work on that!

2cm Granite Countertops

We have started offering 2cm granite countertops at an extremely discounted rate! These countertops are still granite, with all the benefits of granite, but the edge is 2cm rather than 3cm or a built up 4cm edge profile. One thing to be careful with, with 2cm granite, is that it cannot do the average overhangs without several good, supportive corbels.

Many customers love the new option because they want granite tops, but want to keep the look of the kitchen simple. It also is a great option in bathrooms!

Sealing Your Granite Countertops

Light and medium colored granites should be sealed yearly. We recommend that our customers pick a date, like New Years, and re-seal their countertops. This process can be quite simple, or difficult, depending on the state of your stone.

Step 1. Clean the stone with a washcloth and mild soap.
Step 2. Scrape any rough parts on the stone with a razor blade to scrape off old food, or water deposits. Be careful to not scrape parts where crystals may be loose, you don't want to scrape crystals out of the stone.
Step 3. Use acetone to wipe down the stone. Make sure you use gloves, and keep the area well ventilated.
Step 4. Use the Granite Sealer (of your choice). This should be applied in a 2' by 2' area only. Wipe the sealer on with one white cloth, and wipe the sealer off with a dry white cloth in a buffing motion until all the sealer is removed from site, and you only see a shiny top. Repeat until the whole countertop is complete.
Step 5. Let the countertops set for 6-7 hours

If you let the sealer sit too long, or you don't buff it off thoroughly, it will leave a dull finish on the stone which is VERY difficult to remove. But if you follow these steps, you should have beautiful countertops for years to come!

If you are nervous to do this yourself, you can always call us to seal your countertops for you. Sealing of countertops is generally charged per sq. ft.

Granite and Quartz Radius Work

Granite and Quartz can be made into a radius with a lot of effort and patience. The crew just completed an amazing reception desk in Chestnut Quartz, with Smoky Quartz Zodiaq  columns. I wanted to share some images of the process and final project! Really beautiful desk! More gradual radius work with a 3cm or 4 cm edge can be cut into a solid radius, but when the profile is thicker than 4cm, sections must be made, glued, and polished together.

Estimating your Granite Job

In order to determine the square footage needed for granite countertops, draw the kitchen and measure the back walls, and front of the counters. Square footage is determined by multiplying (in inches) the length times the width, then divide by 144 to get the sq. ft. When multiplying the width, make sure you add about 2 inches for granite overhang.

Backsplash should be measures the same way. For instance, if you have a 48 inch cabinet and want backsplash on the back wall of 4", you would take (48 x 4) / 144 - 1.3 sq. ft.

You can then take this sq. ft. and multiply it by the square foot price that the shop offers for stone and installation. Other costs would include undermount and topmount sink cutouts, cooktop cutouts, outlet cutouts, and the such.

Granite or Tile Backsplash

Customers are often concerned about whether to use a granite or a tile backsplash. Both look great, but it is often a difficult decision. I like to have customers consider a few items when deciding this;
1. What is their budget
2. What is the color scheme they are imagining
3. Will the area receive a lot of overspray?

First, budget. Doing a full high backsplash is absolutely beautiful. Each outlet can be cutout and then the cover plate painted to match the color of the stone (look at the picture included). This is beautiful, but expensive. Often the backsplash will cost as much as the countertop. Realize that the wall is generally 18" to the upper cabinet, and the countertop is 24", not a large difference in square footage. Plus you have to pay for each outlet cutout. Using a 4" or a 6" backsplash can still put the granite on the wall, but be much more affordable.

Mountain scape backsplash with painted outlets

Second, color scheme. Do you want the granite everywhere, or do you want to accent with a tile backsplash. Often when we do a quartz countertop in a solid color the customer does an extravagent tile backsplash that brings a new fun twist to the kitchen. These backsplashes often use glass and copper tiles in the splash.

4" backsplash and paint

Last, think of cleanliness. Granite is going to be easier to clean then a lot of grout lines in a tile splash. If the overspray is going to be a problem consider full high granite, or at minimum a 6" backsplash with an easy to clean paint above it.

Quartz vs. Granite

A question I often see repeated is what is the difference between quartz and granite?

Let me preface by saying that I do not prefer one over the other, they both are great, it depends on the customers needs.

That being said ... Quartz countertops are comprised primarily of quartz. They are man made and come in a large variety of colors. Quartz has several benefits such as that it does not need to be sealed, and it comes in a very uniform pattern. Both granite and quartz are very hard surfaces, which does not scratch or stain easily.

I have heard from several customers and reps that Quartz does not stain ... We have had quartz stain, but have been able to get the stains out with some hard work and diligence :)

Rain Forest Brown Marble

Chestnut Zodiaq Quartz

My personal opinion on Quartz vs. Granite is to look at the colors and what you want in the home. Granite has natural movements, veining, and variation to the stone, and comes in a wide variety of colors. Quartz, in general, is a very uniform pattern that also comes in many different colors. If you want a look of solid surface, with benefits of granite, Quartz is the product for you! If you want movement, natural stone, and variation, Granite is the product for you!


If price is an issue, Granite has a few basic colors such as Amorello Ornamental, Venetian Gold, and Tan Brown, that are the most economical. Quartz is affordable, but is a little more expensive then these basic granite colors. However, the pricing is generally in-line with the more exotic granite colors.

Fun Job showing Bright Quartz Colors

This stone is One-Quartz Mango and Fresh Linen 

We provide many options in both Granite and Quartz. Our Quartz manufacturers are Caesar Stone, Zodiaz, Cambria, Hanstone, One-Quartz, and Silestone. Granite can be found at our location, and at Contempo Tile and Dal-Tile in St. George. All these vendors are great, and I have not seen a benefit in one over the other.