Scratch resistance - Corian

by **Gavin99** on Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:41 pm

I'm planning on glacier white Corian worktops for the new kitchen but have been advised not to consider such a plain colour as in a very little time every mark & scratch will be glaringly obvious.

I know it's not scratch proof but do you have to treat it with kid gloves? I'd be grateful if anyone with this surface can comment on how easily it is scratched in normal use and just how obvious any scratches are.

Many thanks,

Gavin

by **timfoley** on Tue Dec 29, 2009 4:03 pm

Gavin,
Sorry for the delay in coming back to this one and have to confess I only just discovered the having not been alerted to it in our e-mail.
A very good question and one that I often get asked.
Unfortunately there is no such thing, as yet, as the perfect kitchen worktop despite all the marketing hype you will read or see.
However, of the bespoke surfaces available to buyers, it's my belief that Corian and Quartz surfaces are the two best currently available.
There is no doubt that Corian, being an Acrylic surface, is softer than the more resilient Quartz surfaces, yet people choose Corian for a different reason, it's virtually seamless installation properties and the ability to restore it to it's former glory should it ever suffer scratches or damage. Combined with the 10 year manufacturers warranty Corian offers great value for money when compared with cheaper so called "Solid Surfaces" which I will not name but they can be identified by their thinner core, Corian is 13mm thick.
Quality worktops such as Corian or Quartz will remain in good health as long as the person looking after them understands and undertakes the care procedures recommended by the manufacturer and to assume that you can place hot pans on the surface, chop food directly on the surface, tenderize steaks without a protective board, is a mistake.
The Corian palette includes a number of surfaces that are recommended for commercial or lighter use only and many of these include darker colours. The DuPont residential warranty does not apply to these so called "disclaimer colours" and so the darkest colours available with the 10 year residential warranty are Mardis Gras and Midnight.
Corian, if the care and maintenance instructions are not applied, can become scratched but the reason people choose Corian is for it's reparrability and scratches can be buffed out easily in the rare event they occur. Scraches on lighter colours such as Glacier White are less apparent and again can be easily buffed out should this occur.
Although we have a number of requests to offer Granite, thinner Quartz's and Acrylic surfaces through our websites, I only offer those I believe offer the best resilience, guarantees, support and do so becasue I believe it would be a diservice to our visitors if we opted to geberate profit on surfaces that would cause me difficulty in sleeping sound.
The reason I do is that statistically, the Corian and the Quartz surfaces we sell, provide a virtually issue free business because their quality is far greater than any current alternatives available to our visitors. As a result if I were to open up our "damage issues file" for both surfaces over the many years we have offered them, you would have very little reading to do. To me that is the best testament to quality.
In answer to you question therefore Gavin, you do not have to treat Corian with Kid Gloves but you should take care in it's maintenance as you would with any worktop.

by **Gavin99** on Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:36 pm

Thanks Tim, that is reassuring to know. I guess if scratching was a big problem Corian wouldn't be popular after all these years.

Gavin

by **luxury_kitchens** on Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:47 pm

I sell about 80% corian worktops from my showroom, the kitchen store in sheffield. i sell luxury kitchens. the other 20% is either silestone or granite
i get so many people put off by people who have never had corian worktops. i think your reply to the question is the best i've ever read or heard. well done my friend.

ps. all my corian is fabricated by a "quality network assured" fabricator.. :-)

I am one of corians biggest fans...

by **timfoley** on Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:34 pm

Thanks for the nod of approval here luxury but if we allowed all members to post links to their websites we'd be offering a disservice to our members and to the ethos of this forum which is here primarily to assist those who have little or no knowledge of what to seek when buying a kitchen.
Users such as Majjie, provide the exception because of her regular, lengthy and valid contributions to posts and the same goes for other in our industry who over time will offer their expertise to assist and guide members of the public.
So, my advice is, continue posting with the emphasis on promoting your expertise rather than your company and in time the rest will fall into place.
By the way, I would have thought that such a large international company like the one you represent would have approached me direct if they wished to promote their goods and services on our website.
Tell you what - I'll do them a deal - for the cost of advertising space in the form of a banner on forum we will donate 50% of their fee to charity. I wouldn't offer that to all who apply but I do happen to believe the company you represent are offering quality components and certainly have the means to promote themselves in a more dignified manner.

Scratch resistance - Corian

Scratch resistance - Corian

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