You Can Count on Granite

Granite countertops completely transform rooms and are more affordable than you may think.

Rex Marsh, owner of Harmony Star Marble.

The term “flipping” has become popular in the real estate world in the past decade; in fact, there are even several television shows dedicated to the subject. To “flip” a house, a buyer purchases at a low cost a home in need of updating, finds the best and least expensive ways to do the updating and needed repairs, and then sells the home at a profit. Rex Marsh, owner of Harmony Star Marble, reports that he has seen a lot of flipping going on as the economy seems to be making an upward turn. He has often been called on to make kitchens and baths look like new by installing granite or marble countertops and surrounds, not only for those who are in the real estate market, but for those who just want to give their homes a fresh, new appearance.

    “Granite especially gives the room a whole new, updated look,” says Rex. “Most new kitchens have granite countertops, and baths have granite counters and showers with ­cultured marble or manufactured stone.” Harmony Star Marble is Claremore’s only natural granite company.

    Rex reports that clients have shifted from granite-looking products to actual granite because the cost of true granite has gone down significantly in recent years and is no more expensive than its manmade counterpart. Granite is one of the hardest, most durable ­surfaces on the earth, and its ­reputation has grown as people have looked past the rumors of high upkeep, which Rex points out couldn’t be further from the truth. “People used to believe that true granite is hard to clean,” says Rex. “But it’s truly easy – wash down with warm soap and water, rinse with clear water, and you’re done.”

    Along with granite in kitchens, Rex has been installing many Blanco Siligranit sinks, also easy to clean. Blanco Siligranit sinks are made of a material ­consisting of 80 percent natural granite stone, which has been chemically polymerized with resin, creating a naturally hard, non-porous material that is ­resistant to chipping, scratching and staining, and is highly heat-resistant (up to 536 °F) – all of which make the Blanco Siligranit sink a perfect companion to a granite countertop.

    “We perform a lot of ‘turnkey’ operations,” says Rex, who explains that ‘turnkey’ means that he takes care of all the details surrounding the ­countertop installation and arranges for any plumber or ­electrician, if needed. “This way the client doesn’t have to worry about these things,” says Rex, who points out that being in business in this area for 30 years has enabled him to have good relationships with quality ­contractors. Rex reports that most kitchen and bath jobs can be completed in one to two days.

    With granite and marble, style does not have to be ­sacrificed for durability, and Harmony Star Marble offers a huge selection of color choices to fit any décor. “If we don’t have something on our lot here, we have warehouses in Tulsa and Broken Arrow,” says Rex. So if you are ready to give your home a fresh new look at an affordable price, visit the Harmony Star Marble ­showroom or call for your ­consultation and estimate today.

For more information, contact

Harmony Star Marble & Granite

www.harmonystarmarble.com