Corian Countertops Stand Up In South Carolina Kitchens
Corian materials is a composite acrylic plastic material making ideal countertops for South Carolina homes. Whether in the kitchen, bathroom, workshop or vanity areas, Corian countertops offer the strength of masonry material and the versatility of many synthetic options. Corian is a unique material made in thickness as thin as a 1/4 inch to heavier more durable 1" sheets. Although as a plastic Corian is not completely scratch resistant as some stone or Formica countertops, the cost and easy maintenance need to remove light scratches more than makes up for any shortcomings. Corian is strong, easily configured for any space and highly decorative. Corian can be colored as soft pastels, bright colors or even different patterns. As the colors and patterns are through out the countertop Corian material, removing light scratches does not remove any decorative options. With over 130 colors to choose from, DuPont Corian allows you to create a space as individual as you are. Let your inner designer loose with inlays, seamless backsplashes, and inline sinks. And with freedom comes responsibility. Backed by a residential limited warranty, Corian is tough enough to stand up to everyday realities of a busy home. South Carolina homeowners can make a home improvement project out of replacing old, peeling cracked Formica countertops with new Corian replacements. The process can be done if following the procedure step by step. Often referred to by the brand name Corian (a registered trademark of the DuPont Co.), solid-surface material has been closely controlled by manufacturers and distributors since it first became popular in the 1970s. It is sold exclusively through licensed distributors and installers. At $60 to $80 a square foot (installed), it is one of the most expensive countertop materials, rivaling imported granite and marble in cost. To obtain the material, South Carolina customers submit plan drawings and cabinet dimensions along with color and pattern preferences. Installing a solid-surface countertop in a South Carolina home is relatively easy The material is nonporous and very hard, but it is a bit more forgiving than natural stone or ceramic tile if you set down your coffee mug carelessly. In addition, it is heat resistant and less likely to chip than harder materials. From a machinability standpoint, solid-surface material is like very hard medium-density fiberboard, or MDF. Tooling it is a slower process, but with care can get very smooth results on the first pass. It can also be sanded easily and buffed to a high gloss. A router and a trim saw can handle most of the cuts needed to install the countertop. Carbide-tip bits and blades are required. Although cutting, profiling and drilling solid-surface material isn't difficult, it is very messy. Whenever possible, do the work outdoors and use dust extraction to manage the resinous shavings (which will cling to almost any surface). Wearing a particle mask is recommended. At the seams, an underseam support strip is grafted onto one end of each mating pair of sections. When the joint is mad, one section rests on the ledge attached to the other section, forming a sturdy seam flush along the top. If the countertops will have open exposed ends (other than at an opening for a freestanding range), fill in the area beneath the countertop surface at the ends with strips of solid-surface material. For any successful South Carolina home improvement project, a logical work sequence is critical. On countertop projects begin with the cabinets, removing the old countertop material and inspecting the base cabinets to make sure they are sturdy and flat across the tops. If not, adjust and shim the cabinets until they are flat (and preferably level). Well-constructed, properly installed cabinets should bear the weight of a solid-surface countertop. If the cabinet layout includes an island or peninsula with more than a few inches of countertop overhang, attach 3/4-in.-thick plywood to the cabinet tops prior to installing the countertop. The plywood should be sized so the front edge of the countertop fits neatly over the edge of the plywood. The bottom face of the plywood should be flush with the bottom of the countertop edging. For added reinforcement, attach corbels to the cabinet frames. Each sheet of solid-surface material should be fitted, cut to length and scribed (if necessary) before continuing with the adjoining sheet. Start the installation project with a section containing a seam support strip on one end. Lay the first sheet of solid-surface material in position and fit it against the wall, and contouring the back edge with a belt sander if necessary. Mark a cutting line on one end for trimming. Make cutouts for the sink and cooktop after cutting the section to length and scribing the back edge. Cut through the material along the template lines with a router and straight bit. Cooktop cutouts should be reinforced from below at the corners. Once all of the solid-surface sections are cut to size, begin seaming them with epoxy and bonding them to the cabinet tops with silicone. Position the solid surface sheets on the base cabinets. Tip each sheet back and up so a bead of silicone caulk is applied to the cabinet tops where they fit against the countertop. Lower the sheet. Clean the mating surfaces and edges with denatured alcohol; then apply a heavy layer of tinted epoxy to the strip. Hot-glue a pair of clamping points near the mating ends of the sheets being seamed. Use clamps to draw the sections together. Do not wipe off epoxy squeezeout Ñimportant hardeners from the epoxy will be removed, which will slow curing time and weaken the bond. Instead, sand it off after it dries. Use alcohol to dissolve the hot glue to remove the clamping points. Exposed countertop ends will need to be filled. Special filler strips are supplied with the kit, glued in place with the same two-part epoxy filler used to seam the countertops together. Sand the seams smooth after the epoxy cures, using power sanders and a succession of finer sandpapers (100-, then 150-, then 220-grit). Also sand the entire countertop, ending with 220-grit paper. Corian wipes and is easy to clean. Because Corian is nonporous, stains do not penetrate the surface. With proper cleaning Corian also resists the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. Corian is heat and scratch resistant. Corian products such as sinks and backsplashes in South Carolina kitchens can be perfectly integrated to create the illusion of a single, solid surface. With a cove-backsplash there are no cracks to collect dirt and moisture. DuPont invented solid surfaces more than 35 years ago and has contented researching and developing improvements. As a result, Corian has consistently attained a customer satisfaction rating of 96% with South Carolina customers. While Corian is heat resistant, as with all countertop materials, it is important to minimize direct heat exposure to protect your surface and investment. Always use heat trivets or hot pads when placing hot objects on any surface. Always use a trivet under portable heat generating appliances such as a toaster oven. In most cases Corian can be repaired if damaged. Be sure to follow these guidelines to help you prevent any permanent damage to your Corian. Avoid getting strong chemicals, such as paint removers, oven cleaners, etc., on your Corian countertop. If a spill does occur, promptly flush the surface with water to fully rinse off the chemical. Do not cut directly on Corian countertops. Use a cutting board. Boiling water alone will not damage your Corian sink, however it is a recommended practice to run cold water from the faucet while pouring boiling water into the sink. You may notice that the surface of your countertop begins to look blotchy. Typically, this is caused by leaving hard water to dry on the surface which will leave a film of minerals. To remove this film pour some mild abrasive liquid cleanser, such as Soft Scrub, on a damp sponge or cloth and rub over area using small circular motions, from the front to the back, then side to side, overlapping the circles until the entire area has been cleaned. Thoroughly rinse the top with clean water and wipe the surface completely dry. Check to see if blotchiness is gone. If not, repeat procedure applying more pressure on the sponge or rag. Continue over all affected areas until all film is removed. While this procedure may remove or minimize the look of very fine scratches, other deeper scratches may remain. They may be removed by following the procedure below or you may with to hire a professional refinisher to refinish your countertop. Because the solid beauty of Corian goes all the way through, Corian surfaces are renewable. You can remove minor cuts and scratches yourself by following these instructions. First, wash the area where the scratch is located, following the instructions found in this guide, to remove any film on the surface as this film may clog the abrasive pads. With this surface still wet, start rubbing with the Peach colored side of the cleaning pad. Use a light touch. Pressing too hard may actually leave deeper scratches. Rub over the scratch using a straight line motion. Periodically switch rubbing direction ninety degrees. Rinse pad periodically during this process to remove any built up residue. Be sure all of the scratch is removed. Clean top with water and dry thoroughly. Check to see if sanded areas blends with rest of top. Please note that sanded area may not perfectly match remainder of top. If necessary, turn pad over and repeat process. Rub over large area to blend in sanding. If needed, continue the sanding process using the Aqua colored pad and if necessary, the Gray colored pad until the desired gloss level is achieved. Rinse out all pads used and allow them to air dry before putting them away. An alternative to your refinishing your countertop, is to contact your South Carolina Corian retailer or DuPont to arrange for professional refinishing.Corian Comes In Many Styles And Colors
Installing Corian In South Carolina Homes
Keeping Corian Clean
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