THE MOST POPULAR GRANITE COUNTERTOP COLORS OF 2023 PART 3

Steel gray granite

There is no doubt that Steel Gray is currently the most famous dark gray granite in the world, which is selected and applied by many projects. Of course, it is still the most used kitchen countertop. Of course, the supply of this material is stable and the price is advantageous. At the same time, it is very advantageous to be able to source from India and China.

Antique White Granite

Bianco Antico granite is a very famous and excellent natural granite. The mines of this material come from Brazil and are widely used in kitchen countertops and floor work. It not only has a very beautiful appearance, but also adds value to the customer's kitchen, and it is a material that can be used for a long time and is easy to maintain.

WHITE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS

When we introduce white granite countertops, most people will have a sense of self. Because we will often see white granite countertop products on the market. It is indisputable that this material will continue the previous fashion trend because this material has been recognized by most countries and regions in the world.

White Galaxy Granite

As the name suggests, the appearance of the material resembles the mystery of the Galaxy. The light white background color and the black dots resemble the stars in the sky, which is unforgettable. This material is very color stable and can be cut into large sizes to meet the requirements of different tables. Especially, when people use it on countertops, it can perfectly show the charm of natural granite.

River white granite

This material is not a new granite material, it is a material that has been tested and recognized by the market. At the same time, Indian granite has the advantages of its granite, the price is competitive, the material is hard, and it has a large size that can be cut. Of course, this material is also perfectly designed. You can make your kitchen project recognized by the end customer.

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.