Susan Hilton College Station Real Estate
Realtor & Vice President of Sales
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Home Improvement & Design Category
Granite Counter Top Care in College Station
March 3rd, 2010 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
Granite is often used for counter tops because it is so dense and because it’s so abundant on the earth’s surface– making it affordable for most people and it is a desirable feature in Bryan College Station homes. Granite is very dense, one of the hardest rocks, just short of gems and diamonds. It can’t be easily damaged by a knife or anything laying around the house. The only thing around the house that could do noticeable damage to granite is a piece of glass, and that would have to be a tragic accident indeed. Other than that, you’d have to bang the counter tops against one another, and that’s hardly than accident. Generally, you’re very safe from damaging it.
It’s mostly made of quartz and feldspars; that’s trivia knowledge but it’s important because those rocks make up over half of the earth’s surface. Because granite isn’t rare or expensive and it’s very durable, it’s an ideal material for a counter top.
It’s considered to be inexpensive. Still, it’s made under the earth’s surface, and considering a lot of granite comes from outside of the United States, it’s reasonable there is a moderate service cost inherent in the cost of granite– regardless, it’s still considered inexpensive. A person getting new granite counter tops 3 cm thick to cover 70 sq. feet of counter top space would have to shoulder a cost of about $3,000-$3,500. It may seem somewhat costly, but that’s would be enough for a sizable kitchen; a 10 sq. foot bath room counter would only cost about 500 for new quartz or even way less if you can salvage pieces of bigger stones from the manufacturer.
Because of the way they’re made granite counter tops are very clean and easy to maintain. Much of what makes granite is the rock quartz, which is type of crystal– making it dense and impermeable. Liquids don’t seep into granite; the only way to stain it is with some liquid that doesn’t easily evaporate. You can buy a granite counter top with a resin coating to even further protect it from staining. If that’s not enough it’s very easy to seal the surface of the counter top making it completely impermeable. Granite counter tops tend to have tiny surface features that some people complain may harbor bacteria, but it’s an unreasonable fear. There’s just as much bacteria you’d find on the surface of a laminate counter top. If you are concerned about germs you’d be better off getting washing your hands and getting rid of old sponges. Antibacterial soap and a cloth is more than enough to make granite perfectly clean.
Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal, Inc.
#1 in Real Estate in Bryan and College Station Home Sales
Real Estate for Bryan College Station!
Call 979-764-2121 and hear information on ANY property for sale in the Brazos Valley.
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Granite Counter Tops Worth it in College Station?
February 19th, 2010 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
Have you ever wondered if your College Station home would look better with granite counter tops? Do you know how they would wear? How much would it cost?
Of all the surfaces inside of the house, counter tops usually have to endure all the wear and tear. Anything you don’t want laying around on the floor usually ends up on counter tops, and accidents like to happen when given enough time. Even worse, scratches and gouges can be eye magnets, but even so, remodeling can be difficult to think about sometimes.
Home owners are sometimes daunted with the issue of remodeling: it can be painstaking to decide upon and it’s usually tough work. Beyond that, there is no formula to figuring out if the cost exceeds the benefit when part of the benefit is happiness
Research is very important, and there are a fair number of options with types of counter tops and manufacturers. After any amount of research, it’s clear that many consumer reports and magazines praise Read the rest of this entry »
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Electric Lawn Mowers – Green but Grievous
June 1st, 2009 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
Green Lawn Mower
BRYAN, TX — The Texas Municipal Power Agency encourages homeowners to use electric lawn mowers rather than gas to promote cleaner air. They are offering vouchers worth $150 toward the purchase of an electric-powered machine, corded or cordless.
You’re thinking, I gotta push this reel mower or work my way around power cords? That’s a big sacrifice for clean air. Well, Black and Decker does have a handy 24V battery mower but it will only cut up to 1/3 of an acre at a time. Then there’s a solar powered cordless from Solaris – that sounds neat.
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Sprinkler System Required in a New Texas House? WHAT????
October 24th, 2008 Categories: Home Improvement & Design
DId you know that we have a new International Residential Code (minimum standard for the building code followed in Texas) is going to require fire sprinklers in single and two family homes and townhomes for homes built after January 1, 2011?
When I first read this I thought they were referring to the sprinkler systems in the yard – NO WAY! This is talking about the INTERIOR of homes!
What did the National Association of Homebuilders (NAH) think? They were not in favor of the mandate. NAH said the additional cost and maintenance was not justified. Habitat for Humanity agreed! It is too costly!
The National Fire Protection Association sponsored a study and reported this will increase costs from $.38 to $3.66 per square foot – averaging out at $1.61 per square foot increase. There may be some insurance discounts but not enough to cover the expense -
About the only good thing is that it is not retroactive!
Susan Hilton – Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal
Want to Search the Bryan/College Station Real Estate MLS? CLICK HERE!!!
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Texas A&M University Horticultural Gardens – Beautiful Flowers!
September 6th, 2008 Categories: Home Improvement & Design, Texas A&M University
Have you stopped by the Texas A&M University Horticultural Gardens lately? It is beautiful!
The garden features stone pathways winding through stunning flowers. Look a little further and see stunning sculptures. Interested in water gardens with Read the rest of this entry »
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