Offered in a wide range of evocative colors, GEOS makes a striking visual statement and is a rare find among environmentally conscious products—it’s both earth-friendly and affordable. With a carefully chosen mixture of both post-consumer and industrial-use glass, GEOS gives new life to a cast-off resource. Combined with superior and proven binders, the resulting fusion of strength and beauty takes very little from the planet, and gives back an enduring product rich with colorful organic texture.

GEOS Sustainable Surfaces for Your Home

If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly countertop with a sophisticated color pallet, look no further than GEOS. GEOS is a new environmentally friendly countertop material made from recycled glass and a proven proprietary binder that ensures a strong and durable countertop that does not require sealing. Much of our glass is sourced from recycling centers or directly from factory by-product. The unique combination of colors make for an amazing array of colors that will set any kitchen apart.

Samsung® Radianz™ Adds Two Colors to Quartz Surfaces Line
New color varieties provide more versatility for residential and commercial projects

LOS ANGELES (June 2011) – Radianz™, a product of worldwide technology leader Samsung, recently added two new quartz surface colors. More than 26 distinctive colors are  now available in the Radianz line.

The two new colors, Caucasus Gray and Kunlun Ink, provide a consistent texture throughout the entire surface. Unlike granite and other stone products, Radianz Quartz offers a non-porous, hygienic and aesthetically consistent surfacing option.

Radianz is comprised of more than 93 percent natural quartz crystals, one of the hardest minerals found in nature. Color controlled quartz is blended with technologically advanced polymers, resulting in a luxurious and smooth high-gloss material that does not require sealing.

“We’re committed to providing beautiful, yet versatile and durable surfaces,” said Dale Mandell, Samsung Surface’s North America sales manager. “These new color varieties provide even more choices for homeowners, remodelers and designers seeking a high-quality natural surface for residential and commercial projects.”

About Radianz Quartz Surfaces by Samsung
Samsung offers three great surfacing options – high-performance Staron Solid Surfaces, luxurious Radianz Quartz and the versatile Staron Tempest. All combine natural beauty with design sensibility to offer a variety of colors and patterns. Durable, stain-resistant and hygienic, these surfaces make the design and selection process easy. For more information about Staron and application ideas, please visit www.staron.com or call 800.795.7177.

VIATERA® QUARTZ SURFACES COLLECTION

Appealing to  a wide range of preferences in  today’s surfaces design options, Viatera® by LG Hausys introduces 15 new sophisticated colors to its popular collection of quartz surfaces. These color additions expand their robust palette and were inspired by emerging fashion and color trends.

“We are constantly evaluating our Viatera® collection as we aspire to provide our customers with limitless design choices,” commented Michelle Rhee, marketing manager for LG Hausys. “The quartz line by LG Hausys is in high-demand and we desire to provide our customers with relevant colors that suit their individual styles and tastes.”

Lava Ice Viatera® combines natural quartz with advanced polymers to create a non-porous countertop material that is stain-resistant and hygienic. The Viatera® collection increases from 30 colors to 45, ranging from soft and warm to passionate and intense. The 15 color launch includes brand new collections – Reflection, Ice, Veined, and other new colors.

The freshly expanded Viatera® line features the following colors:

• Ice Collection: Tundra, Lunar, Sand, Kona, Galaxy, Lava (pictured)
• Reflection Collection: Daylight, Twilight, Midnight
• Veined Collection: Bianco White, Crema Beige, Artesia, Truffle
• Other new colors: Dover, Wheat

Effective immediately, the 15 additional colors are available, and are backed by a 15-year transferable warranty. For detailed product information and/or to receive a sample of one of the new colors visit, www.lghausys.com.

April 25, 2011 – US Surface Warehouse, a private, vertically integrated company that manufactures, markets, and distributes solid surface materials added six new colors to its Livingstone solid surface products. Sold directly to fabricators, the new colors include two in the Escape Series— Oyster and Clay; and four in the Explore series— Ambrosia, Bianca, Opus, and Montana.

Click here to view colors:

http://www.livingstonesurfaces.com/colors.html

Click here to see how they compare to Corian, Hi-Macs, and Staron:

http://www.livingstonesurfaces.com/www/pdf/color_crossover_chart.pdf

Top 10  Tips to a Beautiful Tile Backsplash:

1. Add some character – A little bit of glass or accent tile can really add some style and character.
2. Under-Counter Lighting – Lighting really accentuates the beauty of the tile, highlighting the texture of the tile and grout.
3. Silicone – Talk with your installer prior to starting the job. The tile should not be grouted to the countertop surface.  Leave a space equal to the grout line and apply a color matched silicone between the two. The silicone remains flexible and will allow for expansion and contraction of walls, countertops, etc. and can eliminate the grout joint cracking thus eliminating the need to re-grout.
4. Flat and Level – Install countertop flat and level. Very important to have the countertop flat. This will ensure the tile stays nice and level with straight grout lines.
5. Proportional Grout – While some tile such as terracotta need a thick grout line, most tile is best when inconspicuous. Typically, the smaller the tile, the tighter the grout line. When shopping for tile, take a look at the different sample boards to get a feel for the size you might like.
6. Cove Splash – If you plan to use a product like Corian, Staron or HI-MACS, a tile backsplash can be a beautiful compliment to the material.  With ‘Corian’ clients, I suggest a small coved backsplash (anywhere from 1-4’’ in height).  The cove splash provides a nice seamless transition that is easy to clean.
7. Neutral Tones – When selecting a tile for granite, select a light or neutral color to offset the darker color granite.
8. Pizazz – Don’t be afraid to add some pizazz.  This is your opportunity to really add the style you want at a low cost.  When you are tired of the design, the cost to replace will be substantially less than replacing the countertop.


9. Low Cost Countertop – Tile can really dress up a countertop. By selecting a lower cost product like Corian, the addition of tile can transform a basic countertop into a masterpiece.
10. DIY Project – If you feel comfortable with basic carpentry tools, tile backsplashes can be the perfect project. All tools and supplies can be purchased from your local home center. A tile saw rental may be a great option if using glass or ceramic tiles.

“Is this possible”, they ask?

Of course it is possible! We do replacement countertops all the time.

Because maintenance is the number one reason for replacement, we begin by introducing our customers to either solid surface or quartz surfacing material. Both of the products offer easy maintenance and virtually endless design possibilities.

Removing a tile countertop can be a daunting task. Following these basic steps can make the process as pain free as possible.

THE MESS

Removing tile is a messy job. But there are certainly steps that can be taken, including covering the floors with tarps, using plastic to mask off the area of work, dust collection on tools, etc. that help to keep the mess to a minimum.

Zip Walls are also a great way to contain any stray dust. Zip Walls are temporary, plastic walls that go floor to ceiling, limiting the migration of dust to adjacent rooms. Be sure to ask your fabricator how they protect the area that they will be working in.

THE DAMAGE

Yes, absolutely there will be damage to walls and cabinets when tile is removed. Typically, tile is set in a mortar base and most tile installers use the large 2’’ drop edge pieces where there is finished edges on countertops.

When that tile and mortar is removed you will typically find that there will be some damage, or at least fading of stain on the front of the cabinets. This can certainly be remedied by asking your countertop fabricator to extend your edge height from the typical 1 ½’’ to a 2 – 2 ½’’ height to cover the damage. Keep in mind, there is additional cost involved in taller edges, but that cost would certainly be much less expensive than refinishing or re-facing existing cabinets.

If you have tile extending up the wall for backsplash, the removal of that tile will most certainly damage the drywall or plaster behind it. Again, there is no reason to panic. A quality countertop fabricator should be able to create a backsplash with the same material you have chosen for your countertop to cover up any damage to the wall. In fact, you can even ask your installer to go up a ¼’’ – ½’’ or so past what is the existing height of your current backsplash in order to cover up any old paint or grout lines.

CONCLUSION

When your tile countertops are past the point of repair, don’t let the tile removal process overwhelm you. With the right tools and equipment, removal of existing tile countertop will be as smooth as selecting the new counter.

30 November 2010

Vetrazzo® really is the original recycled glass surface. This exquisite product has now been officially protected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Patent No. US 7,771,539).

Vetrazzo is composed of a resin-free formula that incorporates recycled glass aggregates creating a product with unique mechanical and aesthetic characteristics. With over 85% recycled glass content, Vetrazzo allows homeowners, architects, designers, and builders to exhibit both their style and their respect for the earth and environment.

Vetrazzo’s artful surfaces are incredibly strong and durable. They are also characterized by low porosity, high density as well as low water permeability. Therefore, this line of exquisite surface materials can be used for various applications: countertops, tabletops, architectural cladding and more. Vetrazzo surfaces offer a stunning and lively signature for residential or commercial projects.

For more information about Vetrazzo, visit www.vetrazzo.com

Countertops made of laminate serve up a variety of colors and patterns that mimic the look of more expensive surfaces such as stone, concrete or metal.

“Today’s laminate countertops aren’t your grandmother’s, with a coral boomerang pattern and chrome edging,” says Alan Zielinski, vice president of the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Executive Committee and owner of Better Kitchens Inc. in Niles, Ill.

“Laminate countertops have been around for a long time, but they’re capturing a new market of consumers by touting high durability and high drama.”

Formica, Wilsonart and Panolam Industries’ Nevamar are leading manufacturers of laminate. Formica Corp.’s founders received the first laminate patent in 1913 for what was then used as a wire insulator. It was named “Formica” to replace mica, a mineral used for insulation, which was becoming rare and expensive.

In the 1930s, laminate could be found in hotels and restaurants, replacing wooden tabletops. From 1945 to 1953, 6 million kitchens were furnished with Formica countertops during the post-World War II suburban boom.

Today’s laminate is made from layers of kraft paper glued together with melamine, a plastic resin. A printed, decorative or patterned sheet is placed on top and covered with more melamine, pressed and finally cured in an oven, according to Bill Roush, communications director with Formica at its Cincinnati headquarters.

“Fabricators buy the sheets of laminate and adhere it to particle board to create the countertop,” Roush says. “The technology (to manufacture laminate) has progressed, and today’s laminates look great, at a fraction of the cost of other countertop materials.”

Read More – Click Here

Because of the seamless attributes of solid surface, mixing and matching two or three backsplash treatments is simple and cost effective.

Here is a brief review of the variety solid surface brings to the backsplash.

Tile cove.

A tile cove backsplash is fabricated to accept tile or any other vertical wall surface. Typically it is called 3/8″ tile cove, meaning the top edge of the tile cove is 3/8″ wide. When 1/4″ tile is installed on top of it, you are left with a slight reveal. The thickness of the tile determines the width of tile cove ledge.

Using tile cove as a foundation for the tile serves a couple purposes. It makes for a clean and classy, almost seamless transition to your worktop, makes for easier cleaning, and reduces the chance of moisture getting behind the countertop and cabinets.

Cove Backsplash

Cove backsplash has many attributes and flexibility to give you the complete custom built-in look. The backsplash is integrally fused to the worktop forming a smooth, one piece splash and top.

Do you have a curved wall? No problem. Need to go around a few corners? Done. And when you add a scribe strip to the back of a 3″ or 4” cove backsplash, with proper templating your cove backsplash can follow any wall irregularities and provides a custom built-in look.

Full Height Backsplash

One of the more exciting backsplash treatments in recent years is full height backsplash. An interesting technique is to use solid surface to simulate tile and grout lines. This is accomplished by using a computer controlled router (CNC). Virtually any design can be routed into solid surface. Below are just a few examples.

You can see how it is possible to get the look of tile and grout lines, but without dirt build-up or the need for sealing. Accents can be added as well to enhance the look. Most of the time when a full height solid surface backsplash is used, it is installed on top of tile cove. When seamed, you have a virtually waterproof and easy to clean worktop area.

This application can also be added to any counter surface from granite to engineered stone, making for some striking contrasts.

Solid surface backsplash adds value to your countertop through appealing designs and ease of living.

About the Author: Jon Olson is the production and operations manager for Sterling Surfaces in Sterling, Mass. He has been a solid surface fabricator since 1982 and can be reached at jon@sterlingsurfaces.com

Take your time and read through the different materials.  You can always view the Countertop Review, “Comparison Chart” to see how the stack up.

Some of the top choices include:

1. Concrete
2. Paper Composite
3. Recycled Plastic
4. Terrazzo
5. Wood

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