Quartz Countertops are an Austin Favorite, and Here’s Why You Should Care

White quartz countertop

There was a time when most luxury homes featured granite countertops in their kitchen and bathrooms, thanks to its glamorous look and durability. But the countertop decision making process has gotten a little more complex, now that there are many options for countertop materials in the mix.

Enter quartz: an engineered material that offers homeowners an incredible number of benefits, which accounts for its unprecedented popularity. Quartz is one of the most popular materials in Austin home design today, with more and more people choosing to install quartz countertops in new home construction or remodeling projects.

There are multiple countertop surfaces in the market today and truth be told, one specific material isn’t an overall “better” choice than the others. However, there might be a better option for you – either as a homeowner or a builder. If you’re in the market for new countertops, as a contractor or homeowner, then we feel quartz needs to be on your radar. Stick around and keep reading to find out why.

Engineered quartz comprises up to 94% quartz mixed with resin and polymers, topped with pigments for color. Quartz is one of the hardest and most abundant minerals, which makes it an excellent countertop material.

Apart from durable and attractive (a combo that doesn’t happen often, you usually get one or the other), there are many reasons why quartz is increasingly popular among homeowners who are remodeling.

Excellent Durability

As mentioned earlier, quartz is a mixture of natural quartz stone and polymer resins. Investing in a quartz countertop for your bathroom and kitchen design is something that will stand the test of time. Additionally, quartz countertops are available at a variety of price points, therefore there is something for every budget.

Countertops are often exposed to daily wear and tear. Your lifestyle, including whether you have children and/or pets, your cooking style, etc. are all factors that should be considered when selecting your countertop material.

Quartz is highly durable, however it is always recommended to use a hot pad or trivet with pots and pans, to avoid placing hot items directly on your quartz surface. Quartz is not porous, and therefore is resistant to staining. Plus, most quartz countertops (depending on the finish you select) do not require sealing.

If you have an active family or you do a lot of cooking, then you need a countertop that can keep up with your lifestyle. Quartz should definitely be on the list of possibilities for anyone that needs a countertop that sees a lot of action.

Uniform Appearance

Due to the fact that quartz is a man-made product, it is manufactured with tight tolerances; therefore, colors are consistent from slab to slab. Depending on the quartz you choose and its pattern/movement, similar to natural stone countertops, you will see a clear pattern of movement.

While stone countertops have a non-uniform appearance because they are each unique and made by nature, quartz countertops show uniformity. Quartz countertops are more consistent in design, which can be an attractive feature for modern remodeling preferences.

Many colors offer the fabricator open ground to experiment with different cuts to maximize the quartz slab usage. Your kitchen and bathroom countertop can be whatever shape you like. Matching your quartz countertop with the style of your floors and walls creates a uniform appearance throughout the material.

Nobody sets out to remodel or build with the idea of a mediocre outcome, right? When you consider your overall design style, if uniformity is at the top of your list for key elements, then you might want to take a good look at quartz.

Extremely Low Maintenance

Another reason why quartz countertop popularity is growing among Austinites for their residential remodel is that they are non-porous and resistant to stains. With quick and easy spill removal, you don’t have to worry about your countertop getting spoiled with food, wine or oil.

All you need to do is wipe your countertop clean when accidents happen, and restore your sparkling countertop to pristine condition! Polished quartz countertops do not need regular refinishing or sealing. They will retain their appearance for many years. Simple cleaning is all it takes with quartz countertops. The ideal cleaner for quartz is a soft cloth using a gentle soap and water. For general maintenance, use denatured alcohol or a pH-neutral cleaner.

Resistant to Mold and Bacteria

Countertops in your kitchen and bathroom are exposed to moisture and water throughout the day, which is why they can develop unsightly and stubborn mold. Now, that’s something that you can see. But did you know your countertops can also serve as an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that aren’t visible to your naked eye?

Being non-porous in nature, quartz countertops are highly resistant to the growth of mold and bacteria, which means one less thing to worry about (especially when tiny hands are involved).

Endless Design Possibilities

Dark gray quartz countertop

Quartz countertops offer endless design possibilities that have led to their massive popularity in home remodeling projects. Since quartz is an engineered material, you’ll find quartz countertops in a huge variety of designs and colors. Manufacturers have also successfully experimented with various finish techniques on quartz, like honed, polished, brushed or concrete-like finish, making quartz an even more alluring choice for your kitchen and bathroom creativity.

What the Experts Say

“Many homeowners that visit our showroom select quartz for their countertops because it provides a sleek and sophisticated look. Designers and homeowners have been attracted to quartz with cool/grey color tones for several years now, but warm tones are making a comeback. We have plenty of both! With 60+ colors of quartz available, we have something for all color palettes in soft subtle veining or dramatic marble looks. When homeowners first walk into a slab showroom, it can be overwhelming and intimidating. Our wonderful staff is always available to assist in the quartz selection process, whether buyers have questions or need suggestions.”
~Heather Haas (Arizona Tile Austin Branch Manager)

Attractive Cost

As with other countertop materials, quartz comes in a variety of price points making it a cost-effective option at a variety of budget levels.

If you live in Austin, Texas and are building a new home or planning a remodel, quartz is a worthy contender in your overall selections for bathroom and kitchen designs. Get in touch with a local surface specialist, such as Austin NARI Member, Arizona Tile to learn more and select the highest quality and most suitable countertop material for your home project.

What You Need to Know About Insulation When Remodeling Around Austin TX

Did you know that 40-60% of your home’s energy bill is wasted? That’s right! The US Department of Energy reports that about half of a home’s energy is wasted when it is under-insulated and improperly air sealed. You can save $500 to $1,000 per year on energy bills by having your home properly insulated and air sealed.

How do you know if your home has enough insulation? Most homes 10-years or older do not have enough insulation according to the International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC). Your NARI Remodeler can help you understand what needs to be done to meet the building codes. Plus, your NARI contractor can advise you on what options to consider for properly insulating your home for energy savings, comfort, and health.

The bigger question, is your home effectively air sealed? There are several components to proper air sealing. The biggest and most important aspect is insulation. While there are many different types of insulation, only one product is an excellent air sealing solution: spray foam. It is the only type of insulation that stops all 3 types of heat transfer. Here you can take a deep dive into learning about spray foam insulation.

Can your house be air sealed even if your home has fiberglass, cellulose, or rock wool insulation? Yes. People are using cans of spray foam to seal the around common air leak areas like: electric outlets, windows, doors, HVAC ducts, framing connections, and plumbing entries. Then they fill the rest of the area with another insulation material like fiberglass. It works.

Which area of your house is most important to upgrade? The attic is where the majority of your energy is lost. In the Austin Texas area, your attic is where most of the heat comes into your home during the long hot summer months.

There are two different building science methods used in attic insulation: vented versus sealed building envelope. If you have a vented envelope with insulation laying on the attic floor, your attic will be 130-150-degrees in the summer. However, with a sealed envelope, your attic should be 3-5 degrees warmer than the conditioned living space in your home.

What is the cost difference between the methods? A vented attic seems cheaper when only considering the cost of blowing in fiberglass. However, when you add in the cost of attic fans and radiant barrier to get a lower attic temperature, then you will be much closer to the cost of a sealed attic.

How do you know if it worth creating a sealed attic? If you are simply fixing up the house to sell it in the next 2-years, go cheap. If you are going to be paying the utility bills, and will own the home for 3-years or more, invest in a sealed envelope. Your return on investment (ROI) over a 3 year period should be positive, and a 30 year ROI is tremendous.

When is the best time to have your home properly insulated? During remodeling the sheetrock is removed from your walls. That is the only time you can remove rodent infested, damaged, improperly installed insulation. Then your NARI remodeler can have an insulation professional install the proper insulation correctly.

What is biggest problem with remodeling when it comes to insulation? Many times the homeowner is focused on the remodel finishes. It is easy to overlook the core factors that will make your home:

  • more comfortable to live in
  • healthier for your family
  • quieter from undesired noise
  • and put more money in your bank account over time

Your remodeler’s job is to give you what you want, while complying with the building codes. Your remodeler is only required to address the insulation on walls, ceilings, and floors that are opened up. That means that if only half of your home’s walls have the sheetrock removed, then only half of your home’s insulation is fixed.

Plus, in most cases, the contractor is not required by the municipality to bring the attic insulation up to code. Remember, your attic is the most important place to upgrade. If you are building an addition, the new space will have the proper insulation. The existing structure will not be upgraded unless you require the upgrade and put it in the budget.

Here is what to do next: If you want to have a healthy indoor environment that is comfortable, and saves you money on utilities, then talk to your NARI remodeler about proper insulation.

Ask you contractor to:

  • measure the R-value of your current insulation
  • determine what you need to meet current IECC
  • have your house properly air sealed
  • explore the option of creating a sealed envelope
  • have your entire house brought up to code on insulation
  • at a minimum have the attic brought up to code

About the Author

Shawn Mansur is the founder of Stellrr Insulation in Austin TX. Shawn is famous for his 200% Money-Back Guarantee. He is laser-focused on delighting every client while helping them achieve stellar performance in their homes. Plus, with every purchase, Shawn gives 10% of the profits to the cause of the client’s choice. Learn more at https://www.stellrr.com or call 512-520-0044 today.

Five Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Deck

by TimberTown Austin

Spring is here! The grass is green, flowers are blooming, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy your outdoor space before the heat of summer. For deck owners, all you have to do is just step outside onto your porch or back deck and soak up the sun, right? Not so fast.

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If you own a deck or porch, you know there’s work to be done! After fall and winter, there’s bound to be stains, dirt, and grime that has been left to sit and settle into the boards and between the gaps. Before you bring the lounge chairs back out, there are a few ways you can actually ruin the look of your deck if you’re not careful.

by TimberTown Austin

Here are the top mistakes to avoid when cleaning or refinishing your deck:

Mistake #1: Letting Nature Do The Work

If you think the wind and rain that come during the spring will clean your deck or porch for you, think again. All the elements can do is move around dirt and grime, not remove it.

Mistake #2: Not Clearing The Gaps

Allowing any part of your deck to accumulate dirt, leaves, and anything else in between the gaps of your deck boards can lead to serious issues. Any organic matter that’s left to rot can cause discoloration and premature rotting of wood (especially softer woods like pine and cedar). Also, because water tends to accumulate in any area where it cannot run off, it will pool and potentially cause your decking to warp and twist. Do your boards a favor, mind the gap and clear them out thoroughly.

Mistake #3: Excessive Powerwashing

Decking materials, whether they be as strong as Ipe or made of composite materials, are not steel or glass. They can be damaged by prolonged power washing, using the wrong tip, or too high of a PSI. If you have never pressure washed a deck before, you need to do the following:

  • Use a fan tip
  • Wash along the grain and the length of the board
  • Never aim too close to the deck surface

Mistake #4: Not Cleaning Your Deck Prior To Refinishing

So, let’s say you have a new deck made of Ipe and it’s due for its very first annual refinishing. Instead of reading the directions, you simply sweep off some leaves and dirt and apply the oil. Everything looks fine the first day, but after a while you notice strange markings on your deck. Surely, it must be the oil! Nope. The oil did its job. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to sweep off your deck prior to oiling it. It has to be thoroughly cleaned so the finishing solution of your choice can adhere to the grain and protect the wood. If there’s dirt still left in the wood, the oil cannot properly soak into the surface. Use a wood deck cleaner and brightener to prevent giving yourself more work and an ugly deck to look at.

Mistake #5: Not Checking The Weather Prior To Refinishing

It’s Saturday morning and you are going to oil your hardwood deck first thing in the morning. You oil your deck in no time flat. Sunday morning, everything still looks good. Then it rains. You don’t notice it at first, but after a few days you notice the finish is uneven and it looks like the wood has spots all over it. What happened? Because the oil had not yet fully dried and settled
into the wood, the finish became uneven. To prevent this from happening, make sure your deck is completely dry 24 hours prior to and after applying any finish or sealer.

The Exception To The Rule

The best way to ensure you never make these mistakes is by building a deck out of composite decking. Popular brands like Trex, TimberTech and Fiberon are wrapped in a protective plastic shell which won’t rot and come with 25-year stain and fade warranties. You can also use a 100% PVC product like Azek or Zuri which don’t use any organic materials and have longer warranties. Composites are the best low-maintenance option since all it takes is a little soap and water to keep it looking brand new.

Conclusion

Avoid these mistakes and you can give yourself the best chance of not spending a lot of time and money on future deck maintenance and repairs. Instead, you can clean your deck, apply a finish, and enjoy it for the remainder of the year. Or, you can build a composite deck and save yourself a little time and elbow grease.

Top Reasons Why A Home Remodel Is Just What You Need In Your Life

by Stephanie Sylvester

Remodeling your home can be an overwhelming endeavor, but it may be exactly what you need in your life right now. You can turn your house into your dream home where the rest of your dreams can manifest. Remodeling a room will spark inspiration, creativity, and perpetuate new goals. At Modernize, we love to see homeowners find new life in their homes through simple DIY projects or major renovations. Need a little push out of your remodeling comfort zone? Here are the top reasons why a home remodel is just what you need in your life.

A Happy Home

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Don’t waste another year with items that you don’t love or that don’t serve you well. The very trendy and popular book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo addresses the need to get rid of anything that does not “spark joy.” Many of my friends have been using this book to clean out their closets and junk drawers, but I believe this is a useful exercise when it comes to home fixtures as well. I am vertically challenged and find it a nuisance to drag my step stool around the kitchen for items that I use every day. My small DIY project for spring is to place a shelf that runs the length of all of my wall cabinets, so I can have easy access to items that I need every day. If you have a leaky faucet that multiple repairs have failed to fix, it’s time to upgrade once and for all. Invest in something beautiful and functional so that you are not annoyed every time you take a shower and have to jangle the fixture to turn it off. Simple fixes will improve your quality of life. There will be less time to grumble about inconveniences and more time to love the room that you are in.

You Need Space For Your Passion

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If you have the means to make big changes this year, consider creating your dream space for your passions. If you love to cook, create the kitchen of your dreams. Are you a writer or an artist? Imagine an addition that is dedicated to your craft. Surround yourself with the tools and space that you need and watch your talent blossom in the most ideal environment. If you are not worried about distractions or inconveniences, you can focus on your hobby or your work. Sure, you can make do with what you have, but if it’s possible to truly love the space where you are performing your passions, your creations will benefit from your bliss. Put some work into your home now so you can pour your heart into your art, cooking, or other hobby later.

You Need To Sell

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Maybe you can imagine your dream home, but it’s located somewhere else. If you know that you need to sell in the future, making renovations will help increase your home’s resale value, and also make it more enjoyable to live in until it’s time to go. My husband and I intend to do just that with our 1980s bathroom. I know that we eventually want to move into a new home in a different neighborhood. But this move is at least a few years away, and I don’t want to live with my outdated bathroom for that long. While my husband and I will not be spending money as if this is our dream master bath, we will be happy to retreat to a sparkling clean bathroom with modern cabinets and updated lighting fixtures. We are staying neutral and bright to appeal to potential buyers in a few years.

Remodeling takes a lot of planning, patience, and money, but you will realize that those minutes, deep breaths, and dollars were well-spent when you love walking through the door of your home.

5 Home Improvement Projects to Consider in 2016

by Kaitlin Krull

There are so many benefits to owning your own home, the least of which being the freedom to complete home improvement projects however you like, whenever you like. Of course, with such freedom comes great responsibility, and even greater choices. If you’re struggling to choose from your list of remodeling projects, let us help you decide. Here are five of the top home improvement projects that will help you and your home stay up to date (and on trend) in 2016.

Open Up Your Home

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If you’re itching for a significant remodeling project, consider opening up your living space. Channel Chip and Joanna and give your home a Fixer Upper style remodel by breaking down non load bearing walls and creating a large, open plan area in your home. We particularly love the idea of an open plan kitchen and dining room area that will bring the heart of the home, not to mention your family, together.

Remodel The Kitchen

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For tired, outdated kitchens, choose an on-trend remodel like one of Forbes’ list of 9 Kitchen Trends to Watch Out For in 2016. From muted tones to high-tech kitchens (think hidden charging stations in your work surfaces, integrated lighting systems, and smart appliances), this list has it all. At Modernize, we love clean, traditional kitchens with perfectly placed details (think stylish Scandinavian simplicity). If you want to kill two home improvement birds with one stone, bring your kitchen and living areas together by knocking down adjoining walls and updating your kitchen with a large, functional island with seating.

Restore Fireplaces

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While it might seem like the wrong time of year for a fireplace project, it’s actually perfect if you want to do a large scale remodel or installation of a new fireplace, which will substantially increase the value of your home and offer a sustainable heating source for living spaces. For a less costly but equally fun DIY project, upgrade and restyle your mantel area with reclaimed wooden beams or stone, adding a bold modern art print or a few heirloom home decor pieces to complete your look.

Make Your Home Smarter

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Bring your home fully into the 21st century by installing smart thermostats and/or other home automation products such as integrated HVAC, lighting, and security systems throughout the home that allow you to access and change preferences even when you are away from home via smartphone and tablet applications. These kinds of high tech products may cost you initially, but are more than worth it in the long run in terms of energy savings, decreasing bills, and convenience with regards to home connectivity. The best part about these kinds of systems is that they are usually very straightforward to install and are fully functional within minutes.

Repaint A Room (Or Two)

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Never underestimate the power of a coat of paint. If you want to change the look and style of your home without knocking down walls and completely renovating rooms, a simple paint job with quality materials will instantly do the trick. Stay up to date with the latest color trends, which include jewel tones, neutrals (make sure to offset the lack of color with bold, bright home decor accents), black, and even white (Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year for 2016 is Simply White). For something completely different, consider the Pantone Colors of the Year for 2016, which are an intriguing and subtle combination of Rose Quartz and Serenity, or pink and blue to the less artistic homeowners among us.