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If you have been working with stone for any length of time, you have probably come across the name DEKTON®. In fact, you may have seen it a shows and realize that it comes in a wide range of colors, textures and collections. However, if you are looking to find out more about this relatively new material in the stone industry, keep reading. In this article, we will explore some common aspects of the DEKTON® material that seem to be on people's minds.

Perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions that gets asked is this one. After all, the material is not considered "quartz". Yet on the other hand it isn't granite either. And it is much too durable to be marble. So what is DEKTON®?

DEKTON® is a surface that is made from several materials. These materials are found in a variety of raw materials and are processed to create a new material called DEKTON®. In 2013, Stone World explained it this way:

The new product is made from a mixture of inorganic raw materials found in glass, porcelain tile and natural quartz. The process by which it is made combines technologies from these three industries, resulting in a proprietary new advancement called Particle Sintering Technology (PST), developed exclusively by Cosentino’s R&D team.

As mentioned in the quote above, this PST process is a way to speed up the process of metamorphism. This method makes use of extreme heat and pressure much like the natural process. However, it takes much less time. It results in a material that cannot be classified in any other category. For example, DEKTON® does not fall into the engineered stone category with other materials. And it doesn't completely fit the definition of a natural stone although it does use natural raw materials.

The characteristics of DEKTON® make it a very desirable material by many in the realm of business. However, homeowners also find the qualities appealing. We will get into the advantages of using this revolutionary material in a bit, but right now let's look specifically at the characteristics of the material.

The characteristics of a stone determine how it looks, how it wears, and how well it hold up. Here are some of the more prominent characteristics of DEKTON®

• Highly Resistant to (UV) Light
• Non-porous Surface
• Temperature Resistant

Now, you might be thinking, well those are qualities that many stone materials offer. That is correct, granite and quartz are natural stone options that have these characteristics to a degree. But DEKTON® surfaces are more UV resistant, less porous, and more temperature resistant. 

Before we begin exploring the details of the benefits of using DEKTON® keep in mind that every stone surface has advantages over the others. These advantages will vary to a degree. They include things like:

• Durability
• Versatility
• Maintainability
• Unique Appearance

Each type of material will have its own collection of these qualities. However, DEKTON® has a high number of them.

Because of the non-porous finish generated by the sintering process, the DEKTON® material yields some advantages right out of the gate. For instance, DEKTON® slabs are highly scratch resistant. And even though Cosentino (the makers of DEKTON®) recommends using a cutting board, it is to protect your utensils form the surface and not to protect your surface from the utensils. The non-porous surface also means it resists staining. Since the stain causing liquids cannot penetrate the surface, they always stay on the surface. In fact, the DEKTON® website says it is "stain proof". This non-porous surface is accentuated because the material contains no resins.

In addition to its non-porous design, its heat resistance also makes it advantageous. It can withstand a tremendous amount of heat because of the way it is formed. How high can the heat be? Well, you are able to place hot pots and and appliances directly on DEKTON® surfaces without worry of heat damage.

That's not all that makes this material a great choice for so many projects. In addition to the above featured advantages, it also offers:

• High Mechanical Resistance
• Color Stability
• Non-combustibility
• Resistance to Hydrolysis
• Dimensional Stability
• 
  

The advantages that we have just considered contribute to another benefit of using this ultra-compact material. Versatility. Because it is so durable, DEKTON® is also versatile. It can be used for various purposes including countertops, flooring, and wall panels. It is used for both indoor and outdoor applications. 

Because this ultra-compact material is designed for so many uses, it must be available in a variety of dimensions. As a result, Cosentino produces it in various sizes and thicknesses. This means that there are a number of sizing options available, let's take a look at what is available in the way of sizes.

When it comes to thickness, DEKTON® ranges from 8mm to 20mm.

Of course the available sizing options will vary depending on the application. 

DEKTON® ultracompact surfaces are used for a variety of applications. Whether the project calls for indoor use or outdoor use, this durable and versatile unique material can be used for any of the following:

• WALL PANELS
• SHOWER WALLS
• COUNTERTOPS
• SIDING
• FACADES
• CLADING

The color palette used for the creation of the DEKTON® slabs and/or panels is varied and diverse. DEKTON® is available in an array of collections. Each collection is named to convey the overall feel the collection conveys. The available collections are as follows:

• Natural Collection
• Stonika XGloss Collection
• Industrial Collection
• Wild Collection
• Basiq XGloss Collection
• Natural XGloss Collection
• XGloss Natural
• XGloss Solid
• Tech Collection
• Solid Collection
• 
  

Each collection offers a variety of colors, textures and patterns. The variety of finishes also allow for a distinct look and feel.

As we have seen, DEKTON® is a material that offers a slew of features and benefits that give it an advantage over other surface types. Its available in a number colors for a variety of purposes. No matter what your project entails, if you need a durable, modern solution, you will find a DEKTON® surface that is perfect for your purpose.