(NAPSI)—According to U.S. Census Bureau reports, Americans are not moving from one home to another nearly as much as they used to.

For many, that means it’s important to make sure the home they’re in—and particularly the kitchen—is built to last. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to do that. For example:

• When you get down to it, a porcelain floor may sound fragile, but because these floor tiles are fired at an extremely high temperature, they’re remarkably durable, lasting for decades and impervious to water, foot traffic and other things that can floor a floor.

• Take your counters for granite. These not only look good, they’re resistant to heat and stains, very low maintenance and last for a very long time.

• Consider laminate for your cabinets. Laminates are low in cost, nonporous—which is important when it comes to safe food preparation-easy to clean and available in a rainbow of colors and styles.

• It’s great to be good to your grout. If your backsplash is tile, seal the grouting so it can stand up to water.

• Up against the wall, it pays to put the best paint possible. The higher the quality, the longer it’s likely to last.

• Be smart about the sink. It’s probably the most-used appliance in the house and often has to take a lot of abuse—but it can still be stylish. For example, you can get a stone composite sink made of a patented material that resists chips, stains, heat and the effects of everyday kitchen use and comes in seven attractive shades.

Durable and reliable, it’s 80 percent granite for the look and feel of natural stone and 20 percent a patented formula that makes it even stronger than the countertop around it. Each sink comes with a lifetime warranty so you can buy with total confidence.

Called Silgranit II and available from Blanco, the sink is colored all the way through, so it won’t fade, even in direct sunlight, and is resistant to food acids. The advanced surface technology means it’s nonporous, easy to clean and extremely hygienic.

What The Expert Says

As Susan Serra, certified kitchen designer, says, “I’ve lived with Blanco sinks for well over 20 years. I’m most impressed with Silgranit II.”

Learn More

You can learn more online at www.blancoamerica.com or by calling (888) 668-6201.

 

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)