The Best Stone Benchtops: Pros, Cons and Everything in Between

For many modern homeowners, stone benchtops have become the go-to option for their kitchen designs. Nothing speaks of luxury and class more than natural stone lending an air of sophistication to a room with its beauty and unique grain.

However, with so many options available on the market today – granite, quartzite, marble and even soapstone – it can be difficult to decide which type is right for your home.

That is why we are taking a deep dive into all things related to stone benchtops: from the different types available and their respective pros & cons to helpful tips when choosing one that’s best suited for your needs.

What are the different types of stone benchtops and what are their pros and cons?

There are many different types of stone benchtops to choose from, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. Generally speaking, the most popular options include granite, marble, quartzite and limestone. 

1. Granite

Granite is one of the most popular materials for stone benchtops. It is incredibly durable and resistant to heat, making it an excellent choice for kitchen work surfaces where hot pans may come into contact with the countertop surface. Additionally, granite features a variety of colors and patterns that will look stunning in any room. The drawback to granite is that it can be quite expensive depending on the quality you choose. 

2. Quartzite

Quartzite offers a middle ground between quartz countertops – which lack the aesthetic appeal of marble or granite – but still has many positive qualities from both materials combined! Quartzite is highly durable against everyday wear such as scratches, stains or spills due to its hardness rating being nearly identical to that of granite while still offering elegant aesthetics with subtle swirling patterned designs found only within this stone type making your home truly unique! A slight downside with quartzite would be its slightly higher price point than regular quartz countertops; however overall value certainly outweighs cost.

3. Marble

Marble is another luxurious material often used in high-end kitchens or bathrooms due to its classic beauty. Marble features natural white veins running through beautiful grey-blue tones which give it a timeless aesthetic appeal that no other material can match. Its smooth finish makes marble perfect for rolling out dough or preparing food if you’re looking for an all-inclusive kitchen work surface solution! However, because marble chips easily compared to other materials like granite, extra care must be taken when using knives or heavy pots on this surface type as too much force can cause damage over time. 

 4. Limestone

Limestone offers more subtle tones overall while generally being less expensive than say granite & quartzite yet concurrently offers comparable durability (assuming correct maintenance) & timeless beauty which could add value to any area of your house. Its porous nature means liquids can permeate quickly into the surface, but again proper sealing post installation should help reduce these issues greatly.

How do you care for a stone benchtop and how long will it last?

1. Avoid putting hot items directly onto the surface as this may cause damage or discoloration. Instead, use mats and trivets when placing hot pans, dishes or other items. 

2. Never cut on it directly; always use a cutting board instead in order to prevent scratches from forming on the surface. 

3. Clean up spills immediately with an absorbent cloth and then rinse with mild soapy water before patting dry with another clean cloth afterwards.  

4. Sealants can help protect your stone benchtop from staining and etching caused by acidic liquids such as vinegar and citrus juice; they should be applied at regular intervals (around twice per year).

When correctly taken care of, your stone benchtop can easily last you 10-20 years depending on which type of material has been used for your particular counter top (granite being one of the more durable materials available).

What is the cost of installing a stone benchtop and how do you choose the right one?

The cost of installing a stone benchtop varies depending on which type and size you go with along with the complexity of installation, the availability in your area, labor costs and more. Quartz countertops often range from $50-$150 per square foot, including installation; granite countertops can be significantly more expensive at $75-$250 per square foot; marble countertops tend to run even higher at prices well over $100 per square foot. 

In addition to installation costs when selecting a benchtop material, there are also other considerations such as durability, maintenance requirements, aesthetic appeal, and resale value that should be factored into your choice.

Can you install a stone benchtop yourself or do you need a professional?

Installing a stone benchtop is an important decision that requires considerable skill, knowledge, and experience. It certainly can be done as a DIY project, but it should not be taken lightly due to the inherent risks associated with improper installation. In short, the answer depends on your level of expertise in carpentry and your familiarity with stone countertops specifically. 

Overall, installing a stone benchtop is not an easy task - without sufficient expertise and experience doing similar projects before. Therefore it is best left to a professional who will guarantee quality workmanship while keeping your safety as their main priority throughout the process.

Social Media Marketing Strategy: 5 essential objectives to integrate

For businesses of all sizes, social media has become a cornerstone of marketing strategy. A successful social media marketing strategy is one that not only finds the right target audience but also successfully engages them. Integrating essential objectives into a social media marketing strategy is the key to success. We will discuss the five objectives essential to any successful social media marketing strategy and how to use them effectively. 

Which goals does your social media marketing plan have?

Businesses now fully see the benefits of investing in social media, as well as the full potential and meaning of the term "social," as time has gone.

Brands are aware that social networks aren't only a niche, isolated marketing channel for the newest target demographics with a communication and product promotion axis. In addition to producing measurable results (monitoring, leads, social selling), social networks have demonstrated their value in creating points of contact and meeting between the consumer and his brand. This helps to improve the renowned customer experience, which is occasionally (and frequently) undermined.

Finally, it is important to set benchmarks and track progress to ensure that your strategy is effective and that your goals are being met. Working with a business plan consultant is a great way to ensure that your plan is comprehensive and results.

We will see how to measure these objectives' achievement and progress.

1. Increase brand recognition

Building brand recognition is important for speeding up the sales cycle, gaining market share, and establishing oneself as a leader in your sector. And utilizing effective task management software can be a great way to help your business reach its goals. Task management software provides a streamlined, organized approach to organizing and managing tasks, enabling users to stay focused and on-task. 

To evaluate your positioning and the possible effects of your activities on your primary competitors, you must create a reputation and brand audit. Differentiation tactics come in many forms. We can cite the creation of original content, personalized according to your targets, the targeting of prospects according to their profile, the product development according to the insights collected on social media, and the axes of communication adapted by socio-demographic centers of interest.

2. Grow social media communities and target audiences

The indicators you can use are:

  • Community performance:  Number of fans, followers, and subscribers broken down by social media channel

  • Community progress:  Growth rate of subscribers and fans by social channel

  • Community Share of Voice:  Number of fans and followers compared to your competitors.

  • Share of voice by channel: Some communities for each social media are reduced to your entire community.

  • Social visits:  Visitors from your social media to your website/blog.

3. Enhance interactions and engagement for ambassador and loyalty programs.

By identifying influential figures for your brands and industry, the main goal is to create a long-lasting relationship between the target market and the brand. And by utilizing dynamic data visualizations, businesses can provide customers with real-time, tailored insights into their customer journey and progress. 

Therefore, it is essential to collaborate with individuals with a particular level of trust, legitimacy, and authority in the network and to connect in a focused manner with them. 

We are talking about something other than a high audience among these opinion leaders. Because a small group that is engaged and interested in an opinion leader is more successful than a huge passive community, depending on your market. Therefore, we could start a plan with micro- or nano-influencers.

4. Boost client satisfaction and positive perception

To assess happiness and perception, as well as their evolution over time in response to your marketing efforts and other strategic actions of the company, it is required to gather messages and views about your goods (i.e., a wide variety of consumer insights). Also, if you don’t control your time effectively, you may use some ways, like a Time Management Matrix, to prioritize tasks.

You can use the following measures to evaluate your satisfaction goals:

  • Brand perception

  • Evolution of perception

  • Evolution of net sentiment 

  • Emotions associated with the brand

  • Reputation score

  • Response performance

  • Resolution performance

5. Generate quality leads for company services through social media interactions.

We are approaching the end of the marketing funnel: your content, your campaigns have generated a certain number of leads on social media, and messages from Internet users potentially interested in your brand and its products. 

Companies can use social media to engage with potential customers and convert them into leads. To help with this process, utilizing a scheduling tool like Simply Schedule Appointments can be highly beneficial.

This kind of indication should be used to evaluate the number of compelling leads available to salespeople and business engineers:

  • Several leads from social media/channels over [period]: Share of marketing leads originating from social media, or blogs, transformed into qualified sales leads and integrated into the CRM platform.

  • Growth of social media leads: [Monthly] growth rate of conversions from Social leads to Sales Qualified leads.

Buying Your First Home: 5 Tips That Can Help Get You On The Property Ladder

In this day and age, it can be difficult to buy a house and get on the property market. With the increase in property prices, amongst other rising costs, trying to buy a house has become extremely challenging for many people. However, thankfully there are some helpful tips and tricks that can provide you with a bit of guidance when attempting to get on the property ladder.

In this article, we will go over five tips for people trying to buy their first home. If you are thinking about finally purchasing a home, then this article is for you. Keep on reading to find out our top tips and tricks.

Research Different Types Of Property

When attempting to buy your first home, one of the first things you will need to do is research different types of property, such as new construction, character, and move in ready homes. Although you may have a certain type of property in mind, it would be beneficial for you to spend some time going through the current property market and getting an idea of the different properties currently available and how much they cost to buy. Doing this will just give you a clearer perspective of the housing market, and it can help you understand what sort of property you can afford to buy. 

You can research different sized houses and see how the property compare in price. When buying a home, most people will want to find a property that has room to grow, so you should look at houses that have lots of space and plenty of room for you to grow into as you get older. For example, if you want kids in the future, then you will need to buy a home that has spare bedrooms so that your kids will have their own rooms.

Choose A Location

Another important thing you need to do when buying your first home is to choose a good location. As someone attempting to get on the property ladder, you must understand how important location is. When researching different properties, you should always ensure that you look at houses in different areas, as this will help you understand how the price can change, depending on the location. Of course, everyone wants to be in an idyllic location, but if you do not have a large budget, then it is unlikely that you can afford to live in the best area. 

Therefore, you should spend some time looking at houses in less desirable areas as they may be more in your budget. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to choose an unsafe or dangerous area, but it could be that you just reduce your expectations slightly. If you are struggling to find information about a certain area you want to buy in, you could always find some groups or pages online for people who live in that area. You can then ask questions to those people and get an accurate idea of what the location is actually like.

Consider Getting Financial Help

When it comes to buying your first home, there is absolutely no shame in getting some financial help. Most people who buy their first home will have financial help from their parents or other family members, as it can be difficult saving up for a deposit. However, not everyone is lucky enough to have rich parents, so for those who cannot receive financial help from their family, it may be better to look elsewhere for some support. 

Buying a house can be very expensive; not only do you have to factor in the cost of the deposit, but you also need to weigh in costs like solicitors, as well as things like homeowner’s insurance. It is important that you understand the full cost of buying a property, so that you can accurately save enough money. If you are struggling to come up with the money you need to buy a house, then you may want to consider applying for a short-term loan. Sunny is a company that provides quick and easy short-term loans for those people who need quick cash in their accounts. 

Always View Properties In Person

When you get around to viewing properties, you must always remember to view them in person. Browsing online can help you understand what sort of properties are available, but if you want to get an actual feel of the property, then you must always go and see it in person. Pictures on property websites can often be deceiving, and they may not give you an accurate representation of the size of the house. Furthermore, things like damages and dampness, will not always be visible in a picture online, so you need to check out the property yourself to ensure that it is in good condition. 

When you do go and view properties, it would be a good idea to take lots of pictures, or even record a whole video tour. This way, when you are debating between the different houses you have viewed, you will have reference photos and videos to look back on. It could also be a good idea to take someone with you to view the property. Of course, if you are buying with a partner, then they will need to view the property, but if you are buying a house by yourself, then it will be helpful to have a second pair of eyes while viewing different houses. Taking someone with you will allow you to get a second opinion and a different perspective on each property, which can help you make the right decision. 

Cut Back On Frivolous Spending

One thing you can do to help you save up for your first home is to cut back on frivolous spending. If you are someone who has expensive tastes or likes to buy new things all the time, then it would be a good idea to try and cut back on unnecessary spending. Instead of buying lunch every day, you could instead buy the ingredients and make lunch at home instead. Furthermore, if you pay for a monthly gym membership, then perhaps consider opting for a cheaper gym or even just do home workouts instead. 

Saving for a home will take a long time, and it often means you have to sacrifice some things in the process. However, it is important to remember that all of the sacrifices you make will absolutely be worth it in the long run, and once you have bought your home, you can go back to treating yourself. Spend some time going through your finances and work out exactly what your incomings and outgoings are per month. This will give you a clear idea as to what you can cut out from your monthly spending, and it will help you start to put some actual money away. When you start putting money away, it would be a good idea to choose a long-term savings account with a high-interest rate, as this will ultimately help you save more money.

The process of buying a house can be strenuous at times. However, being patient, and following the tips mentioned above can help with progressing forward and getting your foot onto the property ladder.