What an interior designer asked about DURAFLEX, and the answers

Interior designers and architects ask different questions about marble protection film than homeowners do. They have seen more stone installations, they understand material specifications, and they are thinking about how a product will perform across multiple projects and clients over time.

Here are the questions that come up most frequently from design professionals who are specifying DURAFLEX for the first time, and the answers.

Does the film affect the finish or the look of the stone?

No. DURAFLEX SPF Ultra absorbs approximately five percent of visible light. The finish of the stone, whether polished, honed, satin, or leathered, remains visually consistent. Clients who have seen the film applied consistently report that they cannot identify where the film begins when looking at the surface.

The film profile is thin enough that it does not change the tactile quality of the surface in a way that is detectable in normal use. The edge profile, which is a frequent concern for architects specifying mitered edges or waterfall details, is similarly unaffected.

Can it go on quartzite, travertine, and porcelain as well as marble?

Yes, with some qualifications. DURAFLEX SPF Ultra is the primary product for marble, polished quartzite, and dense natural stones with a smooth surface finish. DURAFLEX SPF Neo is the product specified for more porous or textured stones, travertine, limestone, sandstone, and some quartzites with a rougher surface.

For travertine specifically, the stone needs to be properly filled before application. Unfilled travertine has surface voids that the film cannot bridge. Once filled and sealed, Neo sits correctly on the surface and performs to the same standard as Ultra on marble.

Porcelain is a different material. It does not absorb or etch, which changes the protection rationale. Film on porcelain is primarily for scratch and impact resistance rather than chemical protection. It is possible but less commonly specified.

What does the installation process look like for a new build?

For new builds, the ideal sequence is: stone installed and sealed by the stonemason, site cleaned to remove construction dust, taps held out or removed, DURAFLEX installed, taps fitted off by the plumber.

The dust requirement is the most frequently misunderstood part of the process. Protection film carries static electricity and attracts airborne particles during application. A site that has not been cleaned after construction will result in dust inclusions under the film that are visible and that DURAFLEX will not warrant. The installation needs to be scheduled after the second site clean, as close to handover as possible.

Taps need to be out before installation or removed temporarily. The film is applied across the full benchtop surface in a continuous sheet and trimmed to the edges. Threading a continuous sheet around installed tap stems is not possible without introducing seams, and seams near tap penetrations compromise the warranty.

What about Airbnb and high-use properties?

Film on an Airbnb or short-stay property is a sound specification decision. The replacement cost of damaged film is a fraction of the cost of rehoning or replacing stone. The management obligation is different, house rules should specify no cutting directly on the surface and no cookware above 230 degrees, but the protection value is higher than in an owner-occupied property precisely because the user base is less careful.

Of all DURAFLEX installations, the small number that have required film replacement have been disproportionately in short-stay properties. In every case, the marble underneath was in original condition. The film did what it was designed to do.

Can acrylic coatings be used instead?

Acrylic coatings bond directly to the stone surface and do not allow moisture vapour transmission the way polyurethane film does. Natural stone needs to breathe, moisture within the stone needs to be able to escape as vapour. An acrylic coating traps this moisture below the surface.

The result, over time, is what can be described as marble acne, pitting and erosion of the stone surface from moisture that had nowhere to go. When an acrylic coating eventually lifts or is removed, it often reveals stone damage that is more severe than any staining or etching the coating was applied to prevent.

DURAFLEX is specifically designed to allow moisture vapour transmission while preventing liquid penetration. This is an engineering requirement that comes directly from the product’s automotive origins, paint needs to breathe, and the film applied to it needs to allow that. Stone has the same requirement.

What is the price range for a specification?

DURAFLEX charges per lineal metre of surface length. The rate is $450 plus GST per lineal metre. A typical kitchen island bench of two metres is approximately $990 including GST. Projects range from small butler’s pantry specifications at a few thousand dollars to large estates with multiple stone surfaces at $20,000 and above.

For multi-property or multi-project relationships with architects and designers, reach out directly to discuss how the specification process works. DURAFLEX has an installer network across all major Australian cities and can service projects in metropolitan and coastal locations.