What is Corian?
Created by Dupont in 1967, Corian is a solid, non-porous solid surface material which has been a popular choice for kitchen worktops since its introduction to the market in 1971.
Although it is primarily used for kitchen worktops and benchtops, Corian solid surfaces can also be used for many other applications due to its unique colour and aesthetic properties, as well as the material specification itself. These include surfaces in commercial offices, hotels, retail outlets, external cladding, and healthcare.
Why is it so popular?
Efficient hygiene
Its smooth, non-porous surface makes it easy to clean, making it suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, and other environments where cleaning is regular and critical like hospitals and restaurants.
Vibrant colours
Combining one part acrylic polymer with two parts natural minerals, this alumina-trihydrate-based surface material is currently available in 103 different colours and styles. Unlike other comparable surfaces, Corian colours show remarkable resistance to wear and tear, staying vibrant for years and even decades after colours on comparable materials start to fade.
Another notable aspect about Corian colours is that the unique formula and mixing process means that the colour remains consistent through every point of the finished product, and any pattern is evenly distributed throughout. This means that your Corian surface will display consistent colours no matter how it's cut.
Intricate and unique design
Corian worktops can be thermoformed to fit. Using vacuum moulding to create the shapes means that any number of intricate designs are possible, including the seamless incorporation of sinks and surface textures. The unique makeup of Corian creates a solid surface that is hard enough to withstand daily use, but can also be worked with using hardwood tools. This makes Corian surfaces highly customisable and relatively straightforward to fit and repair. Corian solid surfaces also have some degree of electrical conductivity, which means they can be set up for wireless charging, something which stone and wooden surfaces cannot offer.
Easy repair
Targeted repairs of damaged surfaces are another reason that this surface is so popular. Whilst it’s true that Corian kitchen surfaces can be burned with very hot pans, these marks are relatively straightforward to repair, and in extreme cases, damage can be directly cut out and replaced with near-invisible joining. This provides a much more cost-effective solution than replacing the entire worktop, something that is often necessary with stone surfaces. However, for damage prevention purposes, trivets are recommended on Corian worktops.
On top all this, dedicated work over the past few years has resulted in a zero-landfill status for all Corian solid surfaces, making it the greener choice for your kitchen surfaces!
For more information about Corian, as well as the many other surface materials we offer, contact Ideal Surfaces today. Call us on 01455 619 114, email [email protected], or use our online enquiry form, we’d love to talk about your latest project!
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