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How to Choose the Right Solid Surface Material

If you’re trying to choose what to do for your new countertop, desk, or vanity in your latest customization project, you likely have multiple options to choose from. If we do say so ourselves, solid surface materials are the best choice for your next crazy idea.

But which type of solid surface material should you choose? Let’s explore the different types of materials, and how to determine which ones may be right for you.

Different Types of Solid Surface Material

Acrylic

Acrylic is the standard bearer for high-quality solid surface countertops. This is because it can be used to create a seamless look that replicates natural stone. It also resists scratching, making it tougher than materials like wood or laminate.

However, unlike natural stone, it’s extremely pliable and can be easily molded into different shapes, such as bold or organic shapes and those with special features like shelves and built-in sinks. Unlike other types of surfaces, acrylic allows you to create all these wild designs with less visible seams.

With acrylic surfaces, none of your craziest ideas are off-limits—in fact, they’re encouraged.

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic material that usually comes from either new or recycled petroleum. It’s resistant to damage from chemicals and comes in an even larger range of color options than standard acrylic. They can also be an affordable alternative to quartz or marble while still getting the same beautiful results as natural stone.

Blended

For those who want to have the ultimate form of flexibility and durability, there are also blends of acrylic and polyester materials available. These blends marry the durability and flexibility of acrylic with the color varieties of polyester, all in a single solid surface.

Aesthetic Options

Color

If you’re looking for even more color and pattern options, polyester-based resin countertops are the way to go.

Whether you want acrylic, polyester, or a blend, Durasein can use its state-of-the-art technology to produce the best possible color match, whether you want to imitate the look of granite or the cotton-candy vibes of a West Coast soda shop. The only limit to our color capabilities with our blended solid surfaces is your imagination.

Theme

The theme you’re looking to match can make a huge difference in the vibe of your space. As a result, the theme you choose can completely change the look of your reception area, clubhouse bar, kitchen, bathroom, book nook, or anything in between.

Some of the themes we offer at Durasein include:

  • Solid: Encapsulating everything from the stark neutrality of Outre White to the spine-tingling boldness of Vitality Red, the Solid theme is perfect for creating a showstopping space or making an outspoken, bold statement.
  • Chipped: This theme captures all the beauty of natural stone and quartz—without any of the harmful silica. Whether you want the icy beauty of Glacier Tundra or the granite-like class of Platinum Gray, the Chipped theme captures the wonders of the natural world in your solid surface.
  • Veined/marbled: Emulating everything from the beauty of natural Barnwood to the splendor of marble with Light Haze, the colors and patterns in this theme make your service desk, bar, or anything in between a focal point in your space.

Collection

Change the entire mood of the room you’re designing with a single color or pattern. We’ve organized our solid surfaces into collections to make it easier to find colors and patterns that will suit the feeling you want to convey with your space:

  • Timeless: The options in the Timeless collection prove Yves Saint Laurent correct—because their style is eternal. This set captures everything from the fresh chill of Arctec White to the sandstone-like pattern of Parthenon for a look that stays chic for years.
  • Brilliant: This collection was designed for the people who take the phrase, “go big or go home,” seriously. These bright, solid colors are for when you need your counter to be the center of attention.
  • Lively: The Lively collection adds a bit of energy and spice to your countertop design in a range of light and dark shades.
  • Charming: Designed for those who want something a bit more understated, these veined surfaces exude calm, effortless perfection.
  • Balanced: The Balanced collection is designed to make you feel at ease and calm your frayed nerves with its nature-inspired white and beige options.
  • Rooted: The Rooted collection mimics the warmth and visual texture of wood to help you design outside the stone-colored box.
  • Dreamy: Made with your most elegant design fantasies in mind, these white veined surfaces leave a lasting impression with subtlety and grace.

 

Consider Your Needs

Budget

Acrylic countertops are famous for being the more cost-effective alternative to quartz or granite. However, they tend to be more expensive when compared directly to polyester surfaces.

On the other hand, pure polyester surfaces can be notably more expensive than their acrylic counterparts from a production standpoint. This is because they’re more likely to chip during the production process.

However, for the greatest range of flexibility with price and quality, blended solid surfaces can be an ideal way to meet in the middle. They allow you to keep your budget in mind, without having to settle for anything brittle.

Durability

Designers prize acrylic solid surfaces for their durability—after all, they’re tough enough to make laminate look brittle and fragile. They also have a Class 1 fire rating by design, which means they’re a great fit for kitchens with even the most disastrous of chefs.

Solid surfaces are also less fussy and high-maintenance than marble or granite.

However, if you’re looking for a solid surface countertop material that’s even tougher in the face of chemicals like nail polish remover or oven cleaners, polyester may be for you. At the same time, not all polyester-based countertops have a Class 1 fire rating, so they may be more flammable than acrylic surfaces.

Unlike polyester surfaces, acrylic countertops can be thermoformed. Therefore, you’ll be able to get more unique shapes for your countertops with acrylic while still having durable, beautiful surfaces.

Installation

As a solid surface sheet material, acrylic is prized because it doesn’t have any noticeable seams after the pieces are joined together. While an expert installer may be able to tell where the seams are, most people won’t even notice there’s more than one piece of solid surface in your space—adding a further air of luxury after the installation process is done.

Acrylic is also more forgiving during the installation process than polyester because it’s less likely to chip or break. However, once installed, polyester is just as resistant to scratches, dents, and abuse from boiling-hot pots from the stove as their acrylic cousins.

Maintenance

Acrylic is easy to maintain compared to some materials like wood or laminate, because it can be cleaned with standard household cleaners. However, it is sensitive to heat damage—placing your hot pans directly on the countertop can cause the surface to crack or become discolored with time.

Acrylic countertops are also more sensitive to chemical damage than polyester or blended countertops, so they should never be allowed to maintain prolonged exposure with solvents like acetone, paint thinner, or mineral spirits.

While polyester and blended surfaces can resist chemicals more easily than acrylic surfaces, they’re equally as prone to scratching and more likely to break.

Talk to the Solid Surface Experts

Looking for samples you can see and feel for your upcoming countertop or solid surface project? Hop on the phone with us or order samples of your solid surface countertops today!

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