Answers to your questions:
This part of our web site is devoted to answering questions related to care, maintenance, selection and other interesting aspects of installing and owning countertops. Due to a large interest in the subject we encourage our customers and anyone else interested in purchasing countertops to send us questions. Questions that we find may be valuable to the general audience we be published in this specially dedicated section. We feel that those printed questions and answers will shed some light on the subject of countertops and demystify some technical aspects that are of general concern and interest. We encourage to visit this site frequently to read the latest answers related to Corian, Staron, Quartz, Granite and others.
#A: You are absolutely right about many choices of countertops that have become available. The best way to determine which is best for you is probobly to see many samples of different materials at home centers or other retailers and learning about specific properties of those materials. What I mean by this is the understanding that some countertops involve periodic maintenance such as sealing ( granite, concrete ), some offer better heat and stain resistance, as well as hardness. Then there are those that come with built in seamless sinks ( Corian , Staron). After all your homework is done you must narrow your selection to you designated budget which may by far be the most important factor. As a note on a small kitchen project the difference of more expensive granite or Quartz will not fell as big comparing to Corian or Staron for example.
#A: The type of backsplash to chose will largely depend on type of material of counter top that was chosen for installation. Corian or Staron are normally installed with a 4 inch high backsplash or could be a full backsplash ( to the base of upper cabinets ). With granite or Quartz counter tops the most popular are tile backsplashes to complement color and your kitchen appearance instead of 4 inch backsplash. Full backsplash is another option however that option may get somewhat expensive. While counter top is 1.5 inches thick the backsplash is normally .5 inches thick.
#A: Unfortunately, many installers will require that your existing counter be removed before they would make a template. This is often not only expensive but mostly inconvenient since you may need a plumber to unhook all water lines , someone to carefully remove the counter and then put everything back together after the template is finished and removed once again on the day of actual installation ( which may take anywhere from one week to eight weeks ). This are some of the unexpected and costly surprises and we strongly encourage to find out beforehand what is included. Some of us in this business including us at Crown Counter tops do not require prior removal and we provide totally hassle free installation where you as a homeowner do not need to be preoccupied with the process of installation , hook up and disposal.
#A: Not long at all .Under normal conditions removal , new installation ,hookup and disposal can all be accomplished in approximately four hours.
#A: I am afraid it cannot be successfully repaired especially considering the water damage that probably caused some swelling to the wood underneath. In your case a replacement may be the best option.
#A: Only if there is a financial condition forcing you to cut back on the expense of installing most popular Corian, Staron , Quartz or Granite. If you have used up all of you budget as it often happens on a new kitchen and appliances there are some good choices of Formica and Willsonart laminates to choose from. I suggest a beveled edge ( does not show a seam ) at small extra cost as a option to choose.
#A: As you have correctly observed both Corian and Staron kitchen countertops and Corian and Staron bathroom Vanity Tops are almost identical in every aspect. Both Corian and Staron come with seamless sinks ( single or double ), choice of many edges and great variety of colors. This where the is a difference since some colors are very similar but slightly different for Corian or Staron. It becomes a matter of personal taste and since Staron countertops are a bit more economical we encourage customers to consider Staron first from our full line of samples and if a particular color cannot be found then Corian will surely complement the selection. Both Corian and Staron Counter come with 10 year manufacturer warranty and are virtually maintenance free.
#A: We strive to provide a quick and "hassle free" service to our New Jersey Countertop customers who are considering new or replacement kitchen countertop in New Jersey and as part of that process in most cases we can quote an accurate price over the phone. To expedite that process it, is very helpful when our customers know the material Corian , Staron, Caesarstone, Silestone, Avonite, Granite etc. and dimensions of their countertops in inches. Choice of exact color is not critical at this juncture. Hand drawings are perfect for this purpose that indicate dimensions ( in inches ) between all edges and corners. They can be faxed to us providing your contact information at (574)975-7989. When pricing you new or replacemnent countertop project for your kitchen or bathroom, let us know if removal and disposal of your existing countertop is needed since there is a charge for this service.