http://www.countertopspecialty.com/countertop-blog.html The Kitchen Countertops Blog keeps you up-to-date with the latest countertop tips, advice, news and new information available at the CountertopSpecialty.com Web site. Subscribe here. en-us Countertops Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:36:19 GMT Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:36:19 GMT countertopspecialty.com http://www.countertopspecialty.com/blue-pearl-granite-countertop-maintenance.html Answers to black & blue pearl granite counter top maintenance questions, sealing granite countertops, emerald pearl, repair chips, scratches, test for stains, water absorption and... Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:36:18 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/sealing-made-limestone-countertop-dark.html QUESTION: I had a beautiful light gray limestone counter top that turned into very dark gray after it was sealed by who is supposed to be a professional. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:18:52 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/using-epoxy-coating-on-limestone-countertops.html QUESTION: Are there any epoxies you would recommend for sealing/coating limestone counter tops? And if so, do these epoxies protect against acidic food Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:16:02 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/sealing-limestone-countertops.html QUESTION: I have limestone counter top slabs in the bathroom. What do I use to seal and perhaps give the countertop a glossy appearance. ANSWER: First, Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:08:28 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-vs-manmade-stone.html QUESTION: We are remodeling our kitchen countertops and are getting answers all over the world - this one chips,$35 more per square foot, this one stains,etc.. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:23:54 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/cleaning-ubatuba-granite.html QUESTION: We have UbaTuba and the saleperson from the builder did not recommend that we seal it. So, I asked her what is the best for cleaning granite Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:13:00 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/candle-wax-stain-on-black-galaxy-granite.html QUESTION: How do you clean stains from spilled candle wax on my Black Galaxy Granite countertop? My husband wiped the candle wax off immediately but Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:13:44 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/black-galaxy-water-spots.html QUESTION: I just recently had installed Black Galaxy graninte countertops in all bathrooms, the kitchen countertops and island. I have so many water stains/water Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:53:52 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/best-country-origin-for-granite.html QUESTION: I am going to install granite countertops in my new home, I have seen stones from India, Canada and Brazil. Is any stone origin better to choose Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:14:51 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-counter-top.html A granite counter top is naturally elegant and durable. Granite countertops may be the best choice for your kitchen countertop. Find out if Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:02:27 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/dark-spots-on-new-granite-countertop.html QUESTION: Hi, We just moved into our newly built house and we had installed the giallo venegiano granite for our kitchen countertops. The counter top Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:01:20 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/cleaning-granite-countertops.html Cleaning granite countertops really is simple and easy. You don't need to be a stone savant to learn how to clean granite countertops effectively. You'll find all... Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:46:20 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/make-dull-granite-countertop-shiny.html QUESTION: My granite counter top is dull and has always been dull. I want my counter top to shine like my other friends counter in their kitchens. What Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:08:52 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/oil-lemon-testing-granite-countertops.html Answers about testing granite countertops, absolute black, uba tuba granite for etching, staining and doctoring using the oil and lemon juice test Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:37:16 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/quartz-countertop-sealer-removal.html Quartz countertop answers about removing sealers from quartz counter tops, best methods, granite vs. silestone or Cambria quartz maintenance Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:13:54 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/silestone-countertops-polishing-cleaning.html Answers about cleaning Silestone countertops, polishing Silestone, recommended products for cleaning quartz countertops Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:37:15 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/can-i-seal-silestone-to-make-more-glossy.html QUESTION: I purchased the Silestone Stellar night countertop and 8 months down the road I realized that they installed the Leather Stellar night instead Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:29:17 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/cloudy-blotches-on-silestone-countertop.html QUESTION: We have a problem with our Silestone stellar night counter tops. It first started with a cloudy look underneath our drainboard. Now we have cloudy Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:27:04 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/cleaning-zodiac-countertops.html Answers about cleaning zodiac countertops, recommended products for cleaning zodiaq, quartz countertops and engineered stone Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:49:51 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/lime-etching-on-quartz-countertops.html QUESTION: First of all, thank you for a fantastic site. We have a large kitchen tabletop. All we know is that it is an Engineered Stone quartz countertop. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:46:42 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/quartz-counter-top.html Quartz counter top surfacing is gaining in popularity with similar properties to granite, but are quartz countertops better? Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:42:40 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/zodiac-counter-top.html The Zodiac counter top is a man-made quartz countertop similar to granite. Learn all about Zodiac countertops and compare granite vs. Zodiac... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:48:48 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/eliminate-finger-prints-on-black-silestone.html QUESTION: We just purchased black Silestone counter tops and when we touch it or set a pan or plate on it it leaves a mark that you can still see even Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:40:18 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/silestone-counter-tops.html Silestone counter tops: get unbiased information about man-made quartz countertops, Silestone vs. granite, browse colors & get a quote for your project... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:17:42 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/travertine-maintenance-sealing-cleaning-answers.html Expert answers about travertine maintenance, how to clean travertine, etch spots, stains, sealing travertine shower, floor tile, proven solutions Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:09:09 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/removing-streaky-travertine-sealer.html QUESTION: I installed polished travertine flooring (Jinshan Carmel P/F) which my installer sealed with an unpolished sealer. The results were streaked Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:54:45 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/sealing-tumbled-marble-backsplash.html QUESTION: I just put in a tumbled marble backsplash (whitish color) with a bone colored grout. Do I need to seal it... especially the area behind the faucet? Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:19:01 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/removing-grout-haze-from-travertine-backsplash.html QUESTION: My contractor installed a honed & filled Travertine kitchen tile backsplash (with a 2x2 crackle glass accent tile) 2 days ago. The surface of Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:13:33 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/installing-sealing-travertine-kitchen-backsplash.html QUESTION: I just purchased travertine tiles (several tiles set/spaced on mesh)and plan to use it for my kitchen backsplash design. The travertine tile Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:55:52 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/grouting-sealing-tumbled-travertine-backsplash.html QUESTION: We have 4 squares installed diagonally over a border of 3 x 6 subway kichen backsplash tiles and need advise on what to do next. Our granite Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:13:35 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/backsplash-does-not-match-madura-gold-granite-countertops.html QUESTION: Great site!! We just had a Madura Gold granite countertop installed. To the left of our range is a separate piece of about 20 inches of countertop. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:05:15 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/permanent-granite-sealer-for-countertops.html Answers to questions about permanent granite sealers, different brands, costs & methods for sealing granite countertops, sealing travertine and stone with permanent sealers Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:56:17 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/sealing-travertine-floor.html QUESTION: I installed a brand new travertine floor. I've heard that you must have it buffed and sealed. Do professionals have to come in and do this Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:06:39 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/filling-holes-in-travertine-floor.html QUESTION: I have travertine floor tile in my guest bathroom as well as the tub surround and separate shower. It has been installed for 5 years and the Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:36:49 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/cleaning-travertine.html Cleaning travertine is easy once you learn these simple ”How To clean Travertine” secrets and tips with a complete list of Do’s & Don’ts. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:15:24 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/removing-black-granite-sealer.html QUESTION: We just installed miles of beautiful countertop: Blue in the Night granite...very dark dark grey black ...with small flecks of deep blue!! Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:31:28 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/slate-tile.html The unique cleft surface of slate tile sets it apart from other stones and it's not all grey. Slate flooring and countetops come in many colors, but buyers must be aware of tricky maintenance issues Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:12:19 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/sealing-slate-tile-countertops.html Recommendations for sealing slate countertops, slate tile, sealer chemistry and how to achieve a glossy finish Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:59:16 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/removing-sealer-from-slate-tiles.html How to remove sealer from slate tiles, results of removing color-enhancer after sealing slate shower Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:51:38 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/sealing-slate-for-cheeseboard.html QUESTION: I am making presents of cheeseboards from slate and have used an impregnator for sealing the slate. I am interested in making them shiny. Is Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:39:39 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/sealing-and-cleaning-slate-floor.html QUESTION: A silicon based impregnating sealer was used to sealing slate flooring in kitchen and bathroom. It is natural, earthy colors. How and with what Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:26:04 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/applying-senguard-over-previous-granite-sealer.html QUESTION: Can the SenGuard product be applied to a polished granite countertop after a surface sealer type product has already been ineffectively applied...or Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:27:34 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/is-a-highquality-granite-sealer-worth-it.html Granite sealers are not all the same. Learn the pros & cons and if a high-quality sealer is worth it for sealing granite countertops and stone Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:19:00 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/how-often-to-seal-granite.html QUESTION: I am looking at santa cecilia granite countertops or new venetian gold granite slab. Are these granites that needs to be sealed? And how often Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:22:51 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/haze-water-stains-after-sealing-granite-countertops.html Why a haze appears after sealing granite countertops, solutions for haze, water stains, ghost spots on new granite countertops after granite sealer applied Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:06:37 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/hairline-cracks-in-new-granite.html QUESTION: We have just installed new granite countertop. The cutout for the stove top was too small, but the installer shoved the stove top into the space. Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:01:24 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-countertop-color-after-sealing.html QUESTION: I just had new venetian gold granite countertop installed in my kitchen today. Unfortunately the largest piece had to be re-cut due to the granite Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:38:43 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-has-blotchy-appearance.html QUESTION: I hope somebody can give me some advice! We just had new granite countertops installed in our kitchen -- White Spring? It is absolutely gorgeous Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:05:39 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/granite-countertop-rough-patches.html QUESTION: We recently had granite countertops installed in the kitchen. I have noticed a couple of small patches feel rough and unpolished compared to Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:48:36 GMT http://www.countertopspecialty.com/filling-granite-countertop-fissures.html Fissures, cracks, pits and other granite countertop surface anomalies often confuse consumers. Learn the difference, possible solutions and the type of granite repair needed Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:16:11 GMT