Frequently Asked Questions

It really depends on the purpose of your kitchen and what kind of look you are trying to achieve.

Polyurethane kitchens are a bit sleeker as you can achieve a very minimalistic look with shark nose (finger pull) handles. It also offers greater flexibility with colours as you can have it made in any dulux colour of choice, in your choice of either a gloss or satin finish. The only downside to poly is that if it chips, you either have to replace the whole door or put up with seeing the raw MDF board beneath the chip.

Laminex kitchens offer more in the way of textures and finishes whilst still offering a large range of colours. Laminex is also more durable than polyurethane as it it is more likely to scratch than chip, which is far less noticeable.

Most home owner/occupiers opt to go with polyurethane because it looks nicer and they know they will look after their own home.

For rental properties we usually recommend laminex over poly for maintenance and durability as your tenants will never look after your home in the same way that you do.

Another alternative is to have a mix of both as you can achieve a really nice designer look by combining the two together.  See our Gallery page for examples of melamine, poly and combination two-tone kitchens.

For average sized, single benchtops, installation usually takes between 2-4 hours, sometimes half a day depending on the size and complexity of the job.

The stonemasons will always try to make best use of the slabs to keep the number of joins to a minimum without compromising the integrity of the benchtop.
A good stonemason skilled at joining, book matching and mixing precise glue colours will create joins that are less visible and blend in well with the stone colour.

Before the stone is cut, the stonemasons will create a stencil of your benchtop to accurately measure and plan the layout. Like a good game of Tetris, they will try to make the best use of space by arranging the pieces snuggly onto the slab area. If they can fit the pieces onto one slab instead of two, they usually will. This will save you money and reduce wastage which is always a good thing.

For aesthetic reasons, mitred edge joins are generally better as the join line is less noticeable, being positioned right through the corner edge of the stone.

Layered joins offer greater corner strength but they are more noticeable than mitred edge joins, positioned in the middle of the flat surface.

NOTE: Layered joins work best on colours with a consistent, fine grain. i.e. The larger the detail, the more noticeable a layered join will be. 

Yes it is. The only exception is, for example, where natural flooring has been used, as the natural movement of the floor may produce movement in the benchtop, which could result in the join chipping. (This is worst case scenario and not a commonly known issue.)

An overhang is an area of the stone benchtop that is floating or that extends without cabinetry beneath it (also known as a breakfast bar). It is commonly used on L-shape benches and island benches/counters, where you have leg room underneath to sit on chairs or stools.

For all types of benchtop surfaces (Neolith, natural stone and engineered stone) generally a clean, damp cloth will do the trick. For more stubborn stains, use a few drops of non-bleach, non-abrasive, neutral PH stone cleaner (available at most hardware stores like bunnings), or a small amount of mild liquid dishwashing detergent mixed with warm water.
For best results, use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces.
NOTE: Some manufacturers (like Caesarstone or Smart Stone) offer a complimentary cleaning kit when you register your warranty online. Check the manufacturer’s website for details.

This is not recommended for natural stone or reconstituted stone as the sudden change in temperature can cause it to react and either stain (burn), fracture or crack.
Neolith, on the other hand, is 100% heat proof. You can literally take a roasting hot pan out of the oven, put it directly on your Neolith benchtop and nothing will happen to it.