Q) What is directional material?
A) In the past, most solid surface materials were simple – either solid colors or designs with randomly distributed particulates. This made seams virtually invisible.
Today, thanks to advancements in manufacturing, many solid surface brands now offer directional materials – featuring veining, stripes, or patterns that flow in a specific direction. While the seams remain just as strong as with traditional solid surfaces, the pattern itself can sometimes make them more noticeable.
To ensure the most seamless and visually appealing results, we may recommend purchasing additional material. This extra flexibility allows us to adjust the layout for the best possible pattern flow.
Want to see how directional material works? Here’s a short video explaining the concept in more detail:
Below is an example of how Solid Surface Design Studio lays out directional material to help get the pattern to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
While Solid Surface Design Studio no longer fabricates countertops, we wanted to share this video because it does a great job of explaining the nuances of directional solid surface materials. When working with materials that have a grain or pattern, layout is key to achieving the best visual flow and sometimes, that means purchasing an extra sheet to get it just right.
📌 Please Note: This video demonstrates a countertop layout, but the principles apply to any project using directional materials. We may no longer do countertops, but we still appreciate the details that make a difference in every custom piece we create!