Solid Surface Countertops

Pros

Seamless

Solid Surface or acrylic countertops are one of the only countertop surfaces in the marketplace that can offer the customer a seamless countertop, no matter the size of the fabricated tops.

Color Consistency

The color is consistent throughout the material allowing scratches to be sanded out without worry of wearing through the material.

Color Variety

Amount of colors and patterns allows designers to match any modern or classic styles that current trends may dictate.

Design Flexibility

Design possibilities are endless due to its flexible nature. Material can be thermoformed to wrap, cover, or clad to almost any other material or shape.

Cons

Easy to Scratch

While Solid Surface materials can be sanded to renew their surface back to its original state, it is susceptible to scratching. Dark colors tend to show these scratches more than lighter hues.

Lacks Aesthetics

Lacks the one-of-a-kind aesthetic of natural stone or wood.

Sensitive to Heat

Though heated to approximately 300 degrees during manufacturing, companies recommend using a trivet for any hot pans or other extremely hot utensils used in the kitchen to avoid damage.

Solid Surface – Acrylic: Corian, LG Hi Macs, Avonite, Krion

The word solid in solid-surface does evoke the idea that this is a stable base (unlike bouncy laminates), but that is a peripheral meaning. Dupont’s true intent was to create a surface that was the same through-and-through. A homogenous product, Corian’s top is the same as its middle, and the middle is the same as its bottom.

Solid surface countertops are about 33% binding resins and 66% minerals. Those minerals are a bauxite derivative, Aluminium TriHydrate (ATH). ATH is a kind of fine, white powder that helps Corian maintain its smooth consistency. Contrast this with quartz countertops, which are about 10% resins and the rest minerals.

The idea behind Dupont’s invention was to have a surface that looked like natural stone, but unlike stone, was non-porous. Slice granite and you will see a wild make-up of particles forming the slab. Beautiful, indeed, but offering up multiple avenues for cracking and breaking. Polyester-based solid surface counters are cheaper but are considered inferior to newer acrylic-based counters.

Polyesters tend to impart more vibrant colors than acrylics. Acrylics are great if you need to do any fancy fabrication work, like thermoforming.

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