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the natural option
Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning your next home improvement project...
In a perfect world
Slate, sandstone, marble, and even granite, are natural stone options that are not always perfect in every way. That is part of their beauty. These are the 'birthmarks' and they are also what gives natural materials their unique and timeless appeal - no two tiles or slabs are alike. Don’t try to find material without these conversation-starting markings. As long as the ‘flaws’ are consistent throughout the material, you can use it. Most natural materials have variations in them, but that’s often what makes them so beautiful.
If there are areas of the slab you don’t like or want to downplay, those sections can be taken into consideration should you need to have the piece cut to size. If you have one spot or one different coloured vein, you can put that part of the material in the back of the countertop or perhaps where the hob or sink would be placed.
Buy what you need the first time
The longer the stone has been lying around, the more it will have been bleached by the sun. That’s why it may be impossible to find another slab that will perfectly match a countertop in your new kitchen. When buying stone, buy all the stone you need at the same time to ensure consistency of the look. You can only control so much of the colour variation of the stone because it’s a natural product, but there are ways to find slabs that are consistent with each other and it's always a good idea to discuss this with your supplier or kitchen installation company.
Be a grouch about grout
The colour of grout that you choose for your tiles is just as important as the tile itself. In fact, the colour of the grout can determine the final look of your tile pattern, so think of grout as a design element whether your project is a floor or a multi-patterned backsplash. If you are laying the tiles yourself, look at the various grout colours available and see what would work best in the space. If you want to see the geometry of the tile and accent the tile pattern, use a contrasting colour of grout. If you want tile to look more like a solid surface or to emphasize the colour, use a grout colour that closely matches the colour of the tile.
Get what you pay for
There is nothing more disappointing than to spend time searching for the perfect slab for your countertops only to get the shock when a different slab is delivered. To keep this from happening, find out about the system your supplier uses to track material and follow up on it.
When you pick out your slab - or tiles - ask the supplier to remove it from the store immediately and place it aside with your name on it.
See the larger picture
If you want to use stone tile for your floor or have a large backsplash, don’t base your final decision on just one or two Scrabble-sized pieces of the tile. It’s better to look at the larger picture and ask for several tiles to get a good sense of the natural colour variation, so you’re not going to be disappointed later on. If you’re undertaking an expensive remodel that includes a tile floor, buy a box of tile and lay it out on the floor to get a good idea of what it will look like. Especially if you’re doing a extensive remodel, this is the best way to see if a large area will look the way you imagined it would based on just one or two tiles. A lot of times, there will be colours in the tile that aren’t obvious when you choose from too small a sample. Once you install the tile there’s no going back if you don’t like the result.
More for your money
It’s rare that a piece of marble or granite is an exact fit for your kitchen or bathroom countertops. Typically, there are some leftover pieces once the project is done. Try to arrange to have any remnants made into other items that you can use in the kitchen or other areas of the house.
Pastry boards, which are great for making cookies or rolling out dough, are easy things to add on and ask for because you have the waste from the stove hole or the sink hole. If the piece is big enough, you can even do an end table.
A matter of detail
Choosing the wrong edging for your countertops can create unexpected problems. Always ask your installation company about the finishing.
When it comes to edge detailing and backsplash design, there are a lot of decorative options. Don't forget to discuss this aspect of your project.
Know what you are buying
The more you learn about stone and how to maintain it, the more confident you can be in making a good selection. Choosing the right finish can also help protect and maintain its beauty, which is important if you use a lighter-coloured marble or more porous material for your countertop.
Remember that just because a marble won’t work with the way you cook, doesn’t mean that you can’t use it somewhere else. Marble is harder to take care of as a kitchen countertop but for a bathroom vanity or floor it's the perfect solution. |
