Engineered Stone Manufacturers

 

Avanza: Colors available: 30

Newer product on the market with a number of very good colors. Product quality and reliability is also very good, and is similar to the standards of other manufacturers.

 

Caesarstone: Colors Available: 52

Caesarstone is the original engineered stone, and its colors and patterns maintain a distinctly European look. The standard finish is gloss, and the color palette is sometimes similar to the other engineered stone products, but with some notable exceptions, particularly in the Caesarstone patterns that resemble limestone.

 

Cambria: Colors available; 34

Cambria is among the newest of the engineered stones. Its composition is very similar to the other brands, and it has the same characteristics and strengths. Being a product of local manufacture has given Cambria a unique position in this local marketplace, and its aggressive marketing programs have brought the Cambria name to the public. They have developed a number of distinct patterns and colors that set them apart from their competition.

 

LG Viatera: Colors available; 22

New material marketed by LG, which brings considerable backing to this product. They have always been very good at selecting the colors they included in their lines and making sure that product was available and well represented. Their colors are in the same vein as the rest of the manufacturers, with a few interesting tweaks.

 

Silestone: Colors available: 60

Silestone is another of the engineered stone products we offer. It is available in 2 and 3 centimeter thicknesses. In most kitchen applications, the 2 cm. material is laminated together at the front edge to create the standard 1 ½” thick front edge, while the 3 cm. material is used at that thickness, just like granite. A laminated front edge will have a visible lateral seam midway through the front edge. For that reason, we generally fabricate the 3 cm. material to provide a more attractive finished product. Silestone has recently introduced six new colors that do a remarkable job of replicating some granite colors. Their greatest impact is with their new Leather Series. This is a soft matte finish that is far earthier in appearance than the higher gloss look; it allows customers to select the popular honed look without the attendant staining issues that it can bring to natural stone. This new series has been very successful with designers.

Silestone has a large market presence, and they support their product very well.

 

Zodiaq: Colors available: 45

Zodiac is a new brand of engineered stone from DuPont. Zodiaq quartz surfaces introduce new possibilities for surface applications in commercial and residential interiors. Combining rich, distinctive aesthetics with reliable performance, Zodiaq offers expanded opportunities for creativity and design freedom. Zodiaq quartz surfaces can be machined, sandblasted and inlaid, with a variety of edge treatments possible. A versatile color palette further enhances design flexibility. Their new introductions are very nice, and more in the ‘organic’ style that is currently popular.

 

Formica Stone:  Colors available: 12

Formica has long been a leader in countertop materials. With their laminates, solid surface products and now FormicaStone, they have all of the manufactured countertop materials in their product line. FormicaStone has the same properties as the other engineered stones, but they do offer colors that are unique to their brand.

 

 

 

General facts and information of note:

 

Engineered Stone:

• In engineered stones, the more complex the edgework profile, the higher the cost.
• Seam locations will be at the discretion of Showcase.
• We utilize colored materials to conceal the seam, but it is visible. As with granite, there is always some chipping of the cut edges of a seam. Our option is to either leave the chipping (which will be noticeable), or put a slight bevel at the seam edges. The bevel helps eliminate the chipping, but increases the apparent width of the seam. Also; the flatness of the cabinetry is central to the quality of a seam. Uneven cabinetry forces our installers to shim the countertop up and creates a compromise situation that has a direct effect on the quality of the installation. 
• As walls are rarely straight, we recommend caulking behind the backsplash using clear or white paintable latex caulking.
• Finish for Engineered Stone is the standard manufacturers finish unless otherwise indicated.
• High heat can damage and discolor this product.  We recommend the use of a trivet when using crock-pots & skillets.
• The manufacturer’s warranties for these products states that they are scratch and stain resistant, not scratch and stain proof. This is an important distinction that needs to be taken into account when selecting the most suitable countertop material for your needs. If scratched, repair may not be an option.