Countertop Trivets, Trivets, Trivets!

If you've been in the countertop industry for any amount of time, I'm sure you've heard (or witnessed) plenty of horror stories about people mistreating their countertops. No countertop material is indestructible.

No Countertop Material Is Indistructible (just wanted to make sure you read that.) And if your customers don't understand that, then you are not setting the proper expectations.

I've heard stories about numerous ways countertops have been damaged: people walking or climbing on them, hammer "accidents," cuts, scratches, chips, burns, stains, and in one case a guy dropped a bowling ball on his countertop to show his friends and neighbors just how durable his countertop was (it turned out it wasn't that durable).

Other than cuts and scratches, typically in laminate, solid surface, wood or metal countertops (please use cutting boards!), burns or scorches are one of the most common ways people damage their kitchen work surfaces. Why can't people just use trivets?

Trivets, trivets, trivets!

Laminate and solid surface are particularly susceptible to burns/scorches, and the resin binder in quartz surfacing/engineered stone will also not withstand too high of a temperature. Even natural stone could be damaged by too much heat exposure.

Of course, granite can withstand a lot of heat, but that does not mean that a very hot pan cannot damage a granite countertop. Granite does not expand and contract very easily, so when a very hot pan is placed on a granite surface, there is a small chance it will crack due to "shock." Also, some coatings or sealers used on granite countertops are susceptible to heat damage. It is simply not worth the risk when you can just use a simple trivet, even if the risk is minimal.

And today, trivets come in all shapes and sizes to fit any decor. In my own home, the fabricator who put in my countertops was kind enough to give me a trivet made from the sink cut-out in my top, so it matches my countertop perfectly!

But, for those wanting something more, check out this trivet pinterest board that shows a variety of options and styles available today - plenty to choose from.

All in all, a countertop is a large investment and something a customer should be able to live with for many years. Make sure you inform your customers how to avoid damaging their countertops. They will be happier and you will get less phone calls from irate homeowners who thought their new tops were beyond damage (and now, perhaps, beyond repair).

Countertop Businesses and Fabricators in Alaska

Alaska: The 49th state with its capital in Juneau, was first discovered by outsiders in 1741 and first settled by Russian whalers and fur traders on Kodiak Island in 1784. Of course, prior to that, it was home to Aleut, Eskimo and Indian groups. In 1867, Alaska was purchased by the United States from Russia for $7,200,000 (about 2 cents per acre) but did not officially become as state until Jan. 3, 1959. It is the largest U.S. state (more than twice the size of Texas), roughly 1/3 of the state lies in the Arctic Circle, it has the lowest population density in the nation and about 25 percent of the oil produced in the United States is from Alaska. While it only contains a little over 731,000 people (New York City has more than 11 times that population), Alaskans still need countertops, and there are plenty of places to supply them. You can find a list of countertop businesses in Alaska here!

There are still some inconsistencies to the list, but we are working to correct them and I just couldn't wait to share it.

This is a sneak peek at our second installment of our efforts to compile the most complete list of countertop fabricators in the United States from A to Z. Alabama countertop fabricators was the first, and we will be working on Arizona next and hope to give you a look at that list as soon as its available. And you will find it here first.

In coming weeks (and likely months), we will be compiling lists for all 50 states, and once we get them done, we will seek input from the industry to make sure everything is in order before we release the information to the public.

We think this is going to be very popular with the countertop community and very useful for those seeking new countertops.

Let us know what you think!

Solid Surface Manufacturers - A List of Solid Surface Products and Companies

So have you ever had a hard time remembering what solid surface company makes or supplies which solid surface brand or material? Maybe you are mixing up your Corians, Starons and your HI-MACS with your Avonites, Hanexes and your Livingstones...

With more and more manufacturers offering solid surface and trying to get into the North American market, it becomes more and more difficult to keep track of them all. Just how many companies are there selling solid surface sheets now-a-days?

Well, you don't have to worry about it any more. Here is a great list of solid surface companies, showing the name of the manufacturer/supplier and the name of the solid surface product they supply!

While the list is certainly not exhaustive (there are probably several hundred companies in China along that make and sell solid surface sheet goods), these are definitely the more common or creative companies and their brand of solid surface.

And the list is growing all the time. If you notice one we missed, drop us a line and let us know. We hope we will have the most complete and up-to-date list when all is said and done...