Staron Solid Surface - looks like quartz?!?
So, I'm trying hard to nail down both layout and material choices while my partner focuses on hiring help so we can finally move forward with ordering and force momentum to move our prolonged DYI'ing to a conclusion. I met with a designer on Friday to see the bamboo in person (I think I liked it, but I'm nervous) and we put together some samples.
I brought home what I thought was 2 quartz samples and 1 solid surface. However, today when I sat down to research the first pick in counter samples, called Staron Confetti, I realized it is actually a glossy solid surface material and NOT a quartz. (The quartz sample is chipped and scratched, by the way) It appears this material is manufactured by Samsung?
My first impression of this sample is extremely positive. I like the idea of an affordable alternative to quartz in my modest home in my modest neighborhood. It also feels less cold than the quartz, which is a consideration in an Alaska clime. And...solid surface has the ability to allow a little cove at our backsplash window if the counter isn't dead on for the backsplash window or we want a little protection there. Not to mention the fact that we are going to have a funky U with that bump out and solid surface can be seamless. Those seem like rather big pluses, but I've never heard of this product - and just saw mention that solid surface could be glossy for the first time via a comment by Trebucket I came across this weekend.
Does anyone know anything about this product? Are there problems with it or areas of concern I should know about? Is there known problems with going glossy on solid surface counters? Does it make it difficult to buff or sand when there are scratches if there's a glossy finish instead of matte?
Comments (8)
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Quartz vs Solid Surface
Comments (3)My mum has a galaxy quartz worktop. It looks amazing. It needs polishing once in a blue moon to keep it super shiny (use a special product) and is generally tough wearing. She does though use heat protectors more to keep it looking new and it did acquire a chip by a careless fitter but it was underneath. If anything is worth noting is that like marble if you serve food into a plate or serving vessel which is standing on it the food (or even a cup of tea) will turn ice cold in no time. I found it very handy to cool baby milk formula and food which could be too hot as the cooling down time was very short! I have heard that corian is useless - stains, scratches and even cracks under too much heat, all very easily....See MoreQuartz worktop draining mat
Comments (5)Haha, a dishwasher. :) Without being too sexist I hope, I'm a man myself after all, but that is possibly a male type of answer. We have a dishwasher (not even in our main home though) but there are for ever small things that need to be cleaned, vegetables to be washed etc, so there's always some kind of drainage needed, washing machine present or not. We use a draining rack with a hard plastic tray underneath. Maybe not the height of fashion (although ours is a firey red... :-) ) but it does the job....See MoreKitchen worktop - solid surface or stone?
Comments (1)Joints are classed as inconspicuous. Therefore you can see them … just about, and that’s providing they’re fitted correctly The smaller the pattern, normally the less the joint stands out. There are lots to choose from. lt’s a minefield of choice out there. Take a look at Pietra and Pietra Gold as a good solid surface worktop. Middle of the range price wise....See MoreSolid/ Resin Countertops Advice for Laundry Room
Comments (4)You just need to mop up any spillages immediately and ensure everything is sealed with laminate worktops. They are cost effective with lots of choice and still one of the best sellers. If you’re looking for a solid top try looking at Mirostone or Pietra solid surface but installation for solid tops should only be carried out by certified contractors to make sure the warranty is valid....See More- 11 years agolast modified: 11 years ago
PRO11 years agolast modified: 11 years agoIn about two hours, I'm going to refinish two separate solid surface countertops, so I have some familiarity with this. The gloss level of solid surface is determined by how high of a grit I continue to in my progression. On today's refinishes, I may start with an 80 or 120, depending on how beat up the tops are. I start with a used paper first, because if you're not a spotless cleaner, your top crud will clog my paper. I'll go to 240, 320, and 400. I may finish with a red Scotch Brite pad or a 500 Abralon, depending on color, particulate, matte or semi-gloss. I may go to a gray Scotch Brite, which is about 800. It's very seat-of-the-pants and "artsy". I've got 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 Abralon in my arsenal along with MB 20 granite polish, which will all make solid surface look like a car in a showroom.
This is a picture of a Corian Nocturne (solid black) making a transition to a lower LG Hy-Macs Cork top on a lanai pass-through I did last week. I stopped at 500 Abralon for both. (I recycled the granite about a year ago.)
Topical products like Countertop Magic do a great job of making water bead on countertops and add gloss, but don't remove scratches which can only be done mechanically.
The more glossy the surface, the more perfect the solid surface seams have to be. The adhesive polishes more quickly making a glossy line the higher the sheen.
One of the biggest advantages of solid surface is making ultra sanitary cove corners nearly seamlessly.
You can have a seamed undermount stainless steel sink with solid surface. I've had a single bowl "D" shape in my kitchen for almost 3 years and my wife and I love it. Try the Karran Edge E-540 for a super quality large single bowl.
steph2000 thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC- PRO11 years ago
Here's the top I refinished today. The top picture is a 500 Abralon, the bottom pic shows the only the corner with a 1000 for contrast.steph2000 thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
Joseph Corlett, LLC