It’s quite a humbling thought to know that the granite we can mine today is all the granite we have available to us. That’s because granite forms very slowly over millions of years below the earth’s surface. Very small and localised deposits of granite can form from active volcanoes, but not to any useful scale. Which means the earth is not creating granite we can mine anymore. It has all been created already.
Which is why sintered stone is causing such a racket in the industry. ‘Sintering’ in this particular application refers to the process of replicating the immense temperatures and pressures that form natural granite in the earth, only on a smaller scale, to form solid stone slabs. These slabs of solid stone are indiscernible from the real thing and enable designers to cherry-pick colours, patterns and details.
Manufacturing process
The manufacturing process sees minerals and stone particles – which will often include real granite, marble and quartz – bonded together in a furnace under pressure over several hours to form a solid slab. The manufacturing process results in solid stone, which appears natural even when studied under a microscope.
It’s important not to confuse this with quartz. Quartz worktops are an engineered product, made using quartz, minerals and resin on a production line. Sintered stone is also engineered, in that it is made by a human, however the end product contains no resin, filler or plastic bonder. The slabs are 100% real stone.
Sintered stone use cases
Sintered stone is a good alternative to granite in certain cases. It is weatherproof, waterproof, shatterproof, stainproof, very hard to chip and crack, easy to clean and 100% food safe. Like a quartz worktop, it’s also non-porous so doesn’t need sealing (granite slabs are porous so need sealing, usually once a year).
Sintered stone is suitable for a variety of applications, including:
- Bar tops
- Worktops
- Hearths
- Fireplace surrounds
- Mantles
- Vanity tops
- Cladding
When choosing a sintered stone, you’ll find those who manufacture it are most often brands. We have partnered with two – Infinity, and Neolith – who we believe produce the best products. The slabs made by these manufacturers are of an exceptional standard with no flaws. They are also beautiful with great depth.
What makes sintered stone a good choice?
As previously noted, sintered stone is weatherproof, waterproof, shatterproof, stainproof, very hard to chip and crack, easy to clean and food safe. This makes it a good choice for use in wet areas and areas of high use like kitchens.
Sintered stone is also a good choice for clean interior design. The stone has zero flaws, unlike granite which has natural flaws. The surface is always perfectly smooth and perfectly formed, with a sublime pattern and colour depth. Like natural granite, no two slabs are the same, so you also have the appeal of exclusivity.
Find out more
If you’re interested in sintered stone, our experts can help explain what it is and get your project moving. Call us on 0113 873 0102 for a chat.