If you’re looking for engineered stone countertops beyond quartz, then sintered stone is a notable choice because of its durability and UV resistance. But is it an all-around good countertop option? How much does it cost compared to quartz, granite, and marble countertops and other materials? Let’s know the top things to know about this man-made countertop material.
Things To Know Before You Buy Sintered Stone Countertops
The Manufacturing Process Mimics The Natural Process That Forms Natural Stones
Natural stones are formed deep underground under immense heat and pressure for hundreds of thousands of years. Sintered stone is made by replicating this process in a few hours or a day using specialized machinery and chambers.
Usually, raw materials like quartz, silica, granite, feldspar, clay, etc., are powdered and spread into a mold or something similar to be compacted under extremely high pressure (more than 20,000 to 30,000 tons).
At this point, the raw materials become a slab, but the slab is not stable. So, the slab is put in a kiln that reaches over 1200°C (2200°F). This bonds the materials on a molecular level and the slab becomes hard and durable. After that, polishing and other regular processes are performed.
They Are Highly Scratch Resistant
Kitchen countertops are exposed to knives, dragged pans, and other things, so they can be scratched very quickly and lose their appeal if they are prone to scratches. But you won’t need to worry about scratches with sintered stone countertops, as they are exceptionally good in scratch resistance.
Sintered stone ranks 7-8 on the Mohs hardness scale, so it’s even harder than granite (6-7) and quartz (7), which are popular and durable countertop options.
Rest assured, your sintered stone countertops won’t be scratched with knives or any other pointy. However, you should still use non-abrasive cleaners for cleaning the surface because even though sintered stone is very hard, abrasive tools like steel wools and abrasive pads can dull the finish and leave microscopic scratches that can reduce its lifespan and affect its appearance over time.
Excellent Heat Resistance
Another benefit of using sintered stone as your countertop surface is its heat resistance. This is another area where sintered stone is even better than granite, quartzite, and other natural stones.
Remember that granite, quartzite, and soapstone are very heat-resistant materials. And usually, engineered stones like quartz and solid surface have fair to poor heat resistance. But this engineered stone, sintered stone, is even better in heat resistance than all of these mentioned countertop options. It can withstand temperatures up to 550°C (1200°C). The closest option to this is soapstone, which can take about 420°C (800°F).
An interesting fact is that the closest engineered stone to sintered stone in heat resistance is quartz, with a low number of 150°C (300°F). This is because sintered stone is made with natural raw materials only, whereas quartz surfaces consist of 5-10% of resin and polymers. These resins and polymers can get damaged at modest temperatures, and at very high temperatures, they can even melt.
Huge Variety Of Colors And Designs
Sintered stone slabs are made with mineral pigments that give slabs their color and tone. These are the full-body colors of sintered stone slabs. And then, before sintering (the high heat process), a digital design is printed on top of the slab to give it natural-stone-like veining and other patterns. These designs are almost unlimited. So, they can mimic granite colors and designs.
The Pattern Or Veining Could Be Surface-Only
As the top layer of the sintered stone is printed with patterns before sintering, this does make the design more durable unlike printing on laminate, but the design would still not be more than a few millimeters deep. If the stone chips, it may not have the same pattern or veining under it as the top of the slab.
But as stated, the patterns and veining look more authentic and are a few millimeters deep, compared to the surface-level designs of laminate, ceramic, and porcelain slabs or tiles. If you want a material in which the patterns and veining run through the entire thickness of the slab, consider soapstone, marble, quartz, quartzite, or granite countertops Durham NC.
Never Require Sealing
This is a benefit that it shares with most engineered countertop options. Sintered stone is totally non-porous, so you will never need to seal the surface. This characteristic is even more beneficial in the case of sintered stone because it’s as durable or more durable than popular natural stones (granite, quartzite, etc.), but unlike them, it doesn’t need to be sealed.
The no-sealing requirement doesn’t only mean that you don’t need to apply a sealer every few years. It also means that wiping and cleaning the surface becomes much easier because any spills won’t be absorbed by the surface. This makes cleaning easy and also makes the countertops hygienic because when spills are absorbed by the surface, the small pores can harbor bacteria and cause health problems.
Moreover, a non-porous countertop also doesn’t stain, so your countertop will keep looking stain-free and appealing for a long time.
They Are Brittle
Even though sintered stone is extremely durable, its tensile strength is not impressive. The engineered stone is quite brittle and can chip or break, especially around the edges, if the impact and the material are strong enough. So, avoid dropping anything heavy on the surface because you might end up with a chipped or cracked countertop.
Excellent For Outdoors As Well
A drawback of many engineered stone countertop options is that they perform poorly outdoors. They can fade or discolor or get damaged by the UV rays or heat. However, sintered stone is excellent for outdoor kitchens. It’s made to withstand any outdoor conditions, whether you have a hot, cold, humid, or dry climate.
Professional Installation Required
As we discussed, sintered stone slabs are brittle in spite of their durability, they can break or crack during installation as well, if not performed by a professional. This means if you’re considering DIY installation of sintered stone countertops, avoid it unless you have some experience of countertop installation along with the required special tools.
They Are Costly
Sintered stone countertops are not budget-friendly as they are costlier than engineered options, like quartz, laminate, solid surface, etc., and also some natural stones, such as many qualities of granite, sandstone, slate, travertine, soapstone, and others.
According to estimates, sintered stone is similarly priced as quartzite and marble countertops.
Low-To-No Toxicity And Eco-Friendly
Sintered stone is made with powdered granite, mica, feldspar, and other rocks and minerals without using much or any silica or resins. So, it poses less to no health risk to people fabricating and installing it. There are no VOCs or harmful gases emitted from the slabs.
Furthermore, as the stone is manufactured with 100% natural rocks and minerals, it’s totally recyclable. This makes it an eco-friendly choice.
Conclusion
Sintered stone countertops offer the best of both worlds. The durability and heat resistance of natural stones, and the non-porous nature and low maintenance of engineered countertops. However, they are more expensive than most engineered stone options and many natural stones. Get help from a granite company Raleigh NC to choose the right countertop material for your budget and requirements.
