Corian is an immediately recognizable name in the kitchen construction industry. Corian is a term used interchangeably with all solid surface countertops. It’s similar to hearing someone call every soda a Coke.

Given their recognizable brand name, you might wonder about their quality. One of the critical tests of countertop durability comes back to heat resistance. With this in mind, can you put hot pans on Corian countertops?

No. While Corian countertops are heat resistant, they are not for direct exposure to hot pots or pans. Corian recommends you place a protective pad between any cookware and the surface of your countertop.

We’ll explore some alternatives to Corian and details on the countertop material later in this article.

What is Corian?

Corian is a premium form of solid surface countertop with immediate recognition. DuPont created it as an alternative to laminate countertops in the 1960s.

Corian is of higher quality because they have a single homogenous layer that could never de-laminate. Companies create laminate in layers that wear off over time.

Corian is also one of the few solid surface producers that provide information on its product from its website. Other producers rely on designers to provide this information.

It is because of their upfront nature and quality of products that they are considered quality producers. Below are some solid surface alternatives to Corian.

Staron – A Cheaper Alternative

Staron lacks the immediate brand recognition that Corian has, making it less expensive. However, the cheaper cost doesn’t necessarily result in lower quality, as their “Tempest” brand of countertops carries a striking metallic appearance comparable to others who offer higher prices.

The appearance of their Tempest line is comparable to stone countertops (like quartz)

Formica – A Competing Designer Brand

Formica is a competing brand that has about as much recognition as Corian. These countertops are typically in restaurants and bars due to their long-lastingness and eye-catching designs.

They are known for laminate surfaces but host a variety of different countertop styles. They also have some unique types like Bottle Glass Quartz and Café Quartz.

Avonite – Stylish and Environmentally Conscious

Avonite offers a GreenGuard certified product that is stylish and eye-catching. While residential customers don’t use them too often, they provide some solid design choices.

Their designs are also durable and easy to clean, making them a standard among solid surface providers. While they lack some of the same brand recognition, they certainly have the quality down.

Are There Countertops with Better Heat Resistance than Corian?

Natural stone and quartz are known for higher heat and scratch resistance than solid surface brands like Corian. However, Quartz lacks user-friendliness if you want to modify it down the road. That means replacements and modifications of your quartz countertops will always cost more.

The trade-off is that Quartz is more scratch-resistant, but the two have relatively similar maintenance processes.

Final Thoughts

For the best combination of cost-effectiveness and quality, Corian makes an excellent product. Their process is transparent and straightforward, making sure that both customers and designers have access to the same knowledge database.

If you’d like some more information on Corian or other Solid Surface Countertops, contact us at Solid Surface Canada. We’ll make sure that you know all of your options for solid surface.

When remodeling your kitchen, solid surface countertops are a beautiful addition to your home. Not only are they low maintenance, but they comprise a wide variety of materials that you can include in your household. With this in mind, what makes the best solid surface for your kitchen this year? Find out more by checking out our preferences for solid surface countertops in 2021.

What is a Solid Surface Countertop?

Solid surface countertops are a clean, flat material made of acrylic resin, polyester resin, or a combination of the two. The resulting use of resin allows easy customization in their use. As a result of this flexibility, you can cast them to fit into sinks, shower pans, and bathtubs.

Typically, the design mimics the appearance of natural stone materials (granite, stone, quartz, etc.). However, it is customizable. It’s also impermeable, making it suitable for seamless and reducing the chance of water and bacteria sinking in.

There are a huge variety of solid surface brands; here are our favorites:

• Avonite
• Corian
• Formica
• Hanex
• LG HI-MACS
• Meganite
• Staron
• Wilsonart
• Gemstone

Below, we will dig into our favorite designs featured by the above brands:

#1: One Color

A commonly underappreciated choice for kitchen cabinets is to stick with a single color. We aren’t talking about plain white, but navy blue, green, or other similar colors. The solidness of this solid surface countertop creates a striking design.

With complete control of the color, you have the option to create any field you want. Next time you look at solid surface countertops, try and look for those who have solid colors.

#2: Stone-Like Design

Solid surface countertops are great at mimicking stone designs. When people cannot afford the stone design, they have the choice to select a substitute. This substitute is far cheaper than their stone, marble, and quartz counterparts.

You do sacrifice a bit of durability in the process of choosing substitute stone designs. Still, the durability loss isn’t that great. You can still create a quality experience with a smaller investment.

#3: Spotted Terrazzo-Inspired Countertops

Terrazo has that familiar “speckled” appearance that comes on countertops. It might remind you of cookies and cream ice cream, only without the edible chunk. Terrazo is an excellent way to create depth without creating an entirely overwhelming countertop design.

If you envision a colorful kitchen, the white and sprinkles approach is a great way to make that kitchen light and enjoyable. The addition of color can also create a “pop,” making the paint too strong.

#4: Traditional White

A white kitchen might feel a bit basic, but there is some enjoyment out of simplicity. A plain white background with a mild gray countertop makes your kitchen easy on the eyes. When you don’t want your kitchen to look too crazy, duller colors are the way to go.

Final Thoughts

Solid surface countertops are a great addition to any household. Compared to stone, durability may be less, but you aren’t losing out much on quality. For the exports on solid surface countertops for your kitchen renovation, contact Solid Surface Canada for your needs.

One of the essential parts of your bathroom sinks is the material. While beauty is critical in this category, you also want to make sure that your sink is durable. You can say the same for your design choice, so how do you ensure that your sink is durable?

First, you need to decide upon a long-lasting material. Next, you need to be sure that your sink has a durable design. Finally, it would help if you had a sink that is comfortable in its surroundings. 

In the rest of this article, we will explore these three areas with greater depth. By the end of the article, you will know what you need to look for on sink durability.

Choosing Durable Bathroom Sink Materials

If longevity is your focus, you want a bathroom made of sterner stuff. While you can also choose porcelain and glass for beauty, there are more appropriate options for durability:

• Granite
• Marble
• Sandstone
• Stainless steel
• Teak (wood)
• Resin

While you might think that prioritizing toughness may make you sacrifice beauty, the options above state otherwise. All of the examples above can create beautiful experiences. They are also known to last quite a long while when compared to porcelain or ceramic sinks. Both porcelain and ceramic have good longevity with the proper maintenance.

Choosing A Design Of Longevity

Many sinks have basic modern designs that are appealing to the eye. While people think that thick metal piping and a square base may be the only way to increase longevity, that isn’t always the case. Below are some design tips that prioritize long-lastingness.

• Please keep it simple. While your sink has the potential to make a bold statement, it still needs to be something that makes sense.
• Take a look at designs that make sense. You don’t want to have something so far out there that it takes you 20 minutes to figure out how to turn on the water.
• Choose a design that naturally draws water back into the basin areas. If your bathroom floods, you need it to enter the drains rather than destroy your entire house.

Choose A Sink That is Comfortable in Its Surroundings

While this may return to choosing a simple design, this area reminds you to be aware of your surroundings. Keep the following in mind:

• Don’t make anything stick out at bathtub level. If you bash your knee against a poorly placed pipe, you are going to want to rip that pipe out of the wall and destroy your vanity.
• You have a variety of colors to choose from; Make sure none of them blend in to the point where you forget something is there.
• If you have a small bathroom, that means you need to choose a little vanity. Make all of the sizes uniform if possible.

Final Thoughts

The key to a bathroom with sinks that will last forever starts with the material and ends with design. Simplicity is key to longevity. Stick to basic knowledge of good design and sturdy stone, wood, or whatever you choose to make a solid experience.

If you are looking for residential solid surface countertops in Toronto, quartz countertops are less expensive than marble, are incredibly durable, and have a contemporary appearance. However, you rarely hear people talk about the cons of quartz countertops. This article will delve into reasons against investing in quartz countertops.

Five Reasons to Avoid Quartz Countertops

They are Still Pretty Expensive

Despite quartz costing less than marble, it is still one of the more expensive countertop materials. On average, you can expect to pay $150 per square foot. In some cases, you can end up paying as much as $200. While it is competitive to marble, concrete, granite, or slate countertops, it is more expensive than most wooden variants.

Some are Not Heat Resistant

Some countertops are very good at resisting the heat of pots and pans. While some quartz variants can take up to 300 degrees, most of them cannot handle more than a hot mug. This vulnerability has nothing to do with the quartz and everything to do with the resins coating it.

We can say this because the heat resistant capabilities of quartz depend heavily on the build quality. Building quality can vary from company to company. You will want to check with your company of choice.

Ask them if they understand the temperature point of their countertops. While many of them won’t reference the temperature, some should still note how their product is heat-resistant.

It is Challenging to Install

The average weight of quartz weighs around 25 pounds per square foot. As a result, it can be challenging to cut and handle these without hiring a trained group of professionals.

If you are expecting a DIY project with quartz, you will have a hard lesson wasting several hundred dollars. If you have the wrong position, exposed seams can ruin the appearance of your countertops.

Unless you happen to be a professional yourself, don’t try and take this as a personal project.

Exposure to Sunlight Can Cause Discoloring

Quartz countertops are purely an internal installation. But large windows can cause your quartz countertops to receive exposure from the sun. The result can cause your countertops to absorb the yellow color.

If you have a room with a significant sun exposure level, you should think twice about purchasing a quartz countertop.

It Isn’t Weatherproof

As you may expect, the lack of resistance to sunlight makes them unsuitable for outdoor use. Also, none of these countertops withstand rain and wind. You can also expect damage and warping from extreme cold as well. Few countertops can handle outdoor use.

Conclusion

While there are numerous reasons to install quartz countertops, one must be aware of the drawbacks before making a purchase.

They aren’t for DIY projects, as you cannot heft them easily by yourself. You also can’t expect them to be very affordable, although they are more cost-effective than marble and other types.

With the cons of quartz countertops in mind, you will be able to compare them easily with others who have their pros and cons. Whatever your decision is, be sure that you understand what you are purchasing.