Tag Archives: Aristech Surfaces

Customer Spotlight: Cat Eye Countertops with Jerry Michaels and Jim Glinski

Backlit solid surface kitchen countertop using Light Tape® in Cat Eye from STUDIO Collection®

Beautifully backlit solid surface kitchen countertop using Light Tape®, Cat Eye from STUDIO Collection®

Using Cat Eye from the STUDIO Collection® and Light Tape®, Jerry Michaels (the idea man) and Jim Glinski (craftsman and author) create an incredibly unique solid surface kitchen countertop.

Here at SolidSurface.com we enjoy getting to know our customers. It’s always interesting to learn their background, hear their ideas for the solid surface sheet material they purchase, and then see their projects come to life. We had an opportunity to talk with one such customer, Jerry Michaels, and his craftsman, Jim Glinski, about their DIY project and how it turned out.

The Backlit Countertop

Jerry Michaels first came to us with an interesting project in mind for his kitchen remodel. He discovered a product online called Vitrazzo, which is a countertop product made of recycled glass. He found pictures of their product done with backlighting and knew he just had to have a countertop like that. What he also discovered was that the cost was way too expensive. He then set out exploring what other materials Continue reading

Extra Wide Solid Surface Wall and Shower Panels by Avonite Surfaces® Makes Installation Easier

Aristech®'s Avonite Surfaces® Flexible Sheet Sizes

Aristech®’s Avonite Surfaces® Flexible Sheet Sizes

It is now easier than ever to install solid surface wall and shower panels using Avonite Surfaces® up-to-60” wide sheets.  The extra wide solid surface wall and shower panels also save on material costs.  For the DIY’er, that’s huge!

Available Colors

There are many reasons to use Avonite Surfaces®, or another brand of solid surface material, for your bathroom tub surrounds and shower walls.  Not only are the colors and patterns aesthetically pleasing, ease of cleaning, antiseptic properties, and durability are among the top advantages.  Shown below are the Avonite Surfaces® colors that are available in the extra wide solid surface wall and shower panels: 

Extra wide solid surface wall and shower panels available in these eight colors

Extra wide solid surface wall and shower panels available in these eight colors

Once you’ve decided to surround yourself with Avonite Surfaces® solid surface for your shower or bath project, it’s time to get down to the nuts and bolts of installing the extra wide solid surface wall and shower panels.

Installing Shower and Bathtub Walls (Surrounds)

Let’s start out determining how many sheets of material you will need. For bathtub surrounds, the long wall will need only one sheet of the extra wide width, instead of two of the traditional 30” wide sheets. Choose from 30”, 36”, 48”, 54”, or 60” wide by 96” or 144” long from the Avonite Surfaces® line of acrylic Continue reading

STUDIO Collection® Solid Surface Now Available Online

Looking for that “WOW” factor in your next project? Aristech Surfaces’ brand of STUDIO Collection® solid surface delivers that and more with its visually inspiring design resin material. The STUDIO Collection® is perfect for architectural design applications and is offered online at SolidSurface.com in more than 50 luxurious colors.

Beautiful, Durable and Flexible

This highly workable, durable and thermoformable collection of rich design resin material covers the spectrum when it comes to brilliant chromas, natural neutrals and sparkling metallics. The proprietary resin blend is unique in that it mixes just the right measure of transparent, translucent and opaque polymers to produce endless design possibilities. Soft and velvety to the touch, these STUDIO Collection® colors feel as good as they look.

Amber Glass, Irish Bell and Catalina, STUDIO Collection®

Amber Glass, Irish Bell and Catalina, STUDIO Collection®

The STUDIO Collection® Series

The Chromatix™ Program

In addition to the in-production colors of the STUDIO Collection®, more options are now available. The Chromatix™ program offers your choice of any combination of color and light that you can imagine.  The are four design series to choose from, each with their own unique shapes and layers within the Continue reading

SolidSurface.com® Expands Product Lines From Aristech Surfaces LLC

Aristech®'s Avonite Surfaces® Flexible Sheet Sizes

Aristech®’s Avonite Surfaces® Flexible Sheet Sizes

SolidSurface.com now offers Aristech Surfaces’ complete line of Avonite Surfaces® Solid Surface and STUDIO Collection® Design Resin online.

SolidSurface.com® is thrilled to announce the expansion of its online offerings to include the full line of Avonite Surfaces® and STUDIO Collection® products by Aristech Surfaces LLC, a global leader in surface and design materials.  The expanded relationship with Aristech Surfaces® allows online shoppers the ability to view, choose and purchase any of the stunning colors and size options in the Avonite Surfaces® and STUDIO Collection® product families. SolidSurface.com® provides significantly increased exposure and availability to its online audience—an expansion that is a clear win for Avonite Surfaces® and STUDIO Collection® customers.

Avonite Surfaces® Solid Surface

The Avonite Surfaces® family of products sets the new standard, by providing the largest assortment of standard sheet sizes in the industry. Flexible width, length and thickness options are all now available on SolidSurface.com® as a standard offering.  Customers can order online in variable sizes for their Continue reading

How to Clean and Refinish Corian® and Other Brands of Solid Surface Countertops

Corian® Sonora - matte finish

Image 1: Corian® Sonora in a matte finish

With the holidays right around the corner, you’re probably thinking about cleaning and getting the house in order before all the guests arrive. Two questions that come up quite often at this time of year are:

  • What is the best way to clean and refinish my Corian® [solid surface] countertop?
  • How can I remove stains from my solid surface countertop?

Whether you have Corian®, Avonite Surfaces®, LG HI-MACS®, Staron®, Mystera®, or any other type of solid surface countertop, the basics are the same since they are all made of acrylic-based resin material and fillers (except Aristech®’s STUDIO Collection® which is a more translucent resin).

Consider the Finish and the Color

Consideration of color is important when it comes to the use patterns and the way stains and blemishes are approached because darker colors show use more than lighter colors.

Before using any type of cleaner or performing any repairs on your solid surface countertop, consider the degree of shine on the finish and the color of the solid surface. The degree of shine on the solid surface finish is achieved by using increasingly finer grits of sanding abrasives. For a glossy shine, after using the fine abrasives, polishing with a buffing pad and polishing compound is the final step of the process. We mention this to assure you that what we discuss below is in keeping with the way the finish was originally applied to your countertops.

Examples of Shine

Examples of shine can be seen in the images of this article. Image 1 is done in a flat/matte finish where none of the objects on the countertop have a reflection. Image 2 has a satin finish denoted by the “not so distinct” reflection cast by the objects on the countertop. Image 3 presents a semi-gloss finish with a moderately distinct reflection. Image 4 shows a gloss finish where the reflections of the objects are distinct.

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