During the countertop fabrication process, situations arise when some aspect of the project requires the stone to be reinforced. After all, you want the hard work you put into the surface to remain intact. A crack in the slab, a chip or break near a seam, or some other mar caused by a weakness in the material can quickly undo all the work you put into the project.
Stones that benefit from reinforcement
In stone fabrication and kitchen countertop work in general, reinforcing the countertop material is a practice used to ensure that the material is resistant to cracking that may arise from the settling of the house. Also, support brackets are used to reinforce overhangs so that the weight on one edge does not break the stone. What materials can be used for kitchen worktop surfaces and could benefit from reinforcement techniques?
• Granite
• Marble
• Dekton
• Quartz
• Onyx
Why Reinforcing Stone Countertops Is Needed
Why do stone countertops need to be reinforced if they are fashioned from solid rock? Stone slabs are durable, aren’t they? The answer is yes. Natural stone is very durable. When you think about it, these materials have held up for millennia. However, there are a few things to keep in mind about stone surfaces and how they go from solid rock to become a countertop.
The first thing to remember is that the slabs are “sliced” off a block of solid rock, so the slab is not as thick as a solid chunk of stone. As a result, the slab is somewhat more vulnerable to its weight.
Another thing to remember is that every time a section of material is removed from the slab (e.g. sink cutouts), the narrow strips around the cutout are weaker since the slab on either side of the cutout is just as heavy as it was before the hole was cut, but afterward, there is less material to support it.
Finally, when laying out the countertop, you may need to cut the slab into multiple pieces to get the stone in the proper shape so it will line up correctly with the cabinetry in the kitchen. These seams can put stress on the stone’s edge along the seam.
