Commercial decorators and office managers have find workaholic countertops in Corian surfaces. Corian, made by DuPont, is a popular upscale material for low-maintenance countertops, sinks, work desks and wall coverings. This solid-surface plastic looks clean and comes in over 100 colors — and it can handle splashes without staining. Now used in the kitchen, bathroom and boardroom, high-tech Corian is Formica’s baby, all-grown up.
Business offices can literally be transformed by coordinated Corian surfaces, and remodeling won’t run into overtime. Custom jobs are a snap through DuPont’s regional supply system. You dream it, and the experts will give your professional space one-of-a-kind expression.
Reception halls, examination rooms and food preparation areas can be dressed in coordinated wall and table-top “fabric” for a permanent put-together look. Just wipe with mild cleanser to restore Corian’s new sheen. You’ll save on human resources and invest in long-lasting, eco-friendly interiors. Corian comes with a 10-year product and installation guarantee.
You can view Corian countertops and other applications at work in one of over 4,000 decor showrooms in the United States. DuPont’s nationwide network of factories and certified contractors places a Corian fabricator and installer near you. For green builders, proximity counts toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points! Surface and color samples can be purchased online from the Corian website.
What It Is
Whether you are an architect, contractor, commercial designer or residential decorator, Corian means flexibility. It is moldable and integrative without seams, and the array of dynamic colors can set any tone. It has a smooth, sinuous look and feel. Still, it is adaptable enough to act as either focal point or background for your aesthetic scheme.
In the practical sense, solid surface means nonporous synthetic material with sufficient tensile strength for vertical (countertop) or horizontal (wall) applications. DuPont claims that Corian is scratch- and stain-resistant, as well as safe for health care or food preparation areas. Wet or dry, Corian works as a specialist or as a jack-of-all-trades, according to your changing business needs. Remodeling doesn’t have to mean a loss of investment or functionality, no matter how many times you change the look or floor plan of a space.
The seamless construction of Corian countertops gives them ultramodern flair, while the extensive color and texture selection lets you set the clock for trendy and timeless decor. Corian’s strong color consistency outperforms other surface materials, making even white vibrant and exciting. You can also get the look of natural or honed stone in a smooth, solid surface.
Neutral shades in the Private collection suggest movement and depth. The Illumination series shines a bright light on cool hues, such as Glacier Ice and Arctic Mint. Corian’s new Terra collection offers earth tones formulated with recycled materials (eligible for LEED points).
All this design flexibility ultimately means a pleasant working, retail, clinical or professional home base for you.
Who Its Best For
Corian is suitable for residential as well as retail and commercial use, and is a popular choice in new and remodeled kitchen and bath construction. From cheerful to dramatic, Corian color schemes appeal to the varying tastes of family members and guests. There’s no need to seal Corian countertops or worry about cracking-unlike granite or quartz as Corian surfaces are solid yet forgiving.
In addition to its popularity among homeowners with busy kitchens, Corian enjoys commercial use in:
- Image-focused business offices
- Health clinics
- Retail and industrial parks
- Food service franchises
- Educational institutions
- Break rooms
- Sustainable design plans
The Benefits of All-Purpose Corian
Besides its widespread advantages in interior design, Corian holds special benefits in three major applications: food service, institutional environments and green building projects.
The National Sanitation Foundation approves solid surfaces for food handling because its seamless design discourages bacterial growth. Corian countertops are certified Kosher and safe for commercial kitchens. Nonporous Corian is also nontoxic, and its smooth texture is easy to dust and cleanse.
These properties also make it ideal for doctors’ offices and hospitals. The wide color choice takes institutional decor to new heights while Corian provides a safe and durable working surface.
Easy care plus energetic aesthetics make Corian surfaces right for school or casual office interiors. Educational and business campus layouts incorporate fixed or moveable Corian work stations, cubicles, study carrels and colorful table tops and desks.
All of the Corian countertop and work surface materials may be matched with room accents, including wainscoting, dividers and custom wall cladding. Therefore, green builders can weave Corian materials into an overall sustainable design project for maximum visual impact, with minimum emissions. Corian’s Greenguard, National Association of Home Builders and other environmental certifications add to the integrity of your plan.
Risks
According to the manufacturer, water and soap will build up as surface film if left to dry on Corian countertops. DuPont suggests thorough rinsing and prompt wiping of any spills.
The good news is that acidic juices or vinegar won’t affect Corian’s color from accidental contact, as they would natural stone countertops. Many consumers, however, say they would rather risk the staining of stone than the unsightly scratches and burns sustained by their Corian products.
