Super-thin and extra-thick bench top trends

trends
Photo 1: Neolith porcelain by
CDK Stone is available in three
thicknesses which have multiple
applications on internal and
external, horizontal and vertical
surfaces, including bench tops
where 12mm slabs are applied.
Super-thin and extra-thick
bench top trends
According to the highly valued HIA-GWA Kitchens and Bathrooms report, which
was published in February, significant benefits are being derived from the recent
upturn in new housing construction, which increased by almost 10 per cent in 2013
with New South Wales leading the way.
T
he recent slump in home renovations is slowly
abating as property prices continue to rise and
interest rates remain low.
The HIA identified the following points as being
the key findings of the report:
●●
●●
●●
In 2012/13 the total number of kitchen installations
in new homes increased by 11.7 per cent, outperforming our forecast, this time last year, of a rise of
2.6 per cent. The number of installations is forecast
to increase by 2.8 per cent in 2013/14 to a level of
166,500. A flat year is forecast for 2014/15, followed
by modest growth of 1.0 per cent in 2015/16 which
would take the total number of new kitchen installations to 168,300.
The total number of bathroom installations in new
homes is forecast to rise by 2.8 per cent from 311,000
in 2012/13 to 319,600 in 2013/14. We are forecasting a flat year in 2014/15, followed by a modest rise
of 1.0 per cent in 2015/16 taking the total number
of new bathroom installations to 323,100. Based on notional demand the HIA estimates that
there is the potential for around 146,500 kitchen
renovations and around 220,300 bathroom renovations in 2013/14.
Bench top trends and surface finishes
Once upon a time bench top processors calculated that
an average 2.5 slabs were required to cover kitchen bench
top surfaces. While this figure is still used in various calculations, several bench top fabricators report that many
small apartments only use one slab per kitchen.
28
issue 25 discovering stone www.infotile.com/publications
As a consequence, processors are beginning to talk
about the number of slabs supplied in preference to
the number of kitchens completed. From a material
perspective the HIA/GWA report stated that 69 per
cent of bench tops are imported. This figure presumably includes every type of popular bench top material.
Advanced manufacturing technologies are ushering in a range of new hard surface finishes, which
vary from hard-wearing low thickness slabs of Neolith
sintered porcelain which are now available in three
thicknesses; 3mm, 5mm and 12mm, to extra thick
slabs of natural and engineered stone that provide a
completely different aesthetic.
Add to that the recent emergence of Dekton,
Cosentino’s revolutionary engineered stone, which is
available in slim and standard thicknesses.
Let us take a look at some of the new products and
emerging trends:
neolith by cdK stone
The continued emergence and acceptance of digital
inkjet printing techniques has enabled ceramic tile
manufacturers to produce compelling replications of
surface finishes like natural stone, timber and concrete.
Ironically, these advances have encouraged leading
producers of engineered stone like Caesarstone to introduce similar technology in some of their product
lines. This engenders an element of natural variation,
guaranteeing that each slab effectively looks different.
While Neolith porcelain by CDK Stone looks very
convincing, CDK’s Joint Managing Director James
Woodyat is equally impressed by the over-size dimen-
Feature wall - Iron Corten | Kitchen Bench top + Cupboards - Iron Moss | Walls - Arena
NEW StatE-of-thE-art productS that combiNE fuNctioNality aNd bEauty
Neolith is the largest high-tech porcelain slab, offering the most efficient solutions for the most demanding architectural projects.
an extensive combination of colours and finishes, a beautiful designer product that can be used in numerous applications for
interiors, exteriors and furnishings. perfect finishes suitable for direct contact with food, waterproof and easy to clean. lightweight,
hygienic, resistant to high temperatures, resistant to wear + tear, resistant to bending and environmentally friendly.
Neolith has infinite options of colour combinations and finishes to create exceptional and unique spaces.
Arctic White
Statuario
Nieve
Avorio
Limestone Arena
Barro
Phedra
Cement
Basalt Grey
Basalt Black
Belgian Blue
Iron Corten
Iron Grey
Iron Copper
Iron Moss
Nero
The Event
22-23 Aug
2014
visit us at Stand 484
Melbourne 03 8552 6000 Sydney 02 9822 5155 Gold Coast 07 5537 3222 Perth 08 9406 3100
For more information visit www.neolith.com
trends
Photo 2: Caesarstone produces 13mm benchtops in 6 designs
including their popular Supernatural marble inspired range.
Photo 3: Dekton is an advanced
UV resistant engineered stone
that can be used internally
and externally. The slim 8mm
version has multiple uses.
is frost-proof, stain-proof and extremely hard wearing,
easy to handle and manoeuvre.
In an IQ Alert Counter Top News circulated on 12
February, Holly Berecz reported on Bench Top trends
in the United States. Holly stated, ‘Last time, I shared
some of the top materials that design pros are using to
create show-stopping, super sleek ‘thin’ counter tops.
Not only is thin definitely in, but ‘thick’ is also super
slick. Tops as skinny as 12mm or super thick tops as
hefty as five inches (127mm) are both making a bold
statement in the kitchen and bathroom.”
Holly stated that extra-thick tops make a solid impression, which really highlights the quality of the
chosen material. She claims that thick tops also provide
a degree of ergonomic comfort, by increasing bench top
height. Some users assume that greater thickness implies luxury and a feeling of higher quality. According
to Holly, thick tops make cabinetry feel more furniturelike and less utilitarian. While this may be true thick
tops produced in our market are generally fabricated
from conventional 20mm and 30mm slabs to impart a
feeling of solidity and luxury (Photo 4).
Photo 1 illustrates how Neolith can be used on
multiple surfaces. The feature wall is clad in Iron Corten, the bench top and cupboard fascias are covered
in Iron Moss, the wall surfaces feature Neolith Arena.
In contrast, Photo 2 depicts a slim 13mm
Caesarstone bench top. It is always advisable to consider strengthening base carcasses by adding solid
top panels or additional cross rails when any slim
material is specified.
Dekton engineered stone
Cosentino will present an extensive display of Dekton
on their stand at designEX. Dekton is the first UV
resistant engineered stone, which means that it can
be used externally, on a variety of surfaces including
building facades and pathways.
30
issue 25 Discovering stone www.infotile.com/publications
Continued page 98
sions of each slab and the product’s light weight, which
makes it easier for installers to handle and manoeuvre
bench and splashback slabs.
Only the 12mm-thick Neolith product is recommended for bench tops. The 3mm and 5mm options
can be used on splashbacks. James said: “We have
3200 x 1500 x 12mm slabs, plus 3600 x 1200 x 5mm
and 3600 x 1200 x 12mm slabs. The quoted dimensions are 100 per cent useable.”
The slimmer panels (3mm & 5mm) have multiple uses on a range of internal and external surfaces.
These hard wearing materials are backed by a 15-year
warranty (Photo 1).
While lovers of natural and engineered stone may
not be concerned about a slim porcelain product
that basically imitates the appearance of stone, there
is growing acceptance of Neolith in Europe and the
United States, where end-users are attracted to the enhanced authenticity of the product’s appearance and
the practical advantages associated with material that
Our new supernatural designs
Where creativity meets quality
Calacatta Classic™
Coming Early 2014
Alpine Mist™
Bianco Drift™
Vanilla Noir™
www.caesarstone.com.au
1300 119 119
DS
#25
Advertiser iNdex
COMPANY
PAGE #
Applied Products Australia
75, 81
Aqua Mix
79
Aqua-seal stC
55
Ardex Australia
49
Australian stone Advisory Association
84, 85
AWisA
27
BAM stone
35
Bostik Australia
37
Bundanoon sandstone
23
Caesarstone Australia
31
Cairns Marble Australia
4
Capricorn sandstone Quarries
21
CdK stone Australia
2, 3
CdK stone Australia (CNC)
39
CdK stone Australia (Handling equipment)
57
CdK stone Australia (Lithofin)
87
CdK stone Australia (Neolith)
29
CdK stone Australia (tools)
63
Cinajus
99
Clearstone
53
Cosentino Australia
9
diversified exhibition services
11
dry treat Australia
47
Gosford Quarries
7
Grand view trading
89
Harbour Property real estate (Fiji)
54
infotile
80
Continued from page 30
Ironically, Dekton is produced using exclusive Technology
of Sintered Particles (TSP) which applies accelerated high pressure, accentuated by ultra-compaction and baking processes.
The material is baked at 1200 degrees Celsius (the same temperature used to produce porcelain tiles) and pressed in a 2500
ton press (Photo 3).
Dekton and Neolith both use sintered materials in their respective production processes. Dekton is produced in standard
20mm and 30mm thicknesses and a revolutionary 8mm (approx.) thickness. Gary Isherwood, Cosentino’s Australia Area
Director, remarked: “The slim product can be used in the same
ways, almost anywhere, and we are seeing a trend towards slender, more compact surfaces, so this Dekton slab taps into that
and extends its versatility of application.”
Jasper swann stonemasonry
24
Kanmantoo Bluestone
15
Laticrete
17
Mapei Australia
43
Natural stone
Marblecraft (Grandee)
36
Melocco stone
100
Mintaro slate
16
Parex Group
41
rhyntech
61
sAi sandstone
25
sMG stone
45
Discussions with some leading kitchen benchtop suppliers and
processors indicate that that approximately 75 per cent of their
business relates to engineered stone. A growing element of the
remaining 25 per cent is marble in preference to granite. Some
suppliers have confirmed that they supply more marble bench
tops than granite.
Obviously, the user has to be made aware of the possible
risk of the staining and etching of the stone, caused by spills of
liquids like red wine, lemon juice and other potential contaminants. Natural stone bench top surfaces are often honed and
sealed, but sealers only provide a barrier which delays ingress of
the liquid contaminant. So every effort should be made to wipe
away spills before they seep into the stone.
This problem can be overcome by applying coatings like
Innovative Composites’ Clearstone or Dry Treat’s Vitremela.
Coatings are a must in commercial environments, like bars and
restaurants, where regular spills of alcohol will etch the stone.
Nevertheless, the luxurious appeal of natural stone, like the
20mm-thick Carrara marble recently supplied by CDK Stone
and installed by Adriatic, will frequently tempt specifiers and
homeowners to choose the real thing (Photo 4).
solution sealers for stone & tile
26
stone initiatives & Materials testing
54
stone Wholesalers
74
stonemaster Group
24, 56, 64
victorian Bluestone Quarries
65
Wollombi sandstone
59
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service to our readers. No liability is created by or accepted for
inadvertent errors or omissions.
For suBsCriPtioNs visit
www.infotile.com.au/publications
98
Photo 4: Sheer luxury in the form of solid looking
benchtops which were actually fabricated from
20mm Carrara marble by Adriatic and installed
at a private residence in Mt Martha.
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