Light transmission and thickness
At 2cm, natural stone is generally too thick for usable light transmission. Even with translucent material, only a faint glow makes it through and color shifts unevenly across the slab. Engineered thin panels transmit light cleanly, so the stone's natural veining becomes the visual feature.
Flush mounting versus applied slabs
A 2cm slab protrudes from the wall and requires returns, mitered edges, or a built-out substrate to look intentional. A thin insert sits inside the drywall on a recessed flange, finishing flush with the surrounding surface. The architectural reveal is what disappears, not what stands out.
Install crew and timeline
Conventional 2cm stone walls are typically a four-person job over several days, with cutting, lifting, bracing, and breakage built into the budget. OnyxEon inserts ship factory-finished and lit, and a single installer can place one in about two hours. The economics of backlit stone change accordingly.
