All About: Synthetic Solid Surface Countertops

Cambria Bold
Cambria Bold
Cambria Bold is the Executive Editor of Cubby, and one of Apartment Therapy Media’s first full-time editors from way back when. She was The Kitchn's founding Design and Lifestyle Editor as well as Managing Editor of Re-Nest, Apartment Therapy’s late '00s green living site. She now thinks a lot about design, kids, and designy kids' things. She lives with her two daughters and their father in St. Paul, MN.
updated Jun 5, 2019
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(Image credit: Abby Stone)

Are you thinking about renovating your kitchen? Doing research on countertop materials? If so, then our Countertop Spotlight series will help you. Today we look at synthetic or manufactured solid surface countertops (Corian, etc):

Material: Synthetic Solid Surface

Origin: Synthetic or manufactured solid surface countertops are made of man-made materials, most often acrylic, but also polyester resins, marble dust, and other pigments.

Popular Brands: Dupont Corian, LG Hi Macs, Formica, Wilsonart, Staron, LivingStone.

Environmental Impact: High. Made primarily from non-renewable resources like petrochemicals and aluminum trihydrate (ATH); production and manufacturing is very energy-intensive, and the material is not recyclable.

Pros: Non-porous, so it’s stain-, mildew-, and germ-resistant; strong and self-supporting, needs no plywood underlayment; easy to buff out scratches; can be installed seamless and made to imitate other high-end materials like marble and granite.

Cons: Vulnerable to heat, dents, and scratches; relatively expensive.

Installation: Professional installation recommended, as these countertops are very heavy and expensive. Higher-priced solid surface may include the price of installation.

Price range: $50-$200 per foot.

Kitchn Reader Reviews:

Another vote for Corian. It requires zero maintenance, can be seamlessly repaired if ever chipped, etc, and as mentioned comes in any color or pattern you could want. The home center might not have all samples to show you, so dig a little. I chose one that is a beautiful matte white with a slight marbling effect (not trying to be a convincing faux). It is called Venaro White. – Amyrl

Do not much care for the feel of Corian, and it did stain… I prefer things that age gracefully (like soapstone) to things that don’t (Corian, granite, other manufactured surfaces)… – mschaitelaine

My aunt recently redid part of her kitchen and got Corian counters with an integrated sink — all one piece with the counters, so absolutely no gaps or leaks or places to collect grunge, and it cleans easily and is quieter than other surfaces. She loves it. – bibliovore

Related Kitchn Posts:
• Corian Plus Six Alternatives
• All About: Stainless Steel Countertops
• All About: Butcher Block Countertops
• All About: Quartz Countertops
• All About: Granite Countertops

Readers, what’s your experience with solid surface countertops like Corian?

(Images: Abby Stone)

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