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Kitchen Countertop – Solid Surface vs others
December 15, 2021
Remona Divekar
The market is full of options when it comes to countertop; Remona Divekar compares a few of them and how they fare against a solid surface
A countertop is to a kitchen is what a statement necklace is to an outfit; speaking volumes of a home's personality. Gone are the days of Carrara or Calacutta marble or about any material of sub-standard quality for kitchens and island countertops. Today there are lots of options in the market for kitchen countertops such as limestone, concrete, tile, and more adding that class factor to kitchens, complementing the entire space. Concrete countertops are the trendy things to infuse a home with a unique urban appearance.
Fusing artistic design with purposeful functionality inspired by the concepts of balance and tension in the solid surface countertops have been around for many years, innovated over the timelines. Solid surface counters have been around for 50 years, which over the point in time have proved to be an essential material that determines the look and feel of the kitchens from the floor to the ceiling, enhancing the overall outlook of the kitchens. Secondly, the available options have become more high-tech and luxurious, considering the availability of materials rich in versatility. While some material innovations might arguably be called faddish, concrete counters for one, haven't seized popular imagination, solid surfaces standing in the world of kitchen remodeling show no signs of faltering.
Kitchen Countertops Glossy
Solid in the world of solid surfaces
The word solid in solid-surface does evoke the idea that this is a stable base, unlike bouncy laminates with a peripheral meaning as a natural stone but non-porous, but they are engineered, which means man-made. Laminate is composed of layers; the solid surface is homogenous, which means that it can never de-laminate. Solid-surface material is the result of a scientific quest to create solid-surface material for residential and commercial designs.
A homogenous product primarily used as a countertop in kitchens is also one of the most popular options for desks at offices or airports. These solid surface countertops are not as natural looking as real stone countertops but over time, advancements were made in their overall user ability. However, it can be expensive than their real stone counterparts. A popular brand’s (DuPont) innovation, Corian continues to evolve and inspire designers and architects, artists, specifiers, and fabricators all over the world to reach new creative heights with this material.
Subtle coloured kitchen countertops
A renowned architect and interior designer from Mumbai says, “Solid surface countertops made with acrylic, marble dust, bauxite, epoxy or polyester resins, pigment and at times synthetic stone are popular choices in new home construction and remodeling. Sold under various brand names including Corian, Dekton, Avonite, and Silestone, these countertops offer a pleasing option for strength and looks. They resemble natural stone but aren’t porous. It looks like a stone on the surface, but inside, you will find something else. If you were to slice granite down the middle, you would find a variety of particles that make up the slab.” He further says that these countertops are durable and easy to clean and come in a huge variety of colours, making it easy for homeowners to find a style they like. Unlike laminate countertops, solid surface types are seamless.
There are different qualities of solid surface counters which include strong laminates, plastic that makes it more resistant to impact which is non-porous, able to resist bacteria, providing better sanitation for the kitchen. Acrylic-based-solid surfaces are of high quality, unlike polyester-based versions. Interior experts view polyester counters that have vibrant colours as suitable for thermoforming and other fancy fabrication work. Additionally, a solid surface with low porosity keeps bacteria away, promoting a cleaner countertop. Aluminum TriHydrate (ATH) which is a fine white powder helps to maintain smooth consistency, as compared with quartz, which is 10% resin and 90% minerals, such as marble, granite, and glass.
How does it compare to others?
Kitchen designers and remodelers have added that extra spark of the ability to allow the variety of counter-tops to be infinitely styled, coloured, and shaped because concrete counters are not limited to colours, shapes, or styles; divided on the issue of installing ceramic or granite tile in kitchens. While ceramic tile is vastly cheaper than granite, even granite tile is cheaper than granite slab, making it an affordable countertop option. Ceramic tile countertops would be the nearest competitor since they give the ability to draw upon thousands of available tiles and mix and match them. Besides shape, concrete can be colour-tinted and even embedded with inserts and inlays such as glass, stone, and even fibre-optic lights. Concrete is more of a high-end countertop choice.
Specially engineered to be long-lasting, solid-surface material comes in more than a hundred colours and patterns and can be custom-cut and installed for limitless design possibilities. It is the only counter material that can be shaped entirely by the choices and likings. The striking-looking material is reasonably priced, functions well, and provides years of usage with minimal maintenance. It has been observed that no surface is completely non-porous but tile, quartz, and solid surface come close to being non-porous as any countertop material, resulting to resist greater impact.
The recent years have seen the introduction of quartz countertops, most of these are engineered stone products, consisting of about 95% ground natural quartz and other materials with 5% binding resins.
Solid surface countertops made with acrylic, marble dust, bauxite, epoxy or polyester resins, pigment, and at times synthetic stone are popular choices in new home construction and remodeling. Sold under various brand names including Corian, Dekton, Avonite, and Silestone, these countertops offer a pleasing option for strength and looks.
Laminate countertops are an inexpensive, low-maintenance alternative to pricey stone and solid-surface countertops, and they are available in many styles that mimic expensive surfaces such as granite or marble. Laminate countertops are not resistant to heat and can scratch.
The stone countertops add an expensive touch to kitchens and are an excellent choice for durability. They are made from scratch and are not limited to colours, shapes, or styles. Even though slab granite is a popular counter choice, it's worth considering something called modular granite available in sheets that are smaller than slab, yet larger than traditional granite tile.
Whether concrete, granite, limestone, marble, quartz, or soapstone, it is important to learn how to care for each type of stone properly to prevent damage. If countertops have been finished with a sealant, it won't last forever. Normal wear and tear remove the finish. How often to reseal depends upon the type and quality of the stone and the colour of the stone. Light coloured stone usually needs to be resealed every one to three years while darker colours can go three to five years.
Quality kitchen countertops can be found in all styles and price ranges, and no one material is confined to a certain look. Countertops are an investment because they withstand wear and tear and last for years to come. Considering the range of options, including granite countertops, marble countertops, quartz, and wood countertops these materials are popular choices because of the associated quality of the material. Manufactured kitchen countertop materials such as laminate, cultured stone, concrete, and solid surface are also stellar choices available in limitless colours, patterns, and textures.
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