Countertops

[Tscarborough]

Re: Countertops

Unless I am misunderstanding you and the material, you are mistaken. The best aggregate for concrete is fractured-face, i.e. sharp or crushed material, not rounded aggregate.

[Neil2]

Re: Countertops

"not rounded aggregate."

I'm not suggesting that. What I am outlining is that, for countertops, where the aggregate is to be exposed. you want an aggregate produced from crushed natural stone, as opposed to aggregate made from crushed blast rock. You can tell the difference visually in two ways; crushed natural stone will have a certain number of rounded surfaces and there will be variation in the colour of the stone.

You get exactly this in the bagged, brand name pre-mix.

Crushed blast rock is homogeneous and thus uninteresting. More importantly, often the blasting process leaves stresses and minute fractures thought the particles. The individual aggregate pieces are therefore weaker. This will result in "picking out" and minute holes in the finished surface resulting from the grinding and polishing process.