Quartz provides a drastic transformation

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This article was published 20/07/2024 (441 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At a recent kitchen expansion remodel, the existing kitchen area has expanded into the neighbouring dining room, after the removal of a dividing wall. The window wall introduces a symmetrical array of cupboards on either side of a centred stove, opposite a smaller bank of floor-to-ceiling cupboards and a small coffee bar. Dividing the space is a gigantic 13-foot long island with one rounded end. All areas required quartz, with precise measurements prior to installation.

The process unfolded in the usual way, entrusting the quartz process to the good folks at Solid Stone. Once the lower cupboards had been placed and secured into their permanent locations, a digital template was generated for all impending countertop locations. In this instance, there are four separate countertops: one on either side of the stove along the window wall, a smaller top at the coffee bar set within floor-to-ceiling cabinets on the opposing wall, and the main countertop on the island cabinets. The two wings on either side of the stove are straightforward tailored slabs, whereas the coffee bar top and the island each had cutaways for respective sinks and faucets.

With the template generated, including all wall deviations and idiosyncrasies for the “perfect fit,” the information is forwarded to Solid Stone manufacturing. In this instance, the homeowners requested a rendering before the quartz went into manufacturing, to review the exact “look” of each countertop based on the individual pieces set onto two separate large raw slabs of quartz. This is important when a customer wishes to verify how the veining will appear based on how the countertop segments are placed within the large slabs. Moreover, in that the island length surpasses the length of an individual raw slab, it was imperative that the “seam” between the two pieces of quartz that would make up the island countertop display adequately, concealing as much as possible the impending seam location. Once the rendering was deemed acceptable, the quartz was pre-cut to the design specs based on the template, including the sink holes.

On installation day, the Solid Stone crew first placed the two wings of countertop on either side of the stove location. Within a tolerance of one-16th of an inch on either side, the stove could just slide into place between the two tops. The coffee bar top was then easily set within the inset of the floor to ceiling array of cabinets. The first of two precut slabs for the island was then set atop the close side of the island. This section includes the cutaway for the sink. The far side slab was then placed atop the other side of the island, snuggly against the edge of the first slab. Then to create the permanent island countertop, a device coined the “seam-setter” is used to properly align and level both edges of the two tops as they are bonded together using a strong epoxy adhesive. The device is essentially two separate “suction pads”, that grabs the top surface of both tops allowing adjustments for height and pitch. Once the epoxy has set, a sharp straight edge is used to cut away any excess epoxy that billows from the boned seam.

With the island top seamed, the undermount sinks are then installed using adhesive along the perimeter of the sink hole and clips along the underside of the quartz at the four corners of the sink. The faucet holes at both sink locations are then cut on site, typically centred with the sink. Silicone is then added at top-side areas along the walls, and to fill any gaps and hide any shims where the underside of the quartz meets the tops of the lower cabinets.

“Quartz day” is always a very exciting day, because of the immediately drastic transformation. This is usually when the kitchen really begins to come together for the homeowners – they can finally start to “see” their dream kitchen take shape, because the quartz countertops are really the first elements that truly begin to tie everything together. Another job well done by my good friends at Solid Stone!

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