WHY WE CHOOSE DEKTON COUNTERTOPS FOR OUR KITCHEN PART 1

Thinking about making a good choice for a kitchen renovation can be believed to be very easy. When faced with the variety of choices we needed to make about cabinets, countertops, appliances, tile, fixtures, lighting, etc., some of the decisions can be quick and easy, and others require a lot more thought.

Stone and solid surface countertops are such an important part of any kitchen renovation budget that it's crucial to do your research and determine exactly what type you want to use, as well as make sure you select a color and style you'll love for a lifetime.

Dekton is characterized as a beautiful and low-maintenance material for work surfaces and kitchen countertops. Dekton kitchen countertops first became available in 2013 and have since gained popularity as an alternative kitchen surface.

Dekton kitchen countertops come in porcelain, glass, and quartz, all of which are available in a variety of colors, design patterns, and finishes.

Dekton tiles are available in 5 different thicknesses: 4, 8, 12, 20, and 30 millimeters. Their slab measurements are also generally much larger than conventional countertops, as the standard dimensions are 320 x 144 centimeters. These larger slabs aid in the visual continuity of patterns and reduce the number of joints that will occur.

Dekton kitchen countertop styles

Thanks to Dekton's porcelain, glass, and quartz replica, you can provide various designs and styles.

Dekton kitchen countertops can come in solid-colored slabs or intricate designs and patterns. Dekton offers more than 40 different colors to choose from in shades of grey, black, white, Brown, and cream. Of the patterns available, popular styles include natural grained, natural grained, metallic, industrial, and natural irregular.

As with other countertop material options, you have several options for surface finish. Dekton calls them "textures". Finishing textures include matte and gloss polish and some into dishes like rust, slate, leather, and bush hammered.

If you're looking for a countertop surface that can withstand heat, stains, and major scratching, Dekton might just be the one. Dekton is a type of quartz, or man-made quartz, which is considered one of the most durable and low-maintenance countertop materials on the market. While conventional quartz products are extremely durable, Dekton may be taking quartz toughness to another level. In addition to kitchen and bath countertops, Dekton is specified for flooring and exterior applications, including building facades and outdoor kitchens.

The importance of having adequate equipment to cut dekton and porcelain

Dekton, among other alternative stone materials, continues to grow in popularity for applications such as countertops, flooring, and both interior and exterior wall cladding. Being a hard dense product, it is crucial to use appropriate tooling during the fabrication process. Carlos Sustaita, production director for STA Granite, provides several important tips of advice for those working with compact sintered stone.

Why do products such as Dekton need special/different tools than those that are used for cutting granite and marble?

Material hardness is the key to understanding why you need different tools to fabricate Dekton. The material has a

very high density (ultra-compact), which means that if you don’t use proper tools, you can either break the tool or the material or even worse, damage the machinery.

The cutting process requires trimming the edges to release tensions. Then you have to follow cutting recommendations, which include using plenty of water, the proper speed, feed rate, etc. Once you follow the rules, it’s a piece of cake.

When doing edging on Dekton, What is the difference in the process compared to a natural stone?

In this sense, Dekton’s edge is very easy to work with since the material is very homogeneous, and it is easy to get very good results. Any fabricator can do it well on the first attempt.

What are some common mistakes that fabricators are making when it comes to cutting this material? And, what are some common mistakes with doing edging or doing sinkholes or something?

The main mistake is trying to fabricate Dekton as if it was a granite or quartz composite. You will fail if you use the same tools, speed rates, and so on. Another common mistake is trying to cut Dekton in uneven support. It is a common source of problems too.

Sometimes people ask about what machine is best to cut Dekton. I believe the key is not the machine but the tools and proper maintenance. I have seen people with very modest equipment doing amazing things and the other way around.

7 Keys for Cutting Ultra-Compact and Sintered Dekton and Porcelain Materials

1. Water

It may seem too simple or too intuitive to matter, but less than adequate water AND hoses positioned incorrectly is the most common error causing headaches among cutting these materials.

2. Check your table level

One of the more overlooked aspects of successful cutting is, to the degree that your table is not level in the horizontal plane, vibrations will occur. This unevenness can result in chipping and likely breaking the edge of your slab.

3. Buy the right blade

As cliche, as it may sound, choosing the right blade for the material you are processing, is critical.

4. Removing tensioning strips

While each manufacturer of ultra-compact and sintered porcelain materials may, or may not have tensioning strips built into the perimeters of each slab, if they are not removed before cutting, the slab is at higher risk of cracking or breaking.

5. Feed rate and RPMs

Using the same feed rate and RPMs you may be accustomed to when cutting other materials can be a recipe for trouble. Unlike fabricating more common materials such as marble and granite, we’ve seen the most success cutting ultra-compact and sintered porcelain materials when following a systemized approach is used.

6. Avoiding Plunging

While plunge cutting tends to be of little concern for most sawyers when cutting ultra-compact and sintered porcelain materials it can pose big problems resulting in cracking or breaking your slab.

7. Cutting Sinks

Projects requiring a sink cut-out can be an obstacle many fabricators dread. Since we already know plunging is not the ideal way to go about this, what are your options? When preparing a sink cut-out, it is advised to drill each of the four corners with a 1/2” core bit before to start initiating cutting.