PRODUCT FEATURE | Surface special
Silestone bathroom in Cala Blue by Cosentino
Solid surfaces and laminates
Solid surfaces, along with laminates, are probably the most cost-effective surface material on the market, and suppliers would argue that it’s also up there as the most versatile. Solid surfaces usually have a higher acrylic content than engineered stone and include products like Corian and Hi-Macs. They can be thermoformed into seamless, continuous shapes and are completely non-porous and therefore highly stain-resistant. Being higher in plastics, however, these solid surfaces are not always very heat-resistant as the resins can melt.
Laminates comprise many sheets of paper mixed with resin, which are pressed together around a chipboard substrate, and despite its very low cost, it is also very durable, being resistant to scratching, heat and staining. In addition, with new HD printing techniques, some brands suggest that it is indistinguishable from the material
it is imitating.
However, it is important to go for a trusted brand, or direct your customers towards trusted brands, as there are many inferior products on the market.
Applications
Solid surfaces and laminates can be used for countertops in the kitchen or bathroom, and solid surfaces like Corian and Hi-Macs can also be thermoformed into quirky furniture pieces, such as coffee tables or shower seats. Both Corian and Hi-Macs can be used as cladding on the façades of buildings too. Shower wall surfaces have also become a popular alternative to tiles over the past decade or so, with companies like Showerwall offering “100 decors to suit all tastes”.
As product manager for Showerwall, Steph Harris, notes, Showerwall’s wall panel systems, which come in
either
laminate, acrylic and Compact ranges, provide a “completely watertight surface, which is hard-wearing and low-maintenance”.
48 • August 2023
Zenith solid compact laminate worktop in Boston exclusively available from IDS
According to Wharf, overlays are gaining popularity with fitters and retailers as a way to reduce the time and expense of ripping out existing worktops
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