Corian Solid Surface vs. Granite Countertops

November 8, 2021 Published by Leave your thoughts

As you prepare for a kitchen remodel, one of the key considerations you’ll need to spend some time on is the type of countertop material you will purchase. This is an important decision, because your countertop should last you a couple decades at least and you’re going to be looking at it every single day.

Two of the most common options these days are granite countertops and Corian solid surface countertops. Both solid surface and granite materials are high-quality countertop materials that should hold up well for many years of use. They even will look somewhat alike from a distance.

However, there are many differences between the two materials that you should also be aware of as you make your purchase decision. Let’s take a look at some of these differences.

Appearance

Corian solid surface countertops are designed to have a speckling that resembles natural stone but with a lot more subtlety than many natural granite countertops have with their dramatic veins and wide range of color variations. If you’d rather avoid your countertops becoming a prominent design feature of your kitchen, this more homogenous and understated appearance can be beneficial.

If, however, you’re looking to make a bolder design statement, granite is certainly the more appropriate option. You’ll find colors in a surface ranging from pale white to dark black, with a lot of reds, yellows, pinks and even blues. The color variations can do a great job of hiding crumbs and smears, which may or may not be a benefit from your perspective.

Elemental resistance

Solid surface materials have outstanding resistance to moisture; however, Corian countertops can be scorched by hot pans, meaning you’ll need to use hot pads, cutting boards or other such protective items to protect the surface.

Granite is not as moisture-resistant because of its porosity, so you need to keep up with regular sealing of the stone to prevent it from sustaining water damage. Granite holds up better than solid surface materials when exposed to extreme heat, so you can usually set hot pans on them.

Maintenance

You should consider long-term care and cleaning as part of your decision-making process. Both materials are easy to keep clean.

Corian can be cleaned with soapy water or a detergent with an ammonia base. Make sure to dry off the countertop to avoid any water spots.

Granite countertops can be cleaned with a soapy-water solution. You should avoid using acidic cleaners, as they could result in surface etching over time. Keep in mind that granite needs to be resealed, which results in some extra maintenance investment and time.

Installation

If you’re having a professional perform the installation work, then this category doesn’t matter much to you. But if you’re going to do it yourself, Corian is going to be a much more forgiving material. You can cut it with regular tools and easily sand and polish the surface.

Granite is very heavy and difficult to work with and requires specialty tools and skills to cut.

These are just a few of the factors to keep in mind when choosing between granite countertops and Corian solid surface countertops. For more tips, contact the team at Nowak Cabinets of Midland.

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