3 Counters at a Glance

solid-surface-countertopsWhen finding the perfect counter material for your home remodel, you have a wide variety of exciting choices. From solid surface countertops to marble, you have an incredible range of options. This year solid surface remains a popular option. Why? Affordable, versatile, and easy to clean, the solid surface provides a great option for homeowners and families. Check out this year’s top trending counter-trends.

Formica Solid Surface Countertops

Formica Solid Surface countertops remain one of the most popular materials. This resin-based material comes in two sizes and is relatively affordable for most homeowners. Most homeowners opt for professionally fabricated and installed solid surface countertops. They come in a variety of grades and thicknesses. Most Formica countertops come with an extended warranty option. Formica does not always need wood backing. However, this depends on the application.

Custom Thermoformed Countertops

What is thermoforming? Unlike quartz, a solid surface can be molded into an infinite number of sizes and shapes. This allows homeowners a broad option to create a surface that matches their unique style and home.

Fabricators will warm up the material, allowing it to be shaped carefully. After the materials are shaped, a professional will slowly cool down the material, avoiding breaking and damage. At this point, our team at Solid Surface Canada will install the new countertop.

DuPont Countertops with Trough Sinks

Do you need more space to prep food and wash dishes? One of this year’s top trends is an attractive counter with a trough sink. These sinks come in over one hundred gorgeous colors. No matter your unique style, our design team at Solid Surface Canada can help you find the perfect choice for you. You will absolutely love your new DuPont Corian trough sink.

No matter your budget, our seasoned team at Solid Surface Canada will help you find the perfect counter option for you. We offer a wide range of high-quality products including residential and commercial countertops and expert thermoforming.

We pride ourselves on the high quality of our brands: Avonite, Formica, Corian, and more. Contact us today to find out how we can help you find the ideal countertop for your home.

 

 

 

4 Best Kitchen Countertops 2020

kitchen-countertops-ideasReady to choose the right countertop for your home? With so many options like solid surface, quartz, and other materials, how can you choose? For over fifty years, solid surface countertops have durability and a versatile number of styles. Be inspired with these kitchen countertop ideas.

What is Solid Surface?

When looking at the best kitchen countertops for 2020, consider solid surface countertops. This durable countertop mimics natural stone but is non-porous. Unlike bouncy laminates, solid surface countertops do not crack or break easily. The material continues from top to bottom, making it more durable under the impact. Want to make a statement? Fortunately, solid surface comes in a variety of styles and colors that will match any of your exciting kitchen countertops ideas.

Solid surface countertops can withstand heat. Homeowners should use a cutting board if they have solid surface countertops. Hot pans may damage the surface if they have a very high temperature. The non-porous nature of solid surface means that cleaning and maintenance are easy.

Wood Surfaces

While wood surfaces can be beautiful they require regular maintenance to maintain their look. Wood can be hard to clean and may get slimy over time. Porous wood does not withstand damage or spills as well as a solid surface.

Granite and Marble

Some homeowners like the luxurious look of granite or marble countertops. This costly option does crack like natural stone.

Tile Countertops

Another popular option this year includes tile countertops. This ornamental option withstands heat. While a beautiful option, tile will chip easily. Heavy impacts can crack the tile. Grout lines need proper sealing to prevent staining from spilled liquids or coffee.

Contact Us

Since 2001 Solid Surface Canada has provided superior solid surface fabrication and installation. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and adherence to the highest of industry standards. Contact our experienced team today about your kitchen countertop needs. We provide an extensive array of exciting styles, colors, and designs perfect for every homeowner and budget. Trust us to build the kitchen of your dreams. Call us today.

 

 

4 Reasons It’s Always A Good Idea To Invest In A Kitchen

4 reasons its always a good idea to invest in a kitchenNot many people have the wherewithal to invest in a complete home renovation. It therefore ends up being the budget that determines just what part of the house gets updated. If you’re not sure if investing in a kitchen is a good idea, here are four reasons why it’s always a good idea to invest in a kitchen.

Selling Value

An updated, modern kitchen will go a long way in selling value, if you choose to move. But don’t wait until you decide to move to invest in a kitchen. After all, you’ll want to enjoy the hard work that you’ve put into it. Even kitchens that are five years old still have a large selling value. When remodelling, try to choose a more neutral, classic choice. This way anyone who looks at your house can envision themselves in it. If you need to add your personality to your kitchen remodel, choose bright walls. Putting on a new coat of paint is easy if you plan on selling in the future.

Energy Savings

There are a lot of appliances in a kitchen, and that means ample opportunity for sky-high utility bills. Investing in new appliances means that you will save when it comes to electrical and even gas bills. Look for Energy Star appliances that have been manufactured to smartly use electricity. Also look for different settings. A dishwasher, for example, that can run quick or half loads means that you won’t have to use as much water to get a small number of dishes clean. Many local utility companies will also offer rebate programs, so check out their websites to see if you can save even more money.

Wear and Tear

The kitchen is the most-used room in a house and can quickly take a bit of a beating. While bedrooms and even the living room usually just need a fresh coat of pain, the kitchen will need a complete overhaul in its lifetime. Knicks in the countertop, broken cabinet hinges, dings in the tile: all are common in a kitchen. It’s definitely not practical to remodel your kitchen every two or three years but start planning on when it makes the most sense. If you have small children, wait until they are in school. This way they’ll not only be out of the house more when the repairs are happening, but they will hopefully be out of the complete mess stage of toddlerhood.

Positive Energy

The final reason why investing in a kitchen is always a good idea is really quite simple. You use your kitchen a lot and want to enjoy it. A kitchen should inspire you and make you want to bring people together. If it doesn’t, start envisioning a new kitchen’s potential so that you can add a bit of joy to the home.

 

Design Tips for a Small Kitchen Makeover

Design Tips for a Small Kitchen MakeoverJust because you have a limited amount of space doesn’t mean the kitchen of your dreams can’t become a reality.

Many great kitchen ideas can be adapted to fit kitchens of all shapes and sizes.  With the right flexibility and a little bit of creativity, you can add personality and functionality to even the smallest of spaces.  Here are a few of our top tips for adding a touch of pizzazz to your small kitchen.

Multi-Purpose

Whenever possible, double-up on the usage of your space.  If a space is only used for one thing, that’s less space you have to work with in the rest of your kitchen!  Think outside the box – integrated appliances fit more effortlessly in your kitchen than standalone appliances do.  Space behind your doors or cabinets can be used to hold shelves and racks, doubling up storage space.  Breakfast bars can hold pots and pans.  The only single-purpose thing you should have in your kitchen is your fire extinguisher!

High Cabinets

Many cabinets stop well before the ceiling.  That ends up being a lot of wasted space – space you could be using to store those only occasionally used items such as bread tins or cookie cutters.  Yes, you may need a stepladder or sturdy chair to get those things down when you need them, but if you only need them once every few months, the tradeoff is definitely worth it to open up more storage space.

Get Professional Help

The experts at Solid Surface Ca and Bertone Woodworking can help you come up with all sorts of creative ways to maximize the value of your kitchen.  From finding the right appliances to designing the best storage solutions, we can help you create a kitchen that will make you happy.  Come on by and talk with some of our designers, get some one-on-one advice for moving forward, and see what we can do for you!

Kitchen Cabinets: Replace or Reface?

Kitchen Cabinets: Replace or Reface?When your kitchen cabinets begin looking shabby or out of place, they’re a top priority for your kitchen contractor.  They’re a key part of your kitchen, both in functionality and aesthetic appeal, and you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of them.

So, you’re left with two major options.  Replacing your cabinets involves installing brand new cabinets, and that’s what most people jump to as their primary option.  But did you know that refacing cabinets is sometimes an option as well?  It’s a more cost-effective and sustainable approach, and will give you the look of custom cabinets while fitting in your budget.

Not all cabinets can be refaced, however.  If you’re considering whether to replace or reface your kitchen cabinets, here are some key indicators that replacement would be necessary:

Cheap Cabinets

Sometimes, when you move in to a new home, you’ll find that the previous owner has installed cheap cabinets.  Cabinets made of particle board are much more difficult to reface, even with proper reinforcement.  It’s best in that situation to replace the whole lot.

Severe Damage

Rotting wood.  Severe water damage.  Mold.  Termites.  Plenty of things can happen to your wooden kitchen cabinets, and some of it can damage them beyond the possibility of refacing.  It’s rare that all cabinets are damaged beyond repair, though – it may be possible to mix and match replacing and refacing.

Metal Cabinets

Metal cabinets, or metal cabinet frames, are much more difficult to work with when it comes to refacing.   They used to be all the vogue – vermin-proof and modern looking and all that.  They’re not nearly as possible today as they used to be, but there are still some lying about, and they often cannot be refaced.

A Complete Kitchen Layout Change

If you’re undergoing a complete kitchen remodel, and will be moving cabinets here and there, it makes much more sense to replace them.  Trying to fit an old, refaced cabinet into a new place is often like putting a square peg in a round hole – it just ends up not working and frustrating everyone who tries.  It’s better to get entirely new cabinets in this case.