About Okite – Helpful Information
One of the most popular hard surface materials used in homes all over is engineered quartz. One of the brands of quartz available to consumers is Okite. Quartz materials such as Okite are very desirable and continually are selected to be the material used for all sorts of hard surfaces. In this post, we will consider some basic information about Okite, including what it is, fabricating it, and how to care for it.
What Quartz Is Made Of
Engineered quartz is a combination of raw materials, polymer resins and coloring pigments mixed together into a composite material. This composite is then heated an formed into a slab. The mixture varies in percentage by weight for each of the above ingredients. The ranges generally used by the companies that produce engineered quartz are:
- +90% Crushed Raw Quartz and Other Raw Materials
- -10% Polymer Resins for Binding and Coloring Pigments
To make quartz slabs, manufacturers blend raw materials into a composite substance by means of special mixers. This composite substance is then molded and heated at high temperatures to form a solid sheet (or slab) that can be used for hard surfaces. The resulting “slab” though, has properties that differ from natural stone.
As mentioned, most of the engineered quartz falls within those parameters, but Okite might have a mix that varies from that guideline. The best way to determine the exact mix for Okite is to check out the information on the website for Okite. And keep in mind, companies are constantly adjusting their recipes and protocols to tune the product.
Quartz Popularity & Okite
There are many reasons that people choose quartz to be the material for their surfaces. Kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and even shower walls are often times fashioned from quartz. In fact, many online resources make mention of the benefits and/or reasons that quartz (including Okite) is an appealing choice.
In fact, engineered quartz offers some very desirable features. Notice the following quote from hgtv.com
One of the main reasons quartz has exploded in popularity is due to appearance. Quartz has the look of stone while also allowing homeowners to customize the design. While granite offers many options in terms of appearance, you may have to search for the right piece that matches your color scheme. With quartz, the selection process is much easier.
Quartz in general is really a desirable material and that helps Okite as well. In general, the engineered quartz industry has a variety of benefits that get focused on. However, there are usually specific focus points talked about by each brand or manufacturer. For example, notice the point that Okite highlights in its material. On the website OKITE
Thanks to its great flexibility, OKITE® can be used in various fields. Available in slabs of different size and thicknesses, this surface made of quartz-resin is the ideal solution for kitchens or bathrooms, but also for avant-garde projects and art exhibitions.
Properties of Engineered Quartz
As we mentioned, quartz surfaces are generally produced following similar processes. The nuances of the process varies, but that doesn’t mean that all are necessarily created equal. There are different grades of quartz just as there are various grades of natural stone. Okite and even other engineered quartz materials though, will promote the following appealing traits:
- Non-porosity
- Stain Resistance
- Resistant to Scratching
- Easy to Clean
Like other engineered quartz surfaces, Okite no doubt offers variations of the benefits listed above. Additionally, the maintenance and care procedures for Okite will be much the same as the other brands of engineered quartz. We will cover some of those care and maintenance practices shortly, be first, let’s take a look at the color selection.
Okite Color Selection
The colors in which Okite is available is another reason for its success. After all if a company offers a product and the color palette is not chosen carefully, it could mean another trip to the drawing board to create more colors needed by the consumer. Okite has put together the following color selection for the product they offer:
- 8054 Calacatta Fantastico
- 8053 Calacatta Royal
- 8052 Calacatta Oro
- 8051 Calacatta Bettogli
- 8064 Nero di Ormea
- 8063 Fior di Bosco
- 8062 Grigio Oriente
- 8061 Carrara Gioia
- 8050 Statuario Extra
- 4004 Marquinia Black
- 1932 Grigio Bardiglio
- 4003 Mystic Grey
- 1804 Nero Reale
- 1114 Nero Assoluto
- 2009 Prisma Nero
- 1911 Grigio Nordico
- 1813 Marrone Imperiale
- 1915 Antracite
- 4002 Ocean Grey
- 1801 Verde Oriente
- 1701 Verde Medea
- 1916 Grigio Assoluto
- 5008 Corvino
- 1432 Grigio Chiaro
- 1405 Grigio Scuro
- 1663 Bianco Classico
- 1709 Easy Grey
- 1710 Easy Bronze
- 2253 Moka Cream
- 5010 Beige Pro
- 1707 Easy Brown
- 1717 Roman Stone
- 1715 Afyon
- 1706 Easy Beige
- 1926 Crema Botticino
- 1642 Crema
- 1705 Easy White
- 2005 Prisma Bianco
- 5009 Bianco Pro
- 4001 White Avion
- 1931 Arabescato Verde
- 1896 Bianco Carrara
- 1665 Bianco Assoluto
- 1810 Calacatta White
- 1809 Calacatta Gold
- 9004 Translucent Collection
- 9003 Translucent Collection
- 9002 Translucent Collection
Fabricating Okite Surfaces
Fabricating Okite brings with it some of the challenges that are common to the quartz material. There are some key things that fabrication professionals need to be aware of if they choose to begin working with Okite – or another brand of quartz for that matter.
Dust Collection Equipment for Okite Fabrication
Nearly all hard surface materials used in construction projects contain at least some silica. When this material is cut, shaped, or polished, it creates dust. Those dust particles contain silica that can be dangerous if inhaled. So, when working with Okite, it is recommended that quartz fabrication dust collection equipment be used. Having the proper dust collection equipment can keep your working environment as free of respirable silica as possible.
Okite Fabrication Water Treatment
Even after the quartz dust is removed, it could still be a potential hazard. For example, some Okite fabricators are running wet tools that produce a slurry. This slurry is produced when water traps the particles that would become air particulates. The slurry is then processed using a quartz water treatment plant to separate the particles from the water. Then, the water is sent back to the shop where it can be used again to fabricate more Okite surfaces.
Proper Tools for Okite Fabrication
When working with engineered stone, many of the tools are the same as they would be for cutting or fabricating natural stone. However, there are specific variations of these tools for use on quartz. Let’s look at just a couple of examples.
First, let’s look at diamond polishing pads. When working with Okite, just like other quartz, you need to be aware of the need to keep the material from getting too hot. Excess heat during the polishing process can turn the material a different color. By using either wet polishing pads or polishing pads designed for quartz, you will likely get the best results when polishing Okite.
Another thing to keep in mind is that not all materials have the same hardness. Because Okite is among the harder materials (quartz is very hard), it requires a diamond bridge saw blade for cutting quartz.
Of course, there are other best practices to follow when fabricating Okite but they are too numerous to mention here. The thing to take away form this post regarding Okite fabrication is that there are specific practices and tooling to consider. There is also some equipment that can be used for both natural stone and Okite
How to Care for Okite
Caring for Okite is likewise a matter for consideration. Maintenance and cleaning processes are fairly standard for virtually all kinds of quartz, including Okite. So what is involved?
Although, Okite does not require sealing after installation, there are occasions that can cause it to need to be sealed. There are quartz sealers that exist for treating materials like Okite should they come to need sealing due to improper care.
How to Clean Okite
Cleaning Okite can be very simple. Since Okite is stain resistant, cleaning it is as simple as using the appropriate quartz cleaning solution and not using harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbing products. Cleaners designed for use on quartz are generally the correct cleaners to use. We do recommend reading the information provided by Okite or whichever quartz surface you are considering to see which kinds of cleaners are approved.
In conclusion, Okite is an appealing material for use in homes and businesses. We have seen what some of the benefits are to selecting Okite and what it is made of. Additionally, we looked at some important fabrication practices that need to be considered. And we looked at what kinds of cleaner to use for maintaining Okite as well as why some quartz surfaces may need to be sealed even though they do not need to be sealed initially.
