Just like any other units you might be having in your home, granite countertops develop problems that you should fix as early as possible for your kitchen to continue functioning properly. The most common problems include:
Countertop stains
Stains on the countertops not only gives them an ugly look, it also makes your kitchen look cheap. Stains result from the materials you place on the countertops or the heat from the cooking pans.
You can get rid of the stains from food materials, but if the stains are due to hot pots or other materials, you will have to replace the countertops. For you to protect your countertops from the damage you need to use trivets, potholders, and other materials that will keep the heat off the countertops.
One of the most common types of countertop stains is the water stain. The stain comes about when mineral-rich hard water sits on the countertops for a long time, creating a circular stain.
The cool thing is that you can get rid of this stain. One of the most effective ways of doing it is scrubbing it using a soft bristled brush. You can also use wool to get extra scrubbing power.
If this doesn’t get rid of it, you should purchase poultice or extractor that is specifically for granite. You only need to purchase the thick paste from your local store and apply it on the counters.
You should then cover the counters for 24 hours then try removing the paste. Chances are that you are going to remove the stains.
For you to prevent the stains from coming about in the future, make a habit of cleaning the countertops regularly. You also should ensure that no water sits on the countertops for a long time.
Scratches on the countertops
Knives, pans, and other utensils tend to scratch the surfaces giving them a bad look. Unless the countertop material has a great dent, you can easily fix the scratches. One of the things you need to do is to fill the scratches or cuts.
When filling it, you should avoid overfilling or underfilling it. This is because once the filler dries up, you can’t remove it. If you have the skills you can go ahead and fill the countertops by yourself but if you have never done it before, hire a professional to help you out.
Raptured countertop surfaces
Raptured countertop surfaces are common in old countertops, but you can also have them in newly installed pieces. Many people have the impression that they will have to replace the countertop material, but this isn’t the case.
If the damage is isolated to a single slab, you only need to replace only that slab.
Countertops tend to rupture due to many factors that include:
- Poorly crafted joints
- Countertops installed over uneven surfaces
- Failing to give glue enough time to dry during the installation process
- Placing a lot of materials on the counters
If the cracks are too extensive, you can use filler. For you to create uniformity, ensure that you use filler material that blends seamlessly with the countertops.
Dulling of the countertop materials
When you properly maintain kitchen countertops, they can retain their shine for a long time. Unfortunately, granite pieces tend to lose their shine when you use harsh cleaning products.
Depending on the extent of the damage, you can re-polish the countertops and you will give them their original shine, but if the damage is extensive, you will have to hire countertop professionals to undertake countertop replacement NC.
When replacing the pieces, ensure that the new pieces are of high quality. You don’t want low-quality units that will come apart after a few uses.
