Easy Granite Tile

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What Do We Mean When We Say Quality Granite Tile

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:09:00 +0000

When you purchase granite tile for ytour kitchen counters from Easy Granite Tile, you get unbeatable quality. But what does this mean? To start it means you get only the finest granite tile... but on top of that we hand inspect every tile.

If you purchase tile at a big box home improvement store, do you know what to look for when you check your tile? At Easy Granite Tile we do. Every tile is checked for color, to be sure all of the tiles we ship to you match perfectly. Granite tile is natural stone. That means the color varies. Our inspections ensure your counters will have tile of a consistent color.

We also inspect each tile for imperfections, scratches, grain and damage. Sometimes the imperfection can be so slight that the untrained eye will not notice... except it won't look quite right once it's installed in your kitchen.

At Easy Granite Tile we're the experts. Every tile we ship is individually inspected and that means you get unbeatable quality when you buy your granite tile from Easy Granite Tile.

Easy Granite Tile on TV

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:16:00 +0000

Did you see the granite tile installation featured on Do-It-Yourself TV last month? The program producers were in a bind. They needed a granite tile kitchen counter they could install quickly and easily. What did they do? They called Easy Granite Tile, of course. There is no better way to get granite tile kitchen counters that are easy for do-it-yourself installation.

To meet production deadlines they needed the tile ASAP. That's not a problem for Easy Granite Tile. It does not matter if you are a TV producer or a home owner, we get your tile shipped to you ASAP via Federal Express Ground shipping... and we save you a TON OF MONEY with our special low, low shipping rates. (Try our free online tile calculator to see how much you'll save.)

Do-It-Yourself TV got the tile they needed in time to meet the tight production schedule, plus they got expert advice to help them install the granite tile. That's right, even Do-It-Yourself TV programs need assistance, and just like we do for any other customer we were glad to answer their questions and help them get a quality install.

When it was completed they gave us a call to let us know that their Easy Granite Tile counter was the easiest granite tile counter they had ever installed. That's just a normal day for us... all of our customers find that with granite tile from Easy Granite Tile they get superior quality and a granite tile counter that is ready to be installed. No problems!

Self Edge Dimensions

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:23:00 +0000

We received the following question recently by email through support@easygranitetile.com and I thought it might be helpful.

Question:
How wide do you figure the Edge tile is cut? An inch and half or two inches? I'm building cherry cabinets and need to know where to set the top drawer so it will be below the tile line. Thanks for the help.

Answer:
I believe your question has to do with the self-edge trim on the outside edges of the counter. It will be helpful to go to the Tile Edging section of our website and then click on the box titled Self Edge. (http://www.easygranitetile.com/tile_edging/self_edge.htm)
If Self Edge is what you are referring to, the width of the self edge is determined by, you, the installer. We have seen the width vary anywhere from 1” to 2¼”. Factors that influence that dimension are clearance of cabinet doors, appliances, and breadboards, as well as your own opinion as to how much of the granite you want to show on the face. The most common width of self edge is around 1½”.

You really can do a great job installing your granite tile countertops with EasyGraniteTile.com™!

The Granite Tile Guy

“How many granite tiles will I need to do my kitchen?”

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:50:00 +0000

“How many granite tiles will I need to do my kitchen?”

That is one of the first questions that comes to mind when someone is thinking about upgrading their kitchen with granite tile countertops. My reflexive response is, “Well, just log on to EasyGraniteTile.com™ and use our Easy Tile Calculator™ (ETC) and you will know very quickly!” And, of course, our ETC provides a very accurate estimate of tile requirements as our post-installation surveys have proven.

But for the only casually interested, I am providing the following information. The average kitchen granite tile countertop order this year has been 66 square feet. 80 square feet is a very common number of tiles for a kitchen (and we even had one kitchen this year at 120.) Smaller kitchens typically run in the neighborhood of 50 feet.

Regardless of the size of your kitchen, however, you really can have a beautiful granite tile countertop in your kitchen with the help of EasyGraniteTile.com™.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

The Granite Tile Guy

EasyGraniteTile.com™ introduces ESP (our Expedited Sample Program!)

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:45:00 +0000

From the very beginning of EasyGraniteTile.com™, we realized that providing samples of granite tile to customers would be vital. Our CAP (Color Assurance Program) was a part of our earliest website planning. And many of our customers have told us that our CAP program played an important part in their decision to buy from us.

Once we were online, the demand for samples prior to ordering caused us to set up a sample ordering system. However, shipping our samples via UPS Ground caused a significant delay to most of our customers, and the cost of a full sized tile was more than necessary to provide a color sample.

To remedy these short comings in our system, EasyGraniteTile.com™ is introducing ESP, the Expedited Sample Program. We are shipping our samples via UPS Second Day Air® at discounted rates and sending smaller samples to save the cost of a full size tile. Our goal is to have samples in our customers’ hands within two working days of placing their order.

ESP, another way EasyGraniteTile.com™ can help you do a great job installing your own granite tile countertops!

The Granite Tile Guy

45 Degree Counter Corners

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Customer’s email question:
“Thank you! Now I have a new question…our base cabinets end in a little shelf thing that has a 45 angle cut off one corner…do you do weird corners?”

Answer:
Yes, we do weird corners, although 45deg corners are so common in our local market, we do not consider them weird. We don’t have that feature on our website yet, but it is on our “to-do list.” We just need the face dimension of the 45 corner for either the unfinished deck or the final finished dimension for your countertop. (Note: It is important that you have a true 45 deg. angle on your corner.)

Call our toll free prior to ordering so we can help you make the necessary adjustments to your order.

I hope this is helpful.

The Granite Tile Guy

Counter Ends: Walls and Cabinets

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:23:00 +0000

We received a very good question a while back that think, along with the answer, might be helpful to some of you do-it-yourselfers out there. So, here it is:

Question:
In the calculator, I’m confused about short and long “wall” vs. “cabinet”. In my U shaped kitchen, the counter edge on the left side is exposed and is the depth of my counter (24”) with cabinetry underneath. I don’t want to tile the side of the cabinet, I’m just looking for a finished edge on that end of the counter. So do I say “long wall” or “long cabinet”?

Answer:
Regarding the “wall” vs. “cabinet” cabinet question: the selection of wall terminations, (i.e., Long/Short Wall and Long/Short Cabinet) represent end of counter situations where the counter actually runs up against and contacts a wall or cabinet. The side of the wall or cabinet must be higher than the counter level for these to apply. Your “cabinetry underneath” leads me to think that you are referring to the cabinetry under the counter. If that is the case, you have an open corner and don’t have to be concerned, just leave the end open on the diagram. If, however, I am misunderstanding your question, and the cabinet on the end is above the counter level, the program assumes that you do not want backsplash applied to the cabinet.

I hope this is helpful.

The Granite Tile Guy

Full Height Backsplash and the Easy Tile Calculator

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:56:00 +0000

EasyGraniteTile.com’s Easy Tile Calculator has a feature that can automatically calculate a nominal 6 inch backsplash or lower. For years, that has been the standard backsplash ordered by our customers. However, we have recently received a number of questions about how to calculate full height backsplash for kitchen countertops, so I thought it would be a good idea to post my answer.

For full-height backsplash, you need to calculate the area of the wall you want to have covered with backsplash. It is a good idea to divide the wall area into rectangular segments of similar heights and round up to the next square foot for each. You will want to add at least 10% to cover scrap that you do not anticipate.

You also need to carefully determine how many feet of edging you are going to need to finish the exposed edges where the tile does not butt up against the countertop or the bottom edges of the cabinets. Also be alert to any corner trims you will need. You will need to order additional outside corners for those.

When you have figured all of this out, you will be ready to run the Easy Tile Calculator and place an order. After you run the Easy Tile Calculator, load your shopping cart, then Click on the “Process Order…” button which will take you to the final shopping cart. You will want to add the extra tile and edging figures you have come up with.

You call our toll free line when you are placing the order if you are unsure about all of this. We will be glad to help.

With EasyGraniteTile.com you really can do a great job installing your own granite tile countertops!

The Granite Tile Guy

Granite Tile + Machine Polishing = Professional Looking Countertop!

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:36:00 +0000

In my last few posts I have been discussing the various characteristics of granite and how they impact the edging or fabrication process. Today I want to spend some time on the machine polishing process and show how it can benefit the do-it-yourself installer.

A customer recently asked me, “Why can’t I buy tile with your quality edging direct from the factory?” I responded, “You can, at MY factory!”

That just illustrates how Americans expect to be able to get factory quality for just about anything they purchase and edging for granite tile countertops is no exception. The machine polishing process developed by the folks at Easy Granite Tile is here to meet that expectation.

After all, it is the details that make the job professional looking. When someone walks into a room, it is the edges on the countertop that will either highlight or take away from the job's first impression. And, some of the benefits of Easy Granite Tile’s machine polished process include:

• Bullnose edges which always match from tile to tile
• Tiles that are dimensionally consistent from front to back
• The polished bullnosed edge is free of waves and visual defects
• The finish of the bullnosed edge matches the factory finish on the face or top surface.

With these advantages from EasyGraniteTile.com, you really can do a professional looking job on your own granite tile countertop!

The Granite Tile Guy

Previous Posts:
Granite Tile - Tough To Polish
Granite Tile - Not Too Tough For The Right Machine
Ordering Granite Tile Samples

Granite Tile – Not Too Tough for the Right Machine!

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:37:00 +0000

In my last post I discussed the characteristics of granite and how the same properties that make granite tile so desirable (i.e., its hardness and varied chemical & mineral composition) also make it very difficult to polish by hand. Today it is my goal to demonstrate why these very same characteristics make granite ideal for precision machining and polishing.

It is good to remember that with granite, as well as other materials, polishing is merely a process of making the surface smooth enough for light to reflect uniformly off the surface, in this case, allowing the unique color of the granite to shine through. Any variations in the surface smoothness will show-up as waves, scratches, or dullness. Automating the process of polishing the face of a granite tile was relatively simple since the surface is flat; essentially two-dimensional. This mechanical polishing process has been around for some time and to know how well it works, all you have to do is hold a piece of granite tile up to the light!

What has not been around so long is a machining process that leaves the same precision manufactured finish on the bullnosed edge that is found on the face of the granite tile. The folks at Easy Granite Tile were among the first to recognize the value and importance of a precision manufactured bullnose for granite tile. By solving the technical problems surrounding the manufacture of a polished, three-dimensional surface they have made it possible for the do-it-yourself home craftsman to install a truly professional looking granite tile countertop.

In my next post I will spend more time discussing the solution to the machine polishing problem and show how machine polished bullnosing can make your granite tile counter installation easier than you thought possible as well as more beautiful.

With EasyGraniteTile.com™ you really can do a great job yourself on your own kitchen (and bathroom) countertops!
The Granite Tile Guy

Related Past Posts
Granite Tile Kitchen Counters – Easy, with Machine Polished Edges!
Granite Tile -- Tough! And even tougher to polish!

Granite Tile -- Tough! And even tougher to polish!

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:47:00 +0000

Sometimes when I am looking at a sample display of granite tiles, I have to remind myself that granite is rock; very hard and tough rock. The variety of colors and crystalline structures that are available in granite tile continues to amaze me. There are over 40 different colors of granite tile on the market today. It is this wide selection of colors that enables the home decorator to find just the right granite tile for any kitchen countertop.

Every tile color has its own distinct mineral content. Differences in the chemical makeup of a mineral not only affect the color, they also affect the hardness of the granite itself. And, this variation in the mineral make-up of each type of granite requires a different technique for polishing.

Until relatively recently, the only option for bullnosing granite tiles was hand polishing. And hand polishing a bullnose to a finish that is close to the finish of the tile face is a skill that requires a great deal of practice as well as instruction. The hand polisher learns that different crystal colors require different hand pressures as well as different rpm settings for the polishing tool. The hand polisher also learns by experience that there are some colors of granite that are so hard, that they are nearly impossible to polish by hand. Some granite minerals have a tendency to burn when they hit a certain temperature making the material dull.

While factories that process granite tile are very adept at taking into account all of these differences in mineral content with their industrial polishing systems, very, very few home craftsmen are.

But with EasyGraniteTile.com™ you can do a great job yourself on your own kitchen (and bathroom) countertops and not have to worry about any of this!
In my next post, I’ll explain why.

The Granite Tile Guy

New Change at EasyGraniteTile.com™ can Save in Freight Costs

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:33:00 +0000

(Note: Due to the importance of this announcement, I have decided to interrupt my series of articles comparing hand and machine polishing of granite tile.)

It was not long after launching EasyGraniteTile.com that we realized we were going to have to provide a more sophisticated method of calculating our shipping costs. While the program we developed to automatically generate a quote that included the cost of the granite tile, edging, and freight worked as designed, it actually worked too well.

Since many kitchens are made up of combinations of our Planning Layouts (i.e., L-Shaped counter plus an Island), when quotes were generated through our Easy Tile Calculator™ for each module, a freight quote was generated for each layout. This resulted in multiple, unnecessary, freight charges. And while we quickly recognized that this needed to be corrected, the solution proved to be much more of a challenge than anticipated.

However, the multiple-order function for our website is now operating for calculating freight charges. This function allows our customers to combine up to five different counters on a single freight calculation. Though we have run a considerable number of test calculations and we have a high level of confidence in the new program, there is always the possibility that we may have missed something. So, we are very interested in knowing if any of our potential customers run into any problems. You may contact us by email at support@easygranitetile.com, or by phone at 1-877-EZTILE1 (1-877-398-4531).

At EasyGraniteTile.com, we are working hard to help you do a great job on your granite tile counters at the best possible price.

The Granite Tile Guy

Granite Tile Kitchen Counters – Easy, with Machine Polished Edges!

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Another customer in our local market recently decided to have the granite tile for his wife’s kitchen countertop machine polished after trying to hand edge and polish the job himself. He told me that an equipment dealer had convinced him that hand-polishing granite tile wasn't that hard to do. And since he considered himself a fairly handy craftsman, it was an easy sale. But, after destroying several tiles and a whole Saturday, he came to the same conclusion that most do-it-yourselfers come to: granite tile is not only hard -- it is hard to work with!

And that’s one of the main reasons the folks at EasyGraniteTile.com™ developed their precision machine polishing system. They reasoned that since the top surface of the granite tile used for kitchen countertops is machine-ground and polished to a visually perfect finish, why not the bullnosed edge also? Good question.

And since it is a good question, I thought I would make a few posts discussing granite tile and what makes it so beautiful, desirable, and hard to work with all at the same time.
So, in my next few posts, I plan to deal with the subject of granite tile, what makes it so hard to polish, and why you don’t have to worry about it!

With EasyGraniteTile.com™ you really can do a great job yourself on your own kitchen (and bathroom) countertops!

The Granite Tile Guy

Granite Tile: Ordering Samples

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:23:00 +0000

When Easy Granite Tile™ was in the development stages, we realized early on that we would need to provide samples to our customers to ensure that they received the color of tile they wanted. That was the reason we developed our CAP (Color Assurance Program), where we Express-Ship a sample of the tile of the same color lot to our customer for final approval prior to edging the tile. The CAP program is activated immediately once an order is received.
However, with the growth in public awareness of Easy Granite Tile™, we have had numerous requests for sample tiles to be shipped prior to placing an order. In response to this demand, and in order to simplify things for both our customers and ourselves, we have set up a sample ordering page which is linked directly to our shopping cart.
To order a sample, just follow the links found on the Home Page and Tile Selection Page. Choose the sample or samples you would like to purchase, fill in the blanks for city and zip code, and click on the “View Sample Tile Order” button. The pricing for the sample tile (or tiles) and shipping and handling charges are displayed on the next page. When you click on the Shopping Cart button, the total is displayed on the screen. To place the order, just follow the prompts.
Ordering sample tiles does not invalidate the CAP program. A confirming sample will still be sent out once an order is placed.
It really is possible to do a great job installing your own granite tile counter top, especially when you have confidence you are getting the color you want! And Easy Granite Tile’s™ easy sample ordering system is there to help you do just that.

The Granite Tile Guy

Granite Tile Counters - Now Is The Time

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:14:00 +0000

Now is the time to enhance the beauty and value of your home by upgrading your kitchen and bath counters to beautiful granite tile. When you do-it-yourself you cut the cost by about 30%. But your savings don't end there.

Easy Granite Tile currently has all granite tile on sale at more than 30% off the regular price. That means huge savings for you!

But that's not all. Granite tile is heavy. Granite tile is also difficult to ship. It breaks easily and requires care in handling. This means granite tile is expensive to ship. But for a limited time we are able to offer a special reduced price on shipping costs... a major price reduction. Your savings are incredible!

(Our online tile calculator will automatically calculate your reduced shipping rate.)

Now is the time to upgrade your kitchen and bathroom counter tops to granite tile. The savings have never been greater! Check out our granite tile selection. We'll be happy to send you sample tiles, at the discounted price that normally only applies when tile for entire counters is purchased. You can see for yourself the quality of our tile, plus we'll put a bull-nose edge on one side of the tile, at no cost, so you can see the unbeatable quality of our tile edging. Just send us an email (support@easygranitetile.com) listing the tile colors you'd like to receive. We'll get back to you with a price quote for the samples, that includes USP ground shipping.

Now is the time to install luxurious granite tile counters in your home.

Easy Granite Tile™ has made Granite Tile Counters for Vanities in Bathrooms EASY!

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:27:00 +0000

Perhaps you thought that Easy Granite Tile™ was a service that only sold tile edging and granite tile for kitchen counters. That is only a portion of our capabilities. Granite tile is also a great surface for bathrooms and we have made it just as easy to plan your vanity countertop as it is to plan your kitchen countertop. When you come to the Planning Layouts page on our website, just click on the “Vanity” box and our Easy Tile Calculator will guide you through the planning process.
Yes, you CAN do a great job on your Bathroom Vanity countertops at Easy Granite Tile™!

Save 30% On Granite Tile

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:47:00 +0000

All granite tile is now on sale. You'll save more than 30% on the tile of your choice! Now is the time to enhance the beauty and value of your home with granite tile counters.

Install your counters yourself and save another 30%!!

When you buy your granite tile from Easy Granite Tile you get more than granite tile.

- You get superior quality edging. Granite tiles need to have custom edging to match the layout and dimensions of each counter. Easy Granite Tile not only provides the custom edging you need, but you get unbeatable quality from unique Easy Granite Tile automated tile edging system.

- You get superior quality tile. Easy Granite Tile selects only the best quality tiles. With our many years of experience in the granite business we ensure you get granite tile you'll be proud to show off to your friends, family and neighbors.

- You get the Easy Granite Tile Color Assurance Program (CAP). Before we begin to fabricate your tile order, we will express ship a sample to your home, complete with a finished edge for your inspection. You can check the color and quality so you know you are getting the right tile for your counters.

With Easy Granite Tile’s Machine Polished Edging You Can Do a Better Job on your granite countertop than you ever thought possible.

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:18:00 +0000

On our home page we link to a very fine article published by Readers’ Digest’s The Family Handyman entitled, “How to Install Granite Tile Kitchen Countertops.” The first sentence reads, “Granite tiles are as easy to install as ceramic tile, except for the edges.”
“Except for the edges…”

The greatest challenge for any installer is getting a quality edge or bullnose on the exposed edges of the granite tile. Granite is hard – Very Hard. (Maybe that is why they call it granite?) And polishing granite edges so that their finish matches the top face requires training and practice – a lot of practice. That is why the people at Easy Granite Tile™ developed our machine profiling and polishing system.

Precision machinery is what makes possible a consistent standard of quality in any manufacturing business. This is especially true when working with a material as hard as granite. Easy Granite Tile™ has perfected the most precise tile-edging technology available anywhere. Our quality is unsurpassed. The surfaces of our bull-nosed edges match the face of our natural stone tiles in both dimensional consistency and finish. Every edge is machined and polished to a consistent 5/16” radius bull-nose by our unique machining process.

Only with precision, MACHINE POLISHED, FACTORY EDGING is it possible to achieve a truly professional looking installation. The accuracy of our machining and polishing equipment ensures that the finish on the bull nosed edge not only matches the finish on the top, but it also makes an exact edge-to-edge fit of your tiles possible. And that is the key to a professional-looking tile job.
With Easy Granite Tile™, you CAN do it yourself and have the professional looking job you want and can be proud of.

The Granite Tile Guy

What about Granite and Radon Gas?

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:28:00 +0000

“Is it true that granite is a source of radon gas?” In the past few months that question has come up more and more frequently. So, I thought I would do a little research on the topic.

Since this has become a matter of interest for the public, an extensive series of tests were recently conducted on all of the major types of granite used for countertops. As a result of these tests, it was determined that granite counters are not a significant source of radon gas. And, the small amount of the gas found was far below the level even requiring reporting by the EPA.

According to a report published by Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc., “doses of ionizing radiation emitted from granite countertops are well below levels that would pose a health concern and contributions from granite countertops to radon levels in homes are lower than background levels of radon exposure typically found outdoors and indoors.”

In other words, granite countertops are NOT a radon safety hazard.

The report also states that in a common home, “the surface area potentially emitting radon may be 40 times higher for gypsum (sheet rock) than for granite countertops, and 10 times higher for concrete.”

To read the entire report, log on to http://www.marble-institute.com/industryresources/assessingexposurereport.pdf.

In summary, granite is not a significant source of radon gas. And when compared with other manufactured products commonly found in homes (i.e., sheet rock and concrete) that are sources of radon, it is even less significant.

The Granite Tile Guy

With Easy Granite Tile™, You Can Do a Great Job Yourself and Increase the Market Value of your Home.

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:46:00 +0000

Granite kitchen countertops have become one of the most desirable features in homes over the last decade. And in today’s tough housing market granite counters have become one of the features in highest demand by the increasingly sophisticated and value-conscious home buyer. The public has become aware of the benefits of natural stone and anyone selling a home these days knows how important it is to have what the buying public wants.

But how is the homeowner who doesn’t have granite countertops going to be able to offer that advantage to the very astute and cost conscious buyer? Granite slab is still very expensive and other alternative granite products, though they cost somewhat less than slab, are still very expensive and can be difficult to install.

The answer is granite tile with a machine polished edge. As I said in an earlier post, granite tile has the same characteristics as slab granite, is well suited for installation by the do-it-yourself homeowner, and the cost can be as much as a third of that of slab. Again, the major drawback to homeowner installed granite tile has been applying a quality bullnosed edge to the tile. But, with Easy Granite Tile’s machine polished edges it is now possible for the homeowner / home-seller to add “granite kitchen countertops” to his sales ad or brochure at the lowest possible cost and offer the quality his potential buyer is looking for.

The home seller needs every advantage he can get to sell his home and Easy Granite Tile is ready with the biggest advantage of all.

The Granite Tile Guy

Granite Tile Kitchen Countertops: You Can Do a Great Job Yourself with the Easy Tile Calculator™, Part 2.

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Question: “Why is there no provision for sink or oven on the layout plans provided?”

At first glance, the schematic diagrams for Easy Granite Tile’s™ Easy Tile Calculator™ may appear incomplete because there is no provision for sink or oven in the layouts provided. As I will explain below, the impact of the sink or oven on the kitchen layout was thoughtfully considered.

The location of the sink in the layout has no impact at all on either the amount of edging needed for the completion of the counter top and very little impact on the amount of tile. In many cases, the cutout for the sink will be taken from each of the tiles impacted. With larger sinks, the impact is one, or possibly, two tiles. In other words, the potential impact by the footprint of the sink cutout is so small that its impact on the final total is negligible.

The impact of the oven on the layout is similar. With the loss of tile due to overlapping, the impact on the number of tiles can be as little as two tiles and, less frequently, as much as four. Our experience with granite tile countertops has always been that it is always better to have a few extra than being short of tile on a job. That is why many professional tile setters use the extra tiles in the stove placement to make up part of extras in their calculations.

Just another reason you can count on Easy Granite Tile™ and our Easy Tile Calculator™ to help you do a great job on your kitchen or bath countertop!

The Granite Tile Guy

Granite Tile Countertops: You Can Do a Great Job Yourself with the Easy Tile Calculator™.

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:26:00 +0000

As a result of our experience in helping literally hundreds of do-it-yourselfers with their tile edging needs, we found that one of the greatest difficulties the home craftsman has is accurately calculating the amount of tile and edging necessary to complete the job. That is the reason Easy Granite Tile has developed the Easy Tile Calculator™.

The most common mistake made by homeowners (and sometimes even professional granite tile installers) is not ordering enough tile or bullnosed edges. The result is a shortage of tiles or machined edges necessary to complete the installation. The problem of tile shortages can be much more significant than just the cost of ordering and shipping replacement tiles. Finding replacement granite tiles that match the color of the original order can be a real problem because granite color can vary from lot to lot. And there is also the frustration of the completion of an entire installation being put on hold for just one tile or edge.

The Easy Tile Calculator™ was designed to provide an accurate estimate of your granite tile countertop job while minimizing the chance of making the most common mistakes. These mistakes include: failure to include enough material for self edge and/or backsplash, using exact countertop square inches to determine the number of tiles, or just measuring the countertop incorrectly.

To use the Easy Tile Calculator™, just click on a “BEGIN HERE” button on any of the browse pages, enter your Zip Code, and follow the prompts. The Easy Tile Calculator™ will calculate the amount of tile required, calculate the number and types of edges needed, include additional tiles and edges to cover unexpected shortages, and calculate shipping charges.

Just another reason why with Easy Granite Tile, You Can Do a Great Granite Job Yourself!

The Granite Tile Guy

Granite Tile: You Can Do a Great Job Yourself in the Color You Want.

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:35:00 +0000

Color variability is one of the realities of working with any natural stone, and granite is no exception. Easy Granite Tile has gone to extra lengths to provide a color-consistent line of granite tile, but the challenge of providing our customers with the exact granite product that they want does not end there.

In doing business over the internet, we are all limited in our ability to compare colors by the degree of calibration of our own video displays. That is why Easy Granite Tile has developed our Color Assurance Program (CAP.) With our CAP Program we are able to ensure that there is no misunderstanding between Easy Granite Tile and our customers with regard to the actual color of granite tile that will be in your order.

Once an order is placed and the tile has been selected, a sample of tile from the order is pulled and express-shipped to our customer’s doorstep for approval. This ensures that the color of tile our customer wanted is the color of tile he or she receives. (We also polish one edge on the sample tile.) No fabrication of any kind will be performed on the tile order until we have received color confirmation. Once a confirmation is received from our customer, we process and ship the order.

Just another reason that with Easy Granite Tile, You Can Do a Great Granite Job Yourself!

In my next post I will be showing you how Easy it is to plan your tile job using EasyGraniteTile.com.

The Granite Tile Guy

Granite Tile: You Can Do a Great Job Yourself at 1/3 the Cost.

noreply@blogger.com (Granite Tile Guy) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:38:00 +0000

In the last couple of decades, America has discovered natural stone as a covering for countertops. Natural stone, especially granite, has characteristics that make it the ideal replacement for older, existing kitchen counters. It has very desirable heat resistance and strength properties, is available in a wide variety of colors, and has a natural beauty that is very appealing.

Slab granite is the choice for many who have opted for natural stone; however, the cost for a quality installation is often prohibitive and because of the specialized skills and tools necessary, is not suitable for the do-it-yourselfer. This is where granite tile comes in. Granite tile has the same characteristics as slab granite, but is well suited for installation by the homeowner and many homeowners and do-it-yourselfers have done just that. But, nearly all of them will agree that the most difficult part of doing a quality job is getting a quality bullnosed edge on their new countertop.

Many homeowners who are very skilled with working with wood confidently approach their new granite tile countertop project only to find out that no one told them that the edges needed to be bullnosed and that getting an accurate radius applied to their tile is a major problem. Just finding someone who is willing edge the tile can be a major problem, and then, how does the homeowner know what kind of quality he is to expect?

The other possibility is doing the edging himself. But, few home craftsmen have the tools necessary to bullnose their own granite, and when they investigate what the cost this equipment is, the economics of this project become very questionable. Then, if the homeowner goes ahead and invests in the equipment to do the job himself, he makes another discovery: granite is not wood! It has a whole different feel to the hands of the craftsman and is much less forgiving.
Another major problem is the planning of the job and knowing for with confidence that he is ordering the right amount of tile so that he will have enough tile to finish the job so that additional tiles (which could come from a different color lot) would not have to be purchased.

That is where Easy Granite Tile comes in. Easy Granite Tile is a business built upon many years of experience providing custom tile edging services for literally thousands of kitchen and bathroom countertop installations using the most accurate machine polishing equipment available anywhere. And, Easy Granite Tile is now providing the best in granite tile with a perfect edge to your door step, so that You Can Do a Great Granite Job Yourself!
I am looking forward explaining how You Can in future posts.

The Granite Tile Guy