Showcase Countertops

                                                                          6002 Excelsior Boulevard      St. Louis Park, MN  55416                 952-920-0555            Fax: 952-929-0448                                                                                We Offer Open, Honest Answers To Your Surfacing Questions- In a Casual Atmosphere

Home Up

              

 

Natural Stones

Natural Stones (Granite, Marble, Limestone, Soapstone, Onyx, and Slate) are well known for their beauty, tremendous depth and color variations. These materials bring an amazing visual impact to a design, but they are not all equal in terms of durability and maintenance. Some stones well known for their definite maintenance requirements, and it is important to keep in mind that some stones, while very beautiful, may not have the characteristics to make them a good choice for your application.

To maintain the durability of most stone countertops, it is recommended that they be resealed annually. There are a host of sealers available, but no sealer can offer complete protection against incursions by Granite is not known for its reparability and once stained it is virtually impossible to restore the countertop to its original condition. That being said, granite is still popular due to its appearance and the design impact it can have.  

 

Natural Stone

 

 

We carry all of the hundreds of colors and patterns available through our distributors; Marble & Terrazzo Supply, Midwest Tile & Marble, Stone Holdings, or Cold Spring Granite, and Sensa Granite. All of these slab providers bring in stone from around the world, and you get to select from a huge menu of possibilities.

If you couple the natural variability of stone with the fact that the same stone can be found in different quarries- the possible variations are endless and can be somewhat overwhelming. We believe that if you find a stone that you respond to- you should get it. The color selection process in manufactured products can follow a fairly logical path (color, value, hue, tint, and shade combinations) due to the fact that the colors and patterns are repeatable and consistent. People respond to stone far more emotionally than that. We think that is the secret to the popularity of stone countertops.

Granite slabs are generally milled to 3 cm, which is roughly equivalent to 1 ¼” in thickness. For backsplashes, wherever possible we mill down your 3 cm. material to a 2 cm. thickness at an additional cost, otherwise, the standard splash is 3 cm. thick.  

It is very important that you personally view the slabs from which your countertops will be fabricated to ensure that you are satisfied with the color and pattern of your stone. Due to the variability of natural stone, we cannot guarantee that any stone will match the samples in our showroom.

    

       

        Granite:

By far the most popular of stone countertop materials. There is an incredible variety of colors and patterns available, and new stones are discovered on a regular basis. Existing stones are in a constant state of change, although some do manage to stay remarkably similar year after year.

As a rule of thumb, lighter colored granites are more susceptible to staining, and the darker stones are a bit less susceptible.

 

General facts and information of note:

 

      

 

Natural Stone:

 

  • In natural stones, the more complex the edgework profile, the higher the cost per lineal foot.
  • Stones with large patterns can look wonderful when you select them, but make sure that your kitchen countertops have the dimensions to make use of the larger patterns. Visualize your individual countertop sections over the slab as you are in the selection process to make sure the pattern isn't too big for your kitchen.
  • Even though the stone is sealed before it is installed, sealants DO NOT make any natural stone stain-proof. Always wipe up spills immediately to prevent penetration of the stone.
  • It is recommended that the sealer be renewed at least once a year.
  • Lighter colored stones are generally weaker and more susceptible to staining than dark colored stones.
  • Seam locations will be at the discretion of Showcase.
  • We utilize colored materials to conceal the seam, but it is visible.
  • The quality of the seams in a natural stone countertop is somewhat dependent on the type of stone. In stones with certain crystal sizes, the edges of a seam can appear rough due to crystal flaking.
  • As walls are rarely straight, we recommend caulking behind the backsplash using clear or white paintable latex caulking.
  • Granite is available in a honed or matte finish at an up-charge. Those finishes can be more susceptible to staining & discoloration.
  • It is recommended that you take the opportunity to view your actual slabs of granite if at all possible as there is tremendous variability in color and pattern. Showcase can bear no responsibility for any variation that may occur between our samples and the actual slab material if the customer does not make their own slab selection.  
  • Granite is better than the other products at resisting heat, but high heat can damage this product.  We recommend the use of a trivet when using crock-pots, skillets, pans right out of the oven or just off the stove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information Request Form

Select the items that apply, and then let us know how to contact you.


Send company literature
Have a salesperson contact me

Name
Title
Company
Address
E-mail
Phone

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send mail to bwk.showcase@gmail.com with questions or comments about this web site.