Every home has pockets, if not roomfuls, of space that homeowners either overlook, take for granted, or simply don’t know what to do with. Remodeling unused spaces can do wonders to improve the functionality and quality of your entire home. Plus, enhancing an unused area gives your home an immediate makeover and provides you additional living space. As a bonus, remodeling unused spaces can often add financial value to your home, especially when done well. Read on for five tips for making the most of the space of you have.

Set a Budget

First things first: financials. Whether you’re turning an attic into an office or carving a study nook out of an extra closet, expenses can add up fast. You’ll want to factor in obvious costs such as supplies, labor, and basic aesthetics like paint and caulk. Because your space will be completely remodeled, you’ll need a design budget, too. Prioritize the necessities and set aside a small fund for extras that pop up as you go.  

Think Outside the Box

Your renovation is an opportunity to express your creativity through structure and design. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! Consult social media and other platforms for renovation and decor ideas. There are entire communities dedicated to crafty, quirky takes on otherwise traditional homes. There are no “rules” – but extra points for creativity!

Don’t Forget the Small Spaces

If you don’t have a dedicated area ready for a renovation like an attic or basement, it doesn’t mean there aren’t some great ways to add more value to your living space. Take inventory of any and all unused or under-used space in your home. A deep closet under the stairs can become a kids toy room. An extra five feet of corner space in the muck room can become a dog washing station. Build a faux mantle using bookshelves to line a bare wall under a mounted television. No space is out of the question.

Focus on What Your Family Needs

A good way to make sure you’re making the most of your renovation is to focus first on the needs of your family. If there’s been a pain point for say, more homework or study space, then making the most of your den or office space is key. Every home will have its own unique needs; you’ll want to figure out what yours are before you go hunting for space to make it happen.

Treat Yourself

Once you’ve established the space you’re renovating, the need your space will fulfill, and what your budget is, the rest is all about imagination and implementation. It’s important to remember that this newly-created space will be a permanent part of your home. You’ll want to take care that it reflects the overall vision you had in mind. Above all, treat yourself when you can. Take allowances to make sure your living space matches your best vision so that you’re happy with it long-term. There’s nothing worse than taking shortcuts and ending up dissatisfied with the final product. Keep some wiggle room in your budget for last minute finishing touches that really make your new space pop!

Are you considering remodeling your kitchen? Great decision. You are probably sifting through a lot of options to ensure that you give your kitchen a worthy remake. While at it, have you considered what material to use for your countertop? Considering that your kitchen countertop takes a lot of abuse, it is only fair that you invest prudently when it comes to what material to use.

Ideally, the best kitchen countertop material has to be highly durable, aesthetically appealing and bring the best value. No other material will fit this description as well as natural stone.

Four Reasons Why Stone Material is the Best Fit for Your Kitchen Countertop

Highly Durable

There is no about it; a stone countertop will last as long as your house lasts. No other material can hold up against the daily abuse countertops receive as well as stone. If you have been operating in a kitchen long enough, you understand that durability is priceless. Frequent remodels are not only costly but also frustrating.

That is why a durable material like a stone is not something you want to pass up. The key is to find a professional that can properly install it. You will save a lot both in terms of cost and the frustration of having to redo the kitchen now and then.

Easy to Maintain

Now if there is something that can get you worked up it is kitchen maintenance. Considering all the activities that take place on your countertop, getting it neat and appealing can be an enormous pain if you use the wrong material.

Although they can quickly accumulate dust and debris, cleaning a stone countertop is quite painless. Additionally, if it’s properly installed and sealed, you won’t need to refinish or sand it. Once it is installed, all you have to do is ensure that it is always kept clean. We can help you in this respect with our full range of cleaning and sealing services, specifically using MORE™ Surface Care products.

Has the Best Value

For homebuyers who are on a budget, great value is a top priority. If you look at the benefits we have already covered, there is no doubt that a stone countertop will bring the best home value. Think along the lines of durability, easy maintenance, and aesthetics.

All these are qualities that are guaranteed to boost the overall value of your home. To be honest, no other material can give you as much return on investment while adding a flair of sophistication to your kitchen.

Aesthetically Appealing

The benefits we have covered above are important. But if you choose a material that does not add to the general aesthetics of your kitchen, you may not be satisfied with it in the future. A great looking kitchen countertop is something many homeowners derive satisfaction from. Other materials may not give you everything you desire. If they are durable, they may not be aesthetically appealing and vice versa. The good news is, natural stone gives you everything you could want. The beauty of stone is undeniable, and there is no doubt it is going to give your countertop a touch of uniqueness and aesthetic appeal.

Conclusion

The material you choose for your kitchen countertop matters a lot. A stone countertop will serve you well and ensure that you enjoy a fabulous kitchen for a long time for the best value.

Natural stone surfaces provide beauty, elegance, and durability when properly installed in your home or office. These surfaces can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance, but even a material such as natural stone can be subject to etching from common household tasks:

• A slight orange juice spill while your child prepares breakfast that goes unnoticed…are your children perfect cleaners when you’re not around?
• Spilled wine on the counter or floor during a cocktail party…can you trust that every guest has perfect cleaning manners while you play host/hostess?
• Hard water stains from an aggressive sink hose or bathroom faucet…will everyone using your facilities dry your surface ASAP?

Sealing is Not Enough to Prevent Etching

While stone sealers will work hard to protect your stone, they are still susceptible to acidic substances in everyday household items. An unattended spill of coffee, wine, soda, or orange juice can eat away at the surface and cause etching. It is important to note that etching is not a stain that can be easily wiped away. Etching refers to the dull spots left behind on natural stone that will mar your beautiful finish.

In addition to acidic substances, items such as toothpaste, lotion, or even household cleaning products can cause etching. Having to constantly remember the potential dangers these seemingly harmless items pose to etching your surface can be a frustrating endeavor.  You want to protect your investment for years to come, so enlisting the best defense from etching should be high on your list of safeguards.

The MORE™ AntiEtch™ Difference

MORE™ AntiEtch™ will stop etching on natural stone and provide you with peace of mind for your beautifully installed surface. This innovative product provides a durable, ultra-low visibility, and super thin coating to prevent etching and stains. Eliminate costly repairs down the road and enjoy the numerous benefits of MORE™ AntiEtch™ :

• Stops etching and staining on your natural stone surfaces
• Provides a crystal clear finish
• Can be applied to marble, limestone, onyx, travertine, and concrete
• Can be applied on horizontal or vertical surfaces, as well as honed, polished, and leathered surfaces
• Low odor installation and environmentally friendly
• Safe for food-contact surfaces
• A zero porous product with no worries about germs or bacteria growing anywhere
• Will not crack or peel after installation
• Easy to maintain and repair
• An extremely durable product with a 10 year expected wear timeframe

Protect your Costly Investment

Your investment in natural stone is a significant one for you and your family. Ensuring the surface finish remains pristine and visually stunning will keep your investment safeguarded for years to come. Even the most diligent care can still result in a few mistakes down the road, so why chance it on an item that will serve as a proud focal point for you and your family?

We at Castles Home Service are proud to offer MORE™ anti-etch coating to assist in keeping your natural stone looking stunning for years to come.

One of the best parts about a granite countertop is its beautiful shine. Regular maintenance can help keep up the countertop’s finish. However, over many years, this shine will start to diminish. This can be due to physical or chemical damage, along with regular wear. When it comes to replacing your countertop, granite costs anywhere between $45 to $200 per square foot to replace. Luckily, if you are looking for more affordable options, there are many ways to restore your granite instead of replacing it. Most of these repairs can be done at home, but some of them will require hiring a professional.

Maintenance

Regular maintenance will help extend the life of your granite countertops. Many dull countertops are caused by chemical etching. Granite countertops should only be cleaned with products that are neither abrasive nor acidic, which eliminates most household cleaners. Granite specific cleaners are available and will help to remove previous soap scum. You can also use a soap film remover to remove the buildup if regular cleaning is not sufficient. Another important step in countertop maintenance is regular resealing. Applying a stone sealer from time to time is recommended to create a more repellant, antibacterial surface. You should also have your granite professionally resealed about every 4 years to ensure a long-lasting shine.

Repair

There are a few ways to repair your granite if it gets damaged in some way. Small scratches and chips can be repaired using an epoxy filler. These fillers are widely available at hardware stores and can be used to seal small cracks and chips in your countertop. The countertop will have to be sanded and resealed after the use of one of these epoxies.

Chemical etching and food stains are other mild forms of damage that can be repaired at home. Use polishing powder on damaged areas to remove imperfections and improve the look of your granite. Steel wool can also be used for more minor repairs. Be sure to use caution with these products, as they are very abrasive to your countertops, even though they work very well.

Refinish

Unless you are willing to paint or apply laminate to your granite countertops, they will eventually need to be refinished if the finish is damaged. A professional granite restoration expert is necessary if your countertops are past home repair. We use large, precise machines to bring back the shiny, original finish. Ask your installation expert if he knows of a local reputable restoration expert, as often they are not the same exact areas of expertise.  Castles Home Service is a highly reputable restoration expert to check out in the California area.

Replacement

Granite countertops last at least 15 years when properly taken care of, and usually longer. If you must replace your countertops, be sure to compare the prices online to the ones locally. The local options allow you to avoid shipping, but still may not be the best deal. You may be able to save money if you are less specific you are about the pattern of stone that you want. However, replacing granite countertops should be a last resort after pursuing all other restoration options.

Ten years ago, in the height of the real estate boom, flipping houses turned a hefty profit. Many flippers knew about the basics of construction and design. What they didn’t know was how important some of the details would be. Kitchen and bathrooms sell homes! That means, your biggest investment should be in the details found in your kitchen and bathrooms and tile typically claims a lot of real estate in these rooms. Let me share some tips on getting the most out of your tile:

1. Seal it.

You already know that tile needs grout. Grout is easy to find and comes in multiple colors to blend or contrast with your tile. Grout fills in the gaps between the tile to produce your pattern. It’s important to note that the grout is exposed to water, moisture and anything else that the tile is exposed to in your bathroom and kitchen (shampoo, dish soap, splashes, you get the idea). Most grout is not waterproof or stain, mold or mildew proof and therefore, it needs to be sealed. The one exception to this is epoxy grout. If you used epoxy grout, skip this tutorial! Home run! It’s more expensive than other types of grout but may save you time in the long run.

2. Sealing is relatively simple.

It may take some time, but you should be able to do it. There are several ways to apply the seal, but most are basic processes that you are probably already familiar with. You can brush or roll on the sealer, choose the one you are more comfortable with. The brush applicator may require a little more finesse and a second coat but is generally easy to apply and even easier to stay within the grout lines. Rollers tend to apply a more even coat and may be more precise in their application without going past the grout line. You can also spray on the sealer. I do not recommend this application for non-professionals because it is too easy to get overspray on your tiles. It takes a lot of time to clean up overspray, even if the spraying takes less time than brushing or rolling.

3. Know when to seal.

If you have finished your tiling and grouting, make sure you wait a minimum of two days, three is even better, to make sure the grout is dry, dry, dry. You cannot seal wet or damp grout. Be sure the grout is completely dry and smooth. Before you seal the grout, make sure you picked the right kind. Penetrating group sealers are water based and penetrate the grout. These types of sealers absorb into the porous grout and are great for bathrooms. Membrane-forming grout sealers do what they say – they create a membrane over the grout. These sealers are great for kitchens. Grout sealers keep the grout stain free and provide a great moisture barrier that can last several years.  

Castles Home Service, family owned and operated, protecting stone and tile since 1982.  Call 831-444-0991 or visit us online at https://www.castleshomeservice.local

For most of us, cleaning a counter-top requires little to no thinking. We simply apply our chosen cleaning agent and wipe! However, you may be unknowingly damaging expensive, beautiful countertops or even putting your own health at risk! Here are several things to consider when choosing a chemical cleaner to use and what surface you’re going to clean with it.

Health Safety

First and foremost, you need to ensure that the cleaning agent you’re using is not going to be toxic to your health, either immediately after cleaning or even long after you’ve wiped down the countertops.  Most cleaners meant for regular human contact or food are nor going to be particularly harmful (not dangerously corrosive like drain-cleaners or oven cleaners), but it’s still a good idea that you know what ingredients they have. For example, were you just cleaning with bleach and for some reason need to clean the area or an area very close with ammonia? You may accidentally end up creating a toxic gas by mixing the two. Be aware!

What ingredients are usually safe to use? Look for simple ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice or another citrus, and even baking soda. These are extremely unlikely to cause you physical harm or cause adverse chemical reactions that may endanger your health.

Safe for YOUR Surfaces

However, just because a cleaning agent is safe for your health doesn’t mean it’s safe for your countertops! You need to be absolutely sure that any cleaning agent you use, regardless of how safe or non-toxic the ingredients are, won’t cause permanent damage to the surface you’re cleaning, especially if those surfaces happen to be made from premium materials.

For example, what cleaning agents can be safely used on granite? Granite has the reputation of being durable and long-lasting so there may be an impulse to assume that any standard cleaning agent would be fine. However, such an assumption may cost you your granite countertops! Granite should never be cleaned with anything acidic for many reasons.

First, acidic cleaners that contain citrus or vinegar are absolutely off limits for granite countertops or any countertops with a sealant. Why? The acid eats away at the sealant, leaving your shiny, beautiful countertops looking bland and dull. However, it’s not just the sealant at stake. Acidic cleaners can harm the actual granite (or any other kind of stone surface) itself.

Tile floors or other tile surfaces are no exception. Harsh cleaners can attack their luster and eventually damage the material, leaving you with ugly floors at best, or a giant remodeling bill at worst.

How can you avoid damaging your stone and tile from cleaning? Generally, warm water and dish soap are more than enough for granite countertops, and an extremely diluted vinegar solution is generally sufficient for tile floors or other tile surfaces.

You should always take the time to learn about how to take care of your expensive, gorgeous home surfaces, be they granite, tile, or other premium material. The small amount of extra time it takes to research and to know for sure what should be used will almost certainly save you a bundle of time and money down the road.