Solid-Surface Countertops
An Excellent And Affordable Choice For Your Kitchen
Countertops, especially those intended for kitchen applications need to have strong solid surfaces for them to
be functionally effective. A lot of chopping and cutting of food stuffs will be performed on their surfaces.
If they are not structurally strong, they will eventually give way to this never-ending pressure. Back in the
past, the only solid surface countertops used by homeowners were made of natural hard stones such as granite and
marble. A few who prefer wood used butcher blocks made of hardwood. Nowadays, homeowners are blessed with a lot
more choices. Countertop manufacturers have come up with solid surface materials that are made of synthetic
materials but are even harder than natural stones.
These solid surface countertops offer more advantages to today’s homeowners than traditional hard stone
materials. With the way they are made, most of them have very solid surface consistency. You no longer have to seal
them to protect their surfaces from water and dirt intrusions. They also come out of production already with high
gloss finishes therefore you don’t have to laminate them either. As a result of these excellent properties, you can
expect solid surface countertops to last for years. Additionally, cleaning and maintaining them will be very
easy.
What Are Solid Surface Countertops And How They Are Made
Solid surface countertops are actually made of synthetic sheets of various appearances. Each of these sheets are
combined with mineral compounds and are fused together by using polyester or acrylic resins and exposing them to
heat reaching up to 65ยบ centigrade. The final product has a very smooth surface with a structure that has a uniform
consistency all throughout. Its appearance will depend on the pattern of the synthetic sheets used. The surface can
be made to appear like a real stone if you want. The process is very flexible because you can integrate your
kitchen sinks on the countertop surface. By so doing, you will have a continuous countertop structure without seams
or grouts.
Types of Solid Surface Countertops
Since these types of countertops are man-made, different color combinations, integral strength and surface textures
are usually produced. The manufacturers usually alter the proportion of the materials they use to produce the
preferred design and style of the homeowner. Some solid surface countertops are made of 100% acrylic. Others have
higher acrylic content, while others have higher polyester content. If the acrylic content is higher, you will have
a stronger solid surface countertop and vice versa. In addition, the more acrylic you have the more flexible your
countertop will be. That means you can choose to vary its surface texture. You can opt to have a frosted surface
instead of just a clear mirror finish.
Advantages Of Solid Surface Countertops
Solid surfaces offer many advantages to the
homeowner. Using them will give you some of the following benefits.
• They are highly non-porous – the way they are produced ensures that there will be no pores, holes, fissures
and cracks on their surface making them very impervious to water and dirt penetration
• They are very affordable – you can get them at $40 to $80 per square foot, which is definitely lower than
other types of countertop materials.
• They are very strong and durable – again, because of their dense, solid structure.
• They are clean and hygienic – owing to their uniform surface consistency, molds and bacteria have no places
to lodge in and multiply. You can be sure that all of your food preparation will be immaculately clean.
• They are also elegant and stylish – the colors and surface texture that you choose will define the elegance
and style of your solid surface countertops.
• They are very flexible – therefore you can incorporate just about any color combination and surface texture
that you want.
• They are very easy to clean and to maintain – because of their compact structure and smooth finishes,
cleaning and maintaining these countertops are not difficult. You only need to use a soft non-abrasive cloth dipped
in warm water with mild soap and you’ll be able to wipe clean all kinds of dirt and grime.
Some Disadvantages To Owning Solid Surface Countertops
Here are some of the things you must consider before you order for a solid surface countertop.
• They are not very heat tolerant – since they are made of synthetic materials, be particularly careful when
using hot pots and pans. Never allow these items to directly contact the countertop surface. Always use trivets and
cloth pads if you have to place them on top of the counter to deflect the heat.
• They are prone to discoloration – this will result if you let hot objects directly contact the countertop
surface for too long.
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