A lot of people who remodel their homes opt to upgrade from Formica counter tops to something more luxurious. When the biggest issues are quality and appearance, there's something on the market that's fast overtaking granite for the upgrade of choice.

Silestone counter tops offer some of the same perks as granite, but many believe they are more beautiful and durable. Silestone counter tops are made out of natural quartz. With the ranking as the fourth hardest mineral in nature being held by quartz, these counter tops are known and loved for their durability. Beyond that, however, silestone counter tops are also quite beautiful.

With quartz as the main ingredient in these counter tops, the end result is a surface that's simply breathtaking to behold. Master craftsman have managed to make these countertops work into a rainbow of colors, too, ensuring that homeowners can pick the style and design they choose. The properties of quartz enable the creators of these counter tops to make them as shiny or flat as a buyer might desire, putting choice squarely in the hands of the consumer.

Silestone countertops are some of the best choices on the market for stain and scratch resistance, as well. With only a few minerals tougher than quartz, doing damage to these counter tops is almost impossible.

The advantages of silestone counter tops over other similar natural stone surfaces include:

* Strength. It's incredibly hard to damage a silestone counter. Since quartz is so durable, the end product doesn't require maintenance beyond cleaning. There is no need to worry about sealing the countertop.

* Luster. Silestone is all natural by design. This means there are no plastics involved in their creation to cause problems with scratches or scorches. With this in mind, the silestone surface can be as shiny or matte as a buyer might want.

* Durability. It's a simple fact that silestone tends to resist scratches and burns better than just about anything under the sun. This can be great for those who want a beautiful kitchen that will stay that way. The sad reality is those who buy synthetic counters tend to regret it down the road when scratch and score marks become permanent fixtures.

* Decorating choices. Silestone counter tops are made by a company that specializes in quartz working. This means it's possible to get counter tops of quartz that will go well with similarly designed floors and even bathroom counters. In addition, the color palette provided in Silestone is pretty impressive. Just about any hue imaginable can be found in these countertops.

Granite might be the choice for some, but others opt for Silestone counter tops for a whole host of reasons. Coming from one of the world's hardest stones, these countertops are not only beautiful, they are durable. Offering choices for not only kitchen counters, the designs found in silestone transfer to floors and other counter surfaces, as well. This makes silestone a great choice for uniform decorating. The counter tops might be more expensive that other options, but when it comes to providing lasting beauty, they are hard to beat.

By: M. Xavier
Still looking for the perfect counter tops? Try visiting http://www.typesofcountertops.com/ - a website that specializes in providing counter top advice, tips and resources including information on Silestone countertops.

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Formica offers a plastic laminate surface that can be applied to countertops. The laminated plastic sheets come in a wide variety of colors and designs and can be applied to other surfaces in addition to countertops. Fortunately, you can install it yourself to save money but the process does involve a few steps which should be followed closely to ensure quality results.

You will first need to prepare the surface for the plastic. Laminated plastic sheets with a thickness of 1/32" can be used on vertical surfaces, while sheets of 1/16" thickness are recommended for flat surfaces. Before applying the laminate, you must remove any paint or varnish and sand and clean the surface thoroughly. Most countertops are manufactured with a high-density particle board. However, regular particular board is ideal for plastic laminates.

Once the surface is appropriately prepared, you should cut the laminated plastic. Please note that it is important to always cut the sheets slightly oversized to allow for trimming. You can cut the sheets with a circular saw, saber saw, backsaw or even a utility knife. If you use a saw, keep in mind that the saw should have a fine-tooth blade. Circular saws or saw saws cut on the upstroke. Cutting from the back side of the plastic laminate will help prevent chipping. Additionally, placing a strip of masking tape on the cut line will also prevent chipping. This technique also makes the line more visible. When using a hand saw, always cut from the front side at a low angle.

Take your time when applying the laminate sheets. Though epoxy adhesives can be used to apply the plastics, contact cement can usually be used and is actually more recommended. However, before applying the sheets, be sure to roughen the surface to be covered suing a course sandpaper and, of course, clean away any sanding residue. Again, do not rush in this of the process. In fact, fifty to seventy-five percent of the bonding strength when using contact cement is made in the plastic's first contact with the surface. With this in mind, confirm that the pieces are accurately positioned before allowing the plastic and the glued areas to meet.

Once the laminate sheets are positioned correctly, you can slowly remove the dowel rods as you bond the pieces together. A roller can be used to apply pressure to the sheets once laid properly. Roll the entire area to smooth the surface and eliminate air pockets. You will need to make a seam in the laminate if the sheet is not large enough to cover the entire surface. Simply bond the larger piece into place and apply the second. To finish laminating the edges, clean the base of your router to prevent anything from scratching the new laminate counter top. Applying tape to the base of the router is a good way to avoid this scratching. Finally, remove any extra contact cement. You may want to try nail polish remover. It is good for this purpose.

By: Kurt Schefken
Being particularly interested in woodworking machinery, Kurt Schefken was publishing quite a few news stories in this particular area. His articles on table saw reviews can be encountered on his webpage and also other online publications.

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Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock that is derived from sediments of clay and fine silt. The action of intense heat and pressure changes the original clay into new minerals such as mica, chlorite, and quartz. These natural processes transform the clay into slate. Slates can usually vary in composition, structure, and durability due to the alteration of the minerals being rather inconsistent. This natural process of slate formation has provided this material with certain properties that help to make slate an excellent choice as a kitchen countertop material. It is a natural material that is known for strength and durability, like that found in granite or marble.

Slate can provide an elegance and sophistication to kitchen countertops. Slate is one natural material that has both the strength and durability of granite and marble but without the constant maintenance and care these other surfaces require.

Many people might associate slate as just a material for roofing and outdoor walkways, however slate can be an excellent material for use in kitchen countertops, primarily because slate has a low absorption rate. What this means is that slate kitchen countertops are more stain resistant and less likely to provide a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria.

Many kitchen design professionals regard slate as an even better natural stone surface that marble or granite, since slate kitchen countertops have a low porosity so that this surface requires no sealing. Most slate countertops are considered to be stain-free. Slate countertops look great. So you can see that by selecting slate for kitchen countertops, you are getting a material that has the feel and natural beauty of a natural stone.

While most slate can be darker stone, it is also available in shades of red, green, blue, and purple.

Slate is a dense, sedimentary rock formed over thousands of years that consists of clay and volcanic ash, becoming dense sheets of crystalline mica. A fine-grained natural stone, slate provides a smooth, sleek appearance. Slate is usually available in earthy tones such as greys, reds, and greens. Slate is considered to be a softer stone than granite. Design and application considerations need to be taken into consideration when it comes to providing surfaces with proper application.

Slate countertops are low maintenance and can be kept clean with any household cleaner. To keep slate kitchen countertops protected the use of mineral oil is usually recommended.

Among the characteristics of slate kitchen countertops are that they are impervious to stains, heat, water etc. Slate kitchen countertops are elegant and can be cleaned very easily. They should polished regularly to maintain the shine of the natural stone. Slate kitchen countertops are great for cutting vegetables, preparing, and serving the food.

Slate kitchen countertops can be honed to a smooth, matte (that is, not shiny) finish. This honing process produces a warm, durable surface that is long lasting, strong, simplistic, and natural. Slate kitchen countertops can also be oiled to create a glossier look.

Slate kitchen countertops are available in different shapes, colors and sizes that can go well with some many kitchen design styles.

James Mahoney is the author of many kitchen design articles and has a site about kitchen design ideas at Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. He also publishes a newsletter on kitchen design.

By: James Mahoney
James Mahoney is the author of many kitchen design articles and has a site about kitchen design ideas at Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. He also publishes a newsletter on kitchen design.

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