[faithfulfrank]

In our NY home we have coffee colored speckled Corian. We've had it for 10 years, still looks great.

I will have to decide what to put in our Florida home within the next two years when I redo the kitchen. Right now we have pink formica countertops. My wife hates the pink.....(Only in Florida...)

I MAY use that Giani granite paint system on them to get us by until the big redo. It looks just like granite for less then $50.00 and a little work.

When we do the kitchen, I think I might do concrete countertops myself. (I built my own house, so I love this type of project). We'll see. I like the granite look, but the oil and wine thing scares me.

Frank

[Ohiogirl]

Well - I've had my granite for 3-1/2 years, drink red wine and cook all the time with oil, especially olive oil, and also corn or peanut oil in a wok right next to the granite - am sure it doesn't all stay in the wok, and am not an especially neat person. Have spilled red wine on it, but wipe it off as soon as I notice it (but you know, when you're drinking red wine and cooking, which is what I like to do - you don't always notice it right away).

Haven't sealed it yearly like they told me I should (although I plan to), don't even remember if the installer sealed it (think they were supposed to, but I was at work when it was installed). Still looks wonderful, and just makes me feel good when I look at it.

Even though my Corian was slightly scratched (only really saw it when the light and the angle was right) I just didn't get the same "in love" feeling when I looked at it. So, I will do it again, but different tastes are what makes the world go round.

[tony]

I beg your pardon, but I wish to break in here with a question.

Did Boomer ask to see Talk Host's drawers?

[Whalen]

Originally Posted by tony

I beg your pardon, but I wish to break in here with a question.

Did Boomer ask to see Talk Host's drawers?

She most certainly did.
Boy howdy, you gotta watch those Cincy girls.
Bold I tell you, bold as brass.
English major...I don't think so.

[another Linda]

Originally Posted by Tony

I beg your pardon, but I wish to break in here with a question.

Did Boomer ask to see Talk Host's drawers?

Originally Posted by Whalen

She most certainly did.
Boy howdy, you gotta watch those Cincy girls.
Bold I tell you, bold as brass.
English major...I don't think so.

And this is why I'm not getting anything done these days!! Gotta keep checking back to make sure I don't miss anything. I blame TOTV for all my shortcomings.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by Whalen

She most certainly did.
Boy howdy, you gotta watch those Cincy girls.
Bold I tell you, bold as brass.
English major...I don't think so.

Yes, Whalen. Yes, Mr. Tony. I most certainly did ask to see TH's drawers. I asked to see them up close. But alas, he has not shown them to me.

Oh well, at least I have found happiness elsewhere in this thread, knowing that I can swill and spill that red wine while cooking with olive oil. Me and my granite countertop.

Boomer

[another Linda]

Now this is what I mean. I'm not able to come up with "swill and spill" on my own so I keep checking in here.

[Talk Host]

I'm afraid you will have to wait until Friday. I have been tied up all day today with important sh......I mean stuff.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by another Linda

Now this is what I mean. I'm not able to come up with "swill and spill" on my own so I keep checking in here.

Linda,

Swilling and spilling I can do -- getting stuff done today -- I cannot. And I am truly pathetic because I had sworn to myself that I would not even look in on TOTV until this evening. But oh no, I just had to look. And then I started writing this stuff and I could not stop.

And next thing you know I am asking TH if I can see his drawers. The picture in the cabinet thread looks good, but I need to see his drawers up close. And he is not showing me. I feel rejected now and I must go find some red wine to swill.

(And, btw, Linda, I have got to figure how to get two quotes into one post, like you did earlier in this thread. Sometimes I want to do that, but I don't know how. Oh well, I will just go find that red wine now.)

Boomer

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I'm afraid you will have to wait until Friday. I have been tied up all day today with important sh......I mean stuff.

Hey! TH! You're on. I was so busy talking to Linda in my last post that I missed your promise to show me your drawers up close on Friday.

Your picture in that other thread about under-cabinet lighting looks really good. But I can't see your drawers well enough.

I must know if your handle will work in my kitchen.

Seeya Friday.

Boomer

[golfnut]

we have formica with beveled edges and love it, can't imagine paying another $5K plus for something that requires constant maintenance...teho..gn

[jebartle]

I use Pledge on all my stainless appliances....works great

[jblum315]

When we redid our kitchen in NY 10 years ago and had to choose counter top material there was very little difference in price between granite and the best quality Corian, so we went with granite. It was gorgeous stuff, black with green swirls. But keeping it shiny was well-nigh impossible. Not that it stained, I was always very careful with acid and oily spills. But it showed every fingerprint, every smudge, and had to be polished daily with special granite cleaner (not Pledge, never!!) and lots of elbow grease. By the time I sold the house I HATED it but I'm sure it helped sell the house.

Here in TV I have wonderful Wilsonart counter tops that look great all the time and very easy to keep clean. Frankly I can't see any advantage to granite except that you can set a hot pot on it.

[salpal]

Ok, was going to keep this a secret...but here goes. There is a company called Granite Transformations that takes chips of granite and mixes it with polymers. They pound it into a thin sheet and it goes right over top of any countertop. You cannot tell it from "real" granite and it never needs to be sealed because of the polymers.

What does it look like? It is beautiful. I had it installed on my kitchen (Corian) countertops and fireplace (tile) surround this past autumn. It took them about 4 hours to complete the entire job with NO construction, removing old tops, etc. I got black galaxy because my current kitchen cabinets are white. Always wanted a black and white kitchen. I also had the entire backsplash done. It looks like an expensive, updated kitchen now in my 1950's rancher.

To update my bathrooms, bought the pre-cut granite with sink attached and put over existing vanities. Now that is real granite and frankly I find it to be a pain, it shows finger prints, water stains and I have to be very careful not to spill any rubbing alcohol or perfume on it.

No, I do not work or make any money from Granite Transformations. Google it and do your own due diligence. I did send them an email to their nearest Florida office to ask if they came to the TV and they said they would.
So, the minute we finally move to TV, I will call for an appointment.

Now, here is the big catch: It is not any cheaper than real granite, it costs almost the same (slightly cheaper). The real advantages are three fold: no messy construction, it is done in one day and you never have to seal it, so you do not have to worry about bacteria living inside unsealed granite. You simply clean it with windex. If I spill anything that may cause salmonella, like raw eggs or meat, I mix a little bit of bleach and water and wipe it up.

My secret is out.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by The_Palmers

Ok, was going to keep this a secret...but here goes. There is a company called Granite Transformations that takes chips of granite and mixes it with polymers. They pound it into a thin sheet and it goes right over top of any countertop. You cannot tell it from "real" granite and it never needs to be sealed because of the polymers.

What does it look like? It is beautiful. I had it installed on my kitchen (Corian) countertops and fireplace (tile) surround this past autumn. It took them about 4 hours to complete the entire job with NO construction, removing old tops, etc. I got black galaxy because my current kitchen cabinets are white. Always wanted a black and white kitchen. I also had the entire backsplash done. It looks like an expensive, updated kitchen now in my 1950's rancher.

To update my bathrooms, bought the pre-cut granite with sink attached and put over existing vanities. Now that is real granite and frankly I find it to be a pain, it shows finger prints, water stains and I have to be very careful not to spill any rubbing alcohol or perfume on it.

No, I do not work or make any money from Granite Transformations. Google it and do your own due diligence. I did send them an email to their nearest Florida office to ask if they came to the TV and they said they would.
So, the minute we finally move to TV, I will call for an appointment.

Now, here is the big catch: It is not any cheaper than real granite, it costs almost the same (slightly cheaper). The real advantages are three fold: no messy construction, it is done in one day and you never have to seal it, so you do not have to worry about bacteria living inside unsealed granite. You simply clean it with windex. If I spill anything that may cause salmonella, like raw eggs or meat, I mix a little bit of bleach and water and wipe it up.

My secret is out.

Thank you for sharing your secret. I have heard of this but did not know much about it. It sounds good.

I am really liking this thread. There is so much good information in it.

- - - - - - -

pssst, now I have to tell a secret. I cannot resist telling. It is too good to not be shared.

If you have been reading this thread, you know that I have been asking Talk Host to show me his drawers. Wellllll, he did. There is a thread here that says it is for Boomer Only. There are lots of pictures in that thread of TH's drawers. And they look great. And I think everybody should get to see them. And so, if you want to, sneak over there and have a look. It is worth it. TH's pictures are stunning. Too good to be shown to just me. (Well, some people have peeked already.) If you get caught looking and get into trouble, just say, "Boomer sent me." I've got you covered. But....is TH covered? Maybe go have a look and find out.

Boomer