Articles

When replacing an existing ceramic countertop it is important to understand how the countertop was constructed before attempting to remove it. A typical tile countertop is built of three layers, the tile surface, a cement board underlayment, and a plywood subdeck. Prior to the availability of cement board, portland cement was troweled over wire mesh or expanded metal mesh which was&nbs...

Whether your countertop material is granite, marble, quartz or solid surface the edge profile you choose will have a dramatic effect on the look of your new countertops. Which profile is best? It is really a matter of taste and budget. Countertops generally come in three basic thicknesses, 3 cm (1¼”) 2 cm (3/4”). Solid surface countertops are fabricated from sheets of material that are ½”...

  The two questions we are asked most often are, "How do I know if my countertops need to be sealed?" and "How do you seal a granite countertop?" You can perform a simple test which will indicate whether or not your countertops need to be sealed. Simply pour a small puddle of water on the countertop surface and allow it to set for a few minutes. If the tops are sufficiently sealed the wat...

If you own a dishwasher and are having new countertops installed you will have to reinstall the dishwasher anti-tip clips. Anti-tip hardware keeps the dishwasher from tipping forward when the front door is opened and the dishracks are pulled forward either for loading or unloading. The clips are either attached to the top or the side of the dishwasher. Older and most economy dishwashers are se...

A customer recently asked us to install an 8 foot long granite bartop that was 18 inches wide on a 4 ½ inch wide pony wall separating the kitchen and dining room. He wanted a 2 inch overhang on the kitchen side of wall which left nearly 12 inches of granite overhanging the dining side of the wall. He was surprised when we told him he'd have to install a number of 6" corbels to support the bar ...

For over 10 years Solid Surface Designs has been at the forefront of integrated digital fabrication. Employing laser templating, water jet cutting and CNC finishing have transformed how granite and quartz countertops are custom made and installed.  Prior to the introduction of digital lasers, templates were assemble using a variety of materials, cardboard, fan fold insulation panels or st...

Countertops fabricated from granite and quartz are famous for their beauty and durability.  The ability of natural and man made stone to resist scuffs and scratches comes from on it's mineral composition. In 1812, the German mineralogist, Friedrich Mohs, devised a system to classify the relative hardness of natural minerals. On what we now call the Mohs scale a rating of 1 refers to an ex...

The kitchen sink and faucet you choose will be the focal point of your kitchen countertop project. When you are designing new countertops there are two important questions to ask. First, does the sink you want fit the cabinet you have? Second, will the faucet you chose fit your sink? Whether undermounted, top mounted or integrated (solid surface) the sink and attached plumbing will take up mo...

The geologic history of Southwest Missouri is written in the weathered faces of limestone bluffs that gaze out over deep forested valleys and by the bands of rock strata exposed by nearly every building project in the area.  The Ozark Plateau was once the bed of an ancient shallow inland sea.  For nearly 35 million years precipitates of calcium carbonate and the ancient calcareous r...