Silestone quartz joints

Sedge123

I think we've decided on Silestone quartz worktop snow. Just a question before we trek to s showroom to make a final decision. What are the joints like? Hubby originally liked Corian as joints could be invisible. Could you achieve the same effect with Silestone?

moneyistooshorttomention

I'm not aware of worktops made from Corina.

Do you mean Corian?

Re Silestone - I'm in process of planning a new kitchen with Silestone worktops. I decided against Corian (if that's what you mean) - due to various other problems I understand it has. Eg I gather it loses its nice "polish" look it has over time and may be a bit vulnerable to damage/staining.

Then the crunch came - I read that they may be calling the material used to make it by some "fancier" name - but actually it's made of plastic. Decision made = definitely not then.

I understand quartz is nearly 100% natural material. I think I could only go more "natural" than that with granite or wood.

I hate joints in worksurfaces too. I'm told that I will see a bit of a sign of a joint - but it will be pretty much unnoticeable and will just amount to a very very small v shape "nick" sort of feature at the front edge of the two joining sections of worktop. Don't know if that is correct or no?

System

Some of the silestone finishes are practically seamless on the joints. But it really depends on which one you go for, most salesmen will advise on this or have examples of joints to show

EssexExile

The joints in quartz can be just about invisible.I suppose it depends on the style & it definitely depends on the workmanship. We have a speckly Caesarstone & you can't see most of the joints but one you can, probably because they cut that piece wrong & had to change it.

Sedge123

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I'm not aware of worktops made from Corina.

Do you mean Corian?

Re Silestone - I'm in process of planning a new kitchen with Silestone worktops. I decided against Corian (if that's what you mean) - due to various other problems I understand it has. Eg I gather it loses its nice "polish" look it has over time and may be a bit vulnerable to damage/staining.

Then the crunch came - I read that they may be calling the material used to make it by some "fancier" name - but actually it's made of plastic. Decision made = definitely not then.

I understand quartz is nearly 100% natural material. I think I could only go more "natural" than that with granite or wood.

I hate joints in worksurfaces too. I'm told that I will see a bit of a sign of a joint - but it will be pretty much unnoticeable and will just amount to a very very small v shape "nick" sort of feature at the front edge of the two joining sections of worktop. Don't know if that is correct or no?

Thank you. Yes I did mean corian- predictive text!!

That's really interesting re the joins, thank you

moneyistooshorttomention

the_r_sole wrote: »

Some of the silestone finishes are practically seamless on the joints. But it really depends on which one you go for, most salesmen will advise on this or have examples of joints to show

I admit I'm still getting a bit confused about these different silestone finishes. I've decided what sort of colour I want my worktops in - but can't really figure out what the different finishes are/what they mean.

An idiots guide to that would be very useful please:)

I know I just keep running my hands approvingly up and down on those integral sinks and their matching work surfaces whenever I spot them in display showrooms - so I'm guessing that the type of "finish" I want is that one - whatever it is....it's sort of marble like (though, in my case - I'm probably not going to choose a shade of white). So I guess I probably want one that is marble-like veins and marble-like smoothness - but in a colour of my choice iyswim.

EssexExile

I suspect that if it is veined like marble then the joints could be quite obvious as the pattern changes. Mine is similar to this:
http://www.caesarstone.co.uk/catalogue/classico/6270-atlantic-salt/
& the joints are (mostly) invisible.

moneyistooshorttomention

EssexExile wrote: »

I suspect that if it is veined like marble then the joints could be quite obvious as the pattern changes. Mine is similar to this:
http://www.caesarstone.co.uk/catalogue/classico/6270-atlantic-salt/
& the joints are (mostly) invisible.

Sounds like I personally want one that is a "polished" finish and not in a marble type look then....

I guess it's sort of an equivalent situation to dressmaking - ie big patterns at seams have to be matched up very carefully, small patterns still with some degree of care at seams, plain and it's nearly trouble-free (just make sure the cloth sorta "goes the same direction").

gwynlas

It will depend on shape of kitchen and position of cut outs for sink and hob.
Stone pattern will run at rightangle where you turn a corner, if this bothers you then you would need a jig fitted laminated worktop.

FreeBear

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Then the crunch came - I read that they may be calling the material used to make it by some "fancier" name - but actually it's made of plastic. Decision made = definitely not then.

I understand quartz is nearly 100% natural material. I think I could only go more "natural" than that with granite or wood.

Silestone is made with 94% of quartz particles. The remaining 6% is a resin binder, which is just one type of plastic.

Whilst quartz is a natural material, like granite, there is an environmental impact from mining, processing, and transportation. Whilst wood also incurs processing & transport costs, it is a renewable source of material (as long as we keep planting trees). Unfortunately, with worktops, there is still quite a bit of man made adhesives & resins used in the manufacturing process, so still not entirely natural or green.

On the subject of wood - There is one other renewable material being used for worktops. Bamboo. Some of the fastest growing plants in the world.