What is Agglomerated Stone?
I’ve long been wondering about the proper name for this stone. Engineered stone? Fake granite? I finally found it. This is the kind of alternative to natural granite and marble that is less expensive, and here’s why.
Agglomerated stone is made up of stone dust and particles mixed together with epoxy and resins. Then it is allowed to harden and is polished to a smooth glossy surface.
Why Agglomerated Stone?
Terrazzo is one example of agglomerated stone. It’s a soupy mix of marble poured on-site and allowed to harden.
No, agglomerated stone isn’t natural stone, but it has lots of clear advantages over quarried stone:
- Less expensive.
- It uses up materials that would otherwise be trashed (more eco-friendly, perhaps?).
- More structurally stable. You don’t have to worry about hidden cracks or fissures developing.
What’s the Catch?
Ah, a catch you say? Any good thing has a catch.
Agglomerated stone, because it’s a slurry of dust and particles, tends to have a uniform, consistent appearance. This isn’t a bad thing, if you’re looking for that. But do not expect to see striations and the so-called “beauty” of natural, quarried marble or granite.