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Installing Quartz Kitchen Countertops

Dupont has provided a new product for the solid surface kitchen counters called Zodiaq, which is made of natural silica, quartz, and about eight percent polymer. Zodiaq quartz surfaces are made of a naturally refractive material that gives it a subtle sparkle. It is extremely hard making it resistant to scratches, chips, cracks or dulling and not porous making it hard to stain. The man-made stone countertops are easier to care for than 100% natural stone and are installed in the same manner. In our kitchen the installer used a technique called a mason�s mitre that gives the joint between the pieces additional surface area for the polyester epoxy to bond. The epoxies from Dupont are specially formulated to match the countertops color. David Miller from Desavino and Sons is on hand to explain the countertop installation. One of the unique things about a Simplex house is the exacting consistency of measurements. A digital image is sent from Simplex to the countertop fabricator and they either create a template from the image, or cut the countertop directly from the image provided by Simplex.
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Installing Quartz Kitchen Countertops

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" David Miller and his men are here to install our countertops and also to tell us about. Zodiac a new product from DuPont right DuPont quartz surfacing we're looking at one. Section over here talking about it what's it made out of well this is a natural silica quartz product 93%. Natural product so together with a polymer they actually go out and mine quartz veins and chop them up so that all little flecks that they're all white. It's all white before it gets into the mix actually it's big minutes. And then it's put together with a polymer binder it's heavy what does this stuff way cool I would say about sixteen to seventeen pounds a square foot a square foot. And the user slash backsplash pieces yes there the beautiful shot is over here where it's already been put in place one thing that we've. We were noticing earlier is that it doesn't have the high gloss of a natural granite that's correct the polymers do not. Shine up quite as much as the granite Steelers did to us a little bit more he knows it is a subtle look and makes it a little bit easier to care for actually. So we'll have the sink here and then we've got a nice corner section all the way to over here. What kind of joint have you made here this is called the masons miter and we do this because. The strength that begins. Back to the countertop itself. Instead of coming out of 45 -- straight line. He gives it an extra measure of security in the seam OK and then -- is the installation. Rather you know putting the seam together were just a proxy epoxy it's a special epoxy it's a polyester epoxy knife grade. Manufactured by DuPont. Every color has its own now a posse so that it matches perhaps what. Now I always think of the big challenge in you know islands and corners and all that. Installing stone or marble or whatever. Making your templates so did you -- when you when we're building a house in a factory do you come to the factory to make the templates -- what do you do we -- in this case we do normally 99% of what we do outside is done with templates -- makes a template. But here we get a digital image. From simplex right we take that digital image and transfer it into our computers and those computers either cut templates. Or information goes directly into the computer controlled routers which cut out the pieces to the exact size who got a lot of confidence in this kind of state of the art technology it works it works -- OK is this the via the -- splash for there. K and how does it install if you're putting it in vertically just also with a proxies. Is gonna be silicone on the back. Well after dozens of silicon sealer silicon sealer and that will be good enough. Directly onto the drywall. Directly into the -- and put a big bead down the bottom where the joint will be so that you that's correct make sure you don't have any water get back in there. This is a very nice detail that. Our designer owner thought up. Because we basically kept the counters out so that we could build that that shelf in into the frame. And then we'll look yeah it's a good look plus you end up with kind of a nice built in shelf where you can keep the salt and pepper or you know. Different things it's use -- and we are looking at the space exactly. Where we'll have the stove when this orphanage I keep getting in the way here. And that is the shocked I. And a little bit of shimming and you'll have been underway right."

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Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. Countertops are such a big part of any major kitchen remodel and there are so many new options, deciding on the best choice can seem a little daunting. Starting with the budget can make the decision easier. Countertop materials range widely in price, anywhere from $11 to $200 per square foot installed. Generally speaking, while high-end countertops can boost your kitchen s look, you don t want them too far out of sync with the price point of your cabinets and appliances. Heavier materials like concrete and natural stone can also require added support, so cabinet and countertop quality should be consistent. Once you ve decided what you can spend, you can narrow your countertop options. For smaller budgets, get creative with ceramic tile at $11 to $30 per square foot. Or, check out some of the new high-tech options in laminate, which can be fabricated and installed at $36 to $45 per linear foot. Solid surface countertops offer lots of creative color options from $40 to $60 per square foot installed, and an integral solid surface sink is a great easy-care feature. In the $50 to $100 range, there are many choices. Among them are wood and butcher block with its warm beauty and natural antimicrobial properties; natural stone like slate, soapstone, marble, travertine and granite with all the quirks of nature built in; and engineered quartz countertops with a wide color range and more consistent patterns. Stainless-steel and concrete countertops are generally the most expensive at around $100 on up per square foot. But they can also be fabricated with integral sinks and they re great if you re going for that restaurant or industrial look. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

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Bob and Chris Vila enter the penthouse apartment to look at the installation of the kitchen countertops. This particular kind of Italian marble-like stone is a schist called Pietra Cardosa, from the area of Cardosa, Italy. It is fairly porous, with great abrasive resistance, but may require a bit more care than the average countertop as it cannot be polished to a shine. Nick Tagios from Tagios Tile and Marble explains the attachment of the countertops to the Cherry Craftline island cabinet. First a bead of silicone caulk is laid down to adhere the stone to the wood. Tagios and crew level the top with shims. To install the bridge that will become the kitchen�s island sink surround, steel bars are added between the slabs by sawing out a line and then sealing the bars inside with the stone-colored epoxy. Supports are attached to the sidepieces of stone and the bridge is laid between. To eliminate the line and space between the two stone slabs a dyed two-part epoxy is added. After the epoxy dries the counter top is sanded to remove any excess epoxy.

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