Thursday, April 26, 2012

How Much Will My Granite Countertop Cost

There are many reasons why population are choosing granite countertops. Many of the reasons contain the benefits, facility issues, and cost. You have made an excellent decision to use granite for your counters. The best decision with the facility of granite counters is to use a licensed contractor for the job.

Cost of Materials For Granite Countertops

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Granite can vary in cost. It may depend on the type of granite that you pick and the type of desist you select. However, installing granite requires more than just the granite slab or tiles. There are many other materials that you need to purchase for the facility of your new countertops like a 25 lb. Of thin set mortar (), a 5 lb. Bag of unsanded grout (), a quart of polished sealer (25), a roll of fiberglass mesh tape (), a trowel (), a putty knife(), a honing stone(), a grout float (), caulk that matches the color if you are using tiles (), and plastic spacers (). All of these materials will be needed for installing granite countertops and you should think the costs when you are budgeting for your new counter. You also might need a tile saw. You can purchase one for around 5 or you can rent a saw from many places for around for each day. The cutting should be able to be done in one day. You also need to appraisal the lumber materials that you will need to purchase also. The materials that you will need contain a full sheet of ¾ inch plywood. Every 8ft. Of countertop that you have you will need one sheet. You will need a sheet of Denshield to back the tile for every 5 ft. Of counter that you have. Roofing nails and screws will be needed for securing purposes.

The cost of granite differs by the type of granite that you decide on. If you would like a solid surface granite countertop then you will pay around 5 per quadrate foot. If you are thinking about tiles on your counter then the costs will run around per quadrate foot. Tiles can be very cheap or they can be expensive. It depends on the type and texture of the granite. The desist you would like for your counter will make a big distinction also and will growth the price. Many population prefer the faux desist which can cost you almost .

Installation Costs For Granite Countertops

There are many things that you need to think about when you hire a contractor to professionally setup your granite countertops. Hiring the wrong someone could be disastrous and cost you more money in the long run. You should find out how long the contractor has been in enterprise so you can be sure that they have been in enterprise for a while. This will also verify that they are well-established. You should also verify if they have any complaints against them through consumer protection officials. You want to verify how many projects the contractor has completed and ask to see a folder of the work they have done. Some contractors take pictures of their accomplished work and this will give you a good idea of what you have to look send to when it is finished.

You should also ask for a list of references and you should verify all of them. Don't just take their word for it. Call everyone. If the contractor is going to be using other sub-contractors to help them with the project, you should meet them and make sure that you feel comfortable with them in your home. Verify that every person who will be working in your home is licensed and that they are all covered by insurance. You can protect yourself by asking to see a lien waiver to verify that the contractor doesn't owe whatever any money. A contractor should have personal liability guarnatee that will cover damage to property and whatever else that could happen.

When you pay the contractor for the work completed, verify that you are satisfied with the work done before you make a final payment. You should limit the down cost to as slight as potential and if you are asked to be paid in full then you should go with someone else. You can work with the contractor and set milestones for payment. This means, as the contractor completes defined amounts of work, and then you pay them. You should also always avoid paying cash at all costs. You should also have a ageement that clearly spells out all of the work that will be done for the countertops. Be sure that warranties are defined for the materials and the work done. Also be sure the contractor cleans their mess of excess materials and things before they leave.

When you hire a contractor to setup granite countertops in your home, the price may vary by how experienced the contractor is and how large the counters are. The price can range from 0 to 00 and higher. If you decide to setup granite countertops on your own, then you can be seeing at prices from 0 to almost 0. It is usually not recommended to setup granite counters yourself. This is because you should have skill when you are cutting granite and installing a counter. The cost of mistakes with granite might cost you more than what you can afford. It is always good to hire a pro contractor to setup granite in your kitchen.

Choosing granite countertops for your kitchen is the best decision that you can make to beautify and growth the value of your home. We wish you the best of luck in seeing the slab of granite that is right for you and your home. You are sure to find it.

How Much Will My Granite Countertop Cost

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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Wheelchair Accessible Kitchen Or When the Chef Has Wheels

I get many questions with regard to details of an accessible kitchen. Questions like, what is the thorough countertop height from the floor to the top of the counter, or what is the thorough toe-kick. The list goes on and on.  Are there special appliances or cabinets? In this record I will cover the basics, cabinets, flooring, lighting, electrical, and ultimately appliances.

Cabinets
Most cabinet manufacturers offer specific Ada compliant cabinets which will give you a final countertop height of 32" from the floor to the top of the counter. They will also comprise the proper toe-kick of 9" high by 6" deep. This provides room for the foot rest of a wheelchair to slide under the edge of the cabinet. This however does not supply passage to the cook-top or sink. The base cabinets that will house these items will need to have knee space under the countertop. Now upper cabinets gift a dissimilar set of problems. Even if they are installed at the thorough height above the base cabinets only the lowest shelf will be accessible to man seated in a wheelchair. I personally like to lower them another 6" so that the lowest two shelves are accessible. Or you could save the charge and just leave them out. One last item, the base cabinets should have large deep drawers instead of cabinet doors, as these are more accessible.  

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Flooring
The flooring should be hard surface, such as wood or ceramic tile or stone. You should avoid any kind of flooring that has give or is cushioned. This kind of floor makes it difficult to move a by hand wheelchair around as does wall to wall rug or area rugs. Avoid these items if at all possible. Even the most innocent of kitchen rugs can be a perilous tripping hazard for the disabled or elderly.
 
Lighting
With today's need to be green, lighting for the accessible kitchen is no longer considered specialized. The use of Cfl (Compact Florescent Light) bulbs and Led under cabinet low voltage task lighting is coarse place. So the only thing that nothing else but needs to be said is that you need to supply task lighting in all food making ready areas.
 
Electrical
This is one area that is often overlooked as far where and how to setup electrical outlets and switches in an accessible kitchen.  Wall outlets are normally settled behind the base cabinet, either above or in the backsplash. For man seated in a wheelchair this means they have to make a perilous reach in order to use the outlet. It is great to setup the outlet in the face of the base cabinet, just under the countertop. Or a popup multi-outlet can be installed in the countertop itself within easy reach of the wheelchair occupant. Switches should be settled at 48" above the floor so that they are within reach of the wheelchair occupant. Use rocker type switches for those with miniature use of their fingers. ultimately outlets that are on a wall without cabinets should be at least 18" above the floor for a safe reach in a wheelchair.

Appliances
While there is no need for specialized or institution appliances, distinct types of appliances are best in an accessible kitchen. Let's start with the stove for example, a accepted range cannot be used, A cut off cook-top and oven unit will need to be used. As mentioned before the cook-top will need a knee space below the cabinet. The oven should be mounted in a base cabinet so it can be nothing else but loaded and unloaded. A heat defiant exterior at countertop level should be provided to place hot pans on. Next a drawer type dishwasher can be mounted conventionally and nothing else but accessed from a wheelchair. However, a thorough front loading dishwasher will need to be raised 9" to make it easy to load and unload. The sinks will have to have rear mounted drains to allow for the knee space under and still allow for a disposal. The microwave should be mounted below the countertop. ultimately the refrigerator should either be a side by side model or a French door model with the freezer on the bottom.
 
There are probably other items that you can do to make a kitchen even more accessible. Try sitting in a thorough kitchen chair in front of a problem area and ask yourself what can I change, that will make this area more accessible.  I hope this helps those of you who need to make your kitchen more accessible for a wheelchair. If you have any questions don't hesitate ask. Remember breath Peace and God's Love..... 

Wheelchair Accessible Kitchen Or When the Chef Has Wheels

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Sunday, February 12, 2012

What is the Best Top Loading Washing engine Today?

Are you on the look out for the best top loading washing machine? Generally, population will go for front load washers primarily because of the efficiency of this motor when it comes to power and water.

With the improvement of technology, we can beyond doubt arrive to the closing that the best top loading washing motor today is the one that can mimic the functions of the front loaders. Most of us would want to get a motor that is very power and water efficient.

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The good news is, the washer manufactures has answered this need. There is now what we call He or high efficiency top loaders. They are top loaders on the outer shell but they result the power and water efficiency of front loaders.

Whirlpool has introduced Wtw6300Ww top loader which is known for its high efficiency. It has about 4.7 cubic feet of capacity. I personally think its Rpm speed of 950 is just right for weekly use because it prolongs the life of the washer. Thos machines with Rpm speed higher than 1000 takes its toll on the functions of the machine. Other than saving power and water, its features are also good. It has Affresh feature that can automatically freshen up smelly and dirty laundry.

Another brand to look for is the Fisher & Paykel Intuitive Eco Iwl16. The name alone clues you up on its efficiency. Being an eco-friendly washer, it can save your more electricity and water consumption. You can choose the spin speed so you won't have to use only the maximum speed speed. This way, you can dry up delicate clothing easily.

You can also try the Ge Wjre5500Gww. This is a minute smaller compared to Whirlpool with its 3.5 cubic foot of capacity. However, it brings something to the table when it comes to washing efficiency. Also, many consumers like it because it does not make a lot of noise. Unfortuantely, this might be a letdown for users who have a motor that can spin at very fast speed. But I still think the slow spinning ones are good for the machine. But for drying, it might not be the best.

The foremost thing to look for in He top loading washing machines is how much it can save you on power and water. Also, find out if it can beyond doubt clean clothes and dry it as much as it says it can do.

What is the Best Top Loading Washing engine Today?

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