CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL STONES SUCH AS PORCELAIN, MARBLE, AND QUARTZ PART 3

Which Materials Are Better?

In discussing natural stone materials and man-made materials, it is only natural to wonder which is better. The answer to that though is not s simple as it may seem. Why? Because preferences vary from one person to the next. That's why there are so many materials from which to choose. Let's look at some things that affect which kinds of materials individuals chose and why they make those choices.

The Amount of Traffic Affects Choice

Not all applications will be used in an environment consisting of the same amount of traffic. For example, the floor of a formal dining room may see less traffic than the main kitchen. The amount of traffic a floor receives will most likely play a role in what material the end user chooses. For high-traffic areas, it might be better to have a material that is harder and scratch resistant.

How the Surface Is Used, Location, and Environmental Factors Are Important

When deciding on a material to use, it is good to think about how the surface will be used. For example, a kitchen countertop will most likely be used for preparing meals. Additionally, kitchens are usually the central location for the activity. Thus, choosing a material that is durable and one that will withstand wear and tear is important to selecting a satisfactory surface.

Another example would be deciding on a material to use for a pool deck surface. The durability may be important, but perhaps a more important factor would be how slippery the surface may become if there is a lot of water on the surface.

Those are just a couple of examples that highlight how the choice of material is affected by other factors like usage, location, and environment. But this serves to illustrate the fact that there is no one material, or material type for that matter, that could be considered better than the others for every given scenario.

In conclusion, there are several choices of materials from which to choose. Having such a large number of materials that can be chosen in multiple classifications then is important to think about. The fact that there are many kinds of material with descriptions and names can add ambiguity to the understanding of natural and man-made materials. Hopefully, we have not only simplified for you the understanding of the differences but also clarified why there is no one specific solution that fits every situation.

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.