Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Sep 28, 2010 7:05 pm Hi all I visited some benchtop manufacturers today and one mentioned that when doing a 40mm engineered stone benchtop, its made of a 20mm slab with a second "layer" on the edges to give the look of a 40mm slab. He said there would be a thin hairline on the edge where the two pieces meet. Two questions: 1. is this normal practice to make it this way? 2. is the hairline normal as the one in the showroom of the engineered stone supply company had no hairline? Thanks Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 2Sep 28, 2010 7:35 pm 1/ This is the more ubiquitous method as it is cheaper - the alternative method is to fit the second piece with a mitred join that is cut along the leading edge of the top; this can be a fair bit more expensive as it uses more material and involves more work than the butt join. 2/ The join is visible to a greater or lesser degree depending on the colour and the care factor of the people doing the work. Cheers, Earl Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 4Sep 28, 2010 7:56 pm Hi suh What brand did you use? We are looking at Quantum Quartz Ice or Essa Stone Nougat or Qstone Arctic and I would preferably like the least obvious join. Thanks Earl for the explanation. Guess that may explain the vast differences in quote prices Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 7Sep 28, 2010 8:26 pm nattygee Oh and has anyone recessed their induction cooktops and inset sinks into the 20mm bench with success? I got told it weakens the stone by doing so. There should be a HMR board underneath it, stone plus the board is stronger than a laminate bench top. Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 8Sep 28, 2010 8:33 pm My parents have the hairline crack on the 40mm edge, and I notice when I stare at it but not casually. They have one of the classic ceasarstone ones, a cream sort of colour. Status: sold our first house, moved in with parents, bought our second in Pakenham, still planning to build in a few years time. Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 10Mar 10, 2011 7:59 am Mitre or drop front you will not get a visible join Yes is a bit more expensive due to time involved but the advantages are that you have a factory funsh on the edge the same gloss level ad the top Yes is a big difference side by side As for recessed hotplates and sinks yes can be done and does not affect warranty again more time more money. Same price as undermounted sinks As for additional support required - myth just go with a good stonemason. Stress qualified stonemason not just a stone company as many if the staff are not that Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 11Mar 10, 2011 8:24 am 30mm will be done in one thickness, 40mm usually gets 2x 20mm laminated to form the finished thickness, this is typical for both manufactured and natural stone. 30mm looks pretty nice Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 12Mar 17, 2012 11:26 am Sorry to dig up and old thread, but We've noticed after about 15months the join on our 40mm benchtops is quite obvious. What is considered acceptable here? We were never told of this join in the first place, but I guess thats more an issue of the builder. But asside from that, do you guys think it's acceptable for it to get worse over time? Cheers Jimmy Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 13Mar 18, 2012 9:05 am foodshock Sorry to dig up and old thread, but We've noticed after about 15months the join on our 40mm benchtops is quite obvious. What is considered acceptable here? We were never told of this join in the first place, but I guess thats more an issue of the builder. But asside from that, do you guys think it's acceptable for it to get worse over time? Cheers Jimmy Don't wish to be rude, but if it has taken 15 months to notice it cannot be all that obvious and the kind of joint (note it isn't a crack as some have said) as being discussed here doesn't get worse or more noticeable over time so it must have always been there. Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 14Mar 18, 2012 1:11 pm I have just looked at mine - there is a hairline but honestly you cant see it unless you go right up to it and peer at it! I never knew that LOL Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 15Mar 19, 2012 7:00 pm AJW foodshock Sorry to dig up and old thread, but We've noticed after about 15months the join on our 40mm benchtops is quite obvious. What is considered acceptable here? We were never told of this join in the first place, but I guess thats more an issue of the builder. But asside from that, do you guys think it's acceptable for it to get worse over time? Cheers Jimmy Don't wish to be rude, but if it has taken 15 months to notice it cannot be all that obvious and the kind of joint (note it isn't a crack as some have said) as being discussed here doesn't get worse or more noticeable over time so it must have always been there. It's a dark line where the join is, more noticable on the upright (Waterfall) . Can never be 100% certain (although I'll try and dig up old photo's to see if its visable) but i'm sure we would have noticed it before. I should mention the kitchen is up stairs, so there is floor vibration. Do you think it's possible for it to de-laminate a little and become more visable? Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 16Mar 19, 2012 9:19 pm foodshock AJW foodshock I should mention the kitchen is up stairs, so there is floor vibration. Do you think it's possible for it to de-laminate a little and become more visable? No its not. The glue used is unbelivabily strong! Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 17Mar 19, 2012 9:37 pm CuttingEdgeKitchens No its not. The glue used is unbelivabily strong! Hi CuttingEdge - I'm still not understanding why a different joint on the corner (i.e. mitred joint) makes the edge/horizontal line less/not visible??? Can you offer some more details here? Building ??? with ??? Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 18Mar 20, 2012 1:59 pm A mitred join is always far less visable than a flat butted join! With a mitred stone join once its glue together the edge is rounded slightly and then polished which hides the join far better than just a butted joint. Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 19Apr 08, 2012 7:19 pm Just found this thread and it has answered a lot of questions for me! Until today I had no idea about the hairline join (for 40mm edging) either. Thanks. SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Hairline on edge of 40mm engineered stone benchtop - nor 20Apr 13, 2012 9:39 am its called a lamination join. its standard procedure for 40mm unless specified mitred edging. Hi Courtney The mitred edges are glued up with epoxy so those little holes and gaps are areas that weren't filled correctly. Silicone is the wrong product to fill them… 2 13106 Engineering timber is certainly a less fuss option, times cheaper to supply and install and better withstands humidity. 1 16289 Thanks Simon, I guess I'm no concerned with the volume of the noise rather that dead and hollow sound and feel that is associated with floating floors. But I'm not sure… 3 6356 |