Tips For Backlighting An Onyx Countertop
Posted on: 30 April 2017
If you have an onyx countertop, there is a good chance that you enjoy the translucence that the stone has. You might want to further improve the aesthetics of your counter by installing backlights to shine through the counter. Since the stone is translucent, you can get a really cool effect by backlighting it. However, you might not know exactly how you should go about this process. Here are some tips.
1. Make Sure the LED Panels You Choose Can Support the Slab
Your best bet for backlighting the onyx is to use LED lighting. However, if you do go this route, you need to be absolutely certain that the lights will be able to support the weight of the onyx slab. You can do this by having your slab weighed by professionals and then finding LED light panels that have the weight of your slab well within the range of weights that they can carry.
In order to use these panels correctly, you also will need to make sure that they are fully supported or else the slab counter is going to put additional stress on parts of the panel that might not be able to handle it. Properly supporting the LED lights will ensure that the weight is evenly distributed. Clean off the support before attaching the LED lights so that you can be sure that it adheres fully. Your support should be made out of a clear acrylic material because it will not show through the stone. Acrylic is also strong and relatively cheap, so it will be easy to replace this support if you should decide to get rid of the backlighting.
2. Do Not Attach the LEDs Directly to the Slab
Once the LED lights are attached to a surface, they are very difficult to remove without damaging the surface. As a result, you should avoid mounting the LED lights directly to the slab. Eventually, you might want to replace the LED lights. If you attach them to the onyx slab, you will have to replace both the lights and the slab itself. If you just mount them to the counter support system, you can easily replace the LEDs and the support for a much smaller amount of money.
For more information, talk to a company that specializes in backlighting stone countertops, such as Slablite. They will be able to recommend the best LED support system for the onyx slab.
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