Choosing the Right Edge for Your Natural Stone Project

Selecting the type and color of your stone is not the only major decision you will be asked to make when designing with natural stone. Edge styles are often the final piece of the design puzzle. Whether you are looking for ornate edges or simple understated beauty, different edge styles will help tie in your visions.



At Caayu we offer several choices with additional variations to some of the most popular. For the most part the most common are still: Eased Edge, ¼" Beveled Edge, 1/2 and Full Bull-Nose, Ogee and Waterfall.



An eased edge will help maintain the true thickness of the stone. A traditional eased edge is a great option when you are not interested in competing with other lurid designs around your countertop. Similar to the clean lines of an eased edge, ¼" beveled and radius edges also provide simple noncompeting styles.



For those who like to add flair in their designs, appropriately used edge styles can add charm and character by adding shadow lines similar to fancy trim and moldings. The artful designs of the Ogee, DuPont and waterfall can transform a simple countertop to a custom work of art.



When selecting edges it is important to know your stones limitations. What makes natural stone enduring is also what creates certain challenges associated with edge styles. It is important to remember that not all edges are suitable for all stone. To explain this, an understanding of natural stone and the quarrying process is needed. Natural stone is an intricate composition of different minerals. Minerals will vary by hardness depending on the natural process in which they were formed. When stone has a large degree of variation within the density of the mineral structure, it creates challenges in profiling the edges. Common issues caused by not choosing the right edge to compliment the stone can result in a wavy, undefined finish. In some cases selecting the wrong edge can result in premature failure when the softer minerals are over worked during the polishing process. For these types of natural stones it is best to use edge styles with fewer contours and limit defined sharp edges.



Another challenge associated with edge styles is the depth of color on the finished edges. Most natural stone is treated with small amounts of resin during the production stage. This process developed over 15 years ago has been widely accepted with in our industry and has contributed to the successful distribution of countless exotic natural stones. However, from time to time, light colored, resin treated stone can sometimes pose a challenge with matching the edge color to the surface.



Selecting edge styles is a great way to add your own personal touch to your design project, nevertheless having proper expectations will help the project run smooth. At Caayu, we will help you make the appropriate decision by learning the details of your project and by setting proper expectations.