A1 Stone World: North Florida’s choice for Quality Granite Countertops.

Posted: November 24, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

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Since 2006, A1 Stone World has been leaving its mark all across north Florida. Whether its a custom shaped bar top or a sleek black galaxy kitchen island, A1 Stone World has become a well known name from jacksonville to tallahassee. With over 50 years of combined experience, A-1’s employees have truly mastered their craft. With a solid customer base and a well known name throughout the region of north Florida, A-1 continues to produce quality kitchen and bath countertops with consistency. Don’t limit them to kitchens and baths however, as their installers have mastered fireplaces, bars, custom stair steps, as well as shower walls. Contact them at 904-529-9670 to schedule your free estimate, or visit them at a1stoneworld.com to view pictures of jobs, as well as color samples. They also have a large slab yard with over four hundred slabs, and a beautiful showroom. Mention this article to get a free sink with purchase of a job.

How often should you seal your granite?

Posted: September 30, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: stone sealing | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

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So many people ask me how often they should seal their granite countertops. This is a tricky question. Since granite varies in porousity depending on its density, different colors need to be sealed more often than others. If your granite is dark in color it is most likely more dense, therefore needing to be sealed less often. If your stone is lighter in color ( maybe bianco romano or something similar), it needs to be sealed more frequently.

     The general rule for sealing any granite countertop is every six months to a year. That being said, take into consideration your color when deciding how often to seal. Lighter colors should be sealed every six months, while darker colors only need it about once a year.

One thing you can do to test your tops is to take an ice cold glass of water and place it on the countertop. Leave it there for ten minutes, and then pick it up. If there is a ring or water mark on the counter, it is time to seal the counters!!!!

Stay posted for more posts about how to seal your tops, and what the best sealer is!

Marron Imperial : a great choice for a vanity top.

Posted: September 9, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: marble countertop | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

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Don’t take my word for it, as the pictures will do all the justice. Today I installed a three-top double sink vanity with Marron Imperial marble, and it turned out to be stunning. The cabinets were an off white, almost cream color paint with a wicker pattern in the doors. This master bath remodel also featured almond colored oval sinks made by kohler. The four cm double-laminated bookend edge on the countertop gave a nice touch to the over all appearance of this custom master bath. With the right light, this room could become a masterpiece. while the walk in shower was yet to be finished, I already had a vision of how this custom master bathroom would look. As the luxury spa-style freestanding tub sat out in the living room waiting to be installed, I tried to picture the finished product…

Looking for new countertops? Read this first!!!

Posted: May 27, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

There are a lot of factors involved when choosing the right material for your kitchen or bathroom countertop. Of course, you want something that is going to ‘wow’ people when they come to your house, but you also want something that holds up over time.

There are quite a few options out there for your new tops. Theres solid surface(Corian for example), formica/laminate tops, engineered stone (such as Silestone and Cambria), and of course natural stone (granite, marble, quartzite, limestone, etc.). There are also other options such as wood tops or concrete countertops. Regardless of which you are after, there are pros and cons. Im writing this article for people who are looking for stone tops such as granite, marble or engineered stone.

Here is my take on this situation: There are two kinds of people. People who LOVE natural stone and people who could care less as long as they have a nice countertop.

In my ten years in the stone business I have come across some people who just really love natural stone and would never think about using an engineered product. These are the people who appreciate what nature has produced, and really enjoy the beauty and shine of natural stone. They love the imperfection; the veins and flow of the rock that occurs naturally, and could never be reproduced by man. They dont mind a little maintenance, and having to be a little more careful seeing as it is natural stone.

On the other hand, there are the people who really arent sold one way or another, they just want a nice countertop. These people are most likely more concerned with functionality above all else. They want something that looks nice, and holds up as long as there home will. In my experience, these are usually the people who tend to drift more toward engineered stone. Engineered stone is non-pourous, meaning it never has to be sealed like natural stone does. There are hundreds of colors to choose from between the more than 10 manufacturers of the product. The two most popular,  u.s. made Cambria and spain’s Silestone, are quickly becoming as popular as natural stone is for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Engineered stone has also made a huge impact on commercial construction. Its a popular choice in hospitals due to its durability and non-pourous nature. Office buildings are filled with it due to its sleek appearance in the right setting. Dont get me wrong, natural stone is stunning, but there is something to be said about engineered stone as well. The versatility of this product allows manufacturers to do magnificant things with it. The colors they can produce are amazing, and the finish is not limited to just polished. They now have dozens of different finishes, from honed to a ‘leather’ textured look. Engineered stone can be the right choice for any setting due to its versatility.

 What really amazes me about engineered stone is its strength. I work with natural and engineered stone on a regular basis, and the difference between the two is major. For one, engineered stone is way stronger under pressure than most natural stones. It is designed to go in kitchens and bathrooms, so it holds up very well, needing virtually no maintenance. Natural stone on the other hand needs to be sealed, buffed on occasion, and cared for with the right products. See the stone maintenance post for more information.

This post is still under construction.

To be continued…..