Thread: Granite - General questions

I am looking to have a breakfast bar (well it's actually going to end up as a drinking bar) built which I want to have a granite top.

I've looked at Siamtak & Silatak websites, but as a lot of their text is embedded in graphics, I haven't been able to work out what they are offering.

I'm looking for the cheaper grey Thai granite and require 4 of the standard 60x60 tiles, however I have no idea of the pricing for these inclusive of poishing and edge finishing to two sides on 3 tiles and edge finishing to 3 sides on 1 tile.

Anyone have any experience with either of these companies and their costs for polishing services? Also does anyone know if they are able to add additional granite 'slips' of 10cm x 60cm to the edges so that I can have the appearance of a thicker slab.

(The main weight of the tiles will be resting on a plywood base 40cm in width, with the 10cm overhanging)

Originally Posted by Jod

Anyone have any experience with either of these companies and their costs for polishing services? Also does anyone know if they are able to add additional granite 'slips' of 10cm x 60cm to the edges so that I can have the appearance of a thicker slab.

You can specify that. You need to specify the edge detail; rounded, squared, ogee etc.
Why don't you buy a slab instead of tiles. It would look 100% better than tiles. Many shops sell slabs of marble.
Are you in Bangkok? Lots of stone suppliers on Ratchadapisek Road.

Originally Posted by Humbert

Why don't you buy a slab instead of tiles. It would look 100% better than tiles. Many shops sell slabs of marble.
Are you in Bangkok? Lots of stone suppliers on Ratchadapisek Road.

I'm up in Loei province (between Nong Hin and Wang Saphung), so have been initially looking at websites. These mainly seem to state that the granite is available in standard sizes. (I'm not interested in marble)

If I can get a 2.4m x 60cm slab, that would certainly suit me better. As far as the edge finish goes, I'm simply looking for what I believe they call a flat edge, however if budget permits, I'd go for a pencil edge to the top and the bottom of the 'slip'.

^I'd look for a stone contractor in the nearest large town instead of trying to do it online. For the look you want I would specify a 45 degree mitered, killed edge. Killed meaning they take the sharp edge off with a grinder.

To do the installation right the contractor should take field measurements of the base you have built.

^ Chamfer is the technical term used for a 45 degree edge if the guys don't know what a "killed edge" is.

Granite countertops contain radium, which can emit radon, a radioactive gas which causes lung cancer. Some have measured as high as 25 times the EPA's safety limit of 4 picocuries per liter of air.

I am from Aberdeen - The Granite Shitty.

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

Granite countertops contain radium, which can emit radon, a radioactive gas which causes lung cancer. Some have measured as high as 25 times the EPA's safety limit of 4 picocuries per liter of air.

I am from Aberdeen - The Granite Shitty.

With a 2.4m x 60cm worktop in an open plan Thai building, I'll take the risk. If you cut a cellar into solid granite, I accept there may be a risk, however I've been underground in a Cornish tin mine where they used to blast through the granite and the radon levels were much higher.

Originally Posted by Jod

I'm up in Loei province (between Nong Hin and Wang Saphung),

Anyone up there who can do polished concrete? Just as slick as granite and if there is someone local a whole lot easier.

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

Anyone up there who can do polished concrete? Just as slick as granite and if there is someone local a whole lot easier.

I accept that, however I like the look and feel of natural materials such as slate or granite, so that's what it's going to be.

Originally Posted by thailazer

The total cost for material and installation for this piece in the photo was 15,000 baht and one bottle of Hong Thong. The local shops are the way to go, and the result was absolutely beautiful.

Very nice thailazer. How many square metres of granite is involved in that installation?

I'm not so concerned about the 'cutting in', as this will be a standalone island with only a single 60cm edge against a wall and no fittings to be mounted in the top.

Originally Posted by Jod

Originally Posted by thailazer

The total cost for material and installation for this piece in the photo was 15,000 baht and one bottle of Hong Thong. The local shops are the way to go, and the result was absolutely beautiful.

Very nice thailazer. How many square metres of granite is involved in that installation?

I'm not so concerned about the 'cutting in', as this will be a standalone island with only a single 60cm edge against a wall and no fittings to be mounted in the top.

The run on the back wall was 4.6 meters and the cabinet was 59 cm deep with the granite having an overhang of a few cm. They used colored epoxy in the seam and it was virtually invisible as the joint fit so well. Granite working is an interesting art to watch, especially as the guys are grinding away with electric tools standing or kneeling in a cm of water.