Are Engineered Stone Countertops Cast on Site or in the Shop?

The casting of engineered stone countertops can either be done in the shop or at the site where it will be installed. Where the countertop is cast is actually your choice because companies and shops that manufacture and install engineered stone countertops can cast either way. While most retailers of engineered stone countertops prefer to cast their products in their shop, onsite casting is generally offered by major countertop manufacturers.

Engineered stone countertops cast in the shop

Engineered stone countertops that are cast in the shop or the place where you purchase them are also called pre-cast or offsite cast countertops. They are molded, formed, and built completely in the shop before they are installed in the home or a commercial establishment. Many engineered stone contractors practice this type of casting because the conditions inside the shop are usually controlled.

Inside the shop, a template of a countertop made from a pre-cast mold is done first before the product is actually created. Contractors and designers make use of special casting tables to do this. Until the countertop is adequately sealed, it does not leave the shop or the manufacturers’ possession.

Pre-cast engineered stone countertops have many advantages:

They have great strength and durability in terms of compression or the amount of weight tolerated per square inch. Most pre-cast engineered countertops are tested at up to 4,800 psi in compression.

They are less porous. They have a resistance to scratches, cracks, and other fissures.

They also have high resistance to stain and heat. Placing hot pots or pans occasionally on offsite cast engineered stone countertops would not damage the surface.

They come in a wide range of color and pattern selection. Most offsite cast engineered stone countertops are entirely handcrafted using decorative and color inlays, place soap dishes, and recessed drain boards.

Engineered stone countertops cast on site

The onsite casting of engineered stone countertops refers to the molding and forming of countertops exactly in the area of installation—in your kitchen, for example. Onsite cast engineered stone countertops also have many advantages like:

Contractors can form the engineered stone countertop according to the dimensions of your countertop space including the curved corners, radius edges, and countertop thickness.

Onsite casting usually involves one-time manufacture and installation. Your engineered stone countertop can be molded, formed, and installed in just one day.

Onsite cast engineered stone countertops result to just a single piece of countertop structure. They do not come in different parts before they can be installed. However, should your engineered stone countertop be removed, a major demolition is going to be required.

Onsite cast engineered stone countertops are customized according to the dimensions of your kitchen space.

You can choose a color and pattern for you onsite cast engineered stone countertop.
Onsite cast engineered stone countertops are durable, low maintenance, and heat- and scratch- resistant.