Granite Surfaces of Texas

When you’re planning on flipping a home the two most important things to consider are aesthetics and budget. You need to make sure the home looks great in order for anyone to want to buy it, but you also need to stay within budget in order to maximize your return on investment.

In this post I’m going to go over four of our most popular Granite colors that we’ve recently heavily discounted in order to give you the highest return on investment on the home. So without further adeau, let’s jump into it.

1. White Dallas – White Dallas is a mostly white Granite color with with light grey and lavender tones mixed in with golden cream and brown veins running through it. White Dallas is the perfect compliment to kitchens with a lighter color scheme and though we have it heavily discounted, it does not look out of place in more upscale homes as well!

• Ubatuba –  Ubatuba is a primarily Green Granite color with creamy shades of white, grey, black, and even some gold. From a distance it looks dark but when you move closer in, you’ll notice that it also sparkles and reflects light. Ubatuba is a perfect choice for kitchens with white or colored cabinets and lots of natural light.

• Crema Pearl Fiesta – Crema Pearl Fiesta looks a lot like White Dallas but instead of a white background, it has a beige background! If you’re looking for a countertop surface with some character, but not too much that it’s overwhelming Grema Pearl Granite is the surface for you!

• New Venetian Gold – New Venetian Gold granite is easily recognizeable by it’s beige and golden tones with light veining of deep reds, grays and browns. If you’re looking for a colorful budget countertop, this is the one for you! New Venetian Gold looks great with lighter and darker color schemes and will look great no matter where you put it!

All four of these great colors can be purchased directly from Granite Surfaces of Texas at the low price of only $37 per square foot. Give us a call to set up your free in-home estimate or stop by our slab yard to view samples!

According to data from the National Association of Realtors, 80% of prospective buyers consider the kitchen one of the most important—if not the most important—spaces in the home. In that same survey, a majority of buyers also said they’re willing to pay more for an upgraded kitchen. In other words, a kitchen remodel is one of the best projects to take on if you want to boost your home’s value.

However, not all kitchen remodels are created equal. After all, the more you put into the renovation, the lower your potential return-on-investment (ROI). What this effectively means is that there’s a “sweet spot” for kitchen remodels where you spend what you need to in order to get the most money back. In this article, we’ll review the aspects of a kitchen remodel you should prioritize to ensure you get the most money back when you list and sell your home.

Focus on the countertops and cabinets

When most buyers read “remodeled kitchen,” their expectation is that there are new countertops and cabinets. Replacing your older counters and cabinets with new ones will most likely be the priciest part of the remodel. However, it’s hard to argue for going without it: your prospective buyers value this aspect of the remodel and skipping it may put your home at a competitive disadvantage compared to other homes in your price-per-square-foot range.

If you decide to replace your counters and cabinets, make quality your priority. Cutting corners on materials or labor can come back to bite you by diminishing the long-term value of your home. Instead, limit your investment by finding a good deal or bulk rate on high-quality materials. One great way to save is by buying directly from us, the fabricator. Since we buy many countertops at once, we are able to get you better deals by passing those savings onto you.

Avoid prioritizing luxury over utility. Homebuyers want a kitchen that looks great, but not at the expense of practical use. For example, marble countertops may not be tough enough for day-to-day use in the kitchen. An open kitchen floor plan may be initially appealing, but not if it comes at the cost of half of the cabinets and kitchen storage. Think through how you would use the space before committing to the details of your remodel.

Limit major structural changes

If you want to keep your project costs from ballooning, try to avoid floorplan or structural changes to your home. Popular home remodeling television shows have made open kitchens trendy and fun, but they’re not a fit for every home and can lead to higher upfront remodeling costs. In reality, most kitchens do not have a space problem. If they do, there may be other, less expensive ways to innovate around such issues, such as adding in-cabinet storage. 

After all, just think of what removing an interior wall actually entails:

• First, your contractor has to assess whether or not the wall is important to the overall structure. Not every interior wall exists merely for the separation of space between rooms.
• They also have to assess whether or not the wall in question contains pipes or electrical wiring. If so, they will have to be safely moved.
• Any cabinets and countertops on that wall need to be relocated. If there is no place for them to go, your kitchen will lose valuable cabinet and countertop space.

The small things matter

So far, we’ve described significant, “big ticket” changes and renovations. However, no kitchen remodel is complete without the small touches and additions that bring the space to life. In the margins of your remodeling budget, be sure to put the time into:

• Replacing lighting: Light influences how a space is perceived, whether by your dinner party guests or by a prospective buyer. The right light puts your kitchen, well, in the best-possible light. Change out bright fluorescent ceiling panels for recessed lights. Hang pendant lighting over the kitchen island for a modern aesthetic. Adding under-cabinet lighting can work to highlight the best features of your new kitchen: the countertops, cabinets, and their interplay with the backsplash.
• Repainting the walls: It doesn’t get any cheaper than fresh paint—the original do-it-yourself project for homeowners of all skill levels. A fresh coat of paint can be the perfect finishing touch for your remodeled kitchen, and makes the whole space feel fresh and new.
• Choosing the right backsplash: In most modern kitchens, the backsplash is the accent to the countertops and cabinets. This is your opportunity to add style to the kitchen: a splash of color might complement white quartz and light grey cabinets, or a muted subway tile could be the ideal pairing for charcoal cabinets and a dark granite.

Strike the right balance

In general, you need to find the middle ground between remodeling your kitchen for the masses and creating a space that you’ll personally love here-and-now. After all, whether you’re planning on selling in the next year or not for many years to come, you can and should build a kitchen that works for you and your family while also adding value to your home. As mentioned earlier, think about your remodel from the perspective of using the kitchen every single day, and you’ll be on the right track toward a value-boosting renovation.

Written by Samantha Jonhnson, senior editor and communications specialist at Superior Stone & Cabinet , the go-to source for custom and wholesale countertops & cabinets in sunny Phoenix, AZ. When not in the office, Samantha really enjoys gourmet cooking and traveling with her pup. She is also an avid reader.

Picture this: Two weeks have passed since your countertop installation and you’re scrubbing  your favorite cast iron pan in the sink when suddenly THIS happens!

Or maybe THIS happens!

The fact of the matter is that over 50% of our repair calls are for chipped undermount sink cutouts like the photos above, BUT there’s an easy way to prevent this type of damage. When you’re purchasing your new countertop, make sure to ask for a Chip Minimizer edge around the sink.

                A Chip Minimizer edge is exactly what it sounds like: a rounded edge along the inside of your sink cutout that is proven to reduce damage due to impact such as chipping. Here’s what it looks like.

                This “Chip Minimizer” edge is available for an extra $150 through Granite Surfaces of Texas and will save you money and headaches by minimizing the risk of chipping your brand new countertop!

                Give us a call to set up your FREE estimate for new countertops TODAY!

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The wait is over! You’ve just had an awesome experience working with Granite Surfaces of Texas, your new countertops are installed and your kitchen looks amazing but wait!! There’s something that you need to do before breaking in those beautiful new Granite countertops. You’re going to have to seal them, which isn’t as difficult as it sounds. In this post I’ll walk you through sealing your new Granite countertops so that they stay as gorgeous as they day they were installed!

First of you’re going to want to test if your Granite even needs to be sealed as some stones are a lot less absorbent than others and may not even need sealing. To do this, all you have to do is drip some water or oil onto the countertop and wait 20 minutes to see if it absorbs. If it doesn’t absorb, you don’t need to seal your countertop. If it does absorb you should go pick up a Natural Stone penetrating sealer and follow the directions listed in the rest of this blog post.

Before you start actually sealing your countertop you’re going to want to clean it with warm water and soap followed by a de-greasing agent. After that let it sit for 24 hours.

The next day you can start applying sealer to the entire countertop surface. Make sure to wear gloves and keep the room ventilated by opening windows or using fans. After applying the sealer wait 20 minutes. If the directions on your sealer say to add a second coat then add a second coat.

After you’ve waited 20 minutes for the sealer to dry, clean the countertop with a rag or wad of paper towels to pick up remaining sealer. Then wait 48 hours before using your countertop as normal.

And that’s it! Sealing your countertops is very simple, all it takes is a little bit of time. And remember, if you don’t already have new countertops just give us a call at 281-495-6555 to set up an appointment to get yourself some!

You may have noticed that we’ve added a “Garage and Entry Doors” tab to our website and wondered “Isn’t this a granite company?” Well you’re right! But we’ve also partnered with the good people over at Sears Garage Solutions to bring you easier access to the best Garage Repair company in Houston! In this blog post I’m going to tell you all about the great services that Sears Garage Solutions has to offer!

Garage Repair

Sears Garage Technicians know that your time is valuable and will always arrive with their trucks fully stocked so that they will be able to fix any problems that detect right then and there. From broken springs to doors off track and garage door opener issues Sears technicians are trained to fix it all.

Garage Door Openers

Sears Garage Solutions only works with the best of the best in the opener business, and that’s Chamberlain. Chamberlain garage door openers come with a one year warranty on parts, a 90 day warranty on labor, and are backed by the absolute best customer service team in the industry. Chamberlain openers aren’t the only ones we’ll work on though. Sears technicians are trained to repair or install any and all garage door openers.

Garage and Entry Door Replacement

Our friends at Sears Garage Solutions proudly offer free in-person garage and entry door estimates. During this estimate, a skilled Sears technician will come to your home, measure your door, and provide you with a range of options to replace the old door with. Sears technicians will have a range of different samples of  doors and colors so that they can help you choose the best looking new door for your home!

Garage Flooring

In addition to general garage work and entry door sales, Sears Garage Solutions also will install garage flooring which will make the garage floor resistant to brake fluid, waterproof, environmentally safe, and generally nicer to look at! They are available in multiple colors, shades, and finishes so they are guaranteed to have something you like!

You can give our friends at Sears Garage Solutions a call at (713) 701-1700 to schedule garage service with the most trustworthy garage company in Houston.