Solid Surface Materials is commonly known as artificial or synthetic marble/granite. It is a product of composite polymer resins that are durable, heat-resistant and with flame-retardant properties. It has a high tolerance to impact and does not damage easily. Solid Surface Materials is also non-porous, so, bacteria, molds and moisture cannot penetrate its surface. These features also make solid surface one of the few materials approved for use for sushi counters, commercial food service areas, and in health care facilities where hygiene and resistance to pathogens is important.

Solid Surface Materials have a pretty high heat and scratch resistance in addition to its unique seamless joint which makes it an excellent material for vanity tops, kitchen tops and various forms of counter tops. Other applications include signage and wall cladding. On-line showcase is available for you to experience the application of our product.

The term “ultra compact surface” is used to describe a completely new countertop surface that is made by putting the raw materials found in glass, porcelain, and quartz, under extreme heat and pressure to create and almost indestructible material. Ultra compact surfaces were created as an improvement to other countertop surfaces like quartz (Silestone®), granite, marble, and solid surface (Corian®).

It’s the extreme heat and pressure in the manufacturing process, and when we say “extreme” heat and pressure we mean it. Ultra compact surfaces are typically baked at 2191º Fahrenheit (that’s 1200º Celsius), and compressed at 5900 pounds per square inch. In fact, the press that the makes the product Dekton® by Cosentino® is the largest press of its kind in the world at 25,000 tons.

Quartz is one of the strongest and hardest minerals in existence. Because its surfaces contain 93% quartz, they are highly resistant to all kinds of cracks, chips, scratches and stains. However, like most materials, excessive force, high point loads, pressure or heat may cause damage to the surface. Like all surface materials, it should be treated with care. ?

Great Looks: For many buyers, the chief benefit of the quartz countertop is its natural luster. Unlike laminate, quartz has a deep, almost 3D appearance, much like natural stone.

Hardness: Quartz is extremely hard and makes for a good work surface. It is largely composed of minerals (contrasted with solid surface counters which are about 33% inorganic binding resins and 66% organic minerals). Laminate in no way rivals quartz in this area, because of laminate's wood base layer, which gives it a hollow feeling.

Few, If Any, Imperfections: Slab granite is a natural product, ripped straight from the earth and sliced into sheets; it is expected that slab will have imperfections. Installers have an easier time dealing with quartz than they do with granite because it is a predictable material and produces less waste product.

Quartz countertops are man-made engineered stone countertops formed by combining 90% ground quartz (a natural hard mineral) with 8-10% resins, polymers, and pigments. This forms a very hard granite-like surface. The appearance depends on how the quartz is ground: coarsely ground quartz produces a flecked appearance, while finely ground quartz produces a smooth look.

Granite is a common and widely-occurring group of intrusive felsic igneous rocks that form at great depths and pressures under continents. Granite consists of orthoclase and plagioclase feldspars, quartz, hornblende, biotite, muscovite and minor accessory minerals such as magnetite, garnet, zircon and apatite. Rarely, a pyroxene is present. Ordinary granite always carries a small amount of plagioclase, but when this is absent the rock is referred to as alkali granite. An increasing proportion of plagioclase feldspar causes granite to pass into granodiorite. A rock consisting of equal proportions of orthoclase and plagioclase plus quartz may be considered a quartz monzonite. A granite containing both muscovite and biotite micas is called a binary granite. The average density is 2.75 g/cm3 with a range of 1.74 to 2.80.

Granite countertops have recently become the material of choice for many homeowners remodeling their kitchens, mainly because granite is a very durable natural material used for home decor. Normal cookware, kitchen knives and cutlery can all be used on granite countertops without fear of scratching the surface. Man-made surfaces such as Formica, Corian, Wood Veneer, Avanza and Silestone cannot match up to the qualities found in granite.

It's good to know what marble is in order to understand how it behaves. It's a metamorphic stone, which is formed when sediment crystallizes under great heat or pressure to form hard rock. Marble is not the hardest of the these stones, however, making it porous and therefore susceptible to staining. Granite is also metamorphic and much harder (no staining), while soapstone is less hard (more staining). Marble is also formed out of calcium carbonate, giving it a chemical structure that reacts easily with acids and leads to etching on the surface.

Marble has been counted on for centuries by cultures across the globe to last as flooring, wall tile, and other surfaces. Although marble is susceptible to acidic substances and metal abrasion, it remains to be a surface to be counted on to look great for years, given that a cleaning and maintenance regimen is incorporated to make sure it retains its original look. Sealing the surface of marble with an impregnator can help to do this, and to make maintenance a much easier job.

There are two main types of finish you can get, but I would recommend a "honed" finish as it is the easiest wearing. Before I knew the difference I had a polished finish installed in my kitchen, and it's great, but it definitely feels messy more easily and makes me want to clean it more often. The shiny finish is the more uptight of the two.

Honed Finish - Created by sanding the surface so that it has a soft, matte finish, honed marble won't show scratches as much, shows the stone off as a little less bright and is more susceptible to staining as the pores are open. Sealing is therefore the solution.

Polished Finish - Polished to a shiny exterior, this finish won't stain as easily but it can scratch and etch. Polished surfaces are shiny and bright, but they will be worn down in time. If you prefer the worn look, go right for honed and skip the polished.

Yes you can! Whether you are simply cleaning down the whole countertop or working out a stain, marble cleaning is easy. Warm water and dish soap sprayed onto the counter works perfectly and, for stains, mixing baking soda and water into a paste and leaving overnight lifts stains out. I've had my marble countertops for about two years and I'm not a neatnik, AND I cook every day; they have no stains and a little etching that can only be seen in certain lights. Faith, the Executive Editor of our home cooking site, The Kitchn, has written extensively about living with her countertops and has loved her choice.

Yes. Because unpolished or honed marble has open pores, it is important to seal it if you want to limit stains over time. This can be done professionally at the beginning and then as a DIY in an ongoing fashion. While many people have commented that they have never felt the need to do this, it's not hard. Over at the Petch house they have done a bunch of demos and there's a also a simple step by step at WikiHow on how to apply Penetrating Sealant.

To protect your marble countertop from becoming stained, scratched, and permanently damaged by harmful chemicals, you must clean and seal the marble on a routine basis. When you apply a sealer to your countertop, the sealer will soak into the marble and protect the countertop from liquids and other substances that may absorb into the marble. Taking steps to protect your marble countertop will prevent its natural elements from cracking and breaking down internally, in addition to maintaining its luster and appearance.