Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Granite/Marble floors.

We are considering putting either Granite or Marble floors in our entryway,
which will connect to the dining room, then the kitchen, and through to the
sliding door in the back.  We live in Washington state where it rains a
good deal.  We would like not to have to be so crazy about making everyone who steps foot in the door, take their shoes off.  What we are worried about is the durability, care, etc. of the various products.  We have a full basement, so the flooring would be on the Ground level above the
basement.  We are worried about the flexing of the floor causing cracks in
the granite or the marble.  Does the thickness determine whether or not
cracks will develop?  Should we pour the self leveling cement under the
granite or marble?  Would that make it stronger?  What we don't want, is to spend a lot of money, just to have to replace it because it develops
cracks.  My husband will not live with cracks at all.  We want the floor to
be solid slabs.  We know there will be joints, because we have a fairly
large area, but we do not want to worry about cracks developing.  Also, we want to put the same or something that coordinates with the floors, on the countertops in the kitchen.  We are putting in professional appliances by Wolfe or Viking and I do a lot of cooking.  We do not want to have to worry about the floor, nor the countertop, staining or cracking if a pan is
accidentally dropped or set on it.  We want this space to be user friendly.
I spend probably a good half of the time I am home in the kitchen, either
cooking or cleaning.  I need something that is not going to add to my
workload, but will be beautiful as well.  Am I asking the impossible??????

Thank you,
Kathleen Ruiz.                               

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