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The kitchen tends to be the home’s gathering place, so it’s only natural you want it to look and feel  welcoming. But as the hub of your home, your kitchen needs durable countertops, especially if you have little ones helping with the cooking. Quartz countertops are a trendy choice for kitchens, but before you get in touch with your contractor, it’s important to assess the pros and cons and review some alternatives.  What Are the Pros and Cons of Quartz Countertops? Pros of Quartz Kitchen Countertops Durable : Quartz countertops are highly durable, made from a mix of stones and stone-like materials bound together with resins. Makers of quartz countertops press the materials and resin into slabs that are solid and nonporous. That means the counters won’t chip or crack with everyday use (like when your little ones are helping you cook).  Stain-resistant : Quartz is highly stain-resistant, thanks to its nonporous surface. But it can be stained by certain substances — l...

This weekend temperatures plunged far below zero in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont as residents hunkered down and tried to stay warm. Mount Washington set a record for coldest wind chill ever recorded at minus 108 degrees!  As a landlord, my phone was non-stop yesterday.  Unfortunately, these record low temps resulted in some frozen pipes at my apartments buildings.     The best way to deal with freezing pipes is to prevent them in the first place.  But if the unthinkable does happen, you’ll have to act fast to minimize the damage and cost of repairs. Why Freezing Pipes Burst Not all freezing pipes burst. But when one does, it’s because water expands when it freezes, adding considerable pressure on unyielding plumbing pipes. That pressure can cause a tiny leak at a joint or crack on a length of pipe, unleashing the full flow of water inside your home. How to Identify Freezing Pipes A water line coated in frost (or bulging like a well-...