Natural v Reconstituted
Our stonemasons are regularly working with a variety of materials from a wide range of options. The well known reconstituted or ‘engineered’ quartz stone is a popular alternative to natural materials due to it’s strength and durability and is available from multiple supplier brands. Natural marble and granites are traditionally the ultimate statement of luxury. These unique options are making a comeback in recent times even where ultra compact surfaces such as Dekton, Neolith, Q6+ and other porcelains have entered the market and gained a high acclaim with architects and designers.
What is Natural Stone?
Natural stone refers to granite, marble, travertine, limestone, quartzite and other materials quarried from various parts of the world. Due to this, each slab processed from the blocks will be entirely unique' The various types of stone are categorized by the formation process which takes years. When referring to Mohs Hardness Scale at which the minerals are rated on their resistance to scratching; marble sits at around level 3 as it is a softer and more porous hence being commonly used for wet areas such as bathrooms, powder rooms and laundries. Granite sits at around level 7 due to its hardness and is popularly used in kitchens.
Natural stone requires regular sealing to help maintain its look and may stain easily. It is important to note that sealing does not prevent staining.
Speak to our friendly team for further information on natural materials for your project.
What is Reconstituted Stone?
Reconstituted Stone or 'engineered stone' is an alternative material popularly used in domestic and commercial applications due to its strength and durability.
Manufactured using composite materials, including up to 95% quartz, crushed rock, granite, glass chips, glues and resins, the silestone in Melbourne becomes a highly versatile and low maintenance option.
Some of the advantages to using reconstituted stone for silestone benchtops include its non-porous low absorption rate as well as its:
Resistance to stains – Highly resistant to staining from coffee, wine, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, make-up and many other everyday products, silestone benchtops are very easy to clean.
Resistance to scratching – Compared to natural marble which is softer and more fragile, quartz has a hardness of 7 in the Mohs hardness scale. A diamond in comparison is a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Colour range – Within the many suppliers available to Australians, there is a wide range of silestone colours and various textures to choose from. Caesarstone, Essa Stone, Quantum Quartz, Silestone, Smartstone, Stone Ambassador, RHF Stone, YDL Stone are some of the popular brands.
Versatility – Reconstituted stone can be used in any interior décor such as your kitchen benchtops and splashbacks, bathroom, counter tops, reception desks, panels, bath tubs and bath surrounds, floors, walls, bar counters, tables and desks.
Resistance to knocks – Due to its composition of quartz and polyester resin, quartz has high level of resistance to knocks.