Replies

1. 
   Frank_Bonaventure | Oct 10, 2000 02:22am | #1

   *
   Granite Countertop. I am considering covering a Formica countertop with 12x12 granite tiles. The base is solid and I plan to glue and screw concrete backerboard to the base. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on adhesive (thinset?) or on the project in general?

1. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Oct 10, 2000 03:36am | #2

   *It may be a regional solid surface product; there are a half dozen national, big name products (and some new ones from offshore, like Hi-Macs, from Korea), and then most areas have one or two local producers. The products are often very good; a little rough around the edges, not as many colours maybe, but sometimes you can also get custom colours made and larger sheet sizes.A lot of the differences would only be noticed in the fabrication. I stick mainly with one big national brand, with two others as backups, and I carry one regional brand as a lower priced alternative to the national brands. As far as the comparison to Corian goes...everything is cheaper than Corian. They push their people to charge top dollar, but there are lots of products out there that are as good.

1. 
   cc_ | Oct 10, 2000 12:14pm | #3

   *adrian, where can I find the clips that mount to backsplashs and either the wall or the top and let the back splashh " snap" into place instead of using glue and clamps?I saw them on a job and have been looking for them.Thanks cc

1. 
   chuck_a_crawford | Oct 10, 2000 02:30pm | #4

   *cc, sounds like your talking about a product called "Smartclip". I get them from Louis & Company. They have a website.Chuck

1. 
   Matt_G. | Oct 12, 2000 01:43am | #5

   *Here's what a web search turned up about topstone. Interestingly, they claim that "Top Stone® is polyester resin based material with aluminum hydroxide as a filler which creates a surfacing material that's looks like stone but cuts and shapes as easily as wood," and is made in Saudi Arabia.

2. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Oct 12, 2000 04:14am | #6

   *All solid surface materials are a polyester, an acrylic, or a hybrid, and all use ATH as a filler (maybe other stuff too, including ground up solid surface). The rest of the description could apply to any SS material. Each has different properties, good and bad; most fabricators prefer acrylics, but most people won't be able to tell the difference once it's done. For me, the question would be warranty isses; most SS problems happen several years down the road. The website claimed 14 year warranty, but the question is: will the fabricator back it. I wouldn't even know how to begin pursuing a warranty problem in Saudi if the fabricator isn't helping. You could ask the same about any of the offshore manufacturers, I suppose; credibility is part of it. Hi-Macs (Korea) is part of LG Chem, which is bigger than Dow (I'm told), so that helps with my comfort level.

2. 
   Antoine_Rodenbach | Oct 12, 2000 04:14am | #7

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   We are having a new house being built and our Kitchen contractor mentioned
   a new countertops product called TOPSTONE.

   He stated it is cheaper that Corian and it is the same look and as reliable
   as Corian.

   Any help about this product will be welcome as we were planning to use Corian but if Topstone products is cheaper with the same look,we will consider it.

   Thank you.

   Antoine