ENGINEERED STONE
Engineered stone also known as man-made, reconstituted or manufactured stone; is a man-made product that dates back from the late 1980’s. The main component in engineered stone is quartz which is one of nature’s strongest minerals- rated at 7 on MOHS scale of mineral hardness.
Engineered stone is usually made from a mixture of resins, cement and natural stone chips such as marble, granite, basalt or quartz and coloured pigments. The raw materials are inspected then mixed and blended together, poured into the slab mould. The mix is then highly compacted into a dense form by vacuum, vibration and pressure, cured in a kiln then cooled. The slabs are then cut into sheets and polished.
Most manufactured stones are designed to imitate the popular textures and colours of natural stones, especially marble and granite.
Benefits
- Usually quite uniform in colour and texture which can save time when matching with other finishes such as flooring, cabinetry and paint colours
- Large range of colours and textures
- Can be more affordable compared to natural stone- depending on the colour/ price range
- Non-Porous
- High resistance to scratching & chipping
- High abrasion resistance
- High resistance to acids & oils
- Strong resistance to staining
- High flexural strength
- Heat resistant
Disadvantages
- Less choice of unique, natural textures and colours (natural stone has a unique beauty because of its natural flaws, textures, patterns, grain and colours)
- Less resistance to bacteria after cleaning than granite (as indicated in controlled trials)
- Less prestige than natural stone
- Highly resistant to scratching and staining but not totally scratch and stain resistant as often marketed and is possibly still less scratch and stain resistant than granite over time. Manufacturers still recommend the use of a cutting board and heat plate for hot pots.
- Although it is heat resistant it can be affected by extreme heat.
Silestone is a compound made up of 94% natural quartz, which make it extraordinarily hard and resilient. It is an excellent surface for kitchen benchtops, bathrooms, floors and wall cladding using the minimum number of joints.
Silestone is a non-porous surface and highly resistant to stains from coffee, wine, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, makeup and many other everyday products. Silestone is a registered trade name of Cosentino. It contains a high percentage of quartz, has a shimmering quality contains an anti-bacterial product.
The Caesarstone® brand is one of the leading brands of quartz surfaces in Australia. Operating in Australia since 2001, Caesarstone® has branches in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia.
Created from up to 93% natural quartz aggregates, organic pigments and enhanced polymer resins, Boasting a colour collection of 48 colours currently; Caesarstone® provides a surface with exceptional properties of heat, stain, scratch and chip resistance.
TrendStone™ Quartz is an engineered stone manufactured from up to 93% quartz and the balance made from polymer resins and pigments. Quartz is one of the hardest natural stones on earth, making TrendStone a naturally strong and non-porous product.
TrendStone offers the largest slabs currently available in our market at 3200 x 1600mm. Many other comparable quartz products are available in much smaller slabs that are only 3060 x 1440mm. Super-size slabs provide you with the ability to minimise unsightly joins in countertops and provide more economic cutting of your countertops that will save you money.
TrendStone slabs are available in 20mm and 30mm thicknesses.
http://www.projectstone.com.au/collections/engineered-stone/trendstone-quartz
With a wide range of designer colours, stunning patterns and finishes, YDL quartz stone is easier to work with, making it ideal for designers and high-end installations.
YDL quartz stone surface is non-porous so spills clean off effortlessly. We create this surface by using natural quartz (approximately 93%) with high-quality polymer resins (approximately 7%) and natural, colourful pigments.
The team of YDL Stone understand every stage of supplying the best quartz stone on the market. Our range of product samples and product literature gives you the confidence to select the right stone for a flawless finish.
To appreciate the sheer beauty and scope of our designer range, we invite you to visit a YDL Stone display centre and consult with us.
Quantum Quartz engineered stone contains more than 93% natural quartz, the remaining content consists of a bonding agent, pigment and additives that creates the over 40 different varieties of stone on offer.
The most popular applications for Quantum Quartz are kitchen, vanity and other bench top applications as well as flooring. Quantum Quartz is an ideal choice for an application that is stylish, low in maintenance and ultra-hygienic. It is ideal for residential and commercial indoor applications.
Quantum Quartz is available in slab format which is fabricated to your specific needs by a stone mason. Slabs come in the size of: 1440 x 3040 x 20mm.
Smartstone quartz surfaces are manufactured with a minimum of 93% quartz, combined with pigments and resins which make the surface highly durable. Smartstone quartz surfaces can be used in virtually any residential or commercial indoor surfacing application, and is an ideal choice for kitchen bench tops, splashbacks, bathroom vanities, bath surrounds and wall panelling due to their non-porous quality.
Smartstones collection of over 30 colours represents the some of the finest quartz surfaces combining beauty, function, innovation and value. Their slabs come in 1 of 2 larger, more versatile slab sizes which can be more economical and offer great design possibilities.
Each product has been developed and engineered to the highest standard for the Australian market. Established in 2002, Smartstone presents competitive price categories, making luxurious and prestigious stone affordable.
Essastone® brought to you by Laminex is a remarkably durable and virtually maintenance free quartz surface material and is made by some of the world’s leading manufacturers of engineered stone surfaces, made with up to 95% natural quartz.
Essastone’s latest designs offer the look of Luxurious natural stone, in a range that varies from classic to modern industrial style.
Essastone offer a range of finish options including matte, gloss, igneous and weathered. All Essastone colours come in the slab size of: 1410 x 30500 x 20mm. With some colours available in jumbo slab sizes of: 3250 x 1600 x 20mm.