Basic Fabrication / Installation Requirements

Diamond Surfaces projects which are fabricated and installed to these basic guidelines will provide years of quality service and reliable performance.

• Diamond Surfaces materials to be seamed together shall –
• be from the same production run
• be prepared with a router
• shall fit together with smoothly machined surfaces in such a way to provide a maximum “dry” width of .005”
• Seams shall –
• be completely cleaned with denatured alcohol
• be adhered using manufacturers recommended adhesive
• be reinforced on the underside with a minimum 3” wide batten strip of solid surface material
• as thick as the countertop
• adhered using manufacturers recommended adhesive
• completely from the front to the back
• be placed a minimum of 3” beyond any inside corner
• NOT be placed in a heat generating appliance cutout
• NOT be placed in a sink cut out
• NOT be placed over a dishwasher

• Cutouts shall - 
• be fabricated with a router and provide a minimum 3/16” radiused inside corners
• have top and bottom edge rounded to a minimum of 1/16 inch radius and be free of chips.
• cutouts designed to accept heat generating appliances shall have corners reinforced with a ½” thick by 5” square block of solid surface material adhered with manufacturers recommended seam adhesive.  In addition, 4 mil thick aluminum heat tape is to be applied so as to extend ¼” on horizontal surface of the countertop under the appliance flange and extend below countertop a minimum ¼”.
• Edges shall –
• be single thickness, mitre folded or single drop, or laminated
• be adhered using manufacturers recommended adhesive
• be sanded to remove nicks and/or chips  

• Inside edge corners shall –
• be radiused to 1” minimum radius
• have top and bottom edge profiled to a minimum of 1/16 inch radius or other appropriate profile

• Integral solid surface sinks and bowls shall be –
• adhered with manufacturers recommended seam adhesive
• fitted in such a way so as to produce no gaps or seam voids between the countertop and bowl
• Drop-in sinks and bowls shall –
• be adhered with silicone caulk
• allow 1/8” space for expansion between the solid surface and sinks and bowls.

• Traditional undermount sinks and bowls shall –
• be adhered with silicone caulking
• be supported in addition to the countertop. Cast iron sinks require sink mounting support brackets

• Solid Surface Backsplashes shall be –
• integral coved
• adhered with manufacturers recommended adhesive 
• loose
• field applied using silicone caulking

• Diamond Surfaces Installations must be supported –
• around the full perimeter
• within 3” of a cutout
• at all overhangs exceeding 6”
• so as to restrict deflection to ¼” when a load is applied. (residential applications = 100lbs., commercial applications = 300lbs.)

• Diamond Surfaces Installations shall be installed –
• flat and in-plane to +/- 1/8” in any 10’ run
• with 1/16” minimum space to be maintained between solid surface and all adjacent materials for expansion and contraction of materials

• Diamond Surfaces materials applications do not require full sub-straight support.  Full sub-straight support may only be considered when there are no heat generating appliances in the application. 

• Screws and mechanical fasteners shall not be inserted into Diamond Surfaces materials.

• Standard finish on Diamond Surfaces materials is matte finish. Diamond Surfaces materials may be specified as matte, satin, semi-gloss, or high gloss. Color may have an impact on choice of finish.  Control samples should be produced by the fabricator prior to job commencement.

• Caulking –
• solid surface to solid surface applications must be caulked with pure rubber based silicone caulk.
• maximum acceptable width of caulking is 1/8”.
• solid surface to adjacent materials should be caulked where visible gaps occur.
• Paintable siliconized latex caulk may be used in these applications.

Appliances may not be anchored directly into solid surface. They should be fastened to wood adhered to the solid surface or the surrounding cabinets. They may also be adhered with mechanical fasteners fastened to the solid surface with composite bonder.