Tag Archives: solid surface countertops

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 →

Customer Spotlight: Gloede Builders & Design

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Gloede Builders & Design

Gloede Builders & Design

The path of a true professional

Dan Gloede discovered where his interests and talents lay at a very early age, when he was exposed to a high school shop class in woodworking.  Recognizing immediately that this was something he wanted to pursue, he began his own woodworking projects in his parents’ garage.  In no time, he was making quality furniture for his parents’ home and for others in the community.

After high school, he continued his interest in carpentry by working in various construction jobs, and eventually started his own business, TAD Millworks Company.  The focus of this company was on home construction, remodeling projects and, on a smaller scale, custom cabinetry.

Gloede Builders Kitchen Remodel With Solid Surface

Gloede Builders Kitchen Remodel With Solid Surface

By 2001, he was ready to transition his business away from commercial and residential construction into more specialized cabinetry and woodworking projects, and this was when he started Gloede Builders & Design, formerly TAD Millworks Company, alongside his wife, Teresa Gloede.  This business was more suited to his personal talents because it allowed him the freedom to design and Continue reading →

Guide to Finding Corian® Glacier White and Other Solid White Solid Surface Material

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Did you know that White is the most sought after color of the many hundreds of colors and patterns of solid surface? White is not only classic and aesthetically bright, it also provides a wonderful visual representation of solid surface’s naturally antiseptic nature.

While DuPont’s Corian® Glacier White is one of the more widely known and highly popular versions of white, there are also many other equally desirable white solid surface options available that may satisfy the needs of your project.  We thought it may be useful to put together this handy guide that presents the various white options available through SolidSurface.com:

DuPont Corian® Glacier White

Although Glacier White is not part of the standard stocked product offering at SolidSurface.com, it does frequently come into the overstock “full” and “partial sheet” inventory.  When items do become available, they frequently sell out fast. We suggest if you are interested in an item you either immediately grab it, or contact us to place a hold on it for you.

View the overstock Corian® Glacier White selection at SolidSurface.com

Select Grade Glacier White

The next best alternative to DuPont Corian® Glacier White is the Select Grade. Select Grade Glacier White is 100% acrylic solid surface made in the USA and matches the color of Corian® Glacier White. Select Grade is material that did not meet the manufacturer’s precise specifications and is made available under our overstock full and partial sheet inventory.  However, the majority of these ‘imperfections’ cannot be detected to an untrained eye, if even then. (Learn more about Select Grade.)

The primary benefits of Select Grade are that it is still a very high quality material offered at a considerably less expensive price.  Even more dramatic discounts are available when you purchase the material in 8-pack quantities or more, when available.  Both ½” & ¼” thick material are frequently listed in the overstock inventory.

View the Select Grade Glacier White selection at SolidSurface.com

Solid White Available From All Brands

Just about every brand of solid surface offers some type of solid white color.  There are many shades of solid white to choose from in a variety of different names, including Glacier White, Arctic White, Antique White, Alpine White, Bone or Ivory White and many more.  If you have a specific shade of white in mind for your project, its a good idea to locate physical samples for the options available.

SolidSurface.com offers an array of solid whites in both stocked full sheets and overstock full and partial sheets from many different brands including LG HI-MACS, Samsung Staron, Formica Solid Surface, Hanex and many more.  The best way to view what is available in both stocked and overstocked inventory is to visit the link below which displays a page that pre-filters the search options by “White” color family, “Solid” pattern, “Full Sheet” size and sorts by “Color Hue”.  All items listed are considered stocked (in-production and consistently available), unless the name contains “overstock” (limited availability).

Visit all of the solid white full sheets available at SolidSurface.com

For additional guidance on how to find material on SolidSurface.com, visit How to Find Solid Surface Material on SolidSurface.com

 

Solid Surface Countertops to Deliver Wireless Power?

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A rendering of the new PMA compatible Duracell Powermat wireless charger for the iPhone 5 being charged on a DuPont Corian kitchen countertop. (PRNewsFoto/Power Matters Alliance)

Imagine lying your mobile phone or tablet on the kitchen counter — or any countertop, from office work areas to tables — and have the device automatically start charging … no wires or wall-plugs required.

That seems to be the future for Corian® Solid Surface Countertops, which has recently joined the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) to work on creating wireless charging solutions that are embedded right into the solid surface material.

Corian® Solid Surface Countertops are already certified as environmentally friendly by the Environment GreenGuard and NBGS Green; this kind of innovation is another plus for those of us who work with solid surface — when the manufacturer is creative and innovative, we get to be creative and innovative too.

Embedding wireless power isn’t a totally new idea. Many PMA-compliant products are already being used in retail shops, malls, hair salons, and airports. General Motors plans on including them in upcoming car models. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf just began rolling out wireless charging “stations” in their Los Angeles based stores this summer, and Starbucks is testing them out in Boston.

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The Solid Surface Advantage

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As a craftsperson, DIYer, or fabricator, you are always looking for new, cutting-edge, quality materials to expand your options. Solid surface is one of the most versatile and unique materials available. Consider some of the many benefits to using solid surface material:

  • Easy to work with
  • Literally seamless
  • Extremely durable and sustainable
  • Nonporous and hygienic
  • Offered in a wide selection of colors and patterns
  • Easily repaired if damaged
  • No bowing, cupping or warping
  • No grain or splitting to worry about

Solid surface material is also a great alternative to wood. Solid surface is not affected by changing humidity. Its nonporous and hygienic properties make it a perfect countertop choice for water prone areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. In fact, it is so nonporous that you can remove a mark left by a permanent marker, for example, with a mild cleanser and Scotch- Brite® pad.

Another bonus to working with solid surface is that it carries the National Sanitation Foundation certification (NSF 51), which means it’s a suitable surface for a food preparation.

Where can you purchase solid surface material for the best price?

SolidSurface.com offers most major brands to professionals and the public, including homeowners and DIYers. Use our powerful online search tools to locate a specific brand, color, size or price. SolidSurface.com has a huge selection of overstock material in full and partial sheets at a fraction of the price.

Whether you are planning to turn material to make pens or hotplates, or you are working on a large kitchen or bathroom remodel, SolidSurface.com has the material to fit your needs.