Welcome to Myth-Busting Mondays where we DEBUNK the myths surrounding popular products used around the home!
Engineered or Composite stones such as Caesarstone, Quantum Quartz, Smartstone and Essastone are used in most new kitchens or kitchen renovations these days. These popular benchtop products are highly durable, stylish and easy to maintain, especially when compared to natural stones such as marble and granite.
However, there are some mixed reviews out there causing consumers to question the overall quality and durability of engineered stones. We thought we’d target some key concerns raised by clients in the past and hopefully DEBUNK some of the myths surrounding this popular benchtop option.
For our first post, we’ll be discussing concerns chipping in Engineered Stone products, followed in the next few weeks by: cracking, staining and the accuracy of samples, all key concerns regarding Engineered Stone products.
Myth #1 – Engineered Stone chips easily
Many reviews will tell you that engineered stone is likely to chip and therefore, is not quite living up to all the hype. Yes, engineered stones CAN chip however, with proper installation, edge detailing and care the stone is significantly less likely to be damaged.
Think about it: where are chips most likely to occur?
Chipping only occurs on the edges of stone benchtops therefore, it is worth considering the attention to detail that is given to the edge profile and any other exposed edges of your stone benchtop such as exposed stone surrounding an undermounted kitchen sink.
Chipping is much more common in benchtops that have been installed with a sharp radius. A minimum radius of 3-4mm is required to all exposed edges of engineered stone, with a 6mm radius being recommended as the most suitable option. Any exposed edges of stone around undermounted sinks should also meet these requirements as they too can be prone to chipping with accidental bumps from pots and pans.
Brands such as Caesarstone for example, can also refer you to their approved stone specialists who will review your chipped benchtop and mend it in the best way possible to achieve a satisfactory result. Larger chips however, usually cannot be mended (or at least not in a way that will not be noticeable!); small nicks such as in the example pictured in the image below can usually be repaired by a professional.
It is important to point out here that although meeting the above requirements will minimise the risk of chipping an engineered stone benchtop, chips can always occur with excessive force on the edge so do ensure care is taken; After all, nothing is completely bulletproof!
Click to read the next post: MYTH #2: Cracking in Engineered Stone