The $20,000 Plus Kitchen Mistake. What Homeowners Need to Know Before Buying Stone Countertops - Frederick M Hueston

Buying stone countertops should be exciting. Instead, for many homeowners it turns into a very expensive lesson.

Every year thousands of kitchens end up with cracked countertops, mismatched seams, heat damage, stains that won't come out, or installations that simply don't look the way the homeowner expected. By the time the problem is discovered, the project may already be finished and fixing it can cost thousands of dollars.

In The $20,000 Plus Kitchen Mistake, stone expert Frederick M. Hueston pulls back the curtain on the countertop industry and explains what homeowners need to know before they buy stone.

With more than 45 years in the stone and tile industry, Hueston has inspected thousands of installations and investigated countless countertop failures. In this practical and easy-to-understand guide, he shares the real reasons countertops go wrong and how homeowners can avoid becoming the next renovation horror story.

Inside this book you will learn:

• The differences between granite, marble, quartzite, and quartz
• Why seams are necessary and how they should be placed
• Common fabrication and installation mistakes that lead to cracks
• Why some countertops fail months after installation
• The truth about sealers, stains, and everyday maintenance
• What warranties really cover and what they don't
• How to deal with contractors or fabricators if something goes wrong
• Simple questions every homeowner should ask before buying stone

Whether you are planning a kitchen remodel, building a new home, or simply trying to understand the countertops you already have, this book gives you the insider knowledge most homeowners never receive.

A kitchen renovation can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.
A little knowledge beforehand can prevent a very expensive mistake.