What 2 cm slabs are used for
Two centimeters is 0.79 inches, rounded to 3/4 in the trade. At that thickness a slab weighs about a third less than a 3 cm one, and that difference decides where it goes. On a wall, every pound is carried by adhesive and fixings, so full-height backsplashes, shower walls, fireplace surrounds and wall cladding are cut from 2 cm.
Vanity tops are the other main use. A vanity is short, so a 2 cm top spans it easily, and the slimmer edge suits the proportions of a bathroom. Kitchen counters are the one place where 2 cm is the less common choice; the thicker option is described in 3 cm slabs.
Marble 2 cm slabs
Marble makes up nearly all of the 2 cm range, with the Calacatta family again the largest name, alongside Statuario, Breccia and colored marbles such as Rosso and the green Verde stones. Marble is used on walls and in bathrooms as often as in kitchens, so it is cut at both thicknesses, and on a bathroom wall the lighter slab is the natural choice.
Quartzite is a smaller group at 2 cm, with Taj Mahal among it, and a handful of limestone, travertine and granite pieces complete it. The white marbles in both thicknesses are gathered in white marble slabs.
Onyx slabs in 2 cm
The onyx slabs in the catalog are cut at 2 cm, White Onyx, Smokey and Onyx Miele among them. Onyx is a banded calcite stone that lets light through, and it is used as a feature more than as a work surface: a bar front, a vanity wall, a backlit panel. A thinner slab lets more light through, which likely plays a part in how onyx is cut. Onyx is also brittle along its bands, and onyx slabs are often reinforced with a resin or mesh backing.
2 cm slabs on a kitchen counter
A 2 cm slab can go on a kitchen counter, and in some regions it is the norm. It is usually set on a plywood subtop that brings it to standard height and supports it between cabinets. The visible edge is thickened by laminating a strip of the same stone underneath or by mitering a second piece at the front, which can make a 3/4 inch slab read as 1 1/2 inches or more.
A mitered edge keeps the vein running over the corner when the fabricator matches the pieces, and a laminated edge shows a thin line where the two layers meet. Both are fabrication work, priced by the shop doing it.
2 cm slab finishes
Polished leads, with honed close to half as common, and a small leathered group. On a wall, polished marble reflects light across a room and makes the vein look deeper. Honed suits bathroom walls and vanity tops where water spots on a shiny surface would show. Each finish has its own collection, polished and honed.
Slab shower walls
A shower lined in slab has a few seams instead of hundreds of grout joints, and that is one of the main reasons people choose it over tile. Slab shower walls are usually cut from 2 cm stone, since they hang vertically and weigh a third less than 3 cm. Two slabs from the same lot can be book-matched, opened like the pages of a book so the veins mirror each other across a corner or a niche.
Marble is the usual slab for a shower wall, and the same material facts apply as with marble tile: it is calcium carbonate and reacts to acidic cleaners. The tiled alternative, with its trim and mosaic options, is in shower tile.
Colors in 2 cm
White is the largest 2 cm color group, mostly Calacatta and Statuario marble, with gray behind it. Colored marble is a strong part of 2 cm as well: the red Rosso stones, the green Verde marbles and the brecciated Breccia stones, which tend to be used on walls, bars and furniture as feature pieces.
Weight and handling of 2 cm slabs
At a density around 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter, 2 cm stone weighs about 11 to 12 pounds per square foot, against 16 to 18 for 3 cm. A full slab is still several hundred pounds, but the difference matters on a wall, on an upper floor and anywhere the stone has to be carried in by hand. Quoting and fabrication for all slabs are explained on the stone slabs page.
