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Slippery rock Gazette
What’s Next?
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Contribute Leed Points – due to its high recycled content, paper countertops can contribute to LEED points.
One really big fabricator pro: it’s easier to install than natural stone. It’s lighter, easier to cut and shape, plus it seams together tightly. Seams are not invisible, but can be made minimal.
There are cons to consider as well:
Heat Tolerance – anything over plus or minus 350 degrees can scorch the tops. Trivets and hot pads are a necessity for this prod- uct – or simply don’t put hot pots and pans on the surface. This is possibly a downside to using this product for an outdoor kitchen.
Colors – colors are limited and for the most part dark. Some of the lighter colors can show the product layers on the edges.
Cannot be recycled – that sounds weird because it is made of mostly recycled material, but because of the resins used, the product itself cannot be recycled. However, because of the ease of cutting, shaping and seaming, it can be repurposed to another project.
Maintenance – recommended daily maintenance is just a damp sponge (no soap, since that can leave a haze). Absolutely no bleach, according to the manu- facturer. However, it is recom- mended that you apply food grade mineral oil on the top from time to time (like soapstone) to keep the surface looking new.
Patina – a weathered patina could be a pro or a con, depending on how you feel. As it ages, the surface will take on a patina and slightly change color.
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Paper countertops come in a wide variety of sizes and thick- nesses ranging from 1⁄4 inch up to 3 inches, and slabs max out at
5 feet x 12 feet. They also come in multiple (but limited) finishes such as honed and leathered. One website boasts that you can over- hang 18 inches without brackets. Warranties seem to vary depend- ing on manufacturer, from 10 years to lifetime, depending on use.
Are paper countertops poised to step into the mainstream mar- ket? Are paper countertops ready
to start replacing quartz? Will designers and salespeople start distancing themselves from a faltering and inconsistent quartz market?
Who knows? I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Please send your thoughts on this article to Sharon Koehler at Sharon@asdrva.rocks.
PaperStone Mocha tops installed in the Concordia University Science Lab, Mequon, Wisconsin. As a chemically resistant, UL Class A fire-rated material, PaperStone is a suitable and attractive material for sci- ence lab tables.