September 18, 2018 By

5 Different Types of Kitchen Countertops

5 different types of kitchen countertopsKitchen countertops are often the focal point of any kitchen. Great care needs to be taken when deciding what will look the best in this busy room. Here are five different types of kitchen countertops and what to expect from them.

Stainless Steel

If you are an avid cook, or just a germaphobe, then stainless steel countertops are an innovative way to stylize your kitchen. While they are most often found in restaurants and industrial kitchens, stainless steel is slowly creeping its way into residential kitchens.

The positive side of stainless steel is that it is extremely easy to clean. It is also hardy and indestructible and will last a long time. However, stainless steel can scratch and dent, so the aesthetics may not be what you want over a long time. They are also quite expensive so it’s important to know you want them in your home for a long period of time in order to get your money’s worth.

Butcher Block

Butcherblock, made of different types of wood, gives a nice, warm, and inviting look to a kitchen. Options include bamboo which is sustainable, and maple, which is hardy. There are many different types of designs you can make with butcher block countertops, depending on the type of wood you use and the placement of the grain.
The biggest issue with butcher block countertops is that they require a fair bit of upkeep. To keep them sanitary, they will need to be sealed which has to be reapplied. They also get their fair share of scratches and stains.

Tile

One of the lesser used types of countertops is tile, but because of this, when you see it, it really packs a visual punch. Tile countertops can be all manner of style and material.

With tile countertops, its important to keep the grout intact and clean. Grout can also become discolored over time, so be sure to clean it with water and vinegar. If a tile piece becomes cracked or lose, it is relatively easy to fix, as long as there are extra tiles around.

Natural Stone

Natural stone is considered as on of the more premium types if countertops. Stone types such as granite and quartz need very little upkeep and add a dazzling shine to your kitchen. Marble can also be used, and while its natural design is a great focal point, it is more likely to crack or chip.

If you have the budget for a complete kitchen reno, natural stone is usually where that money ends up in.

Solid Surface

If you want the look of a high-end natural stone countertop, but don’t want to invest in the expensive materials, then a nice alternative is a solid surface countertop. These products are man-made to look like their natural kitchen countertops. They can be found in a variety of styles and colors to suit all kitchen décor. Solid surface countertops are easy to clean and will last for a long time.

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November 18, 2017 By

Best Low-Maintenance Countertop Materials

Best Low-Maintenance Countertop MaterialsWith your busy life, you don’t have time to deal with countertops that need tons of regular maintenance.  Sealing natural stone and worrying about scratches and stains is more work than many of us want to put into our kitchen!  Fortunately, there are a wide variety of countertop materials that are significantly lower maintenance, allowing you to have great countertops without the added work or stress.

Solid Surface

Naturally, we’re going to recommend solid surface above all others.  Solid surface is worry free, with scratches easily being buffed out; as the color and pattern go all the way through the material, you don’t have to worry about ruining your finish.  Solid surface is easily cleaned with soap and water, is resistant to staining and resist heat and impacts better than nearly any other surface available.  It’s hard to go wrong when you pick solid surface.

Stainless Steel

If you’re looking for a more industrial/modern-chic look, stainless steel is an interesting option – and you can’t get any lower maintenance than stainless steel.  As the name would imply, they don’t get stained by food or juice or anything else that they might encounter in the kitchen, and are heat resistant, to boot.   They don’t need to be sealed or refinished, and require no special products to clean.  They can be slightly more expensive than solid surface, however, and they are much noisier.  Still, they’re a solid alternative.

Laminate

Laminate is a very affordable alternative for a low-maintenance countertop.  Many of the same manufacturers make both laminate and solid surface options, including Wilsonart and Formica.  They are easier to install than solid surface, and offer many of the same benefits – a nonporous surface, no need for sealing or refinishing, hundreds of colors and patterns, etc.  The main issue they have, compared to solid surface, is that the pattern doesn’t go all the way through the material, so you risk having unsightly damage to your counter that is impossible (or, at least, very expensive!) to repair, as opposed to a quick-and-easy solid surface repair job.

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October 23, 2017 By

Benefits of a Solid Surface Sink

Benefits of a Solid Surface SinkWhen picking a new surface for your kitchen or bathroom sink, we highly recommend solid surfaces.  If you’re looking for a wide range of performance abilities, a selection of different looks and designs to choose from and a reasonable price tag, solid surface is simply very difficult to beat.  It is absolutely perfect for your next sink replacement.

First of all, solid surface is seamless.  It can be integrated into your solid surface perfectly, without obvious seams, joints or other connections. The seamless joints look amazing, as your entire room ends up looking like one continuous piece, but this isn’t just a positive because it looks good.  No, the lack of seams and cracks means that your surfaces are much easier to clean.  You don’t get bacteria or mildew growth because there are no cracks and crannies for them to spread into.  That makes it an exceptionally hygienic option, especially compared to natural marble or other surfaces.

Secondly, you get a wider variety of colors and styles when you pick solid surface.  When you pick a natural sink material, your choices are generally limited to the natural colors of the rock.  Even materials like stainless steel just come in one basic color.  Solid surface, on the other hand, has an entire range of styles and colors to match any room’s requirements.  No matter what color or design scheme you’re planning on using, solid surface has a match for you.  Your customization options are drastically improved when you use solid surface.

Finally, solid surface is both durable and renewable.  Solid surface isn’t as fragile or brittle as porcelain or ceramic, making it less likely to break and scratch.  It is somewhat more likely to scratch than those materials, but that’s where solid surface’s real benefits shine.  Any stains or scratches can be buffed or sanded right out – solid surface is continuous, meaning the color and pattern stays the same throughout the entire depth of the material.  That makes any repair a very easy task.

Consider solid surface for your next sink!  You won’t be disappointed.

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May 6, 2017 By

3 Things You Should Never Do in Your Kitchen

3 Things You Should Never Do in Your KitchenAfter more than 15 years of experience working in and around kitchens, you would think nothing could surprise the experts at Solid Surface Canada anymore.  You would be mistaken!

Kitchens are great, multi-functional spaces.  You can do tons of things in them, from cooking to entertaining to family time.  When you use solid surface for your countertops, you have a quite durable room, too, able to handle most of the punishment you could give it.  “Most” is not “all”, however, and here are some things you really shouldn’t do in your kitchen.

Leave Those Spills

Solid surface has advantages over natural stone in that it’s non-porous.  Bacteria and germs can’t penetrate its surface, like it can on granite.  That means spills aren’t as much of a problem on solid surface as they can be on other surfaces.  However, that doesn’t mean it’s a magic surface.  Leaving spills on your countertop overnight is a surefire way to ruin your finish.  Don’t forget to dry, either – letting water dry on your countertop will eventually lead to a film buildup, making your counters look blotchy and uneven.  Wiping and rinsing completely and cleaning up those spills before they dry will prevent those hard water marks from forming.

Forget the Stepladder

Sometimes, a pot or pan is just out of reach, or you need to clean the top of those cabinets.  You may be tempted to just climb on top of your countertops and use it as a stepping-stool to get to those hard-to-reach places.  But watch out!  Countertops aren’t designed to handle the weight of people; it’s designed for cooking activities and appliances.  You wouldn’t want to crack or chip your new countertop because you didn’t go get the proper tool for the job!

Burn, Baby, Burn

Solid surface is more durable than most surfaces, and can stand the heat better than most.  Still, even it has its limits.  Placing a hot pot or pan directly on to your countertop can lead to cracks and burns, even on solid surface.  Trivets and other heat-protectors should be used when handling hot pots and pans to prevent burn-in and scorchmarks.

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February 21, 2017 By

Design Choices for Kitchen Sinks

Design Choices for Kitchen SinksNow that you have your new solid surface countertops picked out, it’s time to move on to an important piece of kitchen hardware – the sink.  There are a wide range of possible sink options to choose from.  Some blend in seamlessly with the countertop, designed to be an inconspicuous as possible.  Others stand out and become a feature of the kitchen itself.  The sink you choose depends on your style choices and what you practically want to do with your kitchen – there isn’t a right or wrong choice.  Here are some of the options available.

A seamless sink blends in with its environment, and doesn’t detract from the surrounding accents and features.  When you’re talking about solid surface countertops, you’re usually talking about a solid surface sink.  When your sink is installed alongside the countertop, the seamless finish means that there are no cracks or crevices for mold or mildew to grow – it’s an ultrahygenic option.  Solid surface sinks are scratch-resistant, easy to clean and set the industry standard for durability.

If you want something a little different to break up a solid surface countertop, stainless steel is a contemporary, trendy choice that can work quite nicely.  It’s a generic enough material that it blends with almost any type of surface, with any color or pattern.  It’s also fairly maintenance free; they’re difficult to crack, chip or stain, which is what you want in something that’s going to see as much use as your kitchen sink.

Stylized sinks become features of their own – they stand out and can become the centerpiece of your kitchen.  Farmhouse sinks are very popular – it’s an oversized sink with an overhanging lip.  It draws attention to itself, and can be a functional and beautiful addition to your home.              They’re not just available in porcelain anymore – you can get farmhouse or apron sinks in copper and stainless steel now, giving you more of a selection.

We do recommend that you stick with undermount sinks.  Top-mounted sinks build up grime along their perimeter edges – that’s unsanitary and ugly.  We also recommend avoid acrylic sinks; they’re prone to chipping and wear, and won’t last as long as a good solid surface or stainless steel option.  Also, don’t get too crazy with fancy shapes.  Standard sink shapes are standard for a reason: they work!

Whatever your sink choices are, we recommend our high-quality solid surface countertops to surround them.  Contact us today to see what we can do for you!

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January 18, 2017 By

Is Solid Surface Outdated in 2017?

Is Solid Surface Outdated in 2017?Are solid surfaces a thing of the past?  It seems, at times, that Corian and other, similar solid surface brands like Formica, Wilsonart or Avonite get pushed to the back burner when it comes to lists of the hot, “in” countertop materials such as marble or quartz.

Don’t pay attention to those trends, though – solid surfaces are still top sellers, and are just as relevant today as when they were first entering our homes in the ‘60s and ‘70s.  Its selling points haven’t gone anywhere – solid surfaces are still highly durable, stain resistant, easy to repair in case of minor scratches, heat resistant, available in a wide range of colors and styles and reasonably priced.  It’ll never truly go away, because no other surface can offer everything solid surfaces give you.

That being said, there are several reasons why solid surface continues to be one of the best-selling surfaces on the market, even 50 years after it was first created.  Here are just a few:

Solid Surface Isn’t Yet Dated

A surface really only becomes dated when everyone stops using it – that’s why you don’t see much avocado green linoleum or shag carpeting being installed anymore; as people stopped wanting it, it became considered old and dated.  The wide range of colors and patterns you can get solid surface in prevents it from falling victim to those sorts of trends and, according to Time magazine, solid surface countertops are still tied for the third most popular countertop material today.  It may not be as “in” as quartz or granite, but it’s still one of the most commonly selected options available.

Solid Surface is Durable

Renovating a kitchen is a major project!  It’s certainly not something you want to do over and over again – you want to make sure that your new kitchen lasts the test of time.  There isn’t a surface out there more durable than solid surface – while it’s possible to scratch, it’s nowhere near as fragile or damage-prone as granite or marble.  Most damage can be easily repaired with a scrubber sponge – it’s incredibly low-maintenance.  That means it’s a choice you can count on to last the lifetime of your kitchen.

Solid Surface is a Good Investment

If you select a trendy, “in” kitchen material for your design, you’re running a risk.  Remember when we mocked those avocado countertops a few paragraphs back?  Well, if you grab on to the latest craze, it’s possible your trendy, hip style will become the next shag carpet or frilly window treatment.  Solid surface, however, has stood the test of time, and that gives it those two magic words: “resale value”.  If you’ve ever been home shopping and saw a truly outdated kitchen, it probably made you think twice about making an offer.  Solid surface helps keep your kitchen looking great, and your home’s resale value up.

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December 29, 2016 By

How to Choose a Kitchen Sink

How to Choose a Kitchen SinkThere is no such thing as the perfect kitchen sink.  There is no one size fits all solution to kitchen issues, no one, perfect sink that will fit the bachelor in his apartment and the family of seven in their sprawling estate.  There is no right kitchen sink, but there is a kitchen sink that is right for you.

If you haven’t spent much time thinking about it, you may well think that a sink is just a sink – no need to overcomplicate things.  However, if you’re looking to choose a new kitchen sink, you may be surprised at the sheer number of options and decisions you need to make.  Here are some of the most important ones, so you can know what to look for when choosing a new sink.

How many basins?

Sinks come in a variety of different sizes.  A deep single basin means you can easily soak or wash a big pan, or prep large quantities of food at one time.   It’s also best for the space-conscious.  However, only having one basin means you may have issues if you need the sink for multiple uses – say, soaking a dish and prepping vegetables.

Many people like two basins, but even then, you have choices – two basins of the same size appeals to the more symmetrically inclined of us, but you can also have one larger basin and one smaller one – giving you one larger basin for those larger pots and pans.  You can even go wild and have three or more basins – usually two large basins, and a third, smaller one for the garbage disposal.  That can come in handy when you need to use the disposal while also soaking pots and pans.  Ultimately, the size will depend on how you use your sink.

What shape?

In addition to your “standard” sinks, there are a number of common shape alternatives to choose from.  Farmhouse sinks are large, single basins, with a distinctive, apron front.  It gives a nice vintage vibe, and is convenient for holding large amounts of water.  It’s deeper than your traditional sink.  You can also get that in a double-basin style, though it won’t bring that same vintage charm.  You can also get a sink with rounded edges, as opposed to traditional square edges, which some people find easier to clean.

Another possibility is getting a built-in drainboard, which sacrifices some counter space for an easier time hand-washing dishes or drying fruits and vegetables.  If you don’t have a dishwasher, or just enjoy washing dishes by hand, it’s a good option to choose.

What material?

Sinks come in a wide variety of materials. Stainless steel is durable and easy to clean, though it can also scratch.  If you have hard water, it will also eventually leave a variety of spots on your sink.  Porcelain is a very traditional material, and comes in a wide variety of colors.  However, it can also chip, and potentially be damaged by metal pans.

A granite composite sink resists those scratches and chips, and won’t show water spots.  However, it can stain, and requires more special maintenance than steel or porcelain.  Similarly, natural stone, such as soapstone, requires special cleaning products and can scratch and chip, but can be a wonderful aesthetic choice, matching your countertops exactly.  A solid surface like Corian can be the perfect blend of aesthetic desirability and maintenance-free durability.

These are just a few of the decisions you have to make when shopping for a sink.  We hope this gets you started – and if you have any questions, the experts at Corian Pros will be glad to help you out!

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