Granite tops are an excellent addition that gives your home an elegant finish. But when you decide it’s time to change the look of your home, your granite countertops can be left sticking out like a sore thumb. Changing the countertops might cost a pretty penny and you might be hesitant to change the tops if they’re still in good condition, which leaves most homeowners wondering, “Can you paint granite counters?”  The simple answer is yes. But paint won’t stick on granite counters unless you carry out some preparation work on the counters before painting over them. Here’s a guide on how t ..read more

Rarely will you need to replace granite countertops because they’re worn out. If anything, granite could literally last you a lifetime as long as you seal it every year with granite sealant. But then you may be looking to spruce up your kitchen and the granite countertops don’t match your ideas for the new look.  In this case, you have two options: a professional replacement that could cost you $130 for each square foot you install and $80 to $180 per square foot without installation, or the cheaper route involving cutting the countertops.  The problem is, you’ve heard over and over ..read more

Designing a new kitchen with new countertops, one of the most important things to consider is traffic. A busy family that flows constantly through the kitchen and holds big family events should have a kitchen designed for more than one person. There are plenty of cute little one-chef kitchens designed in tidy spaces, but planning for a busy family kitchen requires a different approach. Rather than cabinets that all open toward one chef, you want to think in avenues and workstations. You want room for two people to move between the countertops – at least – and for each station to be a comfortab ..read more

Renowned for its strength and durability, granite is one of the oldest and most attractive natural stones on the market. This stone is heat, moisture, and scratch-resistant and will last a lifetime if you care and maintain it properly.  Granite is available in various colors and patterns, adding an unrivaled level of sophistication to any area in the home. However, when most people hear the word granite, they think of kitchen countertops. While granite is excellent for kitchen countertops, with a bit of creativity, you can use it in the following areas around your home. 1. Living Room For ..read more

Natural stone is a porous material, which means that it is full of tiny holes. These holes allow water and other liquids to pass through the stone. The size of the holes varies from one type of stone to another, but all-natural stone is more porous than non-porous materials like ceramic or glass. The porosity of natural stone can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you plan to use it. For example, if you want to use the stone for a countertop in your kitchen, you’ll want to choose a stone with low porosity so that it won’t absorb stains and spills. On the other hand, if you’re usi ..read more

Granite is an intrusive igneous rock that has large grains/minerals that you can easily see. An intrusive rock is one where molten rock cooled in the Earth’s crust and was never released as molten rock. When the molten rock is cooled gradually, it creates the large crystals of one mineral that you see in granite. When this process occurs over a long period of time, it allows minerals to form at different times than one another, which is what causes the final look of the granite. If you’re wondering how many different colors of granite there are, granite usually comes in white, pink, blue ..read more

Indeed, making your kitchen both aesthetic and functional requires a bit of planning. And a big part of this involves knowing what to store on your countertop and what not to. Remember that this is one place that is prone to clutter, and as such, you ought to know what items belong there to guarantee both visual appeal and purpose.  A rule of thumb is to reserve your counter for items you frequently use, basically small appliances and containers of kitchen staples. This is to ensure you have easy access to them when preparing meals or cleaning after cooking. The countertop is a working ar ..read more

Nothing beats sitting by a cozy fireplace on a chilly evening. Fireplaces add charm to your living space, especially when you modernize a fireplace. They serve as a focal point that brings your whole interior together. Additionally, fireplaces help increase the value of your home and add to its appeal. In fact, home buyers see fireplaces as hot commodities. Around 45% of home buyers would actually increase their offer for a new home if it has a minimum of one fireplace, according to a 2007 survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors. But, even if you already have a fireplace in yo ..read more

We can conduct all the business we want remotely, but there’s nothing like sitting in a well-designed conference room.  The conference room remains a critical component of professional ecosystems. When at the table, management, teams, clients and employees coordinate visions that impact the company. Big or small, Fortune 50 or startup, where you gather and prepare for the future is dynamically affected by the room. Arch City Granite & Marble, Inc. knows your conference rooms should promote productivity, privacy, professionalism, collaboration, convenience and breath. If you don’t thin ..read more

In kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, sinks and countertops are built together. You might have a granite countertop that sees several decades and new sink installations. Or you might be installing the first sink in a new countertop. Sink installation is something anyone can do with the right hardware, tools, and the proper steps. Here at Arch City Granite & Marble, we know the story doesn’t end with a beautiful countertop. That countertop will see one sink, for sure, and perhaps several in future renovations that keep the gleaming stone but change the fixtures. If you’re getting ready ..read more