Top 10 Granite Countertop Colors of 2013

Are you looking to buy low price, but trendy and cheap granite countertops? This list may help you determine what color granite to use in your own kitchen and vanity countertop project. This list has been compiled based on sales and product inquires received during 2013.

                                                                1. Brazil Black

2. Tan Brown - Chestnut Granite

3. Dakota Mahogany

4. Labrador Green - Ubatuba

5. Mahogany Blue

6. Opalescence - Indian Black Pearl

7. Cecilia Classic

8. Tropical Brown

9. Tropical Green

10. Verde Butterfly - Butterfly Green

These colors were great for 2013 and are sure to be a hit this year as well. We can't wait to see what the granite color trends will be this year!

Contact Granite Services LLC today to make your home trendy with these great granite top colors.

Sealed Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are a hot commodity for any house or business. They bring a level of elegance and beauty unparalleled to any other substance, yet there are a few things every homeowner and business owner should keep in mind when implementing new granite countertops.

Having sealed granite countertops is something everyone should invest in. Due to granite’s porous structure, countertops that are unsealed are vulnerable to permanent staining and scorning. This is especially true for colored liquids, oil, fat, and grease which can cause permanent discoloration.

Looking to replace stained or scorned granite can be very time consuming and expensive which can all be avoided by a proper sealing.

Although, some counters do not necessarily need to be sealed, it’s always a good decision to make anyways in order to reduce the possibility of something unfortunate happening.

Granite sealers can be purchased at any local department store and can range anywhere from $10-$25. Next, be sure to properly clean your countertops before applying the sealer and wait for the surface to be completely dry before applying.

Once applied, most cleaners take a good 6 plus hours before being officially sealed and ready for operation. Make sure to read the instructions on the can because some cleaners can have different time frames.

So, how do you know if your countertops are sealed correctly? Any liquid spilled on the surface of your countertop should immediately “bead up” restricting any liquid from seeping in the granite itself.

Properly sealed granite can last for years and rid owners the worry of any permanent staining, scorning, or discoloration. It’s an exceptionally cheap solution which can prevent a very expensive problem.

Cleaning Granite Countertops: Proper Cleaning Techniques and Advice

For those of you who have the luxury of owning your own granite countertops, you realize and cherish the value of owning a material that is gorgeous, but also effective. Granite is not just used as eye candy, but functions as a heat and scratch resistant countertop and a fairly easy maintenance process.

Maintenance and safe cleaning techniques is very important for any type of countertop, but there are different techniques and methods for every surface material. Granite is a surface that is easy to clean, but requires special care.

 

Detecting dirt and grime on granite countertops is not necessarily an easy task. Make sure to check your countertops first by swiping your hand or a microfiber towel over the surface. We prefer a microfiber towel because they catch dirt and other materials more effectively than paper towels.

Next, apply a ph-balanced cleaner which will reduce streaking and leave a nice polished top. A water and soap combination will work well also, but will leave more streaks and won’t give off a more clear & polished look compared to a ph-based counter cleaner.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Refrain from using window cleaners or bleach on your granite countertops! They have been known to harm sealant and can cause damage to your countertop.

Finally, wipe down the rest of your counters with your microfiber towel and let it dry for a few minutes and your countertops will be open for service.

Following these simple, easy steps will ensure maximum cleanliness and leave your countertops shiny and streak free!

Granite Countertop Colors and Patterns: How to Choose the Right Granite for Your Kitchen

The benefits of installing granite countertops are endless and will enhance the beauty of any kitchen, but this is only true if the right color and pattern is picked to complement your kitchen.

There is a wide array of granite countertop colors, color variations, and patterns available for every homeowner. However, this can be very overwhelming for some individuals, which can result in a color or pattern that doesn’t fit well with their kitchen.

There are a few questions you should have answered before choosing your new countertops:

· What is the color of the cabinets?

· How large is the kitchen?

· What is the color of the walls?

· How much natural light does the kitchen get?

· What type of flooring is in the kitchen

You want something that will complement the color and style of your cabinets, as well as your kitchen walls and flooring. If you have a larger kitchen, something dark will make your kitchen look smaller and the opposite is noted for light colored granite. Natural light is also very important; the more light your kitchen has, the more options for colors. If you choose a dark colored granite for a kitchen that has little or no light, it can result in a drab and dreary look.

If you’re not sure on a color or pattern that’s right for you, picking a neutral color like beige or brown is always a safe bet. Black is also another color that usually goes well with any kitchen arrangement, giving off a sophisticated and classy look.

If you’re really not confident or want to make sure you make the “best” choice for your new granite kitchen countertop, expert advice can be obtained by simply consulting your granite installation service or manufacturer.

Benefits of Installing Granite Countertops in your Home

“No two slabs look identical.” Granite is one of the world’s most unique and powerful rock compositions and has become a prominent fixture in many households today. This is a fact when dealing with the beauty, elegance, and style that is associated with granite. Installing new granite countertops can completely transform a lackluster kitchen, basement, bathroom, etc. into something spectacular.

 

There are many benefits that accompany granite countertops other than its sheer beauty. Some of these benefits include:

· Durability
· Cost
· Easy Care
· Uniqueness

Granite is Durable

Granite is one of the strongest materials available. It is virtually scratch and stain proof and completely heat resistant. Granite is one of the strongest compounds, mainly composed of quartz, which is the second strongest mineral behind diamonds.

Granite is Cost-Effective 

Availability, durability, and splendor make granite countertops a popular commodity. Being that their popularity has risen greatly, the price of granite has dropped significantly making it more affordable. 

Granite Maintenance is Easy 

Granite countertops get polished and sealed giving it an impenetrable and sleek cover. A good wash of warm water usually keeps it polished and sanitary 

Granite is Extremely Unique 

Each slab is completely different from one another. There are hundreds of different patterns, colors, and shades that an individual can chose from. This makes choosing the right countertop for your house very easy because of the endless options.

So, if you’re in the market for a new kitchen, bar, bathroom, or any countertop for that matter, making the decision to go with granite would be a choice you'd never regret!

Granite Services L.L.C.

30736 Pearl Drive

St. Joseph, MN 56374

Ph:(320)363-4640

Fax: (320)363-4503

customercare@graniteservicesllc.com

The Wall

 As you head south on highway 10, I am sure many or most of you have seen the “big rock wall” as you drive by. I am also fairly certain that most of you know that what lies behind those walls is not only a prison, but a long history or granite and the foundation for why we call this city on the river, the “Granite City”.

The prison which formerly was called the Minnesota State Reformatory for Men was Minnesota’s third prison. It is currently a level 4 closed security prison. The first cell block that was built here was a Romanesque revival structure built by J. Walter Stevens. More importantly the second cell block, which was also built by Stevens, was structured by inmates that quarried granite from the on-site quarry. The first two cell blocks were completed around 1889. In the time near 1897, work had been started on the administration building which also followed the Romanesque look of the other two cell blocks. The administrative building was designed by Clarence H. Johnson who had much responsibility in designing a fair amount of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus. Due to many work stoppages and other speed bumps, the building was finally complete around 1920. The entire building is made of granite and has a flat roof with octagonal corner roof towers, also made of granite.

The prison, in this shot you can see the quarry (filled with water – top right), that was the original granite quarry which helped build the prison. Notice that the water is on the inside of the wall and still a part of the prisons facilities. On a side note, in 1889 seventy-five prisoners were transferred to from the Stillwater State Prison to the St. Cloud Prison to help in the process of quarrying granite.

A prison is undone if it has no wall. The first job given to the prisoners in the late 1800s was the build the wall. The wall encloses and wraps around 240 acres of land and is also entirely composed of granite. The wall is four feet wide at the base and three feet wide at the top of the wall. The distance of it stretches a whopping mile-and-a-half long. The wall was quarried, dressed, and laid up entirely by the inmates at that time. The wall has a slice of notoriety as well. It currently is the largest granite wall in the United States, and is also the longest granite wall in the world to be built by exclusively by prisoner labor.

Background and History of St. Cloud Stonecutters

During the mass emigration from Europe to America in the late 1800’s sparked a huge wave of people with niche skills and trades that they possessed. One thing that was mandatory at Ellis Island was that every (mostly male) immigrant had to disclose what trade or skill they possessed when they landed in their new home of America. From past records we can learn that granite stonecutters came mostly from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Great Britain, Scotland, Italy, France, Spain, and Germany. 

When President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act in 1862 this helped many European immigrants who did not have very good farm land in their native countries finally have a chance to make a living from the land. This is why many of the granite cutters in the St. Cloud area were of Swedish, Finnish, and Norwegian descent. This act, offered 160 of federal land to anyone who would live on the land and improve the land over the course of five years. Then, they could sign a free and clear release deed on the property. This was huge for these immigrants of these nationalities because Minnesota had such good farmland compared to their former home. Many people from these European nations would now come to Minnesota and start their farming, stonecutting, and most importantly, fresh new lives.

These stonecutters were not farmers. Many of their old friends from back home (In their native country) were farmers and kept in touch during their trip to the new land. These farmer friends of the granite cutters were homesteaders. The granite workers had a buffet of quarries to choose from when leaving Ellis Island. They could choose from Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, and of course yours truly, Minnesota. Many of the stonecutters moved directly to St. Cloud, MN! A widely accepted reason for this is because of the large and deep connections with newly European homesteaders and their relationship with the stonecutters from back home.