Tag Archives: LG Hi Macs

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

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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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$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 →

SolidSurface.com Ranks on the 2017 Inc. 5000

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Inc. Magazine Unveils 36th Annual List of

America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies—the Inc. 5000

SolidSurface.com Ranks on the 2017 Inc. 5000

with Three-Year Sales Growth of 51.43%

TUCSON, AZ, October 1, 2017 – Inc. magazine ranked SolidSurface.com No. 4614 on its 36th annual Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment— its independent small and mid-sized businesses. Companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees of the Inc. 5000.

SolidSurface.com co-founder and CEO, Kyle Carpenter, had this to say:

“It’s quite an honor to be ranked among the top 5000 of America’s fastest growing companies, and then to see how previously ranked companies moved on to the top of their industries. Our expectation is to stay on track and hit the top of our industry.”

The 2017 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. (available on newsstands August 16), is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling Continue reading →

Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year-Greenery with Solid Surface

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Has 2017 been all that you were hoping for so far? It’s not too late to make 2017 your year to be brighter, more revitalized, more energized! A good start is to focus on your surroundings.  Update your kitchen or bathroom with solid surface and colors that rejuvenate your senses.

Earlier this year, Pantone® introduced it’s color of the year, “Greenery,” a vibrant, yellow-green shade that bursts with energy, capturing the emergence of Spring. Like walking in the woods on a fresh, sunshiny day, Greenery is symbolic of nature and invites us to breathe deep to renew, revive, restore.

Color Combinations

Greenery is a beautiful shade of green.  It is very versatile, serving as a natural neutral.  It can be paired with many color combinations, as Pantone® illustrates below.

Greenery matches with Solid Surface

Greenery matches with Solid Surface Continue reading →