Worktop News
by Majjie | Wed, 19/03/2008 - 15:25
The so-called "solid surface" worktops have lost out in recent years to the really solid ones - like granite, timber and quartz composites.
Worktops like Corian, LG HI-MACS, Staron, Avonite and Apollo were called solid surface worktops - to distinguish them from the multiple, resin impregnated, paper layers of laminate worktops. They have the advantage of a huge choice of colours, virtually seamless joins, a smooth, non-porous, hygienic surface and the ability to make unusual shapes and profiled edges.
On the down side, most are very heat sensitive (even sometimes to boiling water) and they can scratch easily (although scratches can be polished out and, over time, tend to blend together to give a uniform appearance). The surface can also look quite plastic-ey ... but this is largely a matter of taste. Another big disadvantage has been cost - these tops tend to be even more expensive than granite.
There are two developments which have made solid surfaces more desirable, recently. The first has been the introduction of very thin solid surfaces of just 2-3 mm thickness. This restricts the shapes that can be used but makes the material cheaper and also means that the worktops can be fitted by a competent kitchen fitter and don't need expensive templating and specialist fitting. Brands to look out for are Getacore, Minerelle and Maia.
This is Maia in cream:
The smooth matt finish can look particularly good against textured doors, like woodgrains.
The second development is the use of translucent colours which can be backlit. There was a particularly stunning display of Avonite worktops at the recent KBB show:
"Frosted" Avonite with backlit "Ruby" splashback.
There are six translucent colours in the Avonite "Glass" Collection:
At 12mm thick (6mm for splashbacks) Avonite is never going to be cheap - but it's well worth considering for higher budget kitchens.
Kitchen lighting is receiving more attention recently, as I mentioned in my January newsletter, so perhaps the time has come for a revival in the fortunes of solid surface worktops.
Worktops like Corian, LG HI-MACS, Staron, Avonite and Apollo were called solid surface worktops - to distinguish them from the multiple, resin impregnated, paper layers of laminate worktops. They have the advantage of a huge choice of colours, virtually seamless joins, a smooth, non-porous, hygienic surface and the ability to make unusual shapes and profiled edges.
On the down side, most are very heat sensitive (even sometimes to boiling water) and they can scratch easily (although scratches can be polished out and, over time, tend to blend together to give a uniform appearance). The surface can also look quite plastic-ey ... but this is largely a matter of taste. Another big disadvantage has been cost - these tops tend to be even more expensive than granite.
There are two developments which have made solid surfaces more desirable, recently. The first has been the introduction of very thin solid surfaces of just 2-3 mm thickness. This restricts the shapes that can be used but makes the material cheaper and also means that the worktops can be fitted by a competent kitchen fitter and don't need expensive templating and specialist fitting. Brands to look out for are Getacore, Minerelle and Maia.
This is Maia in cream:
The smooth matt finish can look particularly good against textured doors, like woodgrains.
The second development is the use of translucent colours which can be backlit. There was a particularly stunning display of Avonite worktops at the recent KBB show:
"Frosted" Avonite with backlit "Ruby" splashback.
There are six translucent colours in the Avonite "Glass" Collection:
At 12mm thick (6mm for splashbacks) Avonite is never going to be cheap - but it's well worth considering for higher budget kitchens.
Kitchen lighting is receiving more attention recently, as I mentioned in my January newsletter, so perhaps the time has come for a revival in the fortunes of solid surface worktops.
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Comments
Well - I'm not particularly impressed that you've resurrected a two year old blog - presumably just to get a link to your website. My opinion of Swanstone has just gone down.
Saying "It's strong too" isn't very informative either, is it?.
It would have made more sense if you'd added a comment to my much more lively "Solid Surface Worktops - A Comparison" blog. I like getting comments that are helpful or informative.
The reason I haven't talked about Swanstone - which is actually quite a good solid surface, I believe ... is that it's not widely available
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