FAIR WEATHER AHEAD

FAIR WEATHER AHEAD

At a recent Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association meeting, a renowned national economist was forecasting a much improved future for the #homebuilding/remodeling industry. With the inventory of new homes very low and the fading of short sales and foreclosures, it is a great time to spiff up your home and get it on the market. Average times from listing to sale are very low and resale values are on the way up.

Most realtors will tell you two things that matter most when dressing up your home for sale. Outside, the curb appeal is key and inside the #kitchen is king. With just a few modifications you can transform your home for the market.

When addressing the kitchen or even the bathrooms, the easiest way to dress them up is with beautiful new granite #countertops. With granite now being so affordable and with so many pattern options, they are a must. Many homebuyers will not consider a new home that doesn’t have #granite, #marble or #quartz counters.

Atlantis Granite and Marble specializes in assisting homeowners in the design and completion of their kitchen and bath remodeling projects. Come by our showroom at 3280 Peachtree Corners Circle or call us at 

678-292-6600, and we will help you through the Granite 101 process.   Visit us on the web at www.atlantisgm.com.

Choosing Exotic Stones

Exotic Granites

When selecting granite many of us are gravitating toward the more exotic #stones for our own homes.  So how do you select an exotic granite?  Most of the exotic stones available for counter tops tend to come from other countries rather than our own beloved United States. So you may want to add some of these countries to the places that you would like to visit in order to see where your kitchens, baths and other rooms come from.

Exotic stone is treated slightly different from our more common stones.  First, granite is a natural product with random veins of minerals.  It is very important that the stone slabs are sequential to maintain the color variations.  It is next to impossible to match slabs that come from different area of the quarry as the minerals vary so drastically.  Also you will want your slabs to be sliced and polished as mirror images.  This is also very important if you are doing a long run similar to the picture below.

Today Brazil is the largest exporter of exotic #granite as well as traditional colors and patterns.  India and the Scandinavian countries are also large exporters of exotic granite sold in the US today.

Scandinavian Countries excavate a lot of Blues and Greens.  Due to the extreme climate in Scandinavian countries the quarry window is much smaller sometimes making these exotics a little more pricey and difficult to acquire the colors within your color pallet.

When selecting an #exotic stone make sure to inspect and select the slabs yourself. Just ordering by name can really leave you disappointed. The characteristics in a quarry can change within just a few feet. By selecting your slabs and approving the template layout you can rest assured that your kitchen and other projects will be exactly what you expect.

To speak with a granite specialist call us at 678-292-6600 or contact us www.atlantisgm.com. 

Buy One, Get Three Free!

“Buy One –Get Three Free!”

Have you ever seen a commercial where they offer men’s suits where you buy one get two free?  You go there and pick out a suit with a price tag of $300, and then you were told that was the promo price, if you want the special that suit is $900.

Also have you ever been to the grocery store and gone to the cereal aisle to see the ‘BOGO”, buy one get one, deal on the medium sized box only to see the larger box was less pricey. 

Or have you ever gone to a car dealership looking for the great price they offered in the ad only to find that was a specific VIN number, in a certain color, that only a drug crazed hippie would want. 

If you’ve ever been upset with any of the above scenarios then be very careful with marketing practices in the #granite and #marble industry.  People are constantly advertising $17-$28 per square foot, if you have time- go see what you get for this price, these ads are to draw you in and then flip you to something else.

Sure they have something to offer at that price, but it is generally, thin, unattractive material in a contractor’s grade.  If you were shopping for blue jeans, contractor’s grade would be referred to as thirds.  A lot of things go into the determination of the grade of the material.

Despite the attempt at making granite a commodity item, by both the large retailers and the ‘chop shops’, natural stone is still the Artwork of God and Mother Nature.  However, it is not nearly as expensive as it was 25 years ago due to advances in technology.  Granite can be inexpensive without being ‘cheap’.  Before you spend your hard earned money or your tax refund on granite #countertops, do your research and don’t fall for scam tactics. Hire a quality granite company to perform your work.  Take Granite 101.  The end result will be something you will see every day for the length of time you are in your home.
For more information call us at 678-292-6600 or visit us on the web, www.atlantisgm.com.

Cheapest Granite Countertops Atlanta

The beauty and effect of a quality granite job will last forever,

 however, poor quality and installation will do the same.

When you are searching for the cheapest granite #countertops in Atlanta consider a few things.

First ordering ‘cheap’ granite countertops is like going into a restaurant and ordering a cheap steak. You generally get what you ask for. A cheap steak is probably full of fat and gristle and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The same can be true of cheap granite countertops. They can be full of fissures and flaws and can leave a bad taste as well.

These are the things to check for when shopping for granite countertops:

1 – Are the slabs 3cm thick or are they trying to push the thin stuff off on you?

2 – Are the slabs precut ‘blanks’, causing extra seams and determining their location?

3 – Can you view or select your own slabs?

4 – Are the slabs a superior grade or a contractor grade? ‘Contractor grade’ in the stone industry is what many other businesses refer to as ‘thirds’.

5 – Do you have viewing privileges and final approval of the layout on the slab? If not, you are at the mercy of the fabricator as to the final appearance of your granite counters.

6 – Are any cutouts (sinks/cooktops) reinforced?

7 – Is the seller advertising ridiculous “bait & switch’ prices just to get you into their store?

There is a big difference between cheap and reasonable. Just because granite #countertops are not ‘cheap’ does not mean that they cannot be reasonable and/or inexpensive. Do your homework, be an informed buyer. Don’t be taken in by marketing gimmicks. Search for a handful of legitimate, quality minded granite companies and get detailed estimates to compare. You can also get a feel for the company that you would be dealing with.

Don’t fall for ‘slap and go’ companies who offer the ‘cheapest #granite countertops in Atlanta’. Be informed and make a decision that you won’t regret later.

for more information contact Mike at Atlantis Granite and Marble, 678-292-6600 or visit our website at www.atlantisgm.com.

Your Own Private Island

At a recent Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association meeting, a nationally recognized and Award winning architectural designer addressed the importance of the #kitchen island.  He referred to the island as the "heart of the kitchen". That said, most homeowners now view the island as a piece of furniture.  With the reduction of formal dining rooms and the popularity of open designs, many consumers are now leaning toward larger working - causal dining spaces.  Kitchens are now incorporating work zones rather than the old triangle concept.  Islands fit perfectly into this idea.
Most families spend a great deal of time in and around the kitchen. This is backed up by the popularity of 112 different cooking shows on TV.  Many men are now as into creative cooking, as a hobby, as women.
Builders are urged to give their buyers the 'Wow Factor' and what better place than at the kitchen island. This is a great selling feature and can be accomplished by using both creative design and exotic materials, including #granite and #marble.
Why not create your own private island?
Call us at 678-292-6600 or visit our website at www.atlantisgm.com