Silestone

[blackdog]

Has anyone ever heard of Silestone having a reputation for cracking. I have found it to be just as good as the others.
But I had a customer was was sure of it. So I thought I would ask around.

[ageless]

It happens.

[blackdog]

Oh I know it happens with all the engineered stones I just never heard of any in particular having more of a problem with it.
I think maybe they just got it stuck in there head.
Thanks for the reply

[Dan R.]

It doesn't happen any more/less frequently than any other brand, in my experiences.

[GuyboR]

blackdog.....can you fill in your signature line so that we know who we are talking to.

Link is in my signature.

[thegreatace]

I machine at a shop that produces around 15000 sq. ft. a week and have seen 2cm and 3cm silestone crack in many different ways. Even with relief cuts i have still had pieces break in multiple spot. I firmly believe that color and thickness have a lot to do with it. As far as different engineered brands cracking, im pretty sure all engineered stones are produced with the same concept in mind. In conclusion, all manufactured stones for the most part have broken on me without the proper relief cuts and with plunge cuts.

[kevinp]

Wow! Is that a typo? 15,000 sf a week?
You guys are killing it!!

[GuyboR]

Wow! Is that a typo? 15,000 sf a week?

I thought the same thing.

[thegreatace]

Not a typo its around 15000 give or take especially depending on the season

[scott m]

When you say you had a customer that was sure of it, I guess you mean it was cracking once installed.....I have never found that to be the case with any e-stone. Its strong as hell and flexible to a point as well.

As far as on the saw, All brands do it, it seems the smaller the aggregate the worse it is. We used to put a shim in the cut the second the slab clears. It helps a little. Cut a bunch of viaterra way back when, and we used to jump when that sucker would pop......Horrible about stress cracking. The Breton guys told me that if they do not use the right formula or they do not allow adequate drying time it gets much worse.

On the fabcenter I had a special estone program that would run a 10mm deep step cut through at high speed on the whole slab, which helped also. Still they would crack, but at least usually it wasn't much past the over material.

[ara67]

wow 15000 sf.?

that is impressive, can someone do the math how many slabs per day and how many per hour, and how many saws do you need and what about installers, I must say you guys really kick butt

this is what you call a shop

[thegreatace]

We cut around 50 slabs a day, 2+ per hour per machine. We run 2 dual table northwood saw/water jets and 4 northwood routers.