Do I need to reseal my granite? How often?

Your countertops were sealed prior to installation, but depending on the type of granite you chose, an occasional application may be needed. Darker colored granite is harder than lighter colors, and as a result, less permeable. Therefore, dark countertops may never need resealing. Light colored countertops may require an annual application depending on how quickly absorbed moisture evaporates out.

Island Sizing.

There are no set guidelines for sizing an island, but there are a few rules for the spaces around it. A designer figures out the work and walk-aisle clearances, and those dimensions dictate plans for the structure.

Its shape is often determined by the surrounding area. The basic four-sided island is the workhorse configuration most popular in closed floor plans. For open rooms, angular islands—think L, Y, U or V shapes—act as a wall delineating the kitchen without totally blocking it off. While these multifaceted designs cost more to build, they typically offer more places for shelves, drawers, wine racks, towel bars, pullout bins and other amenities, as well as more space for appliances.

Granite Countertop Maintenance*

A solid quality countertop can define a kitchen. The inclusion of a granite counter top will add class to the most modest of kitchens. They are available in a number of colors and are extremely durable (although periodic sealing is usually a must). Although there is some maintenance involved, granite kitchen counter tops are elegant and timeless.

For Daily care -- stone countertops, daily maintenance consists of simply wiping with a damp cloth or sponge. It's recommended that the countertop be cleaned using a stone soap once per week.

If your countertop has a polished finish, you can keep the gleam by applying a stone polish. It's easy to use, you simply apply, allow to dry, and then buff to a shine once a month or so.

Citrus juices & vinegars contain acid that if left unattended, could etch your countertops. Oils can also leave a stain on your counters. Bottles of oil or items containing oil, grease, etc. should be placed on a protective surface while cooking.

*This is the first in daily tips for kitchen design.

Federal Brace's KBIS Preview -- Las Vegas 2011

Federal Brace is making final preparations to attend the 2011 Kitchen and Bath Show (KBIS) in Nevada, Las Vegas at the end of the month. April 26th through April 28th Federal Brace will roll out their successful line of countertop brackets and supports. This year Federal Brace’s goal is to continue to inform professionals within the kitchen and bath industry about their great support solutions.

“This is our second trip to KBIS,” says CEO/President, Scott Toal. He continues, “This time last year our company was five months old. We received a tremendous response from the KBIS attendees despite being such a young company. We are now recognized as a company with a quality product that offers real solutions. We’re looking forward to seeing current customers and introducing Federal Brace to those who are not aware of our countertop support solutions.”


Over the past 12 months Federal Brace has doubled their countertop bracket line by adding 15 new countertop bracket styles. These include several new countertop-mounted supports that extend off the top of a counter. Federal Brace saw a need for a product used to prevent sheet rock flexing and crushing of soft wallboard material. In response they created the Bracket Backer ™. Federal Brace has introduced video guides that give tips and tricks as well full installations. The company has also branched out into full line of shelf brackets and reinforced wood corbels.

If you're going to the show make sure to check out Federal Brace’s QR Code below and tweet it before the show and then visit their booth. Even if you don't have a phone, you can still win a 3G Kindle, a Free Order up to $500 dollars and other prizes. Also, when visiting the Federal Brace booth (#C7283), pick up a product catalog and find out more information about their support brackets using QR Codes. Federal Brace’s Sales Manger, Broc Siefert, will be making a presentation on “Granite Countertop Extensions,” where he will discuss the future of cabinets, countertop and granites.

When it comes to the customers’ needs, their needs are Federal Brace’s number one focus and the driving force of their business. Federal Brace has helped thousands of homeowners with countertop support solutions and is steadfast in supplying Beautifully Crafted, Confident Supports.

QR Code for the Free Giveaway -- Scan or Click Below:


If you want to learn more about the company -- Click Below:

Designer Spotlight: RBS Kitchen Design Center

In Racine, Wisconsin the RBS Kitchen Design Center has been offering quality kitchen and bath remodeling, lighting ideas, storage and design solutions for over fifteen years. Our Designer Spotlight for December has come to Racine.

RBS has a large showroom showcasing a wide selection of granite, hardware, flooring, and tile. To display the countertops, the Kitchen Design Center recently contacted our Sales Manager, Broc Siefert, about an order for Brunswick and Oxford countertop braces. “Having recently installed them into our showroom. My fabricators stated how fabulous they are. ‘WOW!’ is what they told me,” says Owner, Mark Barnhill. Mark continues, “ This product lends itself to granite, quartz or stone applications. The product blew us away when we saw it at a Kitchen and Bath Show last year. Brass is so passé. They come in enough shapes -it’s contemporary and simple.”

For RBS, their specialty is kitchen and bath solutions, they have the resources and expertise to take your project from drawing to completion. They offer their customers a professional design staff, experienced installers, expert project management and plumbing and electrical by licensed professionals. We look forward to many years of service with a company such as RBS Kitchen Design Center, and in this article we are proud to focus on them, one of our designers.

If you are in the Racine area and you need a quality kitchen and bath design for your new residence, or are looking for a remodel job so your kitchen or bath looks like brand new, please contact Mark Barnhill at RBS Kitchen Design. Mark concludes, “ The neutral necessity of steel makes it applicable on the frameless or hidden countertop bracket. This is a quality product and we’re happy to do business with Federal Brace.”

RBS Kitchen Design Center

2310 on South Green Bay Road

Racine, Wisconsin 53406

(262) 554-2400

http://www.rbskitchen.com/

Like RBS, we believe in beautifully crafted, confident support.

There is no comparison: Box-Store Brackets V.S. Federal Brace

This one is for the customers that are thinking of buying the local hardware store or large box company support brackets, so I’m posting this on both blog sites at Federal Brace. Before you buy consider this comparison:

First of all, when you are picking between the two types of different brackets you’ll notice a considerable weight difference. The Federal Brace countertop support is made out of one-quarter inch steel, and the standard box bracket is made out of a material not even as half as thick. The Federal Brace countertop mount is a wider dimension than the local hardware corbel. The material size and dimensional difference between the Federal Brace and the box store bracket means that Federal Brace has a stronger bracket that will hold up your shelves and countertops better.

Federal Brace gives you a choice and a benefit in the brushed nickel finish that matches common stainless kitchen countertop appliances. They provide the stainless steel option, knowing that some customers are willing to pay for a certain type of look.

You will notice that the Federal Brace bracket has less dings in it than the store bought corbel, because of the care involved in the finish of the brackets. Also, the box store bracket may have the evidence of a long trip – being loaded and offloaded from cargo ships from foreign lands. Federal Brace brackets will come to your doorstep, individually packaged in boxes that are designed to secure your product during shipping. You can go pick out your box store bracket from a bin that looks like the old game “A Barrel of Monkeys.”

You dig a little deeper and you see that Federal Brace has carefully designed countertop brackets with no weld elements on the face of the bracket. The bracket is constructed with plug welding which gives a flawless finish on the face of the bracket. Not only are these super-strong brackets, but also they enhance the look of the countertop they are supporting.

Some may point out that the price comparison needs to be made. That’s fine with us. Our brackets are priced higher than the box store brackets – for the exact reasons listed above. As the old adage goes “you get what you pay for.” In this instance, you get a better looking, better made, stronger and safer support bracket for the investment you didn’t skimp on – your countertops. Go with Federal Brace countertop supports when your countertops matter. ~ www.federalbrace.com

The Three Favs.

The three most popular countertop bracket designs at Federal Brace have the customer’s interest in mind. This week I’ll be focusing on the Brunswick, Freedom and Liberty countertop braces.

The Brunswick is the one that started the Federal Brace line. It’s the original. The customer wanted to alleviate knocking their knees on their braces. “Everything about our company is finding a solution to the customer’s problems,” says CEO and President, Scott Toal, “The Brunswick provides the customer with a bracket that has the strength of a gusseted bracket and can hold a substantial over hang, but limits the possibility of knee- knocking.” The angle of the gusset on the Brunswick bracket bends toward the interior angle, which allows for more space in front so your knees can swing freely. It gives a nice elegant euro-style design. Check out the Brunswick Countertop Support product page here (link).

The Freedom comes from the customer’s desire to have a countertop that appears unsupported. It offers the maximum area underneath the counter without interfering with objects under the counter. The Freedom Countertop Bracket gives support for an overhang with essentially no viewable gusset. Scott continues, “The Freedom is limited in application due to deflection or bending in the bracket. So it is an excellent solution when the unsupported counter area is under 20 out from the support structure. We really suggest not using the Freedom on applications larger.” People use them on island extensions and certain knee wall applications. While these type of brackets are not new, Federal Brace’s offering has matched material thickness, bracket dimensions and placement of the fastener holes to create a modern design with strength. Check out the Freedom Countertop Bracket product page here (link).

The Liberty Countertop Support was designed well after the Freedom. “Some customers do not have the surface area to put a bracket flange down their supporting wall,” Scott explains, “Maybe they have a cabinet opening in the way. Maybe the material was already on the wall-board and they do not want to have a bracket with a down flange.” Federal Brace developed the Liberty bracket, or Liberty Plate, for such situations. It is very similar to a Freedom bracket in its carrying capacity. In order to install the Liberty style brackets the customer will need access to the top of their supporting wall. Like the Freedom bracket, the Liberty is not made over twenty inches due practical deflection. Check out the Liberty Countertop Plate product page here (link).

Three stunning brackets manufactured at Federal Brace. The Brunswick, Freedom and Liberty brackets were all created with the customer's needs in mind. Federal Brace believes in Beautifully Crafted, Confident Supports. ~ SK

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Designer Spotlight: BREWER CABINETS

Brewer Cabinets has been providing cabinetry in the Birmingham metro area for over 30 years. Starting as a custom shop in the owners’ basement, it grew quickly as word of mouth spread about their attention to detail and dependable service. In the world of cabinetry design there has been a gradual shift to factory cabinets, giving the company a wider selection, enduring finishes, and more dependable lead times. While the focus of the company has always been on residential construction, there has been a shift from strictly new construction to servicing remodeling jobs.

A family run business with over thirty years of experience, Jason Brewer, Vice-President of Operations says, “ Our product line carries everything from Timex to Rolex. We do kitchens from $3,000 dollar jobs to $50,000 jobs to $100,000 jobs.” People work with Brewer Cabinets when they want quality and affordable prices. They have an expansive showroom displaying their quality wood cabinets, kitchen countertops, appliances and granite countertops. Jason continues, “The Federal Brace product is more of a use to us, as a designer, on granite countertop jobs where a sturdy bracket is needed.”

When installers see our braces’ sturdiness they are amazed by the craftsmanship of the Federal Brace products. At Federal Brace we have supplied Brewer Cabinets with multiple Freedom hidden countertop brackets in cold rolled steel and stainless steel. People want a sturdy brace that’s unobtrusive, they want to know it won’t bend, it has to hold granite, and they want it to blend with their modern kitchen design.

We look forward to many years of service with a company such as Brewer Cabinets and in this article we are proud to focus on one of our outstanding design customers. If you are in the Birmingham area and you need quality kitchen designs for your new residence, or you’re looking for a remodel job so your kitchen looks like brand new, please contact Jason Brewer at Brewer Cabinets.

Brewer Cabinets

1 West Park Drive,

Birmingham, AL 35211

(205) 942-4000

http://www.brewercabinets.com/

Like us they believe in Beautifully Crafted, Confident Support.