Many people have a hard time deciding between natural stone and engineered stone for their bathroom and kitchen surfaces. This is quite understandable given the numerous advantages and disadvantages provided by each material. Further complicating matters is the fact that today’s stone market offers a plethora of choice, both in natural stones and the engineered variety.

We are not here to tell you which is the best choice. In fact, there is no right answer here because of the many variables at play; when choosing which route to take, each individual homeowner will have a different set of preferences and particular circumstances that influence his or her decision.

What we WILL do today is talk a bit about the many Engineered Stones available in the market. Products such as Quantum Quartz Stone, Caesarstone, Smartstone, Silestone, etc.

Natural stone, as a means of constructing interior surfaces, is one of the oldest, most beautiful and luxurious materials in the world of architecture and design.

Just what is engineered stone?

Engineered stone is manufactured by combining natural stone chips, various fillings and polyester resins into a solid agglomerate.

It is a great material for the construction of kitchen bars, kitchen benchtops, bathroom vanities and other surfaces. Some designers even choose to incorporate engineered stone into window sills, walls, and floors. No matter what your project is, Quantum Quartz Stone, Caesarstone, Silestone, and Smartstone can provide you with the specific qualities you are looking for.

With the latest technologies, engineered stone manufacturers can imbue their products a great variety. Engineered stone is easy to shape and comes in a dizzying array of colours, tones, and shades. Engineered stone can be a single colour, have a granular pattern, have a mirror shine, a matte finish, etc. Therefore, from a design perspective, engineered stone gives an unparalleled sense of creative and artistic freedom.

Engineered stone is also very resistant to scratches, cracks, and other types of damage and, if properly taken care of, can last for many years. These qualities make engineered stone a solid option for kitchen countertops. The ability to quickly clean any dirt, soot and stains from the surface makes this material a highly popular choice for vanity tops.

Are there any downsides to engineered stone?
To be fair, those who ascribe to the school of Ecodesign might want to steer clear of engineered stone because it is, after all, artificial. Designers who value uniqueness will almost always opt for the diverse variety of natural stone. Additionally, the industrial manufacturing process behind engineered stone products makes it difficult to include in traditional rural or rustic designs.

Stone Fabricators

Stone goes through a process that transforms it from its naturally found state, into the beautiful finished product that gets delivered and installed into your home as kitchen benchtops, bathrooms and more. You may not realise how much happens to get the stone from its natural quarry to its final high quality finished state. This process is what’s called Stone Fabrication. The people who perform this task are the Stone Fabricators.

What Stone Fabricators Do?

Stone fabricators can help you to choose the right material and the correct amount for your job.

The practical element generally includes measuring the dimensions of the area you would like your stone to be installed, to determine how much stone will be needed to complete the job. Once this is done, the type of stone material, shades and colours can be considered from the available supplies.

Structural integrity and density of the stone material is also another important element to be considered. Stone strength and quality can vary between the different types of slabs that are available. Even when the stone is taken from the same quarry, the stones can be significantly different.  Stone fabricators will generally have good quality control over the slabs that are available, as they are working with material from the same slab on a regular basis.

Stone Fabrication

Stone fabricators can assist with all of the above choices, all of these things will need to be decided and worked out before the fabrication process itself begins.

When fabrication of the stone takes place, final inspections will take place to search for any cracks, blemishes, scratches or fissures. The slab will then be laid out to ensure the best visual of the colour and vein texture. Following this, the stone will be cut within a few mm of its final thickness. Edging and any other design works to the slab will further shape the stone. Once the slab shape is almost complete, a multi-step process involving different levels of polish will be used to polish and smooth the surface of the stone, followed by washing, drying and the stone being sealed for use. All this work generally occurs away from the job site, and the final slabs will be delivered to the location of install, ready for installation.

Contact Made in Stone today to discuss your stone needs and see how we can assist you with your next project or build!