I must say that I have had lots of different bench tops , at the moment it's a Caesar stone (which chipped after dropping a small plate) I still think that good old fashioned laminate is a good deal. It's cheap, doesn't chip you can put hot pots on it doesn't stain , I can stand on it to reach something or paint the ceiling etc. They told me not to even think about standing on Caesar stone it would crack, and that apparently goes for natural stone as well. If I have to renovate again it want be a stone of any kind although they look great.

The Marble Man - would like to share information for your consideration - Manmade, engineered stone is also known as agglomerate, manufactured stones or reconstituted stones. They are made from a combination of approximately 7% resins, cement, and coloured pigments and upwards of 93% natural stone chips such as quartz or marble. These materials are bound together to make a slab. Engineered stones are designed to emulate natural stones such as marble and granite and are an extremely popular alternative to natural stone in building today. Some of the engineered stone brands include Caesarstone, Essastone, Quantum Quartz, Silestone, Technistone, Smarstone and HanStone. These stones are similar in composition, varying only by a few percent in total quartz used. Their differences lie in the colours, patterns and applications offered. Some engineered stones are just made for benchtops whereas, others can be used for tiles. For you the home renovator, builder or owner the preference to choose engineered stone over natural stone is purely a personal one. Natural stone is attractive because of it’s unique inconsistencies in colour, texture and patterns. The Marble Man enjoys the qualities of all natural and manmade stone. When you view engineered stone for consideration for your home, you will see a more consistent colour and patterning in the stone. Take the time to view the full sheet of stone and consider the overall look and effect of the colour you choose for your interior. There are many reasons why engineered stones are being chosen over natural stone: Engineered stones are durable, scratch, stain and heat resistant * They come in a variety of colours and patterns Natural marble is susceptible to etching and staining, however a marble look can be created with the etch and stain resistant properties of granite, making it a good choice for high stress areas such as kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanities The quartz used in the engineered stones is a similar hardness to granite and rates a 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness It is easy to clean and will require less long-term maintenance like granite if cared for according to manufacturers instructions. Please be sure to speak with the sales team about your uses of the benchtop, stone, surface and address how you plan to use the surface before finalising your choice. Manmade, reconstituted stone is only ‘resistant’ to scratching, staining and heat and therefore hot pots must not be left on for extended periods, cutting boards should still be used under hot pots, pans or dishes. Spills must be cleaned up immediately as in the case of any natural stone to prevent stains. It comes with a manufacturers seal therefore additional sealing is not usually necessary. * In our experience engineered stone kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanities do chip and scorch, however we have developed processes to repair even large chips making them virtually undetectable, and to restore the factory finish to surfaces damaged by heat. Enjoy your home, enjoy the stone you choose for the benchtops in your home. The Marble Man is happy to assist with stone information, repairs, polishing and sealing all stone surfaces. We service Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Northern NSW, Sydney and Canberra for all stone repairs, polishing and sealing Stone surfaces - simply call 1300 627 626. Learn more on The Marble Man website - www.themarbleman.com.au

Getting a quote on the Grande Statuario. I think it’s going to be significantly dearer than our first quote ☹️ The crispness of the White is perfect with great veining. Second quote being done with main island in the Statuario and with Smartstone along benches under window and into pantry, in case the first is too dear. Took our Lexicon 1/4 and overhead samples with us. Really happy with the choices. I just hope the first quote isn’t too dear as I’d prefer all white but I’d be happy with the combination of both tops.

Rulers for choosing the right paint colours for your home from Vndraft Check out with us https://vndraft.com/how-to-choose-the-right-paint-colours-for-your-home-pick-the-rulers-from-vndraft/ There are a few fairly simple ways to decide what colours to go with what when painting your new building or renovation home. There are 12 rules for choosing the right paint colours. In this article, we will help you find out what your favourite colour means, and chose the proper colour.