Stone countertop - we change the interior of the kitchen. Application features
A stone countertop for the kitchen makes it easier to prepare, decorate the room, for a long time it serves the owners. Let's look at the most current options that can emphasize the character of your room.
Content:
Features of artificial stone
You can ask the question: why do we need to study the characteristics of the material, its features. Everything is quite simple. Manufacturers make furniture from MDF, DSD, wood, plastic glass. But in the catalogs of furniture do not write about the shortcomings of the material.
As a result, acquiring a "cat in a bag" over time has to deal with mold at the joints, the side parts that get water, swell. I will not further list all the charms of cheap material.
Facilitates cooking, decorates the room, long serves the owners
For kitchen work, it is necessary to choose furniture that is safe, does not emit harmful substances, is durable, resists well to shocks, falling dishes. Why these features need to be taken into account? You must be sure that no chips, cracks after the preparation of chops, or a knife falling onto the surface will appear on the tabletop.
There are more important things. WITH furnished products come into contact, so furniture must be safe for health. I did not say about safety in vain, since the name of the ingredients for manufacturing: polymer binders, aluminum trihydrate, acrylic resin can be confusing.
Do not worry: all the ingredients for the production of liquid stone are thoroughly tested and do not affect health.
The high price of natural stone countertops make them available only to units. Unlike natural materials, artificial counterparts are cheaper. Such material imitates natural stone quite well.
Practical coating
| Type of material | pros | Minuses |
|---|---|---|
| Agglomerate | Decorative properties: resistant color. Resists abrasive materials and acids. Uncomplicated care (does not require expensive detergents). Representative expensive view. Heat resistance (not afraid of hot and cold dishes). Durable (does not lose its properties 10 years). | The tabletop is heavy. Difficult installation. A small selection of colors and textures. Joints difficult to mask. Not repaired. |
| Liquid stone | Resistant color (the material does not fade, does not change the shade during operation). Lack of seams (there are no restrictions on length of a table-top). Scratches, the effects of blows are repaired. Decorative look. Manufacturers can create complex shapes. Large selection of colors and textures. Uncomplicated in care. | High price. Crumble from hard shots. Poor resistance to acids. The heat resistance is low (supports are necessary). Difficult installation. Long production time more than 21 days. |
The perfect combination with wood
Unique options
Tell you about the "liquid stone." Do you think how you can combine the hardness of the stone and the fluid flow properties? The developers of artificial material took the beneficial properties of these substances. The result is an ideal kitchen surface.
What does it consist of:
- Polyester resins - from 30 to 40 percent of a polymeric binder.
- Colored granules - from 60 to 70 percent of decorative filler.
Hi-tech style
Fillers have a second name - chips. Their shade, size, texture affects the color and pattern of the surface. Manufacturers mix colored granules in different interpretations in order to obtain unique color compositions.
The manufacturing process is complex:
- The above listed quality mixes are prepared.
- Liquid stone is applied to the surface with specified dimensions, parameters. Take into account where the sink will be.
- Selects the thickness of the layer. Standard size for products from 3 mm to 15 mm.
- Long drying process.
- The final polished surface.
What makes this offer attractive to you? I will talk about three directions.:
- characteristics;
- decorative;
- financially.
Let's start with the last one. Liquid artificial stone is much cheaper than a sheet and several times the price is lower than the natural one. At the same time the working surface for the kitchen does not lose its attractive appearance for up to 10 years.
Maintains temperature to 180º
Countertops have ideal characteristics for the kitchen. Does not pass and does not absorb moisture (in any form). As a result, do not have to deal with mold. Safe from the point of view of hygiene. There are no pores in dense material, food remains do not remain on the surface. Consequently, bacteria, microbes have less space for reproduction.
Maintains temperature to 180º. What could be better. Do not need coasters.
The interior becomes more neat and pleasing to the eye.
Will last for many years
And now about the main thing from the decorative point of view. Various color sets are made of this material.
Well imitate:
- granite;
- marble;
- sandstone.
For lovers of modern design trends, manufacturers make products in white or black. The work surface and the table become an art object.
return to menu ↑Artificial liquid stone
Let's talk about acrylic surfaces. In the production of used acrylic, solid stone, for example, granite and pigment. The blending properties of this composition when mixed make it possible to produce any form:
- round;
- oval;
- curved.
Ecologically safe
Let's talk about the advantages for design and operation:
- Environmentally friendly. Hypoallergenic. It is important for cooking and health.
- It has an expensive and decorative look. Even laconic product options look solemn.
- There are no restrictions on the manufacture of any size and shape. In large rooms, tables are created without seams. In small it is easier to place the necessary furniture.
- Thanks to technology there are no docking seams. Do not get the remnants of food, do not spoil the edges.
- It does not react to ultraviolet rays, as a result, it does not fade over the years and retains its original color.
- It is more pleasant to the touch, unlike a natural stone.
- Large color variety over 500 different shades. Choose for yourself the original version is easy.
Hypoallergenic material
Let's be honest: there are drawbacks.
Some can be overcome on their own:
- The main one that scares away is the price in comparison with MDF, laminated surfaces, chipboard. But cheap materials have a number of drawbacks. One of them is fragile. And the expensive artificial stone is durable.
- Low temperature resistant acrylic models. But it can be solved with the help of decorative stands.
- Long production period. It is necessary to adhere to the correct technology to get high-quality material.
- The difficult process of installing countertops. Works are performed only by professional installers.
- Some models are destroyed by alkalis and acids. But if we consider that these materials are not so often used in the kitchen, the danger is reduced to a minimum.
There are no restrictions on the manufacture of any size and shape.
Perhaps you think that the words: "you can make a tabletop of any shape" is a common advertising technique.
Leave at a certain temperature for hardening, then carefully polished and gently polished.
It has an expensive and decorative look.
To remove air from above evenly stack the load. Stand one and a half - two hours. After that, the load is removed and the whole structure is filled with a solution for final finishing.
After this, the process is repeated, as in the first case:
- grinding;
- milling;
- polishing.
As a result, the base or the workpiece is protected from exposure to the external environment. Unusual bends are created. Butts neat. Below I will talk about the use of various types of liquid stone for interior decoration. You will understand why this material remains relevant.
return to menu ↑Modern models of quartz agglomerate
Quartz agglomerate is often recommended for kitchen countertops for several reasons. Why would you know the details? Do I need to delve into the production process? Find out what characteristics the material has?
Quartz Agglomerate
But let's think about why there are special requirements for kitchen furniture? Important safety, resistance to physical stress, heat resistance.
Consider the benefits of stone:
- It is easier to choose a uniform tone for furniture of complex shape, consisting of several fragments. The beauty of the interior and harmony are guaranteed. This is important both in the neoclassical interiors of large houses, and in laconic kitchens in standard panel houses.
- From the material is easy to model the details. He bends well and can be processed. There are no cracks in the production process.
- Withstands very high loads, so you can safely install heavy kitchen equipment. It does not deform the tabletop.
- Durable headsets, thanks to the exclusive qualities of the material, eventually turn into antiques. If you choose the classic option, it will not get bored for a long time and will always be in trend.
- Good treatment: easy to cut a hole under the sink or hob. Some materials crumble during such manipulations, and the moisture does its job and the headset falls apart. Such a misfortune will not happen with artificial stone.
- Not afraid of the effects of acids and corrosive chlorine compounds that are used for cleaning.
- Resistant to mold and mildew. Waterproof.
- Good resistance to temperature drops, which is extremely important when cooking.
It is easy to choose a uniform tone for furniture of complex shape.
To make the right choice learn about the shortcomings. As we said above: who is forewarned is protected.
They are few, but there are:
- The maximum length of the slab is 3 m. If it is necessary to manufacture furniture of greater length, it is not always possible to perfectly mask the joint seams. However, this problem can be solved with decorative transition plates or filled with colored pigment based on glue.
- The surface is not restored. But let's be frank, few of the owners from morning till evening knocks with a hammer on the surface of the furniture.
- Transportation of the workpiece is carried out exclusively in an upright position. But this is more of a manufacturer problem. They organize transportation and installation on the kitchen.
- Plates are thin: from 20 to 30 mm. If necessary, increase the thickness of the method of pasting.
Application in interiors
Production features are described in order to evaluate the physical characteristics of the material. Manufacturing technology is not mentioned for short. Artificial stone is an ideal option for making high-quality, durable furniture for the kitchen.
Stylish, beautiful kitchen
If you need to make corner tables, bar counter an unusual shape, a kitchen island, to create an exquisite connection of the tabletop sink, there is a dilemma about which material to use. It is difficult to make of chipboard, MDF, ceramic tile does not have sufficient strength, wood and natural stone are expensive. The advantages of artificial stone are obvious.
Corner kitchens are placed in different ways. It can be L-shaped or U-shaped arrangement. Combining a standard working area and a window sill can be considered convenient.
Part of the countertop is used as a dining table.
Modern is distinguished by smooth lines.
Each style is a manifestation of your individuality.
Provence style
Make your choice deliberately, having familiarized yourself with all styles beforehand.
Loft style
Choosing the color of the tabletop, take into account several factors. It can complement the overall color direction of the design, become a color spot, mask the imperfections of the room (small size, elongated shape).
It will be interesting for you:
Daily care to maintain order
Depending on the type of artificial stone, choose detergents. If you have any questions, check with the manufacturer. Basic tips below.
Looks expensive and bohemian
With liquid artificial stone a little different.
Countertop Mounting
Detailed instructions
