So you have decided to remodel, and now you have the problem of deciding what type of material to use for your solid surface. The first thing you need to ask yourself is where is the surface? Higher traffic areas will need a harder more durable material then other places. Second you need to ask what the surface will be used for. Countertops take a lot of abuse from spills to knives, while workstation surfaces are less susceptible to being scratched or spilled on. Surfaces today are available in a wide range of materials, patterns, and colors so that you can select the perfect match for your project at hand.
The Location
We all know how much abuse kitchen countertops can take throughout their lifetime. From being used as a cutting board and getting scratched from knives, to drink and water spills. They need to be strong enough to stand up to the daily onslaught of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, parties, and the like. You will want to choose a material that is strong, but also not very porous to help resist staining.
Workstation surfaces don’t take nearly as much wear and tear as a kitchen countertop. They are still used daily, but staining and scratching isn’t as much as an issue as they don’t stand the same trials. Because of this they can be a bit softer, and don’t need to be as stain resistant as the counters in a kitchen, which opens up a wider variety of options as far as surfacing materials are concerned.
Thirdly there are the other areas of use for solid surface materials. You see these in fireplace mantels, and other side projects around the house. Each of these projects will need to be looked at differently using the topics reviewed above. How much use will the surface get? Is it susceptible to spills or staining? Have as much information as you can about the area and contact a (http://elitecountertops.com/) solid surface specialist.
The Materials
Granite is available in many different color and pattern options. It is a natural stone so there is no exact pattern and no two surfaces will be the same. Granite is highly scratch and stain resistant due to being a natural stone product. This surfacing product is suitable for all surfacing needs.
Marble, limestone, travertine, and onyx are softer products then granite which makes them less scratch resistant. Also they are a more porous product which makes them more susceptible to staining and unsuitable for kitchen applications. These materials are available in many different color and pattern options.
There is a quartz product, Zodiaq® by DuPont, which is an engineered product. It is 97% natural quartz, and includes 7% resins and tinting. This engineering process makes the quartz scratch and stain resistant, and mechanically one the strongest products out there. Also since it is an engineered product it is offered in an array of color options.
Finally the solid surface product, Corian® by DuPont and Hi-Macs® by LG, that is available, is an engineered product as well. It is produced using acrylic resin, fine mineral additives, tint, and, in some cases, other decorative additives. This makes this product the least heat resistant. It also makes the product the easiest to repair, and allows for it to be installed without visible seams. The engineering process also means that this surface product is available in a variety of different colors and patterns as well.
As you can see no matter what your solid surface needs are there is something out there available for your project. All it takes is a little review and research, and a chat with your local surfacing specialist.
