Category Archives: Solid Surface Industry News

Positioning Solid Surface Countertops for Construction Boom

Construction boom

Construction boom

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor reported the number of construction jobs in the country grew by 30,000 in December of 2017. With construction trends and spending on the rise, companies that supply the materials customers demand are uniquely poised to thrive in 2018. With a positive outlook and a boom in construction expected, buyers want to know that companies are prepared to handle the increased demand for versatile solid surface materials such as Corian®. Here’s a look at the current financial picture.

The Economic Situation

The job growth statistic in December is particularly notable considering it is not a time of year when one expects to see a lot of construction. The fact that jobs grew substantially – and across many sectors – bodes well for the level of construction in the coming year. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that construction spending was Continue reading

DuPont™ Charges Ahead with Corian® Wireless Surfacing Compatibility

DuPont introduces the “dual mode” Corian® wireless Charging Surface featuring Qi compatibility with the iPhone X, 8 and 8S models.  Offering the discreet convenience of wireless technology, commercial and residential customers can have a charging device installed under the surface of virtually any color or pattern of Corian® solid surface or quartz countertop.

Corian® Charging Surface

Corian® Charging Surface

Business owners, designers and architects can enhance the customer experience greatly by incorporating this technology into their design of creative and functional new spaces.

 

Corian® Charging Surface Devices Use Magnetic Induction

Just place your phone on the designated spot and enjoy the same charging speeds as a wired charger.  The iPhone 8 and 8S models have Qi receivers built in.  This alleviates the need for a charging ring.  If you have a device that does not offer this capability, you can plug an external adapter into the device’s charging port or use a wireless charging case.  Cases and adapters are readily available from online stores or other electronic retailers. Continue reading

SolidSurface.com Celebrates 10 Solid Years!

SolidSurface.com Warehouse in Tucson, AZ

SolidSurface.com Warehouse in Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ–SurfaceNet LLC d/b/a SolidSurface.com is proud to announce its 10th year as the leading Internet source for purchasing decorative solid surface sheet materials, tools, accessories and custom Corian® vanity tops.  Where it was once thought that no one would buy a sheet of solid surface material off the Internet, SolidSurface.com has achieved a decade of success and over 20% year-over-year growth.  While featuring popular solid surface brands such as DuPont™ Corian®, LG HI-MACS®, Aristech™ Avonite®, Samsung™ Staron®, Formica®, Wilsonart®, Hanwha™ Hanex®, and Meganite®, SolidSurface.com has also built its reputation on strong customer service and ease of searching, ordering and shipping.

The Launch

SolidSurface.com Display Booth

SolidSurface.com Display Booth

Using countertop remnants lying around in the garage, co-founders, Ed and Kyle Carpenter, a father and son team, began, as a hobby, creating one-of-a-kind applications with solid surface.  One such item was a  guitar body in the style of a Fender Telecaster and another a sculpture portraying  the loss of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11.  They also began fashioning pieces into cutting boards and selling them on eBay.  After realizing they could work smarter, not harder, by selling remnant pieces, they launched SolidSurfaceSurplus.com.  In early 2007, they formed the parent company SurfaceNet LLC and, in May of 2007, acquired the URL “SolidSurface.com.”  They then started working directly with manufacturers and distributors to source overstock and premium grade material, continuing to build out their various product lines. Continue reading

Fabricator Spotlight: ASST – Fabricating Unique Destinations with Thermoformed Corian® Solid Surface

Featured Project: Terminal F, Philadelphia International Airport

By Andrew Dreves, ASID

Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal F

Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal F

With airport security and travel being about as much fun as a root canal, airport terminals today are striving to become unique destinations people want to visit.  With a reputation for creating visionary environments, Daroff Design, based in Philadelphia had an adventurous solid surface thermoforming project at Philadelphia Airport’s Terminal F and they knew who could help.

ASST had worked with Daroff Design previously on the Baltimore Convention Center and the design firm is well known internationally for high-end public and signature hospitality environments.

ASST (pronounced ASSIST), since its founding in 1998, has become an industry leader in commercial architectural fabrications establishing a reputation for taking on project challenges other solid surface fabricators might avoid.

Schultz Form

With a passion for excellence and an impressive portfolio of successfully completed projects both nationally and internationally, ASST’s in-depth portfolio ranges from curved Corian® benches for the White House Visitor’s Center in Washington DC to an enormous curved solid surface Krion® staircase for a corporate building atrium in Boston. Continue reading

SolidSurface.com Recognized as Top 300 E-Commerce Company

SolidSurface.com Top 300 B2B E-Commerce Site

SolidSurface.com Top 300 B2B E-Commerce Site

Tucson, AZSolidSurface.com–the online source where you can purchase virtually any brand, color or size of solid surface decorative surfacing material–has been named by Internet Retailer and B2BeCommerceWorld.com as one of the top300 B2B (Business to Business) e-commerce companies for 2017 for the second consecutive year. They have impressively been ranked 39th in the Hardware/Home Improvement Industry. Additionally significant, Internet Retailer magazine has also recognized SolidSurface.com as a Top 1000 general e-commerce website, not just B2B, for the past four years.

B2B E-Commerce companies in the Hardware/Home Improvement category are expected to grow by 28%, to more than $13 billion, up from $10 billion last year, mainly due to the continued strength of the housing Continue reading