Materials

Browse Through Our Wide Selection of Countertop Options

At The Countertop Store of San Carlos, we fabricate and install a range of countertop materials. These include solid surfaces, quartz, and natural stone. In addition to countertops, we can work on a variety of surfaces such as:

Fireplaces
Showers
Vanities
Bar Tops

BBQs
Shower Curbs
Windowsills
And More!

Solid Surface Material

Acrylic

This material is tough and non-porous. It is also colorfast in even the harshest sunlight and can be inconspicuously seamed. It is available in over 100 colors of sheets stock. Generally, sinks made of acrylic are usually various shades of white and come in a variety of shapes and configurations.

Proper Care Instructions

As with all surfaces, we recommend using a cutting board to not damage it or your knives. We also suggest using a trivet for hot items as high heat can spoil the surface. Most damage can be repaired by simply sanding it out with an orbital sander. We also provide a cutting board of acrylic that is your dye lot for repairs should anything go wrong.

Acrylic Installation Services

This material is great as a vanity top and as a shower surround for an easy-to-clean surface. We can fabricate acrylic shower pans for unusually sized shower floors when a factory-made pan will not work. Please check with your building inspector to make sure that they are approved in your area.

Typically, acrylic backsplashes are butted to the top and caulked. In a solid surface material like acrylic, we can cove the horizontal and vertical joints for an additional charge. Note that there will always be dust with coving.

Quartz

Engineered Quartz

It is comprised of approximately 93% natural quartz and approximately 7% color pigments and polyester resins. Quartz is a practical, durable material that has a clear advantage over stone and other materials. These advantages are:

Superior Strength and Flexibility
Highly Heat Resistant
Highly Scratch Resistant
Extremely Chip and Crack Resistant
Impervious to Stains

Resistant to Household Acids
Low Maintenance
Immune to Freezing and Thawing
Mold Resistant
Durable and Easy To Work With

Natural Stone

Granite

This is one of the most elegant-looking materials that is usually polished to a high-gloss finish that has a look like no other. The textures and colors that are available in granite cannot be duplicated by man-made products. We supply a list of the stone yards that we have found to be fair in price, have good quality materials, and provide good customer service.

Granite should be sealed every six months to help prevent staining and should be sealed more often if hot objects are placed on it. We recommend the sealer SLX-100 for the best results. Some stains can be removed with a poultice, but many people believe that stains add character to the stone. Granite comes in a variety of colors and textures and is quoted in ¾” material as an industry standard.

Marble and Limestone

These are the softest of the natural stone materials, which should be sealed every six months to help prevent staining. The texture, colors, and soft patterns can seduce anyone into wanting some in their home. Marbles and limestones can be easily stained with oils, alcohols, foods containing citric acid, and even water.

They can be easily scratched because it is a calcium deposit and can also crack without warning. Alcohol tends to eat away at the minerals in these materials so it should not be used as a bar top. Because of their beauty, marble and limestone make excellent tile backsplash or in a lightly used guest bath.

Other Materials

Butcher Block

These materials are made with many different types of wood, which is kiln dried and tends to expand when it gets wet. It may even turn black or discolored if water is left on the top. The butcher black can be left unsealed or sealed with oil or urethane. If left unsealed, the tops will be extremely porous and will stain easily. It will also cut easily and allow bacteria to live and breed in its pores and cuts.

We recommend cleaning a butcher block with de-chlorinated bleach and water solution. The butcher block also burns easily and should be used with a trivet for hot items. If the butcher block tops are sealed, they should not be used as a cutting surface. They also can still absorb moisture from the dishwater humidity and at the edges of the sink and cooktop cutouts. The top will warp or swell around the sink and can eject the sink as the cutout constricts.

Let Us Help You Find the Materials You Need

You can trust our company to provide you with the highest quality materials for your countertop installation project. For more information on the products we offer, get in touch with our team today.

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