Q-I am developing plans for a major kitchen remodeling job. The solid surface countertop materials appeal to me. My husband is skeptical of their long-term durability. Are they all the same, or are there distinct differences? Are there other long-lasting alternatives? Do you feel that solid surface materials are a good value?
A-After installing hundreds of different countertops as a builder, I can see why the solid surface countertops appeal to you. All of my customers who have purchased them have been delighted with the material. Solid surface countertops are both beautiful and easy to care for. I feel that they represent a fantastic value.
Solid surface countertops, a product of the plastics industry, have been available for over 25 years. Plastics, in one form or another, dominate the kitchen and bath countertop industry.
The vast majority of plastic countertops are made from thin sheets of plastic laminated to wood or wood by-product substrates. Solid surface countertops are simply that, they are solid plastic.
The solid nature of these materials offers distinct advantages. Colors and patterns are solid throughout the material. These materials have many of the properties of wood, which allow them to be shaped and molded into countless shapes and figures.
Because the material is plastic, separate pieces can be welded together with special adhesives to form one solid piece. These adhesives actually cause the plastic molecules of one piece to interlock with the molecules of the other piece.
There are distinct differences among solid surface countertops and different materials are used. Some countertops are primarily acrylic while others are a blend of acrylic and polyester plastics. Those with a high content of acrylic plastic seem to have the highest performance standards.
Your husband’s concerns about durability are, for the most part, groundless because these materials have great impact resistance. Virtually all of them are nonporous, so they are unaffected by food and liquid stains. The non-porous surface also inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold and germs.
A unique property of these materials is the ease with which they can be repaired. Scratches can be buffed out by hand. Cigarette burns can be sanded away. Even severe damage usually can be repaired.
Solid surface countertops do have a slight drawback. Excessive, concentrated heat can damage the surfaces. However, this problem is frequently overcome with the use of decorative trivets made from the scrap material from the sink and cooktop cutouts.
You do have other alternatives for countertop material but none seems to offer as many advantages as solid surface materials. Natural stone products, such as marble and granite, can be difficult to repair.
Artificial stone products, because of their composition, do not seem to perform as well as the plastics. Remember, as with so many other things, you get what you pay for.
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Have questions about the remodeling process? Write to Tim Carter, c/o The Chicago Tribune, P.O. Box 36352, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236-0352. Questions will be answered only in the column.
For a listing of manufacturers of solid surface countertop materials, including descriptions of the materials’ content, sources of product literature and tips on care of these countertops, please send $1.50 and a business-size, stamped, self-addressed envelope to Tim Carter at the above address. Ask for Builder Bulletin No. 236.
