Gilasi Care and Installation

Gilasi surfaces are maintenance free and easy to clean.  For routine cleaning use any mild soap or household cleaner with a dish rag, sponge or White Scotch Pad.  Wipe up spills as they occur. 

For stubborn or dried-on deposits, use a non-abrasive cleaner/polisher (e.g. Barkeepers Friend, Bon Ami) with a sponge or damp cloth and rub in a circular motion.  Do not use bleach, harsh chemicals or abrasives.  Gilasi surfaces are heat- and scratch-resistant, and we recommend using trivets and cutting boards to avoid excessive wear.

General Fabrication Instructions for Gilasi

  • Gilasi cuts and tools like natural stone with wet saws and diamond pads. Sink cut-­outs need to be rodded both front and back. Layout should be done to maximize slab utilization.
  • Use color-matched or clear, knife grade-type epoxy, and fill noticeable voids in edges after cutting.
  • Polish edges to a 200 grit. Finish with a Gray Scotch Brite non-woven fine grade silicon carbide disk or comparable brand.
  • Perform standard installation seam bonding, color matching the epoxy tint to the slab.
  • Slabs need to be stored inside the edge and clamped together.
  • The fabricator must inspect the sheet for damage or defects before fabrication.
  • The fabricator must inspect the sheets for proper color match of sheets to be used on the same jobs before fabrication.
  • Proper stone working/diamond tooling must be used for cutting, shaping, and polishing Gilasi.
  • Lamination of Gilasi Surfaces should be done using 2-part epoxy adhesives.
  • Inside corners without a seam require a minimum of a 1/4" radius to reduce inside corner stress.
  • Inside corners created using 2 pieces utilizing a butt-seam, European seam, or similar style seam do not require inside radius.
  • Top and bottom edges on straight runs, and cut-outs should be rounded over or chamfered to a minimum of 1/16".
  • Outside corners should have a minimum radius of 1/8".

Cutouts in Gilasi

  • Radius cut-outs are recommended but square cut-outs are permitted as long as saw-cut in corners does not extend beyond the corner. Saw-cuts that extend beyond the corner of the cut-out must be completely filled with 2-part epoxy to prevent cracks.
  • A minimum of 1/8" clearance must be used around any appliance, cook-top, and sink for expansion.
  • Cut-outs require support on all sides within 3", no closer than 1" on heat producing cut-outs to avoid trapping heat.
  • The use of Nomex heat tape is recommended on cut-outs around heat producing appliances.

Rodding

*Rodding should be used on overhangs 6" or larger, sink fronts and over dishwashers or other appliance gaps in the substrate.

Undermount Sink Specifications

  • Under-mount sinks less than 10 lbs can be mounted using a full bead of silicone and under-mount clips or brackets.
  • Under-mount sinks exceeding 10 lbs (example: under-mount cast-iron) must be mounted using cradles or brackets attached to the cabinets.
  • Integrated solid surface bowls can be adhered directly to the underside of Gilasi Surfaces using solid surface adhesive in combination with under-mount clips or brackets.

Installation Requirements

  • Gilasi Surfaces are not recommended for exterior installations.
  • Cabinets should be flat and true within 1/8" over a 10' span.
  • Gilasi Surfaces should not be installed on any cabinet or base that cannot support a minimum of 28 lbs per square foot.
  • For Gilasi Surfaces installed between walls a minimum of 1/16" gap is required at each end. For appearance the gap can be caulked with a flexible adhesive.
  • Gilasi Surfaces should be fastened to cabinets or base using dabs of flexible adhesive. Never rigidly adhere Gilasi Surfaces to other materials such as wood, steel, etc.
  • Never install mechanical fasteners (screw, nails, bolts, etc) directly into Gilasi Surfaces.
  • Never install Gilasi Surfaces over existing countertops.

Fabrication and Installation

For structures with support on 4 sides and depths:

  • Less than 26", outer perimeter support is sufficient (maximum length is 107").
  • Greater than 26", additional front to back support is required every 36" in addition to the outer perimeter support.

For structures with support on 3 sides:

  • Less than 26" deep, additional support is required at widths greater than 36".
  • Greater than 26" deep, additional support is required at widths greater than 24".

Cabinet Overhangs (e.g. snack-bars):

  • Less than 15" no support required.
  • Overhangs over 6" use corbels evenly spaced at no greater than 24-inch intervals.

Seaming

  • All seams must be completely filled with a color matched 2-part Epoxy adhesive.
  • Seams must be supported on both sides of the seam, both front and back.
  • Seaming over a dishwasher is not recommended and should be avoided.
  • Seaming thru a heat producing appliance (e.g. cook-top, pasta boiler, etc.) is not recommended.

Seam appearance is not a warranty issue. Recommended seam width is less than 1/16"; recommended height mismatch is less than 1/64".