Granite is a fascinating material that may appeal to you when replacing countertops: One of the main reasons people select granite is because of its natural beauty. The coloration will never change so it will always be as bright and vibrant as when it is first installed.
Granite is very competitively priced and a sketch of your countertops is all that’s needed for an estimate. Quarter-inch beveled and round edges are considered standard and the price increases with more labor-intensive edges such as a bullnose or ogee.
One major advantage in choosing granite is that it won’t scratch or chip with normal use. Only another piece of granite, or something harder, like diamond, will leave marks. In addition, it is heat resistant, so items from the oven can be placed right on the counter without a problem.
No two slabs of granite are ever exactly the same, like fingerprints. Regardless of how common a specific stone is, each application of that stone is unique and beautiful in its own context.
Quartz surfaces combine the best qualities of laminate counters and natural stone surfaces into one cutting edge product. Quartz surfaces began appearing on home remodelling jobs in just the last few years but its popularity is exploding rapidly.
Quartz is the most durable countertop stone you can buy and, the majority of quartz countertops sold today are manufactured from about 95% crushed quartz and 5% polymers. The infused materials result in countertops that are nearly scratch proof, almost maintenance free, and the process allows the counters to be available in designer colors that range from translucent whites to sandy browns or monolithic blacks.
The color choices are what excite most homeowners. With the open floor plans of many kitchens spreading out into dining and living areas it is important for designers to coordinate countertop color choices with the rest of the house. Renovating kitchens with natural flow into the rest of the home becomes a piece of cake when you see the color ranges of quartz countertops.
The beauty of finished cabinetry really comes from the natural characteristics of the wood itself. The natural hardwoods and veneers we use in our products have characteristics that makes every cabinet beautiful – and unique. Because all hardwoods have their own “personality” or “special attributes”, variations in color, grain pattern, and texture are to be expected because they are natural aspects of these materials. These variations reflect the tree’s life history and contribute to the unique look and feel of the cabinets.
Due to these naturally occurring attributes, each piece of wood will react differently to the finish material used, resulting in a slightly difference shade within and between cabinets. Finished wood is constantly “mellowing” and changing in appearance. These effects are caused by the aging process of wood, the finish on the wood and the long-term effects of light. These characteristics are apparent when natural, light or tinted finishes are applied. The effects of nature induce on the wood should not be misinterpreted as defects.
The natural expansion and contraction of wood products, due to atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity changes, may cause the film of paint or finish on the cabinet to separate at joining points, producing small lines. These expansion lines are more evident on natural, light or painted finishes and are not considered defects in quality or finish.
We call our customers’ attention to these characteristics because of the effects of these variations in an entire kitchen may be different from what you visualize when viewing a small display, a single door or a finish sample.
We mention these conditions because CJ Countertops can not be responsible for the type of or degree of natural variations you may actually experience in your kitchen or bath.
Most common material used are white melamime, hard rock maple and pre-finish birch, but other finishes available upon request.