A waterfall countertop is a modern and luxurious addition to the kitchen, where the countertop descends gracefully down to the floor. The beauty of this style of countertop lies in its seamless, continuous flow, so precise measurement and fabrication is paramount. Any mistakes in verticality, a misaligned joint, or an inaccurate angle can instantly detract from its signature look, leading to costly remakes and frustrated clients. So, let’s explore how to make a waterfall countertop accurately and expertly.
Traditional, manual templating methods, with their inherent challenges of ensuring perfect perpendicularity and fitting complex angles, often fall short when trying to craft these more intricate pieces.
This is where the Flexijet 3D digital templating system becomes indispensable. Originally designed for surveying staircases and buildings and repurposed perfectly to the exacting standards of the stone countertop industry, Flexijet offers unparalleled precision and efficiency, making it the ultimate solution for executing intricate designs like waterfall countertops.
The Flexijet 3D system combines cutting-edge laser scanning technology with intuitive software to generate highly accurate 2D and 3D measurements in mere seconds. It’s a portable, single-operator solution that integrates seamlessly into your workflow. With user-friendly features like Touch Mode for Windows tablets and flexible remote control options, Flexijet delivers exceptional efficiency and accuracy directly on site.
Flexijet’s instant automatic levelling, powered by its internal tilt sensor, removes the need for manual adjustments required with a tripod, ensuring quick and easy setup without any additional equipment. Should the device be accidentally knocked or nudged, an integrated shock sensor immediately alerts you via the touch display and software, a vital function if you’re working on a project with a lot of other tradespeople onsite at the same time.
Flexijet includes a built-in digital camera, allowing you to capture photos and voice notes alongside your measurements. Furthermore, Flexijet can precisely measure the level of cabinets, walls, and other surfaces directly from the laser, enabling you to identify and account for high and low points proactively for smoother, more predictable installations.
The measurement process with Flexijet Stone software is the critical first step in making a precise waterfall countertop:
Create the Vertical Plane for Each Waterfall: Begin by establishing a dedicated vertical plane folder for each waterfall section. This can be done simultaneously with your main countertop measurements or as a separate step. Simply click the ‘Backsplash’ button on the measurement ribbon, deselect ‘Add backsplash to countertop’ (as this is a distinct vertical element), and choose ‘Create a Vertical Layer (full-height).’ You can then name this folder, ‘Waterfall Left’ for example.
Define the Waterfall’s Vertical Plane: To accurately define this vertical plane, click on a point on the left side of where your waterfall will be drawn. If you already have the countertop’s material thickness known and its edges offset in your drawing, you can select the outside edges of the countertop area from the waterfall’s viewing direction (left and right points) to precisely establish the vertical starting point for the countertop.
Measure Along the Floor and Wall: Once your waterfall folder is active, use functions like Polyline or Multiple Lines to accurately measure points along the floor and up the wall where the waterfall will extend. You can also measure the top edge of any adjacent cabinets for precise reference, ensuring the waterfall countertop fits perfectly.
Handle Multiple Waterfalls: To create additional waterfall folders (e.g., for an island with two waterfalls), simply go back to the ‘Countertop’ folder (or the corresponding active folder), use the ‘Backsplash’ button again, and define the plane for the next waterfall by clicking or measuring its left and right points.
Seamless Data Integration (Repositioning): If your site’s complexity means Flexijet cannot measure all required points from a single position, utilise the Repositioning function. This allows you to move Flexijet to a new location and continue measuring in the same drawing, with the software intelligently stitching the measurements together to help make the final product.
Addressing the Issue of Reflective Surfaces: Kitchens often feature challenging reflective surfaces. Flexijet effectively handles this by supporting the use of T targets or an optional handheld laser. By aiming Flexijet at these tools, accurate measurements can be obtained without issues, contributing to a perfect product.
Unmatched Accuracy for Perfect Seams: Flexijet’s 3D laser precision significantly reduces human error, ensuring absolute verticality and perfectly matched seams between the horizontal countertop and the vertical waterfall. This is critical for the visually continuous flow that defines a waterfall edge, eliminating costly remakes and allowing you to make it right the first time.
Speed and Efficiency: What might take hours of careful manual alignment and adjustment can be accomplished in minutes with Flexijet, streamlining your templating process and accelerating project timelines, making the overall process faster.
Effortless Handling of Complex Angles: Even if your waterfall isn’t perfectly perpendicular to a wall, or involves unique angles, Flexijet captures these complexities with ease, ensuring your template perfectly matches the unique conditions of each kitchen.
Direct CAD Integration: Measurements are captured directly into CAD format, allowing for seamless transfer to CNC machinery for fabrication. This reduces manual data entry errors and speeds up production, directly contributing to how efficiently you make the product.
Reduced Material Waste: Precise templating means less scrap material, contributing to significant cost savings and better sustainable practices – especially important for large, expensive stone slabs used in waterfalls, making the process more economical.
Around-the-Clock Measurement Capability: With an average battery life of eight hours (depending on motor usage), Flexijet 3D can also be used while charging, ensuring uninterrupted measurement even on demanding projects.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Accurate and efficient templating translates to faster project completion and a flawless finished product, delighting your clients with a perfectly executed design feature.
Expert Support at Your Fingertips: Flexijet offers excellent support to users. With online tools built directly into Flexijet Stone, our support team is always available to assist. As part of your package you will receive 2 full days of training. This can either be at your premises, on a live job, or at our dedicated Flexijet training facility. We can even remotely control your Flexijet on-site if immediate assistance is needed.
The Flexijet 3D system transforms the often-challenging task of measuring for intricate waterfall countertops into a highly accurate, efficient, and reliable process. By embracing this advanced digital templating technology, fabricators can ensure a perfect fit every time, minimise waste, and make a truly eye-catching design feature that elevates the entire kitchen.
When you purchase the Flexijet 3D system from Stonegate you will have an initial 1-2 hour pre-meet to scope out your unique working processes to best understand how Flexijet can improve your efficiencies. We understand all of the challenges facing fitters and installers, and how accurate templating is key to the excellent fabrication.
Our Flexijet specialists receive ongoing training from the machine manufacturers to ensure the support you receive is the most up-to-date and will help your business thrive. Contact us today to find out more.
