Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Granite Myths Dispelled

Using Granite in your home Makes Sense--Dispelling the Myths

In recent years, granite has become a popular
surface choice for bathroom and kitchen countertops.
Granite is beautiful and extremely durable, but some
homeowners hesitate to use it because of myths about
it being unsafe or diffi cult to care for. Below, fi nd a list
of granite myths dispelled:
1. Granite is absorbent. Granite qualifi es as impervious
to water and is actually less absorbent than some solid
surface (plastic) products.
2. Granite stains easily. Granite is resistant to stains.
Generally any liquid spilled on a granite top, if wiped up
within a few minutes, will not stain. Liquids that do not
evaporate, such as oils, will cause stains only if left to
soak into the stone.
3. Granite requires a lot of maintenance. Routine
cleaning with a mild soap and water is all that is
generally required. Once a year, a reapplication of a
penetrating sealer should be performed. It takes only
about 15 minutes. Never use abrasive cleaners.
4. Granite’s tiny pores and fi ssures harbour bacteria.
Bacteria are found everywhere. If they are on a granite
top, then they can also be found on a laminate or solid
surface top. Use an antibacterial soap to wash your
countertop if you are concerned.
5. Granite and marble are essentially the same. Other
than the fact that they are both natural stones and
can be polished, granite and marble are otherwise
very different. Marble is generally a calcareous stone,
formed from oceanic deposits and then compressed
under pressure (metamorphosed). Granite, however,
is an igneous rock, essentially molten magma, that is
cooled and then hardened below the earths surface.
Your natural stone counter top choice will add years of
beauty, strength, durability, and ease of maintenance to
your home. Enjoy!

Low Flow Shower Heads Do Save Water.

Low Flow Shower Heads
Selecting the right shower head for economy and ease of use can be a challenge.
Here is some helpful information to assist you.
Why is low-flow the way to go? Older shower heads use between 3 and 6 gallons (15 and 30 L) of water per minute, whereas newer, low-flow models use less than 2 gallons (10 L) per minute – and you won’t even notice the difference in water pressure.
What you will notice though is that your hot-water use will be reduced by up to
50%, which will cut both your electricity and water bills in the process. A family
of three could save between $175 and $190 per year (depending on whether
they use electricity or natural gas to heat the water) just by switching to a low-flow
shower head.
Which shower head is best for your needs?
• Aerating shower heads mix air into the water stream. This maintains steady
pressure so the flow has an even, full shower spray while using less water.
• Non-aerating shower hears deliver a strong spray minus the air. The water flow
pulses, giving you a massaging effect.
• Mutltiple-flow shower heads allow you to set the spray from fine to coarse.
Some even feature a pause setting, which allows you to stop the water while soaping up, saving even more. The big tip here? Remember to use it!