Tag Archives: corian countertops

Solid Surface Countertops for Cabinetmakers

Wood cabinets with solid surface countertops in a recreational vehicle.

Wood cabinets with solid surface countertops in a recreational vehicle.

Countertops made of solid surface material (i.e., Corian® or HI-MACS®) are an excellent choice and an easy addition to the cabinetmaker’s specialty line.  Cabinetmakers are already extremely skilled and detail-oriented in their ability to create cabinetry for any room type using a variety of materials. Yet many may not realize just how easy it is to add a solid surface countertop to a newly constructed cabinet. Doing this adds value to their products, and service to customers, not to mention extra income for the business. Why outsource that extra step, when one already has the skills and tools necessary to easily complete the project?

For those cabinetmakers already offering granite, quartz or other types of stone countertops, consider giving customers another, and possibly more cost effective, choice in countertop material.

Cabinetmakers Already Have the Tools and Skills Needed

Almost all cabinet shops already have the tools necessary to complete a large percentage of all types of solid surface material fabrication projects. Those tools include: Continue reading

Corian® Design Launches 15 Bold New Solid Surface Colors

Corian Moodboard displaying samples of the Aggregate Solid Surface Collection
Corian Moodboard displaying samples of the Aggregate Solid Surface Collection

Corian® Design, in its largest launch to date, recently revealed 15 gorgeous new colors of Corian solid surface for both interior and architectural applications. With aesthetics inspired by nature, these collections more than stimulate imaginative, artistic new design ideas. The 15 new colors of Corian® solid surface are members of five new collections: Aggregate, Terrazzo, Linear, Nuwood, and Onyx, along with two new Solid colors. With these collections, Corian® Design has introduced a vibrant and trendy palette for consumers, designers and architects to re-imagine spaces that express their own design tastes. 

In keeping with the Corian® Design “Make Your Space™” innovative direction, the vision of these new aesthetics comes from a diverse range of areas–from the beauty of a forest to mid-century modern design to translucent stone to industrial decor. Let’s take a deeper look into these striking collections.

The AGGREGATE Collection

The Aggregate is a collection of four colors embodying an industrial aesthetic with a look that is modern, yet enduring. It was created to complement the colors of Corian® solid surface in the Concrete line. The four new colors within this collection are: quiet Neutral Aggregate, light gray Ash Aggregate, toned taupe Weathered Aggregate and near-black Carbon Aggregate.

Corian Carbon Aggregate solid surface countertops in a residential kitchen

Corian Carbon Aggregate solid surface countertops in a residential kitchen

The TERRAZZO Collection

The Terrazzo collection speaks to a mid-century modern aesthetic. Three new colors of Corian® combine timeless backgrounds with angular elements of white, gray, and black: Domino Terrazzo features a white Continue reading

Corian® Design — Make Your Space™ — Evolving to Find New Ways to Innovate and Inspire with Solid Surface

 

Corian Design Make Your Space Logo

August of 2017 marked the launch of the new Corian® Design — Make Your Space™ brand introduction. The DuPont Corian® Brand unveiled a whole new look and a whole new way to express and inspire design within its brand. With marketing focused on a new generation of consumers, Corian® Design has found a way to celebrate the role that surfaces play in the realm of design innovation and aesthetics to enable the ultimate in design inspiration.

Fast forward to the 2019 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). Here, Corian® Design unveiled the largest and boldest aesthetics introduction ever in an unparalleled display of novel colors and design possibilities. Trend-setting displays showcased new products, materials and textures, as well as advances in illumination for bathing areas, all to the delight of designers and attendees alike.

The 2019 KBIS Corian® Design "Make Your Space™" Booth

The 2019 KBIS Corian® Design “Make Your Space™” Booth

Corian® Design derives its inspiration from assorted realms, such as that found in nature, or translucent stone, or from industrial 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.

Continue reading

Corian® Solid Surface for DIYers

Oh the Things We Can Do!

For all you DIYers out there whose springtime juices are flowing, here are some things you probably didn’t know you could do with acrylic solid surface material such as Corian®, Avonite®, LG Hi-Macs® and many other brands. Simple woodworking tools are all you need to get started.

What is Corian® (a/k/a Solid Surface)?

Solid surface is a manufactured material most commonly used for seamless countertop installations. It is frequently referred to as Corian®, a product developed by DuPont™ in 1964.

Corian solid surface bathroom vanity tops look like marble.

It can be readily cut, routed and sanded like wood and formed into countertops, shower walls, external cladding for buildings, signage, and furniture where non-porosity and infrequent maintenance are highly valued.  These are just a few of the man applications.

Solid surface is made of acrylic resin, polyester resin or a combination of the two that is then combined with filler, color pigments, and acrylic chips. This composition is most frequently extruded or poured as ½” thick sheets that are 30” x 144” and are the same color throughout their thickness.

In addition to being workable like hardwood, it can be heated and thermoformed into curved and molded shapes. It can also be printed on, using dye-sublimation techniques that deposit the ink just below the surface so the image becomes permanent.

What can be done with it?

Thermoform It

Thermoforming (the process of heating and shaping synthetic material) is an increasingly popular way to utilize solid surface to create 3D curves and rounded shapes. This is a realm Continue reading