Maia is a solid surface worktop ... what used to be known colloquially as a "Corian lookalike" - when Corian (a DuPont Tradename) was virtually the only player (worktop) on the block that had seamless joins. There are lots of these surfaces about now ... but Sylmar (makers of Maia) seem to be doing their best to keep abreast of new kitchen trends. Just last month they introduced splashbacks to their range (shown in "Cristallo" white above). They also have little 70mm upstands (see below) and worktops with curved ends (the radius is 240mm ... shown in "Vulcano" black above).

All of these are very handy to achieve a modern look in a kitchen ... which these days is less likely to include a tiled splashback ... and is quite likely to feature curved doors. Maia splashbacks come in two sizes 900w x 760h (suitable for fitting behind a hob) and 3,600w x 560h. They also do extra thick 56mm worktops, decor ends in 45 and 100mm thicknesses (finished on both sides - so suitable for breakfast bar ends) ... and an impressive sink module. If you have a closer look at the sink below, you'll see that the drainer area is slightly recessed. Much more efficient than just individual drainer grooves.  

Of course with DuPont's Corian you can have any of these features, in any size you like ... and many more besides. Plus you have a much greater choice of sinks. Corian is a 12mm thick, acrylic resin based layer, fabricated onto an MDF core, from templates of your base units ... or it's made to individually designed specifications.

Maia is a 3mm thick, acrylic resin based layer, on a chipboard core ... provided as modules, in specific lengths (and with pre-finished edges) ... which can be cut to size on site. The sink modules, for instance, are all 1.8m long with the sink in the centre. This is much more restrictive to the design ... but there's a big difference in the price ... and, if you're going to use one of these less expensive, thin layer, solid surface tops ...  it's good to have one with the features I've described above.

As with all solid surface tops ... Maia is not very heat resistant (use trivets and don't fit worktops up to the sides of a range cooker, or Aga). It will also scratch, so be careful with sharp edges, although scratches can be minimised by using scotchbrite pads and mild cream cleansers. Bad scratches and even breaks can be repaired ... but try to avoid that necessity by getting a qualified fitter to install your tops. They need to be fitted properly, especially around sinks and appliances, to avoid cracking.

The most practical colours - again with all solid surfaces - are the matt, palish, mottled ones. The most popular of the ten colours of Maia available, however, is the black "Vulcano" (Maia only do matt finishes). With the darker colours, the worktop joins are more visible, as are marks and even corners (have another look at the sink picture above). White is just as impractical really - it'll show every mark.

Here's another of those very practical, pre-fitted sinks ... in a nice, practical, mottled colour worktop!