How To Measure For Kitchen Countertops-Builders Surplus

How To Measure For Countertops

Hey, this is Todd Bauer with Builder Surplus. I’m going to take a quick moment to help you learn how to calculate square footage requirements for Granite and Quartz countertops.

I have a small kitchen layout here that I have drawn in and it kind of represents a typical L-shaped kitchen with an island.

I am going to walk you through quickly how to calculate out the number of square feet you’re going to need.

I’ve already done a little bit of pre-work here. In this particular layout, we have an L-shaped kitchen with a sink on this wall. Here a stove, an island and there’s your refrigerator.

There is going to be basically four calculations that we need to do in order to calculate your square footage. Let’s just dive right into it!

First of all, the length from the corner in this particular corner to the end of your current countertop you need to measure that. In my example, I have 120”. Countertops (by design) are roughly 25.5” deep so I’ve marked that here.

For the corner here, after we turned the corner and head down I want you to measure from the corner to where, in this case, the stove would begin, and I get a measurement in my diagram of 66”.

Stoves traditionally are 30” across. Yours should probably that way as well. In my example, this last piece is 48” wide.

My island currently is 36” deep by 60” long and that’s pretty standard for a small basic island.

Now the math. The first thing we’re going to do is calculate the number of square feet on the left leg of this L. If I take 120” and I multiply it by 25.5”, I’m going to calculate the number of square feet for this piece of the Land that’s perfect.

In my example over here, 120” x 25.5” = 3060 sq. inches. I am going to take you through the calculation to get square inches and then at the end we’re going to turn it into square feet.

For the second piece of the L, if you remember at the beginning, I noted that from the corner to the stove we have 66”. Now we’ve already taken 25.5” of that and we’ve accommodated for it on the left leg so we’re going to need to reduce the 66” by 25.5” and that’s going to get us to 40.5”. If we take our 40.5” which is the new distance from here to the stove and we multiply that by our 25.5”, we’re going to get 1032.75 square inches.

Piece C on the other side of the stove is 48” x 25.5” and that gets us 1224 square inches and then lastly, the island 60” x 36” multiply those two together to get us to 2160 square inches.

These numbers are large but they are going to get small really quick here.

Once you have your 4 pieces calculated I’d like you to just add them up and in my example, the total is 7476.75 square inches. Divide that by the number of square inches in one square foot and that’s 144”. You just take 12” x 12” to get 144” by dividing your total square inches by the square inches in one foot. You are going to get the number of square feet and in this example, we have 51.9 square feet.

That’s the number you need to bring with you when you come to Builder Surplus to get a calculation on how much it’s going to cost to replace your countertops.

The only other things I am going to have you note would be any cutouts. A cutout in this particular example is right here where I have a sink and that’s it for this particular one.

You may have a cooktop cut out but in my example, I have a stove so there is no cut. The only other thing that might be handy to bring with you would be if your island has an overhang where the granite or the quartz extend beyond the edge of the cabinets and how far is the overhang so that we can pretty much do the calculation here.

If your countertop island depth is 36” we’re calculating the overhang to be about 12” but just double-check and make sure and with that a little bit of information it’s that easy with the math that I’ve shown you today.

Maybe with a quick diagram and a calculator you’ll be able to come up with the number of square feet that you need for your countertops!

Schedule your FREE countertop consultation today with one of our experienced designers!

Happy Remodeling!

June 19, 2019

Our favorite Silestone Countertop Colors!

There are so many amazing Silestone countertop colors, and today we’re going to go over our favorite! First of all, what is Silestone? Silestone is a combination of natural quartz and other raw materials that are super hard and resilient. These characteristics combine to create an incredible surface for kitchen countertops, bathrooms, flooring and wall siding. It offers beauty similar to natural stone in a wide range of colors and extraordinary textures. Silestone is highly resistant to staining caused by many everyday products.

Top Silestone Countertop Colors This Year

1. Charcoal Soapstone

The Charcoal Soapstone is my favorite of the Silestone Countertop colors! It’s matte finish is not too flashy. It’s got movement and will contrast beautifully next to any color scheme! What a stunner.

2. Serena

The Serena comes from Silestone’s Eternal Series. It’s similar to the Charcoal soapstone in it’s matte finish and beautiful veining, but it’s grey tone can add just the right industrial touch to your kitchen or bathroom!

3. White Storm

White storm is a perfect Silestone Countertop color. Solid white is very trendy right now, but also classic. It will coordinate with any color scheme, cabinet color, or design style. It’s easy to keep clean because it is so stain resistant, so don’t be afraid!

4. Naranja Cool

Naranja Cool is not for the faint of heart, but it is truly a showstopper! Silestone offers many fun colors, because as a man made stone the options are endless. But I love the happy orange because it’s modern without being cold, as the style can sometimes feel. That will wake you up every morning!

5. Olivia

Olivia is a very interesting Silestone countertop color! It gets it’s name from the beautiful olive green tone. It may not be your first thought when you are thinking about countertop colors, but it will give your space and earthy, natural vibe. Take a risk and it will pay off!

6. Albedo

Albedo comes from Silestone’s influencer series. It’s beautiful swirls and speckles keep it so visually interesting and the blue and white tones can take on a Mediterranean, classic or contemporary feel. Changing up the edge can switch up the look up a lot, too!

7. Santa Fe Brown

Santa Fe Brown brings back the gorgeous matte finish I love so much! This will work very well in a kitchen or bathroom with natural vibes. It’s earth tones are very refreshing! The veining also adds movement and interest.

8. Azul Ugarit

Azul Ugarit is one of the more traditional colors on our list today. The speckles are always a classic look and adds depth and dimension. The blues and browns will match a variety of cabinet colors. This comes from the Silestone Mediterranean.

9. Creamstone

Creamstone is just that, creamy and oh so dreamy! This beautiful neutral will match any kitchen cabinet color and a variety of styles, which is one reason why we love it so much. Neutral will never go out of style, so you can guarantee that even if you sell down the road, it will be a good investment.

10. Aquatint

Aquatint holds a special place in my heart, and our last spot for our favorite Silestone countertop colors. I am a lover of all things aqua, so you can’t blame me for going ga-ga over it. It’s fresh, giving it a gorgeous ocean feel. It can also work with a more contemporary look, or with white cabinets can be very trendy.

There you have it, our top 10 favorite Silestone Countertop colors! Which is your favorite, or is yours not on the list? Let us know in the comments below!

Builders Surplus is a full service renovation company with locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Newport, Kentucky, which also serves Cincinnati, Ohio. We are one of the leading providers of kitchen cabinets, kitchen countertops, backsplash tile, and cabinet hardware in Louisville, Newport, and Cincinnati. We specialize in interior design, kitchen design, bathroom remodel, building materials, and home improvement. Interior Design and measurements come as a free service to our clients. We sell building materials ranging in every price point, from unfinished kitchen cabinets to top of the line Wellborn cabinets. In addition to interior design, we also offer installation services. If you have any questions or would like to set up a free design consultation with one of our interior designers, we would encourage you to do so. We love sharing our knowledge with clients & potential home renovators. We write about interior design, home decor, decorating ideas, and home improvement. We hope you’ll check back in for our next article! Happy Renovation!

Written By: Allie Bloyd

June 23, 2017

5 Best DIY Granite Countertop Cleaners

Granite countertop cleaners can be tricky. If you’ve ever been interested in granite countertops, or own granite countertops yourself, you have most likely heard about the “tedious” granite countertop maintenance. Most people believe that it is very difficult to keep granite countertops clean without damaging the stone, but that is simply not the case. However, there are some things you should and should not do to maintain the integrity of the stone.

What NOT to use for granite countertop cleaners:

Some people think that the proper granite countertop cleaners will be expensive. Because of that, they try and save money by using certain chemicals. This is not only untrue, but will have the opposite effect. It will cost you a lot more time and money in the long run. Do not attempt to use generic cleaners like bleach, degreasers, glass cleaners, or any other household cleaners on your granite countertops. These are acid based cleaners, or contain alkalis or other chemicals that will destroy the sealer that is protecting your granite countertops. Granite countertop cleaners should not contain these ingredients. It will leave your granite, marble or other stone more vulnerable to staining.
Because these typical cleansers are not going to work for you, we’ve come up with the 5 best DIY granite countertop cleaners that you can make at home to protect those surfaces you love so much!

Do It Yourself Granite Countertop Cleaners:

1.Jillee’s Home made Granite Countertop Cleaner: Onegoodthingbyjillee.com

Her Recipe:

1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol (or cheap vodka)
3 drops of Dawn or other dish soap (Castile soap would also be a good alternative if you prefer)
Water
5-10 drops essential oil (optional – to help mask the alcohol smell)

Put the rubbing alcohol or vodka into a 16 oz spray bottle. Add the dish soap, essential oil and fill up the rest of the bottle with water.
Now give it a few shakes….THEN give it a try! It should give your countertops a nice, clean shine. Works on appliances too! All at a FRACTION of the price of the store-bought stuff.

2. Cambria Bold’s Granite Countert Cleaning Solution: thekitchn.com

Cambria’s contribution to our granite countertop cleaners is a little less of a formula, and a little more of a process. Here is what she has found works best:

What You Need

Materials
Warm water
Mild or gentle dish soap
Dish cloth
Clean microfiber cloth or terrycloth towel
Isopropyl alcohol (optional)

Instructions

Wet your dish cloth with warm, soapy water. Fill the sink with warm water and a mild dish soap, then thoroughly wet a clean dish cloth.
Wipe down the granite countertops. You don’t need us to tell you how to do this part. Just wipe away any spills or crumbs on your countertop!
Dry with a microfiber cloth to avoid streaking. Dry and buff your granite countertop thoroughly with a microfiber cloth or soft terry cloth towel to avoid streaking.
Shine and disinfect with a water and isopropyl alcohol solution. To periodically disinfect your granite countertops, remove soap residue, and restore shine, mix together a 50:50 solution of water and 91% isopropyl alcohol. Spray onto the granite, allow to sit for 3-5 minutes, then rinse with water and dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
Enjoy your nice, shiny, clean granite countertops!

3. Clean Mama’s Granite Cleaner: Cleanmama.net

Clean mama’s recipe is pretty simple, but super effective! It’s one of our favorite, easy DIY granite countertop cleaners.
INGREDIENTS:

3 Tablespoons rubbing alcohol
2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon castile soap (citrus orange is my favorite)

TOOLS:

measuring cup
measuring spoon
microfiber or a cleaning cloth
funnel
clean and empty spray bottle

Combine ingredients, close spray bottle, shake, and clean!

4. Nature Hack’s Easy Granite Cleaner: naturehacks.com

Nature Hack’s idea for granite countertop cleaners doesn’t get much easier than this:

1/2 cup baking soda
2 cups water

Mix in a spray bottle and wipe off with a cloth!

5. Sherry’s heavy duty granite countertop cleaners: overthrowmartha.com

3 oz Parts Distilled Water (or soft water)
1 oz Part Alcohol
1 oz Baking Soda
Essential Oils

AND

1 part 100% Acetone (dark granite)

1 part Hydrogen Peroxide (light granite)
3 parts Distilled water

Mix the distilled water, the alcohol and the baking soda in a 3:1:1 mixture in a jar. Shake it up.

In spray bottle, mix the distilled water and the alcohol OR hydrogen peroxide, depending on the color of your granite. Make this 3 parts water to 1 part acetone or hydrogen peroxide.

On a clean granite surface, pour some of the baking soda/alcohol/water liquid directly onto the counter. Use a microfiber cloth to push the liquid around to deep clean the countertop. If you have any old caked on food stains, you can pour a little extra baking soda onto the site directly, wet it with the mixture and lightly scrub.

After you have cleaned the granite, you will need to wipe it down with a wet microfiber cloth.

Now spray the acetone/hydrogen peroxide cleaner on the granite and wipe down with a microfiber cloth. Wipe away the excess with a microfiber cloth.

The NON-DIY Solution:

For our last cleaner, it’s not exactly DIY, but it does work wonders! We sell it here at Builders Surplus and our customers have had wonderful results. It’s called Rock Doctor and it’s a natural way to clean without harming your granite countertops. We also offer the sealer and polish along with the granite countertop cleaners.

Builders Surplus is a full service renovation company with locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Newport, Kentucky, which also serves Cincinnati, Ohio. We specialize in interior design, kitchen design, bathroom remodel, building materials, and home improvement. Interior Design and measurements come as a free service to our clients. We sell building materials ranging in every price point, from unfinished kitchen cabinets to top of the line Wellborn cabinets. In addition to interior design, we also offer installation services. If you have any questions or would like to set up a free design consultation with one of our interior designers, we would encourage you to do so. We love sharing our knowledge with clients & potential home renovators. We write about interior design, home decor, decorating ideas, and home improvement. We hope you’ll check back in for our next article! Happy Renovation!
Written By: Allie Bloyd

November 7, 2016

Custom Countertops: Butcher Block and Concrete

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Today, we’re going to talk about a couple of pretty unique and insanely intriguing custom countertops. It’s because of their out-of-the-box design that we love them so much, and I’m pretty sure you’ll come to adore them, too. In this post, I’ll lay it all on the countertop and give you reasons why these particular styles have captured the interest of homeowners across the nation and why they continue to be a hot, trendy style in kitchen and bathroom design. As countertop experts in Louisville, Newport, and Cincinnati, we are here to share our expertise on these two unique countertop options.

Custom Countertops: Butcher Block

There’s no denying it – they’re edgy. I mean, they’re not called custom countertops for nothing. Unlike the typical granite or marble, these countertops have a more creative, quirky feel to them. The butcher block is a natural at maintaining the traditional country home or cottage style kitchen setting, and because of its natural tendencies, it persistently looks fresh, giving the impression that it’s just been cleaned. There’s versatility in them, too! Since it’s made of wood, you can apply any color of stain and compliment the other features in your kitchen or bath to tie everything together. If the color doesn’t grow on you after a period of time or you simply want to switch it up a little bit, there’s a cost-effective way to make that change. Simple, too. Even with a sealed finish, it doesn’t take too much elbow grease to sand down and refinish the butcher block countertop. Then, when you’re done, apply that new color of choice. See, change doesn’t always have to be difficult.

Another thing, I bet you’ve probably already guessed it, but you’ll never need a cutting board again. Depending upon the finish applied to it, you can slice-and-dice all you want on these bad boys with no worry about knife trails. It’s truly a chef’s dream. The longevity of this style is one of its greatest appeals, though. With a simple cleaning solution (water and vinegar), you’ll keep that same shine and finish decades, yes, decades later. Now, if that doesn’t pique your interest, then take a look at the pictures. Nice, right? See what I mean about the different finishes and colors of stain. Listen it’s your house, your kitchen – make it your own with a sleek, unique style like this one! At Builders Surplus, we’re happy to provide you with such a style. Butcher block is a special order product, so please contact one of our designers to discuss your butcher block countertop options.

Custom Countertops: Concrete

Concrete countertops provide a whole realm of possibility. It’s concrete, so it obviously has to be poured. This means you can mold the concrete in any fashion to make it your own. There’s an abundance of really cool, off-the-wall designs that can make a kitchen or bath truly one of a kind. You can mold the edges how you want to. Don’t like hard-cut, 90° angles? Well, smooth it out, and give your custom countertop the kind of curvature you want! I really appreciate this feature because, if you’re like me, you’ve turned a corner too sharp and been subject to that merciless, pain of the corner jab. But, you’re probably not like me and know your way around a kitchen.

With that said, these custom countertops are incredibly durable and very near impenetrable to common damages including chipping, scratching, and cracking. The finish protects it from pesky stains, too. Consider it an instant repellant to spaghetti sauce, wine, or grease. The maintenance on these slabs are almost too easy. Warm, soapy water usually does the trick, but if you want to get really crazy, you can use pH cleaner, as well. Either way, this style is designed for simplicity.

While you may think that if you can pour quick dry concrete, you can DIY concrete countertops. Well, that’s probably not the case. While they may seem like an easy DIY project, they are far more complicated to install than you might think. The main concern is getting every single bubble out of the concrete. If you don’t, you risk cracks, which make this stunner more of a bummer. Our suggestion, use a professional. Use reputable sites like Thumbtack or Home Advisor to find reputable installers. You can see reviews from past customers and they have already been vetted by the company.

What are your thoughts on concrete and butcher block countertops? Would you ever use them in your home? Let us know in the comments below!

Written by: Chris Chamberlain

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June 7, 2016

Prefab Granite Countertops: Affordable Elegance

Today, we’ll be discussing the benefits of prefab granite countertops. When most people dream up their perfect home, granite countertops are a key part of that equation. Granite countertops have long been sought after as a high end necessity, melting form and function, to give your kitchen or bathroom the luxurious look you’ve been dreaming of. However, granite countertops can sometimes come with more than just style – sticker shock. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There is a much more affordable option to getting the granite countertops of you’re dreams, and it’s called Prefabricated, or Prefab Granite Countertops. Prefab granite countertops area already cut and the slabs are in stock, available for you to see before purchasing.

Will Prefab Granite Countertops Work For Me?

Prefab granite countertops will only work for some kitchen layouts, so you first need to identify if you are a candidate for these affordable granite countertops. There are only a few things that would disqualify you from prefabricated granite countertops. Those would be kitchens that have corner sinks or that have kitchen islands greater than 74″ in length. We offer full size slabs, which are 25.5″ in width and 109″ in length. We offer kitchen island slabs that are 36″ wide and 74″ in length. If your island is greater in length, you would not be a candidate for prefab granite countertops, on your island at least. Contrasting kitchen islands are popular, so if this is your only concern in purchasing this style of granite countertop, I would look at all the options first. Because of the angle of the corner sink, the pre-cut slabs will not be able to connect appropriately. They will form an L in the corner, instead of the angle that the sink creates.

What are the benefits of Prefab Granite Countertops?

Prefab granite has a number of benefits. First of all, it is our most affordable option. Prefab granite countertops start at $39.99 per square foot, which includes all installation and fabrication. Typical countertop installation costs include several hundred dollars for any sink cutouts, and an additional cost for installation.
Another benefit of these granite countertops is the color choices at such a great price. You are able to get group A and sometimes group B granite for a much lower price than you would find elsewhere. The groups are not necessarily determined by quality of the granite, but of the color and the demand for that color. We have some beautiful colors available in our prefab granite selection.

The premium edge is FREE! Another uncharge when getting granite countertops installed is the additional cost for the edge. There are many different edge choices and it really depends on your preference, but they are typically always an additional charge. You will pay more for what is considered a “premium” edge. All of our prefab granite countertops come equipped with premium edges already on them for no additional cost. If you’re not sure which edge you like the best, see our blog on granite edges.

What colors are available?

We have eight colors of prefab granite available. You’ll see them shown below!

Black Crystal
Spray White
Verde Butterfly
Santa Cecilia
New Caledonia
Diamond Flower
Canelle
Butterfly Yellow

Above are the looks you can achieve by using prefab granite! They look stunning, are extremely affordable, and can save time in the installation process. What are your favorite colors?
Builders Surplus is a full service renovation company with locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Newport, Kentucky, which also serves Cincinnati, Ohio. We are the leading provider of Ledge Stone, wall tile and backsplash tile in Louisville, Newport, and Cincinnati. We specialize in interior design, kitchen design, bathroom remodel, building materials, and home improvement. Interior Design and measurements come as a free service to our clients. We sell building materials ranging in every price point, from unfinished kitchen cabinets to top of the line Wellborn cabinets. In addition to interior design, we also offer installation services. If you have any questions or would like to set up a free design consultation with one of our interior designers, we would encourage you to do so. We love sharing our knowledge with clients & potential home renovators. We write about interior design, home decor, decorating ideas, and home improvement. We hope you’ll check back in for our next article! Happy Renovation!

Written By: Allie Bloyd

May 6, 2016

36 in. x 80 in Golden Gate Center Arch Merlot Premium Fiberglass Prehung Front Exterior Door

Brixstyle Blanco 12 in. x 12 in. Matte Porcelain Patterned Look Wall Tile (6 sq. ft./Case)

American Olean Novelty Opal Herringbone 12.5″ X 12.5″ Glass Mosaic

Angora Elongated Octagon 11.81 in. x 13.4 in. Polished Marble Floor and Wall Tile (1.01 sq. ft./Each)

Essentials White Vena Ceramic Tile 12in x 24in Matte Finish

36 in. x 80 in. 2 Panel Shaker Primed Right-Hand Solid Core Prehung Interior Door

36 in. x 80 in. 2 Panel Shaker Primed Left-Hand Solid Core Prehung Interior Door

32 in. x 80 in. 2 Panel Shaker Primed Left-Hand Solid Core Prehung Interior Door

32 in. x 80 in. 2 Panel Shaker Primed Right-Hand Solid Core Prehung Interior Door

30 in. x 80 in. 2 Panel Shaker Primed Right-Hand Solid Core Prehung Interior Door