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A Mexican ceramic planter is a great way to plant flowers or vegetables in a way that can be both an attractive decoration and a practical addition to your gardening area. In particular Mexican Talavera planters will add charm,color and light to your garden.

While fired ceramic presents some unique problems when it comes to being made into items like roofing tiles because it is porous,this quality makes ceramic pots a great way for plants to gradually absorb water left in a dish that the planter sits in.

Talavera Ceramic pots can be textured or smooth and have a variety of other finishes. If you can bear to water your plant a bit more often,you can find a number of painted ceramic planters that are much more attractive than traditional terracotta’s brownish red. The art of pottery creation has been in Mexico for centuries and passed from generation to generation. The most distinctive trait of a Mexican Talavera planter is its colors: Vibrant,strong and radiant.

A painted ceramic planter will look great indoors or in an outdoors patio area. Mexican planters are hand-made and hand-painted with the same care and tradition of outstanding craftsmanship as Mexican Talavera tiles,both of which,by the way,can be found at Fine Crafts Imports.

You might think of a planter as a fairly large contraption. Planters can come in all sort of different sizes,they can be as small as a bowl,which would be a great place to store flowers at a dining room table or herbs to grow within reach of your kitchen. However,the most common size will be at least 10″ diameter to hold dirt and a plant in your garden. there are also the vertical planter version,which attaches usually to a wall and the plant hangs out of it.

You could also paint a terra cotta planter yourself (not the Talavera type,though). Having children paint a small planter is a great gift idea for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Apply water sealant to the planter before applying a base coat of paint. While water sealant negates ceramic’s porous qualities,it is important to apply it so that the paint you apply won’t bubble or crack as water attempts to move through the ceramic. A handmade ceramic planter is nice but for a professional looking planter painted by an expert,it is usually best to buy a ceramic planter that doubles as a piece of art.

There are few design elements that spark heated debate and divide homeowners as much as granite and quartz. Don’t believe me? Tune into any show on HGTV and you’ll likely hear the prospective buyer/renter wax poetic about their preferred counter top material and shun the other vehemently. But is one really better than the other or is it merely a matter of aesthetics?

To help break down the granite vs. quartz quandary,we thought up five categories to help show the differences between both. By the end of this article,you can decide which one you prefer. Before we get into all of that though,exactly what is granite and quartz?

Granite is a very hard stone and 100 percent natural. It’s mined from quarries all around the world,cut down to a manageable size,then afterwards polished to a fine finish.

Quartz is slightly different because it is not 100 percent natural. Instead,countertops are produced using 95 percent ground natural quartz and 5 percent polymer resins.

Now that you know the basics,let’s see how they compare against one another.

1: Appearance
Granite

Granite comes in various colors and patterns due to the way it’s formed (cooling and strengthening of molten materials). Whether you’re looking for a subtle complement to your kitchen or a standout slab with unique mineral inclusions,there is an almost unlimited selection to select from and no two granite countertops are the same.

Quartz

Among the main reasons quartz has exploded in popularity is because of appearance. Quartz has the look of stone while also allowing property owners to customize the design. While granite offers many options in regards to appearance,you may have to search for the right piece that matches your color scheme. With quartz,the selection process is a lot easier.

2: Price
Granite

According to HomeAdviser.com,the average cost to purchase granite and have it installed can cost between $2,000 and $4,000. You can save money by purchasing the material from a wholesaler and doing a portion of the preliminary work yourself but the actual fabrication and installation of the countertops should be left to a professional.

Quartz

Depending upon the quality of quartz and style of edging,HomeAdvisor.com places the average cost to install quartz countertops between $1,500 and $5,500. You can do some of the preliminary work to save money,but because engineered quartz is heavier than other stone surfaces,a professional installer needs to make sure the space is structurally sound.

3: Environmentally-Friendly
Granite

The only way granite ends up in your kitchen is if it’s quarried which uses a lot of energy. If you select a high-end slab from Italy,for example,there will be considerable transportation involved. Try using indigenous stone when possible or visit salvage shops for pieces that can be cut to fit your needs.

Quartz

Since quartz is engineered,it can be more environmentally-friendly than granite if you use regionally manufactured stone and local fabricators. This cuts down on the distance the material needs to be transported.

4: Maintenance
Granite

Granite countertops should be cleaned daily with soap and water or a mild household cleaner. Some oils and acids can stain so do your homework first to avoid stains. To ensure the longevity of your investment,consider having your countertops resealed once a year.

Quartz

Like granite,you’ll wish to clean any spills on quartz countertops with soap and water or a household cleaner,but that’s about it in terms of maintenance. The solid surface means that there is no need to have your countertops resealed.

5: Durability
Granite

Granite is a durable material that’s resistant to heat and many other kitchen elements. Due to its porous nature though,there can be some staining if spilled liquids are left sitting and damage can be done if your counter receives a high impact blow.
Quartz

Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus,more durable. In point of fact,quartz is nearly indestructible,and because it isn’t porous like granite,it’s easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. Be careful with cooking pans though: Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat,so use heating pads at all times.
If you ‘d like to explore the differences yourself,contact Peakstone Granite at (336) 324-2875 or visit them at http://PeakStoneGraniteMarble.com