McGrory Inc. Thanks You

As we get ready to ring in the New Year, we’d like to take a minute to reflect on the past year.  2013 has been one for the books, and we’d like to take this time to thank everyone that helped make it so.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without the employees”, says owner, Tim McGrory.  ”If you don’t have good people backing your company, people that care about and believe in it, you won’t be successful.”

“We’re lucky, we have great people here at McGrory Inc.  We strive for a working environment where everyone is treated with respect and as part of the team.  We recently had our company holiday party to celebrate the past year and to say thank you to our employees.”

“This coming year will mark our 30th year in business, and we can attribute our successes to not only the employees but our customers as well.  I’d like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of them, both present and past for knowing we’d get the job done”, adds McGrory.

So, thank you!  Thank you to each and every employee.  Thank you to all of our customers, old or new.  And thank you to everyone else that has helped us along the way.

Countertop Education: A Countertop Conundrum

With hundreds of choices on the market for countertops it can be a bit intimidating at first.  Everyone wants to sell you their product and before you know it you can’t remember the difference between Corian and Quartz.

Not to worry!  Allow the experts here at McGrory Inc to break it down and guide you through the selection process.  Below you’ll find the pros and cons of our top three sellers.  While we do offer other options these tend to be our most popular.

Granite & Natural Stones:

Pros:

• Durable and long-lasting
• Classic material that does not go out of style
• Heat-resistant

Cons:
 

• Naturally porous, must be sealed when installed
• Requires regular maintenance and resealing for food safety and upkeep
• Softer natural stones can chip or crack
• Most expensive material

Corian & Solid Surfaces:

Pros:

• Heat and moisture resistant
• Will not fade or age
• Easy upkeep

Cons:

• Can be scorched
• Not scratchproof

Zodiaq & Quartz Products:

Pros:

• Heat, stain, and scratch resistant
• Easy upkeep
• No sealing or polishing necessary

Cons:

• Not as natural looking as real stone
• Costs almost as much as real stone

After you’ve decided which surface is for you, make sure you know what products to use on your countertops to keep them looking brand new

Countertop Education: Is Your Kitchen Holiday

The holidays are fast approaching!  With family members coming in from all over the country (or even the world) now is the time to get your kitchen looking its best.

It’s important to know what type of surface you have in your kitchen, cleaning instructions differ depending on the counter-top that you have.

Below you’ll find some tips and tricks to get your counter-tops looking their best.

Granite & Natural Stones:

Avoid using ammonia, vinegar and citrus-based cleaners on your granite tops as they may dull the shine.  If a quick clean is all you need, make sure you use a granite safe cleaner.  Cleanser brand Method makes a cleaner specifically for granite and marble.

If you’d prefer a more DIY method, mixing warm water and a small amount of dish detergent is an easy way to keep up with daily messes.  Make sure to dry your counter-tops after to avoid water stains.

Because granite is a porous surface occasional stains do happen.  Oftentimes these stains need more than a quick wipe down.  When dealing with a water-based stain, make a quick paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.  Spread the mixture over the stain and allow it to sit for a few hours, then simply rinse and dry.  If you have an oil-based stain follow the same directions, but swap out the hydrogen peroxide for water.

Corian® & Solid Surfaces:

Unlike granite, it is recommended that you use ammonia-based cleaners (avoid window cleaners though, they will create buildup) on your Corian® counter-tops.  For everyday dirt, your favorite household cleaner will do the trick.

You might need something tougher for bigger messes though.  Dupont recommends Deep Cleaner for Dupont Corian®, sold by Stone Care International.

Disinfecting Corian® is simple too!  Dilute bleach about 50% with water and wipe your counter-tops down.  Make sure to dry your Corian® after you’re done; water stains will dull its shine.

Zodiaq® & Quartz:

If you have Zodiaq® or another Quartz based counter-top you’re in luck.  The make-up of these products allows them to be tough, non-porous, and chemically resistant.  What does that mean for you?  Easy upkeep!

Basic spills and messes require nothing more than soap, water and a paper towel.  Your preferred daily household cleaner will work as well, as long as it is bleach free.  Though Zodiaq® and Quartz are stain resistant and non-porous it’s best to avoid bleach based or high pH cleaners; repeated use over time may lead to unwanted side effects.

For the tougher messes on your Zodiaq® or Quartz counter-top Dupont recommends scraping them off as best you can with a blunt edged object (a putty knife) and cleaning the rest with soap and water or your preferred household cleanser.

Taking it to the next level:

Once you’ve got your counter-tops mess free you might want to consider taking the next step.  Depending on the age of your surfaces it might be time to re-seal or polish to further protect and brighten them.

Granite:

Because of the porous nature of granite and other natural stones, it’s important to seal your granite counter-tops.  Sealing your top will stop future spills from turning into hard to remove stains.  Dupont offers a granite and marble counter-top sealant for interior and exterior use.

Corian® & Solid Surfaces:

To infuse shine into your lackluster solid surface counter tops there are a few different counter-top polishes on the market.  Countertop Magic comes in an aerosol or a spray bottle and is available at most home improvement stores.

Zodiaq® & Quartz:

Because Zodiaq® and Quartz are non-porous they require no waxing or sealing.  They will keep their gloss finish- no polishing necessary.

Brand Choices - Are They All The Same?

Since solid surface was first introduced by the DuPont® company numerous manufacturers have come on line with their own products. Each has their own unique formulation and method of manufacture but virtually all of them use the same primary ingredients of fillers and resin binders.

So you may ask, are they all the same? The problem with the answer to this question is that it’s not that black-and-white. The best answer may lie with an analogy to something we’re all familiar with, such as car brands.

Each auto manufacturer can make a car that operates satisfactorily, incorporates the necessary operational and safety features and can transport us where we want to go with reasonable reliability.

The same is true about similar ‘commodities’ like solid surface counter-tops. The differences lie in the details and that’s where being an educated buyer proves it’s worth in sorting through all the choices.

So what makes them different? Consider the following:

Warranty
Not all manufacturers offer the same warranty though many are similar. Common warranties are 10 or 15 years though some limited lifetime warranties do exist.

Duration of the warranty speaks to the level of confidence a manufacturer has in their product. At a minimum, consideration of the warranty is one means of judging a product and may provide you with some level of security in your investment.

Colors
The quantity of colors and patterns varies among manufacturers. Each brand will have their own different color categories and while there are similarities, there are differences as well. Some specialize in very unique colors not offered by other manufacturers. If you fall in love with one particular color or style that you can’t find anywhere else you may end up choosing that brand over all the others, regardless of other considerations.

Cost
Cost will vary somewhat among manufacturers and even between color and pattern selections within a particular brand selection. One key point to keep in mind is that if you have your mind set on one particular color but think it’s too expensive you may be able to find the same or a very similar color or pattern at a lower price from a different manufacturer. There are similarities among the colors and patterns produced by the various manufacturers so it pays to shop around.

The bottom line on brand differences is that they do exist, but they’re not drastic enough to warrant complete avoidance of any particular brand. In reality, there are more similarities than differences so your choice comes down to which product provides the features and price point that works best for you.

What Is "Solid Surface"?

Solid surface is basically a plastic. It’s a petroleum-based product made from the combination of acrylic or polyester resins and an inert filler material. Its beauty, aside from pure aesthetics, lies in its ease of workability and repairability.

From an installer’s viewpoint solid surface is very similar to wood with regard to its ability to be cut and joined. Seams are virtually invisible which allows large expanses of countertop space to be connected with no visible joints.

This nice feature also means that a solid surface sink can be joined to the countertop for a seamless installation, with no discernible edge between the countertop and the sink.

Material – It’s Chemistry (Along With Some Practical Applications)

Solid surface is made up of two main constituents called a “filler” and a “binder”. The filler in most cases is a substance known as “ATH” or Alumina Trihydrate. ATH is a natural mineral that’s in the form of a white powder when used in the manufacture of solid surface.

This sometimes results in scratches that show up as white or light-colored lines, particularly in darker surfaces. The scratch accentuates the ATH used in the makeup of the surfacing material. ATH is also a natural fire-retardant which gives solid surface countertops good fire-resistance.
The binder that’s used to hold the ATH and any other secondary ingredients together is a resin that’s either pure acrylic or polyester or a combination of both. This is another important point because there are differences between the two materials. Each has its own characteristics that impact the look, fabrication and in some cases, the durability of the solid surface.

Acrylic
Acrylic-based material was the first type of solid surface, formulated by the DuPont® company. Acrylic enjoys several advantages over polyester in that it’s harder, more impact resistant and less brittle than polyester. It won’t fade or discolor from exposure to ultraviolet light whereas polyester has less resistance to UV light.

Acrylic also has greater thermoformability – meaning it can be formed and shaped with heat more easily than polyester. This is important during the fabrication of your countertops should your design incorporate any bends or other features that require the material to be formed.

Polyester
Polyester on the other hand is more chemical resistant particularly with regard to acrylic-based chemicals such as acetone and nail polish remover. Polyester can also achieve a higher polish than acrylic and offers a greater ability for achieving a translucent effect. Some manufacturers like Avonite® use polyester specifically to obtain countertops with these qualities. Polyester costs less than acrylic so in general, polyester-based solid surface is cheaper than acrylic-based products.

Beyond these main ingredients solid surface manufacturers include numerous additives aimed at enhancing various aspects of the material. Each has their own “recipe” based on various attributes they’re trying to achieve.