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It works like this - homeowners can find a local contractor by trade in their area. Once you complete your project, you post a review of the work that was done.
Contractors can't affect these reviews, but they can leave a response to a particular review.
Trusted Improvement has over 20 reviews - all A grade or better.
Why do people love our work? Mostly people tell us it's for two reasons - we make their project "EASY" and that they were "COMFORTABLE" working with us.
Also, it goes without saying that people also appreciate that we never have "extra" charges added after you sign up. Unless you add something to your project!!
Have a great day!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Are the granite ads for $25 per s.f. for real?
No, really they're not.
They are just from granite companies that want to get you into their granite showroom.
From there, you'll be told that the colors in that price are no longer available.
One of our customers even told me when they got to the granite shop they were told the ad was a typo.
When you're ready for straight shooting on granite prices, call us!!
They are just from granite companies that want to get you into their granite showroom.
From there, you'll be told that the colors in that price are no longer available.
One of our customers even told me when they got to the granite shop they were told the ad was a typo.
When you're ready for straight shooting on granite prices, call us!!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
How To Buy Granite Counter Tops
Frustrated by misleading granite ads?
If you've been shopping around, you'll see many granite shops advertising a low installed square foot price. Sound too good to be true? It probably is.
Here's how that works.
You set an appointment and the salesperson comes out to measure your home.
He says "Yea, we have $25 granite, but that price is only for these two colors (which are not attractive colors- once is called "Ugly1" and the other is called "Uglier")."
The nice colors are Group 2 & 3, which are substantially more expensive.
Then he shows you the edge profiles available, and says "it's $15.00 per foot for putting a polished edge on your granite."
"What?" you say. The edge is separate? Who buys granite counters without an edge?
Then he asks who's removing the old countertops. You say "don't you do that?"
He says of course, but it's $350 extra. Then he asks "Do you want a sink?"
Well, duh, you think, of course I want a sink. Your ad says it was free.
He says it is free, but to cut the sink hole and polish it's edge is another $150.
To make a long story short, you end up paying about $54 per foot for the entire project. You feel scammed and cheated.
That's where we come in.
Our price includes a wide variety of colors, five edge profiles, free sink and no charge to haul away your old counter tops.
We have other services to help you with your kitchen too. We can add lighting, install dishwashers, repair kitchen cabinets, paint, install floor and wall tile.
So call us today, you'll be glad you did.
If you've been shopping around, you'll see many granite shops advertising a low installed square foot price. Sound too good to be true? It probably is.
Here's how that works.
You set an appointment and the salesperson comes out to measure your home.
He says "Yea, we have $25 granite, but that price is only for these two colors (which are not attractive colors- once is called "Ugly1" and the other is called "Uglier")."
The nice colors are Group 2 & 3, which are substantially more expensive.
Then he shows you the edge profiles available, and says "it's $15.00 per foot for putting a polished edge on your granite."
"What?" you say. The edge is separate? Who buys granite counters without an edge?
Then he asks who's removing the old countertops. You say "don't you do that?"
He says of course, but it's $350 extra. Then he asks "Do you want a sink?"
Well, duh, you think, of course I want a sink. Your ad says it was free.
He says it is free, but to cut the sink hole and polish it's edge is another $150.
To make a long story short, you end up paying about $54 per foot for the entire project. You feel scammed and cheated.
That's where we come in.
Our price includes a wide variety of colors, five edge profiles, free sink and no charge to haul away your old counter tops.
We have other services to help you with your kitchen too. We can add lighting, install dishwashers, repair kitchen cabinets, paint, install floor and wall tile.
So call us today, you'll be glad you did.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Why Granite over counter top products?
The tough stone materials have reigned through ages, writes Lydia Namono.
Doesn’t it get monotonous for one to use the same materials which have dominated the building market because of their affordability? Well, it’s high time you reconsidered using granite and marble to accentuate that home because of its versatility.
You have probably been at a refurbished home and wondered what kept you marveling. Perhaps the kitchen top was fitted with a sleek material that got your eyes glued to it only to realise it was filled with granite and marble. Granite and marble are among the best home furnishing materials because of their magnificent appearance that brightens up the building.
Versatile granite
Some home owners have settled for granite because it adds value in addition to its durability. Granite as a natural stone has been used for thousands of years in buildings because of its appeal and lasting beauty. According to Mr Kantilal P. Vona, the manager at Stone Concrete Limited, granite provides a wide range of choices for the consumer because it comes in different natural colours and designs specific to each piece of rock such as green, blue, pink, black, red, white, brown, and some pearled finishes.
Its uniqueness
Ms Chiara Francescon, the director at Uganda Marble and Granite Limited, says granite is a solid material that is third in line after diamond. She describes it as prestigious and that potential buyers will be persuaded to purchase one’s property once it’s put up for sale. Granite’s uniqueness is highly cherished because of the substances it contains; quartz, feldspar and mica. Others use it in counter tops, bathrooms, Jacuzzi, swimming pools, staircases and monuments.
Much as it’s quite expensive for the average person, it’s better for one to spend a large sum of money initially since it can easily be recovered other than spending it on repairs if one opts for cheaper materials. “As a heavy material, the supporting structures should be strong enough during installation requiring professional expertise to fix it,” Mr Vona explains. He adds that it hardly chips but if it does, the whole surface has to be replaced immediately.
Marble material
As a natural stone, marble is a limestone made of carbonate minerals but highly porous. According to Mr Ian Ssenkatuka, an architect and Lecturer in the Faculty of Technology at Makerere University, marble is a high class finish element that makes space unique, giving it a prestigious appearance. In buildings, it’s quite easier to cut into different slabs due to its soft nature. Similarly, it is available in different colours and it’s used in the same places as granite but one has to be more careful when selecting where to put what. However, Mr Vona warns that marble can easily scratch compared to granite.
The difference
At this point, you might be wondering which of the two is better, but there are in-built differences. Granite can deal with cuttings, chippings and is non-porous, which means that it’s easy to clean. On the contrary, marble is a porous material, therefore one might have to replace it more often.
Kitchen tops
As one of the most outstanding parts in the house hold, the kitchen deserves a classy look. This can be achieved through using granite and marble as finishing materials. Ms Francescon says granite is vital because of its high resistance to heat. “One can comfortably put hot pans without fearing that they will damage the surface,” she says. However, marble is not ideal for the kitchen, and should be sealed because of its high susceptibility to some liquids like vinegar and lemon. Granite and marble are also used on pastry slabs.
The bathrooms
Ideally, the bathroom enables people to relax after a long day’s work; therefore, one should carefully select the material which would help accomplish this. Ms Francescon explains that granite and marble provide an appealing atmosphere that will definitely make one feel less stressed due to the serenity they provide.
Vanity tops
Granite and marble provide a sophisticated look to vanity tops because of their exceptional value. Mr Vona says they usually have finished ends and pre-drilled faucets; thereby minimising the cost of fitting them if one had to purchase them independently.
Fancy furniture
These materials are also gaining stamina in the market because of the glamorous look they add to furniture in the garden decor, office and homes. So far, they are commonly used on table tops and desks due to their decorative nature. She says these are commonly got from granite and marble slabs depending on the consumer’s choice.
Vintage gravestone
This could be one of those things you would think about only when tragedy befalls you. However, you can send off the deceased with a granite gravestone because of the value attached to it. Additionally, many have comfortably used it in gravestones because of its resistance to external weather conditions. “When my elder sister passed away, we had to look for a beautiful material to lay her to rest. I mobilised my family members to purchase granite because of its elegance and durability,” says Ms Cindy Nagudi, a resident of Naalya.
Floor materials
Is the floor one of those places you never really care about? If so, you could look out for granite for that artistic appearance. However, you should select one that is textured to avoid sliding, especially when cleaning.
The frames
Granite and marble are equally popular for framing windows, doors or even fixing the edges of the floor (skirting). You may be wondering what keeps some houses glowing despite the rapid changes in seasons, but the margic is in granite and marble.
By Lydia Namono
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
How To Clean a Granite Countertop
How to Clean a Granite Countertop -- powered by eHow.com">
Blot up spills immediately, before they penetrate the surface.
Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available in hardware stores or from a stone dealer), or mild dishwashing liquid and warm water.
Use a soft, clean cloth to clean the granite. Rinse after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
Remove a stain on granite, basing the method on the type of stain. Mix a cup of flour, 1-2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with water to make a thick paste. Put it on the stain, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit overnight.
Scrape away the mixture with a wooden utensil and rinse. If the stain is oil-based (e.g. grease, oil, milk), use hydrogen peroxide in the paste instead of dishwashing liquid - or try ammonia on it.
Try a mixture of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with a couple drops of ammonia for an organic stain (e.g. coffee, tea, fruit).
Use a lacquer thinner or acetone to remove ink or marker stains from darker stone. On light-colored granite, use hydrogen peroxide to these stains. This also works for wine stains.
Mix molding plaster and pure bleach into a paste and spread over a wine, ink or other non-oil stain. Leave on for 30 minutes, then remove and rinse.
Paste a mix of molding plaster and water over an oil-based or fat-based stain. Mold it into a bird's-nest shape and allow to stand for 3 hours. Remove and rinse.
Reseal the countertop every year or two years. Check with the installer for recommendations.
Use a non-toxic sealer on food preparation areas.
Consider using a new disinfectant cleaner made specifically for granite.
Call your professional stone supplier, installer, or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat.
Granite Sealer - Do I need it & how often to apply
I get asked all the time about sealing granite countertops.
The "official" governing body of the natural stone industry in the United States is the Marble Institute of America. Here's their position on this topic:
Statement of Position On Sealing Natural Stone Countertops
Most granite countertops do not need to be sealed.
Before 1995 there were very few quality penetrating sealers on the market and there were very few cases of staining. Both prior to and after the availability of penetrating sealers, no cases of food poisoning, radon, or food preparation issues associated with treated or untreated granites have been reported. If a homeowner cleans their countertops after each meal, they will rarely, if ever, have staining or cleanability issues with granite.
This being said, many granite countertops receive additional benefit from being sealed. That benefit is the further reduction of moisture migration into an already moisture resistant surface.
Should natural stone counters be sealed? In many cases it makes sense to seal marble and granite countertops with a quality sealer. The product should have a life expectancy of ten to fifteen years and be of an oliophobic (resistant to water and oil based stains) nature. Once properly sealed, the stone will be more resistant against everyday dirt and spills.
In today's natural stone industry, many species of granite receive a resin treatment at the factory where the blocks of granite are cut into slabs and then polished. The treatment is used to fill micro-fissures, indentations and other minor characteristics that are found in many natural stones. The reason for the resin treatment is to address what most consumers consider as imperfections, but in reality are "birth marks".
The consuming public gravitates to perfection, defined as no "birth marks," and so the marble and granite industry tries to fulfill the desire. Both resined as well as unresined slabs will outlast most of our lifetimes.
Granite should, and in most cases will, be the last countertop surface a person will buy, providing a strong return on investment. The bottom line: Sealing resin treated countertops may increase the resistance of the already resistant nature of stone (adopted 11/8/06).
The "official" governing body of the natural stone industry in the United States is the Marble Institute of America. Here's their position on this topic:
Statement of Position On Sealing Natural Stone Countertops
Most granite countertops do not need to be sealed.
Before 1995 there were very few quality penetrating sealers on the market and there were very few cases of staining. Both prior to and after the availability of penetrating sealers, no cases of food poisoning, radon, or food preparation issues associated with treated or untreated granites have been reported. If a homeowner cleans their countertops after each meal, they will rarely, if ever, have staining or cleanability issues with granite.
This being said, many granite countertops receive additional benefit from being sealed. That benefit is the further reduction of moisture migration into an already moisture resistant surface.
Should natural stone counters be sealed? In many cases it makes sense to seal marble and granite countertops with a quality sealer. The product should have a life expectancy of ten to fifteen years and be of an oliophobic (resistant to water and oil based stains) nature. Once properly sealed, the stone will be more resistant against everyday dirt and spills.
In today's natural stone industry, many species of granite receive a resin treatment at the factory where the blocks of granite are cut into slabs and then polished. The treatment is used to fill micro-fissures, indentations and other minor characteristics that are found in many natural stones. The reason for the resin treatment is to address what most consumers consider as imperfections, but in reality are "birth marks".
The consuming public gravitates to perfection, defined as no "birth marks," and so the marble and granite industry tries to fulfill the desire. Both resined as well as unresined slabs will outlast most of our lifetimes.
Granite should, and in most cases will, be the last countertop surface a person will buy, providing a strong return on investment. The bottom line: Sealing resin treated countertops may increase the resistance of the already resistant nature of stone (adopted 11/8/06).
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