Tag Archives: Corian

Corian® Solid Surface for DIYers

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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 →

$ave Money Using Overstock, Remnant and Discontinued Solid Surface

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One of many walls of solid surface remnants in the SolidSurface.com warehouse

One of many walls of solid surface remnants in the SolidSurface.com warehouse

How often do you find yourself rummaging through your solid surface remnant inventory for a color the right size for a job that may not require a full sheet? Have you considered using discontinued or overstock material for a job where you can influence the material to be specified? Below are a few resources on where to find some of this budget-friendly material and potentially save quite a bit of money for yourself and/or your customers.

To help illustrate an example of how one might save, let’s say you bought enough sheets of DuPont Corian® Tumbleweed for a new project. The specs changed midstream and you were just 30” short of material to finish the job. Your choices would be to purchase another full sheet, at roughly $700, or find a smaller sheet online for approximately $300 (including shipping)–that would be a savings of $400.

Save on Small and Large Projects

Other ways to save using overstock, remnant and discontinued material might include:

  • Those projects where you need just another few feet of material to finish the job; or
  • Smaller, limited-budget projects, i.e., when the customer wants a 4’ vanity top, your pricing can be more competitive by purchasing a partial sheet, rather than having to include the full sheet cost in your quote; or
  • Large jobs where a color category is specified, but not a specific color, and you can select from overstock, seconds or discontinued colors that are heavily discounted.

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4 Countertop Colors to Coordinate With Pantone’s 2018 Color of the Year, Ultra Violet

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Pantone's Color of the Year - Ultra Violet

Pantone’s Color of the Year – Ultra Violet

The 2018 Pantone color of the year has been revealed, and it is light years away from the 2017 earthy greenery color selection. Instead of focusing on a color representative of things that grow, this year’s color, Ultra Violet, brings to mind the night sky filled with dreams and brilliant stars. Designers are excited about this new jewel-toned color, not typically used in decorating. Perhaps this is what you have been waiting for–permission to move those beautiful purple tones from quiet meditation spots and gathering places into the rest of your home décor.  To help you with that, SolidSurface.com offers some ideas for coordinating that luscious purple with countertop colors for your kitchen or bathroom vanity.

Coordination Concerns

Since not everyone has an eye for decorating or a degree in interior design, you may feel an immediate sense of overwhelm, wondering how in the world you might be able to incorporate this beautiful bold color into your home. Our expertise in kitchen and bath design, coupled with years of experience, might just help you achieve the look you want while using Pantone’s color of the year.

Whites

Redecorating a bathroom is a great way to make a memorable impression.  And this year, you can decorate with Ultra Violet. Some may choose to install a stunning shower wall using Ultra Violet glazed tiles and shiny new Continue reading →

New DIY Countertop Source – A Great Option for DIY Warriors

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Custom Corian Sink

Taking customization to the extreme, this delightful sink is a fantastic example of the versatile nature of solid surface. After this sink was cut to the unique shape it was then thermoformed into a sink bowl. (photo courtesy Dupont Corian)

SolidSurface.com is changing the game for DIY enthusiasts who love to roll up their sleeves and work on a new renovation project. When projects are done well, they bring complete satisfaction and often come with significant cost savings. Replacing countertops in a home as part of a renovation project is one step that yields a large amount of appeal to the home without taking up too much time or energy. DIY enthusiasts know just how satisfying it is to get home improvement work accomplished. Those who love the process of renovation, and are always thinking of the next project, should take time to look at some simple projects and learn why the versatility of solid surface material, such as Dupont™ Corian® should be on the top of the reno list.

Why Solid Surface Is a Great Choice

The term “solid surface,” most commonly known as the brand Corian®, is used to describe a man-made building material that combines resin and pigment with a powder made of aluminum trihydrate (ATH). One might picture ATH as the cement that makes up a large portion of the material. These fairly simple ingredients come together to make a product that has a great many selling points, including: Continue reading →

Positioning Solid Surface Countertops for Construction Boom

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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 →