October 2012 Newsletter

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American Cabinet & Flooring, Inc. - October 2012 - Newsletter      It's Carnival! Wilsonart launches two new Wilsonart® HD® designs that feature a large-scale structure, dramatic movement with mixed coloration, and AEON™ Enhanced Performance Technology.   Winter Carnival has movement that carries a rich red-brown with accents in cool grey Summer Carnival has movement in golden ambers and browns with accents in greys These new designs are inspired by the luxurious, exotic, natural granite out of Brazil that includes large-scale elements called "Carnival". These designs strategically focus on premium, exotic stones that are typically unavailable to the consumer due to cost, rarity and/or transportation. The new Carnival designs will be front and center at this year's Remodeling Show being held October 10th-12th in Baltimore, MD. American Cabinet & Flooring is a proud carrier of Wilsonart laminate countertops. Come visit our design center and meet with one of our talented Design Specialists to get your remodel project started today! How to Carve a Halloween Pumpkin Whether you are working from a pattern or free-handing it, having the right tools for carving pumpkins makes all the difference. Photo & Article Source: DIY Network Materials and Tools: Pumpkin(s) Halloween Patterns HGTV's  Beginner Pumpkin Carving Templates HGTV's Advanced Pumpkin Carving Templates Carbon Paper Tape Pencil Carving kit Serrated knives Wood carving tools or pottery tools Metal Halloween shaped cookie cutters Light-duty hammer Pliers Steps: 1. Place your template/pattern over the carbon paper and tape onto the pumpkin. Trace around and the image will be left on the pumpkin for easy lines to follow when carving. 2. The tools that work best for carving are the small carving tools that come in those inexpensive Halloween pumpkin carving kits. They're manageable for all ages. Other tools that work well are serrated steak knives and grapefruit knives. For additional detail, carving and pottery tools work great. TIP: the best trick of all is to use metal Halloween shaped cookie cutters. 3. Place your metal cookie cutter onto the pumpkin. (Some plastic cookie cutters will also work, but they're generally not as flexible). NOTE: Don't cut the lid off or clean out yet! Make all your impressions first. 4. Use a light duty hammer to get the cookie cutter into the pumpkin. Work the cutter side to side while hammering. Hammer the cookie cutter in until it's almost all the way in. Pull the cookie cutter out with a pair of pliers. Continue to hammer all of the shapes where you want them in the pumpkin. 6. Once you have your designs traced or stamped in place, you're ready to cut off the top of the pumpkin and clean it out. 7. Once cleaned, finish cutting out the shapes with small serrated blades and pop them out from the inside. Have a safe & happy Halloween! We want to hear from you! We value feedback from our customers and want to hear how we did on your project. You can easily submit a review as well as see what others are saying about American Cabinet & Flooring by clicking on the following links: Angie's List Facebook Google Local CitySearch Yahoo Local Yellow Pages DexKnows Houzz Forward to a Friend GE Capital Fast. Smart. Simple. Quick Credit Decisions Simple & fast application process Low minimum monthly payments Come in & see a Sales Associate for program details and apply today!

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Kitchen Counters | High-Tech Solid Surfaces Make Maintenance Easy

Solid-surface countertops are the stuff of George Jetson, in which high-tech plastics can be heat sculpted into any imagined shape. These modern surfaces take on many appearances, including stone, yet shed the shortcomings of their counterparts with a nonporous surface that doesn't age or develop a patina. In this cutting-edge countertop right for your kitchen? Read on to learn more.

Photo: Wilsonart Solid Surface in BedrockThe basics: solid-surface counters are a blend of acrylic or polyester resins, powdered fillers and pigments, cast into slab. There are many manufacturers of these synthetic counters, including Dupont Corian, LG Hi-Macs, Wilsonart, Formica, Durat, Staron and LivingStone.

Cost: $50 to $100 per square foot installed.

Advantages: solid surface is durable nonporous, making it resistant to stains, mildew and bacteria. Its unique composition makes buffing out scratches a breeze and provides that appearance of a seamless installation, including for integral backsplashes. This product outshines its competitors with an ability to be thermoformed into unusual shapes and configurations.

Disadvantages: its resin-based composition makes this counter material sensitive to heat and vulnerable to scratches. As with many countertops, keep your trivets and cutting boards handy.

Sustainability: many solid-surface manufacturers tout GreenGuard's approval, which certifies that due to the nonporous surface and low chemical emissions, the countertop contributes to healthy indoor air quality.

The ecological shortcoming of these products is their composition, which comes from finite, nonrenewable resources, including petroleum and aluminum trihydrate (ATH), which is strip mined. Choosing a solid-surface product with recycled content, like Durat or Corian's Terra series, will reduce the negative environmental impact.

Maintenance: soapy water will suffice for everyday spiffing up of this easy-to-clean surface. However, it's essential to dry the surface completely after cleaning or spills, as wet counters can lead to a dull or uneven, blotchy finish.

Special considerations: acrylic solid surface is more pliable, whereas its polyester-based counterparts claim a deeper coloration. Dark colors will show more fingerprints.