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Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24922
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Author:  lamoos25 [ Oct 17, 2009 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Hi guys,

We are pretty much at frame stage and are in the process of choosing our kitchen at the moment. We absolutely love the 40mm caesarstone benchtops but it might be a bit out of our price range (haven't had an exact quote but guess it could be around $5000?).

Our kitchen maker suggested to us, as an alternative to going down to a 20mm caesarstone benchtop, what they can do is, get the 20mm caesarstone benchtop and add it on top of a piece of wood and then somehow glaze it all from the outside to make it look like one seamless 40mm benchtop.

Apparantly looks the same and you're only using the top ANYWAY so it makes no difference functionally. Only con is you can't do the waterfall ends and you also can't have an undermount sink.

Has anyone heard of this process? If so, is it worth the cost cut? Some advice would be really appreciated :)

Author:  4walls [ Oct 17, 2009 7:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

The only time I came across this was when we were looking to buy a house - the way I could tell it was 'fake' was that putting your hand or looking underneath the overhang of the bench top you could see/feel wood. I am sure the joins were more noticable, but I could be wrong as this was some time ago.

From a buying POV (if we had been seriously interested in buying the house) I may have questioned/looked at other areas for corner/cost cutting to value the house.

If it does perform the same (I will let other comment on that) and you are happy with it, then why not?

Author:  buildingwithhamra [ Oct 17, 2009 8:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

I went with a 20mm ceaserstone. To go to 40mm it only cost an extra $500, as they only add the ceaserstone to the edges so it looks like 40mm. There is a faint join, so I decided not to get it, I think the 20mm looks great and I have the undermount sink. I am not sure about the wood, but they do join the two 20mm pieces of stone, this is the ONLY way you get 40mm ceaserstone, and you can still have a waterfall edges, that was quoted to me at $1500.

Author:  Djelibeybi [ Oct 17, 2009 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

We have 40mm edges and it looks fantastic. You can only see the seam if you're pretty up close and personal and from a distance it just looks so much better (to me) than the 20mm. We also have black benchtops, so it may be more dramatic because of the colour. :)

Author:  ECOECO [ Oct 17, 2009 10:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

There is no such thing as 40mm Caesarstone, only 20mm x 2. They ALWAYS add an extra thickness along the edge to get 40mm.

Ed

Author:  Hoffies [ Oct 18, 2009 8:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

ed @ EcoClassic ed @ EcoClassic
There is no such thing as 40mm Caesarstone, only 20mm x 2. They ALWAYS add an extra thickness along the edge to get 40mm.

Ed



Thats what I thought. If you see 40mm it is two pieces laminated. Nothing to do with cost cutting.

Author:  MagicJ [ Oct 18, 2009 10:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Nothing to do with cost cutting, everything to do with transporting, I think. That stuff is so heavy!!! Our stone guys told us that for humans to lift and put 40mm stone benchtop in place would be close to impossible. so they do it in two halves and put it together on site during installation.

I went to pick up our 20mm thick cut-out of one of our sink bowls and I couldn't believe how heavy it was! Nearly dropped it on our new wooden floor - DH would have killed me!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Author:  EKT [ Oct 18, 2009 12:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Some colours come in 30mm slabs - we are getting one but from Essastone. Its not that much more expensive and we can use it anywhere - we are having island waterfalls and an undermount sink :)

Author:  joles [ Oct 18, 2009 1:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Lamoos25, I'm not understanding why you can't have an undermount sink or waterfall ends?
I'm having 20mm QQ and having an end panel. Had the option of an undermount but didn't want it. I don't understand why your stonemason is saying you can't. :th: :th:

I'm in the minority, but I prefer the look of the 20mm... looks like it's floating. :D

Author:  Hoffies [ Oct 18, 2009 6:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

joles joles
Lamoos25, I'm not understanding why you can't have an undermount sink or waterfall ends?
I'm having 20mm QQ and having an end panel. Had the option of an undermount but didn't want it. I don't understand why your stonemason is saying you can't. :th: :th:

I'm in the minority, but I prefer the look of the 20mm... looks like it's floating. :D


Me too. 20mm is a much cleaner look to my eye.

Author:  lamoos25 [ Oct 18, 2009 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

joles joles
Lamoos25, I'm not understanding why you can't have an undermount sink or waterfall ends?
I'm having 20mm QQ and having an end panel. Had the option of an undermount but didn't want it. I don't understand why your stonemason is saying you can't. :th: :th:

I'm in the minority, but I prefer the look of the 20mm... looks like it's floating. :D


Hmmm that's fair enough - personal taste I guess :)

I think the kitchen guy said reason you can't do an undermount sink or waterfall ends is because of the fact that the 20mm caesarstone is sitting on a piece of wood so it looks strange when you bring it out on both ends. Also because of the wood underneath you can't have an undermount sink (like laminex I suppose). I'm aware that just choosing 20mm caesarstone option is different altogether - but I'm not enquiring about 20mm caesarstone on it own, I'm asking about caesarstone and wood combo :th:

Author:  Mango [ Oct 18, 2009 10:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Lamoos, are you dealing with one builder or getting seperate contractor to do your stone? Maybe you should get a second quote because in all my quotes I hade the option for either 20mm or 40mm and both could have the waterfall ends and an undermount sink both.

Maybe its just that particular guy who uses wood underneath.

Author:  MagicJ [ Oct 18, 2009 10:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

I gather that Lamoos is looking at the wood option because he/ she wants to have the 40mm "look" without paying for the 40mm stone, which is fair enough. That is why the options of undermount sink and waterfall are not available.

The question is, does it look/perform the same?

Sorry I do not have the answer to that Lamoos, I have never heard of that option before. :D

Maybe someone else here will come up with something?

Author:  lamoos25 [ Oct 19, 2009 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Yes, you've got it MagicJ! :D ....That's exactly what I (she) is after! I guess

I just want to know whether it's worth doing the caesarstone/wood combo (considering the cost savings) and whether there are any cons to choosing that option.

Doesn't look like many people have done it? But I'll just wait and see for people's responses.....

Author:  joles [ Oct 19, 2009 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

MagicJ MagicJ
I gather that Lamoos is looking at the wood option because he/ she wants to have the 40mm "look" without paying for the 40mm stone, which is fair enough. That is why the options of undermount sink and waterfall are not available.

The question is, does it look/perform the same?

Sorry I do not have the answer to that Lamoos, I have never heard of that option before. :D

Maybe someone else here will come up with something?


I understand that. But it isn't making much sense as to why it isn't possible, because what the stonemason is suggesting is pretty much standard to achieve 40mm. :?

Have you got a pic of what he wants to do? I've looked in displays, and every one I've seen has 20mm the whole way through with only 40mm at the edge to make it look 40mm. The bit that is 20mm (all but the edges) sits on wood to support it. I have an old tender from when we were going to do 40mm and it says "40mm to edges only". And again we were having an end panel and had the option of an undermount so it should be possible. They just add the extra 20mm to the part of the end panel you will see. The bulk of the bench, where the sink will go, is 20mm sitting on wood to support it. That is how it is generally done.

I'm not understanding how what your stonemason is suggesting is any different to how 40mm look is normally done. :?

Author:  joles [ Oct 19, 2009 11:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Ok, scrolled down to the middle of page 34 in this link. This kitchen belongs to **phoenix**.
She has 40mm caeserstone but see the sink cut-out? It is 20mm caeserstone sitting on wood. The 40mm is only the edges and visible areas. While she hasn't got end panels or an undermount..... this is the standard way of doing things and both of those options are possible with this technique. Every builder I know of offers them. I'm not understanding why your stonemason is saying no.

viewtopic.php?f=31&t=3895&p=61462&hilit=20mm#p61462

Author:  joles [ Oct 19, 2009 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Ok, I have hunted up some pics from a display home we were going to build.

This kitchen is 40mm.... on the edges and on the visible inside edge of the side panel. The rest is 20mm sitting on board. You can tell this because it is 20mm around the edge of the undermount sink. So the bulk of the bench is 20mm on the board for support... with 40mm on the sides and the visible inside edge of the end panel.

You can do 40mm all the way through.... but the cheaper option of 20mm, with only 40mm edging and all the features you want is possible.

Show your stonemason these pics.

Undermount sink, with 20mm showing around the edge.
http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u353/joles_photo/2009-01-21_16-12-32_21012009533.jpg

You can see the 40mm edge and the end panel.
http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u353/joles_photo/2009-01-21_15-49-24_21012009513.jpg

Another of the sink and you can just see the 40mm edge in the corner.
http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u353/joles_photo/2009-01-21_16-12-42_21012009534.jpg

Author:  bcmonty [ Oct 19, 2009 12:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

Hi All,

Sorry but a little bit of a hijack as after reading this thread I am a little worried about our newly installed caesarstone. We got the 40mm edge done with waterfall and 20mm the rest of the way however our stone isn't supported by board and just sits on top of the usual cupboard frame?! Ie, if you look from inside you can see the stone underneath? Is this wrong?

Author:  losonogo [ Nov 01, 2009 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

40mm edge caesarstone is ALWAYS 20mm with another 20mm on the edges
Its industry standard to do it this way.
They can do undermounts and waterfall ends, no problem

Granite transformations and various other companies offer a stone on board option that may/may not be the same cost as the latter
If i was a savy shopper i would go to three stonemasons in your area and get quotes, you will surprise yourself!

If i was paying 3k for a stone bench, i would go all the way and have undermount/flushmount sink and waterfall ends, it just looks 100 times better

Author:  kek [ Nov 01, 2009 6:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fake 40mm Caesar stone....worth it?

bcmonty bcmonty
Hi All,

Sorry but a little bit of a hijack as after reading this thread I am a little worried about our newly installed caesarstone. We got the 40mm edge done with waterfall and 20mm the rest of the way however our stone isn't supported by board and just sits on top of the usual cupboard frame?! Ie, if you look from inside you can see the stone underneath? Is this wrong?


I don't know about wrong, but I've never seen it done that way. Our Quantum Quartz has an MDF "underlay", which is invisible behind the thicker edge. My friend's granite benchtop has the same thing.

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