Greener Kitchen Remodel: Dekton or Neolith counters? Or IceStone?
I'm finally remodeling my outdated kitchen and was initially planning to use quartz on the countertops. But I've discovered that all of them use resins to bind the material together which doesn't seem very ecologically friendly, and I wonder what they are made of TBH. So...I am looking now at Dekton or Neolith "sintered stone" porcelain slabs. Does anyone have experience with either of these? They sound like they're difficult to fabricate and even the places that sell it say I'd need a trained/certified installer. But beyond that, how durable (or delicate) are they in daily use, especially counter edges or joins. We're not hard on things, but life happens. I've also been looking at IceStone/PaperStone. Trying to go greener if I can but also don't want to regret that expensive investment with something that is too fragile. Thanks!
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FWIW, when we remodeled 4 years ago, we decided not to install Dekton. My understanding is that it chips and cracks easily. Also, our kitchen designer did not recommend them. He said the technology just wasn't there yet. Maybe it is now?
Are you on Houzz? You can find lots of info (stories, discussions, photos) about it there. I love the site any time I am doing a remodel -- get lots of great ideas there.
We replaced our tile counters with paperstone and I love it! The material feels warmer than granite or quartz and is easy to clean up. I don't put hot pots on it, just in case. It's been about two years and no damage. I don't find it fragile at all and love the way it looks. Good luck!
We replaced old ceramic tile countertops with Dekton last fall and I LOVE it. My issue with quartz was the lack of heat resistance, and I didn't want granite or other natural stone due to the sealing maintenance required, plus the look wasn't right. Considered soapstone, but it doesn't come in a color that works for us. Considered porcelain slab, but there is the concern with chipping/cracking. Dekton and other ultra compact surfaces are more durable than plain porcelain. And the fact that it's an eco friendly option is a big plus! Yes, it's important to have it fabricated and installed by a vendor who knows what they're doing, but given that, it's really pretty tough stuff. Of course we've only had it a relatively short time, but we don't baby it and so far so good.
I can recommend Xing Construction for the job if you decide to go for it.