Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Jan 09, 2012 5:35 pm Hi, I'd like to get some advice please . We're building a new house & not sure if I should get Caesarstone or Granite benchtops? Apart from the price ,what are the pro & cons of both? Is it true that Caesarstone can stain as it has a porous surface? Your views & or experiences are very much appreciated. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 3Jan 09, 2012 7:48 pm Both stain! It really depends on the colour you choose, but a light granite will stain more easily as it is far more porous than caesarstone. 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: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 4Jan 09, 2012 8:39 pm Thankyou Abby & CuttingEdgeKitchens for your advice, I really appreciate it. I thought because granite is polished it wouldn't stain as much as caesarstone. I might opt for a dark colour rather than a light colour. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 5Jan 10, 2012 7:02 am springtime Thankyou Abby & CuttingEdgeKitchens for your advice, I really appreciate it. I thought because granite is polished it wouldn't stain as much as caesarstone. I might opt for a dark colour rather than a light colour. CaesarStone is also polished! But because its a man made surface it is less porous. The light colours in caesarstone can stain though. 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: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 6Jan 10, 2012 7:09 am I read somewhere that one needs to polish caesarstone every now & then so that the surface isn't as porous, is that true? Also, any spillages need to be cleaned asap , is this correct? I'm asking this cos I currently have a 20 yr old kitchen that had laminate benchtops, & I clean any splillages asap, it's the kids or DH that's the problem Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 7Jan 10, 2012 7:26 am Caesarstone and other engineered quartz surfaces really shouldn't need repolishing. The finely crushed quartz is set into a resin that is far less porous than the quartz itself. The whole point of reconstituted stone surfaces is that they shouldn't need the maintenance that is required for natural stone. However, as CEK indicates, very light colours can stain if exposed to red wine, turmeric, etc, and will probably need to be wiped down more regularly than darker colours. It's worth mentioning that the engineered stone surfaces come with a 10-15 year warranty against defects, whereas natural stone products usually don't come with a warranty covering the material itself. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 8Jan 10, 2012 10:42 pm All granites, marbles and engineered stones can stain. Obviously lighter colours will show up more. As long as you clean up after yourselves you shouldn't have a problem. Natural stone needs sealing every 6 - 12 months but sealing a reconstituted stone will void your warranty as you aren't supposed to apply anything to it. Good luck! Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 9Jan 11, 2012 11:33 am We've got Caesarstone in our current kitchen - did a makeover a year ago. Went through the same dilema that you speak of. A cabinet maker who came to do the quote gave us his thoughts, he recommended the Caesarstone as it is man made (Italy) and was originaly made for commercial flooring hence the hardness factor - alot, compared to granite. Ha had/has a piece at his workshop as a test piece for clients in which he hits with a hammer - no mark, also is used as a bench for beers after work. The beer bench alone is the selling point. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 10Jan 11, 2012 5:22 pm Thankyou all for your very valuable input. It really is a dilema when choosing, at least I thought so anyway . I just wish there was more info & reviews about the two . But you know what? I think I've made up my mind, I think Caesarstone is the way to go....hitting it with a hammer ....Wow, now that's pretty good in anyone's books. Ok, sorry to be a pest, but I would like to know who has 20mm & who has 40mm Caesarstone, I saw samples of the two at Ikea, & I must admit the 40mm looked pretty impressive, & the difference in price was only about $50/metre! Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 11Jan 11, 2012 5:55 pm I'm going for either 40mm or 60mm, depending on how my budget is looking. I'm not a huge fan of the 20mm look - I just feel like stone should be a bit chunky and substantial looking. Having said that, I've noticed that is a bit of a movement back to 20 mm benches in some very modern, streamlined kitchens. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 12Jan 11, 2012 6:52 pm Caesar stone is from Israel not Italy by the way... 20mm is very affordable and does look nice. 40mm isn't that much more but there is usually a decent jump between 20mm and a mitred edge 60mm.. Honestly with the difference between the two (Caesar or Granite) it's personal preference. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 13Jan 11, 2012 8:25 pm Leni_82 Caesar stone is from Israel not Italy by the way... 20mm is very affordable and does look nice. 40mm isn't that much more but there is usually a decent jump between 20mm and a mitred edge 60mm.. Honestly with the difference between the two (Caesar or Granite) it's personal preference. Is there much of a difference between 40mm and 60mm Leni? It seems like it would be a lot more labour to make the mitred edges. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 14Jan 12, 2012 10:22 pm Well we charge about an additional $20 - $30 more than 40mm per lineal metre for mitre.. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 15Jan 12, 2012 10:30 pm Leni, that's really reasonable - considering I only have about 8 meters. On another note, if you don't mind helping a fella out, I'm installing a floating floor in my kitchen/living area and, ideally, I'd like the waterfall end on my breakfast bar installed after the floor so I don't need any quad/scotia around it. The floor is 14 mm strandwoven bamboo with 3 mm underlay. Do you think this would be a problem? Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 16Jan 14, 2012 1:20 pm Leni_82 Natural stone needs sealing every 6 - 12 months This seems to be a common misconception, it depends on the quality of sealer and the stone some what, have spoken to two different stone masons both supplying to premium kitchen guys and they both said a low quality seal will last 6-12 months but a good seal should last 20 years. Anecdotally my 7 year old granite is as stain resistant as the day they sealed it. Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 17Jan 14, 2012 5:02 pm Ok, so I would like to run something by everyone. Went to a kitchen guy & asked about the 40mm Caesarstone, he said that on th breakfast bar, they have 20mm caesarstone in the middle, & they stick two layers of 20mm together to form the outer most parts of the bench, as the stone only comes in 20, 30, or 60mm, does this sound right? Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 18Jan 14, 2012 5:28 pm l think caesarstone comes in 20mm and 30mm not so sure about 60mm. yes they can put two 20mm to get 40mm edge(that's what l was told) Re: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 19Jan 14, 2012 5:55 pm pattycake 4 is on the money, caesarstone only comes in 20 and 30mm. You can have it mitred and joined to any thickness from 20mm that you want. 40mm Caesarstone tops are usually 2 x 20mm pieces butted together and is only 40mm at the front edge. Any thickness above 40mm is mitred at the front edge and returned down to the thickness required. Again it is only thicker than 20mm at the front edge! With breakfast bar overhangs cheaper companys will only return the stone 40-60mm underneath. It should be returned the entire overhang. 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: Advice wanted Granite or Caesarstone? 20Jan 16, 2012 4:20 pm James65 Leni_82 Natural stone needs sealing every 6 - 12 months This seems to be a common misconception, it depends on the quality of sealer and the stone some what, have spoken to two different stone masons both supplying to premium kitchen guys and they both said a low quality seal will last 6-12 months but a good seal should last 20 years. Anecdotally my 7 year old granite is as stain resistant as the day they sealed it. 6 - 12 months is what is normally recommended. Whether you go to a stonemason or a wholesaler generally you are advised 6 - 12 months. I think the 20 year sealing statement is absolutely false. If you buy top of the range sealer and you spill a lot and mess your bench it'll need to be sealed way before 20 years, there is no stuff on the market that exceeds 7 years. It's a combination of sealer and they way you look after your tops. 0 12342 I'd try posting it on airtasker. I am sure you will find someone willing do take them for a couple of hundred $ 1 398 Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 22361 |