Q: How do you update granite countertops without replacing them?

• <div><p>You can&rsquo;t change the color of the stone, but you can update granite countertops without replacing them by painting them. Because granite is a porous material, you&rsquo;ll want to seal them first before painting them so that the paint doesn&rsquo;t hurt the surface. This is important because you don&rsquo;t want to devalue your counters by damaging the original surface; even if you don&rsquo;t like the color now, you or a new homeowner may want to remove the paint someday and return them to their original color. You can also cover them with </p></div>

Question 1

Does vinegar work to clean a stone fireplace?

Accepted Answer

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If you would rather use vinegar to clean the stone fireplace instead of dish soap, this mixture should work fine. Vinegar is slightly acidic, however, so it may etch some kinds of stone without quite a bit of diluting. For a stone fireplace, dilute it to about one cup of vinegar for every gallon of hot water. It’s a smart idea to test the diluted mixture in an inconspicuous area of the fireplace and watch for etching. You can use vinegar to clean quite a few different items around your home, and it’s especially good at removing stains.

Question 2

Can you make granite countertops darker?

Accepted Answer

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You generally cannot change the color of the natural stone, such as making granite countertops darker or lighter. Some people claim that certain chemicals will lighten or darken granite, but those will damage the stone and not provide uniform, expected results, so it’s better not to try. Similarly, some people ask whether they can stain over granite. Granite is beloved for its stain-resistant finish, so you probably won’t get the best outcome if you try to stain over granite to make it darker.

Instead, consider honing, painting, or applying another material over the top of the granite to make it appear darker.

Question 3

How long does stone polishing take?

Accepted Answer

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Most jobs take 4-8 hours, but larger areas or heavily damaged surfaces may require multiple sessions.

Question 4

How do I maintain a brick or stone fireplace?

Accepted Answer

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Clean regularly, check for cracks, and inspect the chimney annually for safety.

Question 5

How do you update granite countertops without replacing them?

Accepted Answer

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You can’t change the color of the stone, but you can update granite countertops without replacing them by painting them. Because granite is a porous material, you’ll want to seal them first before painting them so that the paint doesn’t hurt the surface. This is important because you don’t want to devalue your counters by damaging the original surface; even if you don’t like the color now, you or a new homeowner may want to remove the paint someday and return them to their original color. You can also cover them with