Common Natural Stone Reinforcement Types

Though natural stone applications like granite countertops are durable, that doesn’t mean you just slap them on top of the counters and be done with it. These would also need some reinforcement to keep the slab from being damaged. Especially now since some of the granite top slabs used can be thinner than slabs that you can find decades ago. Even natural stone would need some support. If you’re wondering, here are some of the common natural stone reinforcement methods.

Fiberglass Mesh

This kind of reinforcement is done by applying a coat of plastic fiberglass at the underside of the stone. This gives the stone some level of support and stability. Fabricators usually apply epoxy or polyester resin, and is done in the fabricator shop in most cases.

Rodding

Rodding is a reinforcement technique that inserts a metal or fiber glass rod on a slit cut on the stone. This is usually done on kitchen countertops with hanging sinks or stone that is protruding from the edge. The rod embedded on the stone provides a frame on which the stone rests for strength and stability. The rod is also applied with fiberglass mesh for added strength and toughness.

Spline

Another reinforcement method in kitchen countertop installations is the spline. This technique is used mostly on joints and seams on countertops. The spline is done by inserting a steel or metal key through the slots on cut each slab forming the joint or seam. You can imagine it as placing a coin in between the two sides to keep them together. The key or spline is usually a metal washer and is set to the slots with adhesive or epoxy.

Your kitchen countertop installation may employ one or more of these reinforcement techniques. It would depend on the particular layout and design of your kitchen and countertops.

But why should you take the time to know about these? Not only is it educational, it also lets you know the physical layout of your granite top and how well it’s supported. You can then gauge to some extent whether the fabricator is doing a good job of providing support for the natural stone.

Natural stone may be tough, but it could still use some support. That’s why there are natural stone reinforcement methods. Familiarizing yourself with these common reinforcement methods help you become more aware of the installation process and sure of the stability of your countertop installation.

By: user17

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