9 minute read
On the surface
GRANITE OR QUARTZ … WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Yorkshire based fabricator and BiKBBI Installations Standards Partner Sheridan is an expert in work surfaces and materials. Recently, the company’s entire one hundred strong field installation teams became members of the institute.
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This issue brings you the first of a series of informative features that will bring you completely up to speed with all you need to know about worksurfaces
Black veined This is a golden era for anyone specifying worktops as there are so many options to choose from. Designers now have an abundance of possibilities, ranging in cost from laminates to Sintered Stone and Ceramics. Here, we look at 2 of the most popular solid surface options currently available; Granite and Quartz. Both offer a multitude of colours and designs and are equally at home in either traditional or contemporary designs.
Similar in appearance, Quartz and Granite are both very popular materials for use as worksurfaces. Slabs are manufactured into worktops by using the same manufacturing processes, utilising both machinery and traditional hand skills. They also have similar performance characteristics except in three specific areas.
1. Granite is a completely natural coarsegrained igneous rock with a crystalline structure formed from slowly cooling volcanic magma under extreme pressure deep in the earth’s crust. The wildly differing appearance of many Granites is due to differences in the size and composition of its crystalline structure, varying from the deepest almost pure black to something with the appearance of the bed of a winding stream or river complete with stones, weed, mud and sand.
2. Quartz is man-made from 93% quartz crystals, crushed glass and/or mirror (in some colours) and 7% resin to bond it into a whole. The slabs are polished in the same way as granite by using abrasive polishing wheels (similar to polishing gem stones), with
Granite Kitchen
no separate coating or protective layer. Its appearance usually mimics Granites in all its variety but can also be produced in many bright colours. Present ongoing developments centre around more closely imitating granites with an emphasis on “veined” finishes.
3. All Granites are porous and require sealing throughout the manufacturing process, when finishing an installation and then again as a part of regular maintenance throughout the life of the installed product.
4. Quartz is completely impervious and does not require any sealing.
5. Both Granite and Quartz are extremely hard and durable, but Quartz is more easily scratched with very hard and sharp edges (it is usually the resin content on the surface that is susceptible because it is not as hard as the quartz content).
6. Quartz is more resistant to marking and damage from harsh chemicals than granite which is particularly prone to acid attack in all forms (i.e. some fruit juices, limescale remover, oven cleaner, paint stripper) which will first attack the sealant and then can dissolve the surface layers of the granite. Some of the latest designs of quartz are so realistic that they very closely resemble the veined granite that they are based upon, however, the colours will be very much more consistent even when the veined design still varies as much as the natural product. Quartz is batch sensitive in that each manufacturing consignment of material is not quite the same as others but within each it is very consistent.
Conversely, every slab (or ‘scant’ as it is called in the trade) of granite is different, with some granites having a strong noticeable variance, but this is the inherent beauty of this natural material as no two installations are the same, making each customer’s kitchen truly unique.
Quartz is becoming ever more popular with the vast variety of colours and patterns available. Its consistency in colour and variety of thicknesses make this a great choice in any kitchen. This said, there is still a huge market for granites as the slab variations and unique patterns are still highly desirable and can be very opulent.
So which product is best?
Its quote a personal choice so I’ll let you decide…
www.sheridan-uk.com
Marquina slab Eternal Calacatta Classic Silver Paradiso slab
ADD SOME EXTRA SPARKLE TO YOUR CUSTOMER’S KITCHENS WITH FRANKE’S NEW SUPER METALLIC SINKS
Fragranite was pioneered by Franke and contains 80% granite to form a unique material with a subtle sheen that is warm to the touch. The premiumquality Fragranite material is tough, durable and germ, scratch, impact, stain and heat resistant, all backed by a 50-year guarantee. It features Sanitized® antibacterial protection which is proven to reduce bacteria
and microbe growth by 99%.
The Fresno range has a contemporary design with sleek lines and tight radius corners in four colours of Copper Gold, Copper Grey, Lunar Grey and Sterling Silver, each enhanced with metallic particles to give a subtle sparkly lustre that adds to their luxury appeal.
The Fresno measures 860 x 458mm, fits a 900mm cabinet and is fully reversible for added flexibility. As an undermount, it can be combined with a wide range of worksurface materials such as natural stone, quartz or solid surface to create a look that is modern and pared back. It features an extra-large 500 x 425mm bowl with a generous bowl depth of 215mm. A rubber wood chopping board and Rollamat are supplied with the sink, and a stainless steel strainer bowl is available separately, creating a highly practical yet stylish work station for prepping, soaking, washing and rinsing.
The premium-quality Fragranite material is tough, durable and germ, scratch, impact, stain and heat resistant, all backed by a 50-year guarantee. It features Sanitized® antibacterial protection which is proven to reduce bacteria and microbe growth by 99%.
THE CAT S61: ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE INDUSTRIAL SMARTPHONES AROUND?
CAT smartphones are the ultra-resistant devices of your dreams. Designed to be waterproof, drop proof, and even dust resistant, this group of industrial smartphones are manufactured and sold by the Bullitt Group, under the license of Caterpillar Inc.
Intended to take the nightmarish aspects, such as accidental dropping or shocks, out of everyday smartphone use, CAT phones are the top choice for individuals after a more rugged and long-lasting device. They are now produced with the Android operating system, and possess standard smartphone features and accessories.
Among this line of industrial smartphones, the CAT S61 is the latest in a long line of superior hardware technology. Expected to release at the second quarter of 2018, this blog will take a look at whether this phone is set to be one of the most versatile of its kind.
Durability
As is the case for most phones of this type and range, the CAT S61 is the epitome of durability – more so than its less-refined predecessors. With a tougher and sturdier chassis, the S61 comes with a layered Gorilla Glass 5, rubber flaps, and is also set to perform better in terms of waterproof capabilities (waterproof up to 3 metres for 60 minutes). Expected to come equipped with a reinforced aluminium frame, the phone is sure to provide users with the confidence that it can withstand quite a few shocks – even a 1.8 meter drops onto concrete. The back panel also comes with a rugged and textured surface and increased a user’s grip, preventing the most unnecessary and trivial accidents.
Functionality
Laser projector
The CAT S61 packs in some super cool features – even when compared to similar industrial smartphones. Among the most talked-about additions, the futuristic laser projector is a standout – used for area and distance measuring purposes. While the laser can only shoot up to around 10 metres with accuracy dropping thereafter, it’s nonetheless a boastworthy feature to have on your smartphone.
Sensory features
Another seriously impressive feature is its Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) sensor, which actually tests the air quality around a specific radius. This is
a very important capability for industrial workers or anyone whose workstation can prove to be dangerous and volatile from time to time. Using a preinstalled app, the sensor will tell you if the air quality around you is excellent, good, moderate, poor, or unhealthy. While it won’t be able to tell you what’s exactly causing the drop in quality, it is, nonetheless, a useful feature for many industrial workers.
Image/video capturing
Moreover, the CAT S61 also comes in with a FLIR thermal image camera. While this isn’t a new feature by any means, it is the proud owner of an improved sensory range between -20°C and 400°C. This is a significant improvement from its previous ceiling of 120°C. Image resolution has also been sharpened, with images and objects better defined than before. The app also supports a livestream option to Facebook, increasing its functionality exponentially.
Given these features, it’s clear that this may not be the best choice for everyday, Instagram influencer type photography. it is, however, a perfect choice for hardcore adventurists, who travel to extreme environments frequently.
Display and processor
Boasting an impressive 5.2 inch 1080p display, the CAT S61 provides users with ample screen surface for just about every function Android offers. The smartphone also features extra brightness, glove mode, wet finger mode, as well as additional buttons to help take pictures underwater.
Its internal system is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, with a processor boasting of 2.2 GHz and a 4GB RAM. With a storage of 64GB and an added microSD slot for further storage capacity, it provides purchasers with ample space to store up necessary data, without the need to constantly delete important images and files off their phone. If you’re someone who’s particularly concerned about battery usage, the S61 battery is also capable of being charged quickly, with its Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 feature.
Key Takeaways
Given the features set out above, it’s clear that the CAT S61 is, by far, the most superior of the industrial smartphones (soon to be) available on the market. While its price point of approximately $999 may not make it a phone for just about everyone, it’s probably not designed for mass use anyway. Its combined features of enhanced durability, solid display and processor, as well as its host of other seriously sci-fi features, renders it the most versatile of CAT smartphones available on the market.
