Solid Surface Countertop | Things You Should Know Before Buying

Solid surface countertops are not new - they have been around for decades, and although they used to be expensive, you can find them in many kitchens and bathrooms. It’s an excellent material if you want an affordable, yet a solid and nice-looking solution. Besides, it’s a material that you can resurface on your own with just an orbital sander. So, let’s see what to consider before buying.

How it All Began?

Basically, everything related to the solid surface began with DuPont’s Corian. They wanted to create a non-porous surface that looks like natural stone. For example, when you slice the granite, you will notice a beautiful set of particles. However, it’s prone to cracking. The solid surface is much more a stable base, but also, it’s a homogenous material. It means that it’s completely the same from the top to the bottom.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Solid Surface

Like every material, a solid surface also has some upsides and downsides. At first, it’s almost non-porous (no surface is 100% non-porous) which keeps the bacteria away and makes a hygienic kitchen environment. Also, since it’s homogenous, it looks much better than multi-layered materials. The solid surface is also very easy to repair since you can do it on your own with an orbital sander or grain sandpaper.

On the other hand, the material is a bit weak and prone to cuts and scratches. Besides, it is prone to heat deformation. For example, it can withstand the temperature of boiling water, but if the temperature goes slightly higher, it might begin to deform.

Solid Surface vs. Other Materials

Cooks are always looking for a perfect material for their kitchen countertop. However, every material has some good and some bad sides. Stainless steel countertops are very popular with professionals, but they are expensive and not ideal for home kitchens. Materials such as wood and ceramic tiles also have some downsides. For example, wood is hard to clean and might develop a specific odor over time. Even the granite can be expensive and prone to cracking. You might also be interested in laminate surfaces, but those are prone to breaking and are not visually appealing. A recent blog post at KitchenPursuit describes different materials used in your kitchen.

Acrylic vs. Polyester Solid Surfaces

One of the main advantages of polyester solid surfaces is that they are cheaper. However, they are considered inferior compared to acrylic surfaces. Also, polyester solid surfaces have more vibrant colors, while acrylic surfaces are good for thermoforming.

Composition of Solid Surface

Basically, a solid surface contains one-third of binding resins and two-thirds of minerals, such as bauxite derivative and aluminum trihydrate, known as ATH. It looks like a fine powder and gives smoothness to the solid surface.

It’s much different than quartz, for example, which has around 10 percent of resins and 90 percent of minerals. Those minerals can sometimes include marble or even small particles of glass.

Some Tips on Solid Surface

As mentioned, if you need to resurface a solid surface, be sure to do it on your own, instead of calling a professional. You just need a #220 sandpaper and an orbital sander. Also, if you want to buy a solid surface countertop, be sure to check some of the popular brands such as Avonite, Gibraltar, and Mystera. Their products are great and come at a good price.