Comments Off on Future Proofing with Solid Surface: Why Solid Surface is the Choice for the Long Term
Durability and value are words that continue to resonate with design professionals and customers alike. Future proofing is a recent buzz phrase that describes a product, service or technological system that will not need to be significantly updated in the near future. This is extremely relevant for healthcare design in particular. The selection of materials for healthcare projects are a large part of the future success of a building as it ages.
One of the past truths about healthcare design was that hospital buildings had a life span of 50 years. This means that after about 50 years, the cost of ongoing renovation to a facility equals or surpasses the cost of a full replacement building. Hospital construction can take more than 7 years from planning and design to construction and occupancy. Design professional’s material choices can be proven to be incorrect even before the first patient ever arrives.
Past experience has shown that the long term life cycle benefits of solid surface provide a better value over other materials. Solid surface is nonporous, easy to repair, resistant to bacteria and resistant to chemicals. ASST has worked on numerous large healthcare system projects throughout the United States. We can share experiences and knowledge to assist professionals during the design development phase. The goal of healthcare is to heal and to encourage smarter choices for the creation of supportive healing environments.
ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. We look forward to Going Beyond for your exciting project! Contact us today at 717-630-1251/ info@asst.com or visit our website at www.asst.com.
Comments Off on ASST Quartz: Quartz is a Commercial Building Material
Quartz has been popular in residential kitchens and bathrooms. Now we are seeing a surge in quartz specifications in commercial construction. Why? Quartz is heavy and expensive right? Yes, and no. Quartz may be heavy but it is very durable. Quartz is actually engineered stone. When compared to the total cost of natural stone, quartz engineered stone is less expensive.
How is quartz engineered stone actually “engineered”? No, manufacturers don’t recreate magma under the same conditions as volcanic activity created by the earth’s crust. Quartz engineered stone is made with ground quartz, other natural materials and resins. Natural quartz and other materials are ground into a dust or aggregate. The natural materials are mixed with resins and even glass to provide unique colors. Once the material is mixed it is baked at high temperature and the final step is polishing. OK we probably oversimplified the process.
One of the benefits of quartz engineered stone is the look of natural stone with quartz being much more consistent. Imagine having to find consistent natural stone slabs for 100 tops in a commercial building. Owners and designers don’t have to worry about whether or not the stone tops will match the rest of the building design and quartz tops don’t have to compete with the rest of the esthetics. Quartz engineered stone can be the focal point or complementary to the overall look and feel of the surrounding space.
Is quartz engineered stone a green construction material? Simply put yes. No natural stone is quarried for the purpose of producing quartz engineered stone. All of the natural material used in engineered quartz are byproducts of other manufacturing processes. Even the resins used in manufacturing quartz are becoming more bio friendly. These facts with the consideration of the amount of energy required transport natural stone from the quarries makes quartz engineered stone the right solution for commercial stone tops.
Here are some quartz engineered stone facts: Quartz is harder than granite making it resistant to impact damage. Quartz is non-porous which makes it resistant to bacteria, stain resistant, easy to clean and low maintenance. Quartz is made of 90-95 percent natural stone and 5-10 percent polymer resins. Quartz material does not have to be sealed.
At ASST, our quartz facility is dedicated to quartz alone. At this facility, we do one thing and we do it well. Steve Stoddard was the 2015 ISFA fabricator of the year and he leads our quartz offering. Contact ASST to find out how we can take your quartz engineered stone project Beyond the Surface Level.
Comments Off on SCULPTCOR ® Surfaces: Solid Surface Has Been Vertically Challenged for Too Long
Durability and beauty are unlikely partners. It is rare when both are exclusive specifying vertical surfaces. Even rarer still is the challenge for design professionals to use solid surface textures in a variety of vertical applications. From operating rooms to airports, finding unique surfacing solutions is difficult. Many of these wall finishes are designed for residential use only and will not perform well in commercial spaces. With solid surface the design opportunities are endless.
Public spaces demand durable surfaces. High performance surfaces should not be plain or unattractive. They should perform beautifully. Many vertical surfacing solutions in the marketplace today are focused only on aesthetics. Performance is usually an afterthought. Few surfacing products today combine both aesthetics and durability in one vertical solution. Solid surface can be thermoformed with textured patterns and CNC machined to size. Painted MDF or molded plaster cannot offer the same value.
In response, ASST created SCULPTCOR ® textured wall surfaces to provide an attractive durable solution unlike anything on the market today. Manufactured with 100% solid surface acrylic, Sculptcor ® is resistant to bacteria and is made to last.ASST’s proprietary mounting system allows for field adjustment and individual panel removal for maintenance. It is ASST’s legacy to continue supporting design professionals with project challenges other fabricators avoid. Be sure to contact us with your next solid surface project!
