Maplewood Covenant Business Which is Better Granite or Quartz?

Which is Better Granite or Quartz?

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

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Step-By-Step Guide On Fixing A Loose Toilet Tank HandleStep-By-Step Guide On Fixing A Loose Toilet Tank Handle

Toilet levers,or handles,are used several times a day; so it is no surprise that they begin to loosen overtime. Although not a serious repair,it is important to remedy a loose toilet lever because it can affect toilet performance and efficiency. Not only is a toilet with poor flushing performance unpleasant and unsanitary,its inefficiency can increase monthly water bills. Fortunately,this is generally an easy fix,and one that you can accomplish all on your own with a few simple adjustments. Continue reading to review a step-by-step guide on tightening a loose toilet tank lever.

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The Tools and Materials You Will Need

To tighten up a loose toilet tank handle,you won’t require very many tools or supplies. That is because it is not a very invasive repair. Most likely,you will already have the tools necessary to get the job done. This saves you time by avoiding a trip to the local home improvement store. All you need is your own two hands and an adjustable wrench.

https://www.southflplumbers.com/boca-raton-fl/

Steps:

Start by locating the water shut-off valve for the toilet. The supply pipe and handle should be behind the tank. Turn off the water supply to the toilet by rotating the shut-off valve handle clockwise.

Once the shutoff valve is closed,remove the toilet tank lid. Grab both sides and lift upwards. It should not be sealed or connected to the toilet. Place it down slowly on a flat,stable surface so you do not crack or break it.

You will now need to empty the tank of water. Do this by simply flushing the toilet with the handle. It is easier to adjust a loose toilet lever without water in the tank.

Now look for the metal nut that secures the toilet lever to the inside of the tank. This is the nut that has come loose. Standard screws and other threaded hardware are forward threaded,but toilet lever nuts and screws are reverse-threaded with a plastic washer. This helps to prevent loosening overtime.

Use your adjustable wrench to tighten the nut. Do this by grasping the nut with your wrench and turning it clockwise. Continue turning the nut until you begin to feel resistance. Once you feel this resistance,make only a couple more turns until it is difficult to turn any more. Be careful to not overdo it and accidentally crack the tank.

Next,test the lever’s tightness and performance by pressing it as if you were flushing the toilet. If it does not compress well,it is too tight and you will need to loosen it by one or two rotations. Loosen counterclockwise with your wrench.

Finish by turning your water supply to the toilet back on.

South Florida Plumbing

Custom Fine Crafts Imports Talavera Mexican Tile MuralsCustom Fine Crafts Imports Talavera Mexican Tile Murals

A Mexican tile mural is a work of art and imagination that is durable enough to hang above a kitchen back splash,in the shower area or in the courtyard. They are functional,beautiful,and affordable and can also create attractive additions to walls in hallways and living rooms.

These murals can be integrated into a larger tiled wall or they can stand alone on a different area. The tiles are usually hand painted,generally using very bright colors,which is important to keep in mind when planning how a tile mural might fit into a room(s) in your house.

The murals are made of standard Talavera Mexican tiles,but are painted in groups to show colorful depictions of flowers,landscapes or street scenes,they can even be customized from a given scene.

Talavera Mexican murals blend the best of California revival home design and architecture with Mexican artistic traditions that extend back for hundreds of years. The brightly colored murals often depict pastoral scenes from an older,nostalgic Mexico,while today’s finishes allow these murals to maintain their beauty even when placed outdoors.

When installing the tiles it is recommended to find the ideal location where the mural is going to be installed. It is recommended to start from the bottom line and up. It is best to place this tile line and then build up line by line,leaving an 1/8″ inch space between each of the tiles for grouting,which should be applied after the tin set is strong enough to hold the tiles in place. Ceramic tile tin set and grout can be found at home improvement local stores. The grout should be non-sanded preferable,sanded grout is used for 1/2″ wide grouts and over.

An advantage of ceramic tile mural designs is the fact that you can choose the size that fits in the area you are planning to install it. Other advantage includes the fact that you can remove it from the original location (as long you installed in a separate panel) if needed. A Talavera Mexican tile mural the ideal middle ground between wall murals,canvas art,and tile walls.

Why Customer Reviews Are So Important to Your Marketing and BrandingWhy Customer Reviews Are So Important to Your Marketing and Branding

The right marketing strategy will allow you to boost your services and products to local and global audiences very effectively,communicating the right message to the right people. Every local and national brand with a great story to tell deserves an attentive audience to say it to. However,even as you & your company have done no wrong,there will always be the inevitable naysayer who will spout their feelings all over your social media,whether it be out of a feeling that it’s just not “enough,” or out of jealousy for success. These could turn off the potential audience you want to target,no matter how attentive they are. Here’s how to combat unfair negative reputation and build a strong wall of defense that ensures the solidity of your brand online,especially inspired by the way Clint Arthur has become famous for teaching his students how to do so.

Brands need a powerful and economic platform to take action with their consumers. As new ways of communicating,pulling,and reaching customers leads develop,so do strategies that are equally modern.No matter what business you are in,you require a website,and it must be a superior one that convinces people that YOU are the go-to person in your industry. Writing profiles of your perfect customer allows you to find services and products that are best fit for them and market them to them more effectively — and it is especially vital to constantly seek their feedback on their experience with you and how you’ve served them.

You may not know how to utilize it to actually increase sales and income,once you have a customer profile.No worries: one easy way to do that is to feature their feedback prominently on most-viewed areas of your website.Promotional campaigns can gain from a public relations professional such as Clint Arthur who knows how to mold your reputation and image in an excellent way.

Consider,also,what people see when they Google you. Install Google Search Console on your website and let it collect data for a while. This will give you a great overview of what key phrases people are using to search for you organically on Google,so you can see what the search results look like on these phrases,and see if there is any prominent negative result that needs to be combatted with an SEO reputation management campaign.Great reviews will attract new consumers and help your business stand out among your competitors,so be sure to feature them in external SEO marketing materials just as prominently as you want to do your website. It is well worth the time it takes to set up.

Positive reputation will create even more happy customers who are eager to support your establishment for years to come.When you see the value of customer attention to an organization then you can start to apply the proper resources to your customer service section.

Too lots of marketing firms make huge promises,but are not able to move through after you start with them. Naturally,you want to veto a marketing agency by public customer feedback and reviews of their services. This is a great chance for you to compare companies who have a solid reputation marketing strategy,vs. those that don’t. The most successful companies will most likely be excellent at showcasing their customers speaking of great experiences. This is the kind of reputation strategy you want to model YOUR own brand after,and that’s the kind that has taken to very well as a professional entrepreneur.