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If you're a Singapore homeowner with a house in Johor and considering a kitchen upgrade, I've got a great tip for you. Finding reliable cabinet and countertop specialists in Johor can be a headache, but I recently discovered AmpQuartz and had an amazing experience. Let me tell you why I recommend AmpQuartz: Singapore Sensibilities: They get what Singapore homeowners want. Their designs are on-trend and they focus on quality and functionality. Reliable and Organized: Unlike many Johor contractors, these guys have a very systemized approach. No missed deadlines or unexpected hiccups – everything was smooth sailing. Factory-Direct with a Showroom: You get the best of both worlds – competitive pricing since they're a direct factory, but the kind of customer experience you expect from a retail showroom. Customer-Centric: AmpQuartz genuinely cares about making the renovation process as stress-free as possible. This matters a lot when you're dealing with a project in a different country! I know a lot of us here have properties in Johor. If you want the look and quality of a Singapore kitchen renovation without the hassle, give AmpQuartz a try. They showroom: https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/my/johor/ulu-tiram/ampquartz-kitchen-cabinet-johor?to=place.ChIJ664CAr1u2jERQMPtTgdE6Tg Contact them directly: https://wa.link/ampquartz Anyone else have experience with AmpQuartz or other Johor-based kitchen specialists that cater well to Singaporeans? Let's share our tips and recommendations!

Stone suppliers in Singapore carry a wide range of kitchen tops. From natural stone like granite, marble and sandstone to solid surface kitchen tops and engineered quartz stone, each type of stone has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the desired aesthetic tastes and functionality. So how do you choose the right thickness for your countertop? There are several types of kitchen countertop stones which have their own physical characteristics. Depending on each homeowner’s individual lifestyle and expectations, different types of stone would work best. Today, we’ll take a look at the different thicknesses of countertops in production, their advantages and disadvantages. 10-13MM, OR ABOUT 1/2 INCH COUNTERTOPS. One of the first questions you’ll be asked by a stone supplier is the thickness you want. While thicker stones are preferred for their dramatic but minimalist look especially for natural stone or quartz, thin countertops have several advantages that any smart homeowner should consider carefully. THINNER AND LIGHTER. The biggest advantage that thin, 10-13mm countertops provide is lightness. Gravity does nasty things to a heavy slab that’s hanging off a surface, and trying to fasten it vertically would be a technical impossibility without special support systems in place. In many applications where the slabs hang freely and unsupported, excessive weight would jeopardize the structural integrity of the piece if special load-bearing or anchoring system is not in place. They are also much easier to work with and handle and do not require eight people just to move a slab from the ground floor up to your place. Stone Italiana Quartz carries exceptional 13mm quartz kitchen tops in three types of finishes; polished, rock face and grain. FLOATING COUNTERS, WATERFALL EDGES AND MORE. Thin countertops are a lot lighter than thick slabs, which makes it possible to build special applications. These include vertical surfaces such as feature walls, fuller backsplashes and waterfall edges. The sides of a kitchen island is a good example where waterfall edges have a nice touch. Thin slabs also make it possible to build floating counters where they are minimally supported by a foundation. Thin and light countertop slabs are also easier to cut and shape, which lends its suitability to integration work such as installation of a kitchen sink. If necessary, thin slabs can be laminated around a lightweight core material such as wood. This makes the countertop thicker without adding too much weight. 20-30MM, 1 TO 1 ¼ THICK COUNTERTOPS. MORE DURABLE Although heavier, more expensive and less versatile, thicker countertops are more durable than lighter ones; 30mm slabs are less prone to breaking compared to 20mm slabs, which in turn are more durable than 13mm ones. Countertops come in slabs as thick as 40mm or 60mm, but are often too expensive and too heavy for most homes to support. Soft stone such as marble and sandstone benefit significantly from the extra thickness. BUILT TO LAST AND CARRY HEAVIER LOADS. Thick kitchen top stones also last longer, which makes up for the difficult installation and high initial cost. Thick slabs of high-quality stone, especially when well-installed, also bring with it a nice hike in equity value, which alone is enough reason for stone suppliers in Singapore to recommend them. Thicker slabs are also best suited whenever high traffic/usage is expected, and a special emphasis on durability is required; e.g. kitchen tables, bathroom vanities, grilling stations (hard, natural stone like granite provide the best heat resistance), shower seats, decorative cutting boards and coffee tables. MORE KITCHEN TOP EDGE PROFILING OPTIONS. In addition, the extra material provided by thicker countertops gives homeowners more options for kitchen top edge profiling and fashions. You cannot cut deep curves into thin laminated countertops without biting into the laminated core. Edge profiles aren’t just for aesthetic purposes. For safety reasons, many interior designers and home owners opt for the bullnose edge profile, which is not something you want to accidentally hit.

Hailed as the first of its kind, Corian is the brand name for a top-of-the-line solid surface countertop material developed by DuPont scientists back in 1967. Today, there are several brands in the market based on the original Corian countertops development, including Samsung’s Staron and LG’s HI-MACS. These different brands differ mainly in the designs that they come in, which presents a myriad of beautiful designs for customers to choose from (with Samsung Staron coming in patterns interspersed with metallic dust). What makes Solid Surface Countertops special? Solid surface countertops are composite of synthetic polymers (acrylic and polyester) and alumina trihydroxide (ATH). The combination of flexible polymer and the fire retardant and chemically-resistant alumina trihydroxide layer also create a non-porous layer that is resistant to stains and bacterial growth. The particulates of alumina trihydroxides are also very fine, which lends to the smoothness of its colours. They are also fairly heat resistant (100°C) and are chemically inert (i.e. resists acid etching). Left: Corian designs; Right: Samsung designs, notable for its metallic series. Solid surface countertops are made from highly formable and repairable materials. Another important advantage of solid surface materials is in how workable the material is. Corian-based solid surface materials can be sanded and polished without ruining the surface. Joints can be polished down to make seams disappear and cuts and scratches easily repaired with nothing more than a Scotch-Brite pad, or a mechanical sander. But perhaps solid surface’s most attractive characteristic, from a design and manufacturing perspective is that Corian solid surface countertop materials are thermoformable. Thermoforming is the process of heating up a material to a sufficient degree as to make it malleable and stretchable, which can then be formed into a wide variety of shapes. Thermoforming involves less complex fabrication tools, which make the process marginally cheaper than, say, injection molding. In addition to lower costs, thermoforming allows for much larger parts to be produced, which is useful for countertops. Also, you’ll be glad to know that thermoforming manufacturers reuse most of their waste plastic, which is good for the environment (and cost!). Solid Surface Countertops are safe. To ensure that their products are safe around people, solid surface countertop manufacturers like Corian adhere to strict production guidelines. Controlling the emissions of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is important because, as its name suggests, can vaporize and mix into the air that we breath. Heavy metals are also not used in solid surface countertops, either, again for health reasons. However, proper precautions should still be taken that care is taken when working around solid surfaces. Trivets and pads should always be used when placing hot objects on solid surfaces, as extreme heat would not only cause damage, but also burn and eject toxic fumes into the air. Check out our inventory for the best solid surface countertops in Singapore today and get in touch with our friendly customer service staff! We carry Corian DuPont, Samsung Staron and many other great brands! - See more at: http://www.stoneamperor.com.sg/solid-surface-countertops-singapore/

It can be a tough decision when it comes to choosing a good and durable kitchen countertops! And every families have their own different use on the countertops. What are the different types of surface materials available? How do they differ? Which surface type would suit your needs? Here is a good blog post that provides details of countertops material: Solid Surface Countertops, Natural Stone Countertops or Engineered Stone Countertops: Which one is for you?

Since it found its popularity with Victorian residential architecture, bay windows have remained a mainstay of home-style right up to today. There’s nothing quite as warm and fuzzy as idly sitting by a big window and looking out into the world around you, pondering as people go out their daily business, or taking in the view and fresh air. Unfortunately, due to a lack of inspiration or pure laziness, many homeowners completely forget about this amazing place in the house. Most only just barely notice it as they move from room to room. This isn’t surprising as people tend to spend most of their time in the living room, in the bedroom or in the kitchen where the comfortable furniture, food and entertainment are. Sadly this existential plane only allows us to spend our time at one place at a time (I know, what a bummer!). What to do about it? But what’s life without a few challenges, right? Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some excuse to get the family to spend more time with you by the bay window? Premise One: we’ve established the fact that we tend to spend a lot of our time in the living room, bedroom and dining table/kitchen. I assume that most of us tend to not like to move too far from these places. Premise Two: As much as I like to just sit down and watch the world go by; it’s only a matter of time before hunger or boredom strikes and it’s off to the kitchen or living room again (Yes, I live in a world of gratuitous distractions). Conclusion: Why not combine best of two worlds? If I were to build a circular seat around the window with, say, quartz countertops (quartz can be cut in circular shapes with the right tools and expertise, yes). Add some comfortable cushions of my choice and drag a nice table into the middle, you can turn this… into this… Voilà! Now you have the perfect excuse to spend more time around my favourite spot in the house without having to ever leave. You can also drag in a few companions into the fairy circle and make them part of your living fantasy, too! Quartz Countertops? Although you could certainly use solid surface countertops, laminate or granite for your bay window masterpiece – quartz countertops, in my opinion, are the best choice. For one, engineered quartz is easy to maintain. They are also quite durable and isn’t any real concern with wear-and-tear. However, dark-coloured quartz countertops (as well as granite) do fade when exposed to sunlight (or at least the resin and other protective coatings do, but not the stone itself) so light colours such as white are best. Some Sunlight is Good For You, Too. As an added benefit, this clever seating arrangement also puts you smack in the midst of the source of that natural light flooding into the house. Light exposure to sunlight is known for quite a few surprising benefits, like making us happier through the release of serotonin in our brain. Light exposure to sunlight also encourages our skin produce vitamin D which strengthens our bones. UV light from moderate sunlight exposure also kills bacteria, fungus and other nasties (particularly those that cause skin diseases) as well as help prevent cancer! (Too much sunlight, however, is known to cause cancer). Stone Amperor carries a myriad of brands and products that cater to needs of different homeowners, including high-quality quartz countertops, including Caesarstone and I-quartz Stone. Contact us now for a free quotation! - See more at: http://www.stoneamperor.com.sg/ideas-bay-window-quartz-countertops/

Quartz countertops are beautiful works of art and make for the perfect centre pieces in the home. Unlike natural stone countertops, quartz countertops are engineered from crushed quartz stone and resin to specifically meet the needs of everyday life. They are durable, hygienic and relatively easy to maintain. However, proper care is important to keep them in perfect condition for a long time. Read more about natural stone, solid surface and quartz countertops. 1. Use non-abrasive cleaning cloth with mild detergents for cleaning. Use a piece of soft cloth or sponge and detergent to clean loose stains. Dry with a clean, white cloth. Avoid scrubbing with steel wool and other abrasive cleaning pads and using strong base or acid cleaners (such as bleach), paint solvents, turpentine, nail polish removers or oven cleaners. Tougher stains need to be soaked the in glass cleaner, mild washing detergent or a vinegar/water dilution for about 10 minutes before being rinsed with warm water. Avoid scrubbing with steel wool and other abrasive cleaning pads and using strong base or acid cleaners (such as bleach), paint solvents, turpentine, nail polish removers or oven cleaners. 2. Liquid spills should be cleaned quickly and thoroughly. This is especially important if the spill contains acids or bases. While highly resistant to the effects of corrosive chemicals, leaving spills (e.g. fruit juice, vinegar, sauces) on for long periods of time may etch the surface. 3. Use a plastic putty knife to scrape away gum, paint or oil. Do not use hard metal tools to perform any abrasive action. Use plastic or soft tools to remove sticky or greasy mess before proceeding with warm water, mild detergents and soft cloth like in point 1. 4. Do not cut directly on the surface with steel knives and other hard, sharp objects. Cutting directly on the surface of quartz countertops will not only damage its soft resin layer, but the hardness of the quartz stone will dull and damage your steel knives as well. Always use a cutting board. 5. Use trivets and pads below hot pans and pots. Although quartz itself is very heat resistant the resin isn’t. Placing hot objects (skillets, grills, pots, pans, etc.) directly on its surface is likely to damage it. Also, sudden high changes in temperature can also cause stone to crack through thermal shock. 6. Do not stack heavy objects on quartz countertops. Excessive pressure or impacts can cause the stone to chip and crack. One microwave is fine. Ten of them on top of one another, not so okay. Quartz countertops themselves are quite heavy and may cause damage to the structure beneath it. Stone Amperor is stone supplier in Singapore known for its quality products and services. Contact us now for an in-depth discussion. - See more at: http://www.stoneamperor.com.sg/6-tips-how-to-care-for-quartz-countertops/