When It Comes To Granite Countertops—Should I Go With The Flow?
I recently wrote about flowing issues in our Summer 2008, Paramount Peeks quarterly newsletter, but since not everyone receives it, I thought I’d address it here as well.
When our customers select a flowing granite for their countertops, we often times get asked the question, “Will your installers be able to match the flow where my countertops needs to be seamed?”
The answer to that question is, “We will do our best.” While some granite’s are consistent in their overall look and feel, there are a lot of colors available that are not. Many granite’s have flow, and movement, which make them unique and truly beautiful, but these characteristics can sometimes pose some issues when it comes to seaming.
At PGC, we always strive to match the flow on pieces, but it just isn’t always possible. Our pricing structure is calculated and based on the total square footage needed for a job. Slabs are then ordered based on this square footage to accommodate all pieces being cut from the pre-determined number of slabs. The lay-out process for flowing granite’s can sometimes be a bit tricky for several reasons. First of all, there might not be enough material available to get a piece to flow a certain way. Secondly, depending on the color selected, there might not be another area of the slab that even matches. A third reason laying out a flowing granite might be tricky and cause mis-match is the slab length itself. If the slab is not long enough to accommodate a piece, another one would have to seam up to it that might not match.
If you select a flowing granite for your countertops, please make sure that you realize that a consistent, picture perfect seam is not always possible. If you are concerned about flow match, you might want to consider a granite that is more consistent.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Company, Granite on August 14th, 2008 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Recipe: Ginger Snap Ice Cream Sandwiches
Here’s a recipe I came across the other day that sounded like a good treat for a hot summer’s day. It’s a great recipe to share with kids to get them involved with some cooking fun!
Ginger Snap Ice Cream Sandwiches
| 1 Stick unsalted butter; | 1/4 ts Ground allspice |
| 1/2 c Granulated sugar plus | 1 ts Baking soda |
| ; coating the cookies | 3/4 ts Salt |
| 1/2 c Firmly packed light brown | Ice Cream |
| 1/3 c Unsulfured molasses | 1 c Shelled natural pistachio |
| 1 lg Egg | or other chopped nuts |
| 2 c All-purpose flour | 1 tsp. cinnamon |
| 2 1/2 ts Ground ginger |
Make the gingersnaps: Preheat the oven to 350F. In a bowl with an electric mixer cream together the butter, 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar, and the brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, add egg and the molasses, and beat the mixture until it is smooth. In another bowl whisk together the flour, the ginger, the cinnamon, the allspice, the baking soda, and the salt, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and stir the mixture until it forms a soft dough. Form the dough into 24 balls (each about 1 1/2 inches in diameter), roll the balls in the additional granulated sugar, coating them, and arrange them 2 inches apart on buttered baking sheets. Bake the gingersnaps in batches in the middle of the oven for 13 to 15 minutes, until they are crisp and cracked but still soft inside, and let them cool on the sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer the gingersnaps with a metal spatula to racks and let them cool completely. Sandwich a scoop of the ice cream between 2 of the gingersnaps, pressing the cookies together, form 11 more sandwiches in the same manner, and roll the edges in the pistachios, or other type of nut if desired. Freeze the sandwiches on a tray, covered, until they are hard. The sandwiches may be made 2 days in advance and kept covered and frozen. Makes 12 ice cream sandwiches.
Note: This recipe called for lemon ice cream, but you can use vanilla, coffee, chocolate chip, etc. Coffee-chocolate chip sounds good to me!
Enjoy!
Barb
Posted in Cooking in your kitchen on August 8th, 2008 by Barb | | 0 Comments
There’s Nothing Like The Aesthetic Appeal Of Genuine Stone!
When it comes to building, remodeling, and decorating, there’s nothing like the aesthetic appeal of genuine stone for countertops, flooring, backspashes, etc. With its unique material composition, granite provides an unmatched beauty. Granite makes up approximately 75% of the earth’s crust and contains various natural occuring minerals such as feldspar, quartz, mica, etc., which make each color distinct with a look all its own.
Many consumers are attracted to granite because of its natural occuring quartz. Some granite colors contain large areas of quartz that actually give you the visual appeal of looking down into the stone. Other granite colors may contain smaller areas of quartz throughout. Other consumers are drawn to the reflective, mirror-like mica, which is prominent in some colors. Still others are drawn to the veining and movement of some stones, and some are drawn to those granite colors consistent in their overall look.
Marble, slate, soapstone, travertine, and onyx are some other popular stones used in building and remodeling. They are often used in combination with granite countertops to compliment a room.
Whatever your stone preference, you can’t go wrong the lasting visual appeal of genuine stone! To learn more about genuine stone, please feel free to visit the MIA, Marble Institute of America website.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Following are a few photo’s I wanted to share:
Granite: Black Polar Russian (Large areas of mica and quartz)
Granite: Black Polar Russian; Slate backsplash
Posted in Company, Granite, Industry News on August 7th, 2008 by Barb | | 0 Comments
2008 Summer Olympics
I have been looking forward to the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games all summer. And now it is finally here, Friday (8/8/08), will kickoff the global tradition that has been around for thousands of years. This year the Olympics will take place in Beijing, China. 
With that said, I felt it appropriate to research some interesting facts and tidbits about the Olympics. Did you know:
- The five rings on the Olympic flag represent the five significant continents and are interconnected to symbolize the friendship to be gained from the international competitions.
- The Olympic motto is a borrowed Latin phrase: Citius, Altius, Fortius (”Swifter, Higher, Stronger”).
- 1912 was the last year that the Olympic Gold metals were produced out of entirely pure gold.
- Women first competed in the Games in 1900.
- The Olympic Games is the largest single broadcast event in the world, broadcast in 220 countries to more than 3.5 bilion people.
- Four Boeing 747 jumbo jets could have fit side by side in the Olympic Stadium in Australia.
For more interesting facts and information visit the following websites:
http://history1900s.about.com/od/greateventsofthecentury/a/olympicfacts.htm
http://www.didyouknow.cd/sport/olympics.htm
http://www.firstscience.com/SITE/editor/067_ramblings_13082004.asp
Enjoy the Games and feel free to share…
Angie
Posted in Uncategorized on August 6th, 2008 by Angie | | 4 Comments
