Beyond Beauty:
A DEEPER LOOK AT RESIN-BASED RECYCLED GLASS SURFACES By Paolo Bilotta, Principal, Curava
One look at a recycled glass countertop and there’s no question it’s a bold and beautiful surface that elevates any room with a wow factor. The translucent quality of striking glass particulates makes it an eye-catching centerpiece for kitchens, baths, bars and other applications. While some recycled glass surfaces have a cementitious base, for the purpose of this article, we will only look at those that are resin-based. These surfaces have a number of qualities that make them a good choice for both fabricators and consumers. A Niche within the Engineered Stone
as a binder, and many also contain a small
Category
percentage of quartz particulates.
Recycled glass surfaces that are bound with
These resin-based surfaces offer similar
resin are technically categorized within the
advantages to many of today’s modern
engineered stone category and are akin to the
hard surfaces. First, the material uses the
quartz surfacing segment of the market. They
same equipment and guidelines as those for
generally have a similar synthetic resin matrix
fabricating quartz, which is relatively common
28 • Vol. 13 / Issue 2 • International Surface Fabricators Association
these days. Additionally, resin-based recycled glass surfaces are nonporous and, therefore easy to maintain, require no sealing and can be cleaned using hot water and a pH neutral cleaner. They are also durable, not subject to etching, and are heat-, scratch- and stainresistant. Because they are nonporous, they are resistant to penetration by microbes, making them easy to disinfect. Answering the Demand for Sustainable Solutions
In today’s society, many people have began embracing the idea of “going green” and are including glass among their recyclables. And while the United States is trailing behind much of Europe in the percentage of glass recycled,
