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Uncategorized

Oct 11 2024

Countertips Part III: Cleaning and Sealing

Just when you thought we were done with the countertips series, BOOM, here it is again.

Today’s lesson is cleaning. But before you bust out the supplies, it helps to make sure you actually have a countertop to clean. So first and foremost, if you don’t, browse our selection of custom granite countertops, pick out your favorite, give us a call, then read on.

Cue Jeopardy! music.

Two weeks later.

OK, that wasn’t so bad! We came, we saw, we conquered, we installed, and now you have new counters. Boy oh boy do they look beautiful.

Of course, you want them to remain just as gorgeous and clean as the day you bought them, and doing so is pretty easy, but it will take a little bit of TLC. Don’t worry, because we’re here to tell you everything you need to do to keep those counters looking like they’re brand new for years to come.

Step 1: The Basics

First of all, you’re going to want to get into a few basic habits. Don’t let them pile up with dust, debris, crumbs and so on, because that could lead to a crummy situation down the road. Try to remember to simply wipe the granite clean with a dry towel relatively frequently. Every day or two should do the trick. Wet paper towels don’t hurt either—as long as the cleaning solution is water, or a pH neutral liquid. Always dry right after you wet wipe. Raincoat sold separately.

Rule of Thumb: When it comes to the basics, you want to keep your pH level basic, NOT acidic… Acidic cleaning solutions (like vinegar) are NOT good for granite.

Step 2: Should Accidents Occur

Trust us, they WILL occur. Don’t panic. Granite is porous, but as long as you clean up spills immediately you shouldn’t run into any absorption issues. Make sure to blot spills clean for best results.

And then there’s the cuts. You want to avoid cutting and scratching your granite. Never cut directly on the counters, and always be diligent about using cutting boards.

Step 3: Extended Care

Your granite countertop will grow up faster than you know it, and be off to college in no time. No, they don’t stay young forever, but the best thing you can do to maintain its youthful innocence is seal annually. While you have several options, we recommend using a stone enhancing sealer for best results. That means not only will it set into the pores of your granite, but it will also give your pride and joy an extra shine. Sealers aren’t that time consuming to apply, and can be done effectively by simply following the label’s instructions!

And with that, you’re now well-equipped to be an excellent counter parent! Parenting isn’t always the easiest thing, but it’s certainly rewarding. Keep that in mind when that grape juice spills all over the place and you’re feeling flustered. You got this!

Thanks for reading this countertips article. We were thinking about doing one more on quartzite countertops, but that would put us at number 4 in the series and to be honest, the Roman numerals are starting to get tough. Stay tuned to see what happens next!

Written by stephen · Categorized: Uncategorized

Oct 11 2024

How to Match New Counters With Backsplash

So you’ve picked out your counter material. Great! Maybe you’re going with quartz countertops for your Delaware County, PA home, or something more traditional like marble or granite. Whatever you choose, rest assured that by allowing us to help, the outcome will be stunning. Thanks for trusting us!

But as you know, your kitchen redesign doesn’t end with the counter material selection. While it’s exciting to pick out all of the new things to make your kitchen look modern and beautiful, matching this with that can get…tricky; to say the least.

Fear not, because we’re here to help. Let’s go over the basics of matching the counters to what is arguably the second-most important aesthetic element of your kitchen—the backsplash.

Let’s Start With the Backsplash

Ah, yes, backsplash. Picking the right one is a whole to-do apart from the counter selection process in and of itself, and it’s important that you get matching your choices right. The first step is obvious, yet often overlooked: Don’t make selecting counters and backsplash two separate events. You may pick out two great styles that you love, but don’t go well together. That can easily be avoided by comparing your selections before purchasing and installing. But what comes first; the backsplash or the counters? That’s a matter of preference…

Many people prioritize their countertops, since they’re more functional and expensive than the backsplash. If you’re following suit, the key to success is found in taking advice from your taste and personality. A person with conservative taste will want a much different combination than someone of a bolder or brighter persuasion. Take a chunk of the countertop stone with you to select the backsplash, and compare and contrast right there in real time. It doesn’t hurt to take a design-savvy friend along for the ride, either.

There are myriad recommendations we can make as to specific backsplashes that match with specific countertops, all of which we can’t come close to covering in one post.

With that said, since granite is one of our most popular materials, let’s take a look at how to match it with backsplash. Your best bet is to pair the granite with neutral, or earthy backsplash tones. You have ample hues from which to pick, but it’s usually safe to keep them in the tan, brown and grey families. And since granite typically runs black, white or grey, a backsplash of the counter’s respective complementary shade can look stunning.

Needless to say, the options are virtually limitless, which means a bit of discipline in limiting yourself can go a long way. You know who you are, and your gut usually tells you the right thing to do, so trust it!

Whether we’re installing granite, marble, soapstone or quartzite countertops in your Chester County, PA home, know that you can trust us to give you the products that align with your best-interests. We look forward to working together!

Happy backsplashing.

Written by stephen · Categorized: Uncategorized

Oct 11 2024

Caring for your Granite Countertops

Once you’ve invested in one of the beautiful granite countertops Cosmos offers, you’ll want to protect your investment.  Though granite is strong and durable, it will need care and attention to protect from the wear it will sustain and to preserve its natural beauty for years to come.

Keep Your Countertops Well-Sealed

Maintaining the seal on your countertops will extend the life of the granite. It is vital to keep your countertops well-sealed to help the stone avoid soaking up spills and creating stains. There is no specific schedule for resealing granite. The need to reseal will depend on a number of factors, including the type of granite, the quality of the sealant, and the usage and overall care of the granite.

Check your granite every few months with a simple water test to assess whether it’s time to reseal.

  • Pour a few tablespoons of water onto various sections of your countertop (some areas may need resealing sooner than others) and note the time it takes for the water to absorb. The granite will darken as the water is absorbed.
  • An uncompromised seal will keep water at bay for 30 minutes. If no water has absorbed after half an hour, your sealant is in good shape.
  • If the water absorbs after 10 to 15 minutes, the area should get a coat of sealant.
  • If the water absorbs immediately or after just a few minutes, the granite is not offering protection against liquids and stains and should be sealed immediately with at least a couple of coats of sealant.

Basic Care and Cleaning

  • Use only water, mild soap, and a microfiber cloth: While there are cleaners on the market designed for granite countertops, those products aren’t necessary to keep your countertops fresh. Mild dishwashing soap and warm water will be sufficient for everyday cleaning.  Use a microfiber cloth for wet cleaning or dry dusting; do not use scrubbing sponges and brushes.
  • Avoid harsh cleansers or chemicals: Using chemicals on your granite, including bleach- or ammonia-based cleansers, will strip the protective sealant and leave your counters susceptible to stains and absorption of other liquids. Also, avoid using materials containing vinegar or other acidic liquids like lemon juice.
    • Antibacterial cleansing: Well-sealed granite is resistant to bacteria. However, if you feel the need to disinfect with more than soap and hot water, a mixture of half water and half 91% isopropyl alcohol will work.  Spray the mixture on the affected area and allow to sit for three to five minutes, then rinse with water and dry the countertop with a microfiber cloth.

Other Helpful Tips

  • Wipe spills as soon as possible. A stain could set in if a spill is left for too long, even on sealed granite.
  • Always use a cutting board when preparing food. Knives can compromise the seal on your granite or damage your countertops.
  • Avoid storing oily or wet containers on your granite countertops. Over time, any oil on the bottom of the containers can seep into the countertop and stain, even when the granite is sealed.
  • In addition to watching for scratches and stains, regularly inspect your granite for cracks or shifting at the seams.  Contact a repair professional for assistance if you have noticed any damage. Putting off repairs can lead to further damage and higher repair costs.

Feel free to contact the team of experts here at Cosmos Marble and Granite if you ever have questions about the care or maintenance of your granite countertops.

Written by stephen · Categorized: Uncategorized

Oct 11 2024

What’s Better: Quartz or Granite?

The two most popular choices when it comes to countertops are quartz and granite. When deciding which one is right for you, there are a lot of elements to consider such as functionality, cost, and durability as well which will look better in your kitchen. It’s also important to note that granite is entirely natural while quartz contains some artificial polymers. Granite is essentially one large chunk of natural rock that is cut down and polished. Quartz is a manufactured surface.  It has polymer resin added to bind the rock crystals into a harder and more durable surface. In order to help you decide which one is right for your kitchen Cosmos Marble and Granite is happy to give you this comparison of the two types of countertops based on factors like cost, durability, and appearance:

Cost

Both granite and quartz are not cheap countertop materials. But, high-quality countertops are a good investment in your kitchen. Quartz is more expensive than granite because quartz is manufactured while granite is made from one large chunk of stone. The difference in price isn’t huge, but quartz is almost always more expensive. If you’re remodeling on a budget, then granite countertops might be a better option for you.

Durability

Durability is the primary concern of most homeowners when they are remodeling their kitchens. Both quartz and granite are designed to last for about 50 years. Both types of countertops are heat resistant, scratch resistant, and able to stand up to the demands of family life. But quartz is slightly more durable. Because quartz countertops are a composite of rock and resin, they are very sturdy. One drawback of granite is that it can sometimes shatter or crack due to the natural veining in the stone.

Quartz is highly stain resistant without needing to be sealed while granite countertops need to be regularly resealed in order to prevent stains. If someone in the house really likes to cook elaborate meals, then quartz may be the better choice as it will stand up to more abuse without staining. But granite, with a naturally cool surface, would be better for someone that loves to bake.

Appearance

Both quartz and granite look beautiful in any kitchen. Because granite is a large piece of natural stone the colors available are all-natural hues and the tones influence the price. Local stone will be cheaper than some other colors that need to be imported. Colored kitchens are becoming very trendy again, and if you want countertops that are highly durable and come in stylish colors, then quartz is the best choice.

Because quartz is a composite material, it is available in many different shades. Most of the high-end blue, green, red, black and other color countertops that you see on design blogs, Pinterest and Instagram are quartz. If you want your kitchen to have a more traditional or natural look the unique pattern of natural granite will be the best choice for you. To see what color quartz and granite countertops are available be sure to look at cosmosmg.com.

Written by stephen · Categorized: Uncategorized

Oct 11 2024

What Sink is Right for Me?

While Cosmos excels at helping you find the perfect countertops to accentuate your kitchen, we’re not going to leave you out in the cold when it comes to finding the perfect sink to put in those beautiful Cosmos marble and granite countertops.

Do you want a single basin or a dual basin, and what about the material? Stainless steel, porcelain, granite, or natural stone are all options. While some of those are certainly purely aesthetic, they’re plenty of practicality when choosing a sink.

The Material

After you’ve visited cosmosmg.com and chosen the perfect granite countertop for your home renovation, or your entirely new home, you can certainly choose to couple it with a granite sink. You could even go as far as to visit one of your nearby granite suppliers and peruse your options, and maybe even have one custom made.

Granite sinks are hard to scratch, and the particles and polymers tend not to show water spots, either. So these are a great choice if you live somewhere with hard water. Do take note, though, they can stain, and require special maintenance.

Porcelain is the classic choice, but they’re prone to chip and metal pans can leave difficult-to-remove scuff marks. Still, if your kitchen decor is aiming for a vintage aesthetic, then a porcelain sink will match it perfectly.

Another classic option, stainless steel matches virtually any kitchen aesthetics, from vintage to modern and everything in between. They’re nearly indestructible, but they’re prone to water spots, which may be especially troublesome if you live somewhere with hard water.

Lastly, natural stone sinks are another great compliment to the sinks that Cosmos can provide, but these sinks aren’t cheap and can easily scratch or chip.

Basin Business

From one large basin to a 60/40 split or a 50/50 split, or even three basins of varying sizes, your basin choice will largely come down to the practicality.

Large single basins are the most popular choice and will allow plenty of room to soak dishes and clean the largest pans. They won’t leave you much room for versatility, but if that’s not a concern, then perfect.

If you still want some of the benefits of a single large basin, but still want to be able to juggle your fresh vegetables, then a 60/40 split might be for you. Go for 50/50 if symmetry is your thing. You can even consider getting 3 basins, with two similar sized ones, and a small one in the center with a garbage disposal. It can be nice to separate the disposal, but you won’t be able to simply push scraps off the counter.

General Design

Lastly comes the look. Farmhouse sinks are typically a single basin but feature an apron front for a classic look loved by many. Since it comes closer to the counter edge (and can even protrude past it), Farmhouse sinks are great for children and those of smaller stature. Ultimately, though, a farmhouse sink is purely an aesthetic choice. They come in single or 50/50 basin designs.

Rounded sinks aren’t simply an aesthetic choice; the curved edges make for much easier cleaning. If the curved edges don’t mesh at all with your design sense, then you can also find these types of sinks with angular edges along the top, and it’s only the bottom edges that are rounded – the spots where you’re more likely to clean.

These are just the basic options, too. These days, more and more homeowners are opting for more specialized designs to allow more and more kitchen work to happen at the sink, from cutting to cleaning to everything in between, but this can cause your sink to take up a lot of counter space, so if you’re pressed for room, scratch this off the list.

Ultimately, though, your sink comes down to 50% practicality, and 50% aesthetic preference. But first, , you’ll need a counter to put it in, and Cosmos can definitely help with that.

Written by stephen · Categorized: Uncategorized

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Cosmos Marble & Granite

Family owned and operated for over 30 years, Cosmos Marble & Granite provides custom natural stone countertops for kitchens, baths for residential and commercial customers. Expert design, fabrication and installation.
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