How To Install A Corian Countertop

I'll be the start to admit, some things are improve left to the professionals.  Things like electrical issues, medical surgeries, and milking cows – to name a few.

When we came to the conclusion that we were set to install some countertops in our kitchen that would last for years and requite us a high end look, naturally we thought this would be a job for the pro's.

So, nosotros called the countertop professionals, had them sketch up measurements and requite u.s.a. price estimates for our 3 countertops of choice.

Marble/Granite – an estimated 4000-5000 dollars.

Corian/Solid Surface – an estimated 3000-4500 dollars

After my hubby choked at those prices, I humbled myself and considered laminate.

Laminate – 2000-3000 dollars.

My hubby and I looked at each other, looked at our bank account – and hung our heads.  Goodness.  We couldn't even afford the countertops I didn't want – the laminate.

So what is a d0-it-yourself couple to do?  Consider selling a kid?  No.  Live with the concrete countertops that were falling apart, posted about HERE?  Uh-uh.

What we did do, was some research.  In our google search for finding prices for Corian, we came upon the site solidsurface.com.  We discovered they sell some of their overstock/surplus solid surface products for discount prices, and it was really within our price range!  But wait – we've never worked with solid surface, and hadn't a inkling how to install it.  (Past the way, I am not working in conjunction with solidsurface.com.  Simply sharing a wonderful discovery!)

That's when my hubby talked with the countertop professionals.  They told him not to practise information technology.  They told him, he would regret information technology.  They told him, they would not come and set his mistakes.

And my astonishing DIY cheap skate hubby said – "I got this infant."

He did some Youtube-ing, and some serious thinking and reading, and ordered all the supplies we needed.

For just a little over $grand.00, our new countertops were on their way to our doorstep.  And later on a few days of work, our DIY solid surface countertops look admittedly A-MAZ-ING !  No professionals required.

We are and so thrilled with the results, nosotros wanted to share our experience and give others tips and advice if this is something they would like to consider doing themselves.  We came to the conclusion that corian/solid surface countertops is non like shooting fish in a barrel.  But information technology isn't rocket science either.  If yous are familiar with woodworking, it will seem even more approachable.

I am non providing a step-by-pace tutorial per say, just my husband and I will talk over the 4 things we did throughout our procedure.  These include:

1.  The purchase
2.  The Tools
3.  The installation
4.  The Tips

After reading through this yous should exist able to get an idea for what is included and if this is a good projection for you (or if better left to the professionals – which is totally okay if y'all can afford it!)  I snapped pictures as my husband would tolerate and I will insert them and explain the process throughout.

Now – yous've seen his amazing handiwork, but let's requite a large welcome to Mr. TIDBITS and his first written debut, here on this blog!(handclapping, clap, clap, clap, handclapping . . .)

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First and mayhap the last.  Still, I am glad I can write about our feel and I hope it volition be of aid to some of y'all.

The Purchase

Start thing you need to sympathise when looking at purchasing solid surface material is that there are many brands to choose from.  Corian is the nigh common term used for solid surface countertops, but information technology is actually merely 1 of the brands.  We take used the term "Corian" because most folks know these types of countertops by this proper name.  Solidsurface.com has many brands to choose from, so don't feel similar you accept to go with Corian, specifically.  The website has several unlike colors and designs, each with their ain sizes and thicknesses.  One time we decided white was our colour I looked at the unlike brands and shades (yes, white manifestly has shades). THIS is the one we chose based on the all-time price and availability.  I had to choose between 1/4″ or ane/2″ thickness and what size of sheets to social club.  This wasn't every bit easy as it sounds and to help me I used Google Sketchup, a costless 3d cartoon programme, to exercise the layout of the countertops on the different sizes of sheets.  This ensured that I didn't buy likewise much or too little.  I ended upwards with a size and thickness that would just barely match what we needed with very little room for fault.

The Tools

Along with the corian itself I had to buy several accessories to end off the project.  Here are the materials nosotros bought from solidsurface.com.

• Mucilage (each colour of corian has a respective color of mucilage)
• Glue gun (very expensive for just ane utilize, if you know someone who has one all the ameliorate)
• Gum tips (mixes the glue which is a two office epoxy, I ordered 2 more tips than what came with the mucilage.)
• Sanding and polishing kit

I also went to a local hardware store and bought some interior Liquid Nails caulk to adhere the corian to the existing countertops.

I already had a router with a 1/4″ flake, a direct edge for straight cutting, clamps galore and an orbital sander for polishing.

Just a quick note, solidsurface.com has to deliver to a business address for free shipping or y'all can pay the $90 or and so delivery fee to a residence.

The Installation

Now that we had everything we needed I was ready to start.  After a deep breath and a mental pep talk I started to measure and cut the pieces.

{Hither my hubby was dry plumbing equipment a tiptop piece to be sure his cuts were verbal, before adding the edging}

 Cheers to my previous drawing I had an exact program of the cuts that needed to be made and which sheet they needed to be cut out of.  Using the straight edge and the router I cut out the pieces and started to dry fit them in identify.  A discussion of caution, routers tend to want to travel and can really push on a straight edge and brand a nice curved cutting instead of a directly one.  I found that out the difficult mode.  Luckily Corian is fairly forgiving and I was able to cutting out the curved piece from the waste material material and "patch" the piece in.  From then on I braced the direct border along it's length to proceed the router from wandering.

Afterward all the flat surfaces and edges were cut, I started to gum the pieces together.

{He would leave a slight overhang, which would be sanded down to create a smooth edge, with a most invisible seam}.

 The gum isn't always a perfect color friction match and so if your cuts aren't exact or completely pressed together along the seam that is where you will see the line.  Another hard lesson learned, luckily in a fairly inconspicuous spot.

{He preferred to identify the mucilage on the border slice, and then adhere it just nether the meridian}.

 Call up y'all will need ALOT of clamps to make the seam look right and some denatured booze to clean whatsoever clay off the conjoining pieces or it will leave a dust line.

{He would wipe each edge with a rag and rubbing alcohol earlier seaming them together.  The only seam that is obvious is his outset i, where he did not exercise this.  Definitely practice seams before completing one in a main surface area.}

{The tops are clamped deeply to the edges, until the glue is completely dry}.

Once everything is glued together the real messy part begins.  Corian is extremely sandable (just made that word up I retrieve) and can be shaped to desired corner radii and to remove scratches.  The sheets we received had a glossy terminate and look like they had been run over by a herd of elephants with all the scratches in the surface.  Cami wanted a softer finish then I re-sanded the entire surface to a matte end that really turned out good and took out the scratches.  The all-time thing near Corian is it can ever be refinished to whatever sheen y'all desire as long equally y'all can tolerate the mess.  I did put a respirator on and it helped to continue the dust out of my lungs, another lesson learned.   Bravado my olfactory organ was quite a stupor afterwards.

{It worked best for Kevin to gum the tops inside, where he could accept a clean work expanse.  This was essential to getting a clean seam and perfect fit.  Then he took the tops outside to sand – thank sky's}.

{And so he brought them back in and glued the Corian tops to the existing countertop}.

{Not sure if yous are supposed to practice this, but where the Corian meets the prepare-in sink, he added some of the glue, rather than caulk.  I think it looks better myself – and information technology worked}.

The Tips

If I ever have the opportunity to try this again I would definitely work harder on getting the pieces to line upward meliorate forth the seams.  With woods I tin unremarkably make a 1/8″ gap disappear, not true with Corian.  The pieces must exist every bit close to verbal as possible.  I would too non exercise the sanding in my garage, I yet take dust that coats most things in the garage.  When I said messy, I wasn't lying.

Before starting this project I was told by a local shop that I was crazy to try Corian on my own and that he wouldn't come when I chosen him to fix information technology.  Now I tin honestly say that with a little patience and forethought information technology is a project that can be tackled past anyone with attention to detail and some knowledge of the tools mentioned.

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Wow!  That was keen!  Big cheers to Mr. TIDBITS (aka – Kevin), for all his difficult work!  He sure is a keeper – and no – you tin can't accept him.

I would like to discuss real quick, about how the Corian tops are property up.  It has been over a month, and I have noticed/learned a few things.

Because Corian is simply a plastic cloth, I practise not put anything hot direct on it and I don't cut on information technology.  The only issue we have had is staining – but information technology is an issue we accept worked with.

I showtime began to notice weird things would not wipe off, like maple syrup or soy sauce.  I was getting nervous, just tried to dab some bleach on a rag and wipe it off, and all the stains disappeared.  Phew!  The only thing I accept non been able to bleach off is crayon marks.  However, what is cracking about Corian is you tin hands sand a small layer off and the stain is gone.  These tops are non indestructible, and mayhap a trivial loftier maintenance with kids – only they are repairable which is proficient news.  We are also under the impression that had nosotros choose a finish with a college sheen than matte, the staining would not be such an result.  But I do dear the matte finish very much.

You may have noticed we did not practice solid surface tops on every surface in our kitchen.  I wanted a butcher block section, so Mr. TIDBITS (that proper name is growing on me) built me ane on a small-scale section next to our oven.

Also, the computer desk section, nosotros added a petty involvement too.

I actually do beloved a good mix and friction match design, if done correct.

If you lot missed our full kitchen reveal, be certain to head over HERE for all the details and a complete tour effectually the most used infinite in our home.

Experience free to enquire any questions or request clarification.

Now let'south get and give those countertop pro's a run for their money!  😉

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*Linking upwards to these parties, Here.

**If you are liking Mr. TIDBITS work, he is sure to spit out more astonishing projects.  Be certain to follow along by electronic mail, so yous don't miss a thing.

Source: https://www.tidbits-cami.com/diy-solid-surfacecorian-countertops/

Posted by: adkinsarsiditholen.blogspot.com

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