Corian worktops

Poignard

Poignard

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I am rebuilding our galley and need to cover the galley bench [39" x 33"] with something. I was planning to use Formica and a few tiles near the cooker but someone has suggested a material called Corian made by DuPont. I've had a look on the Internet and there are plenty of firms that will make up a complete worktop with sinks and splashbacks etc but I can't find anywhere that sells it by the sheet [or a half-sheet would do]. Anyone know of a retail supplier in SE England?
 
Gonna show my ignorance here - but what exactly is Corian? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I mean what sort of material(s) is it made from that seems to make it so expensive.

Seen it mentioned loads of times and often wondered.
 
I thought of doing the same a couple of years ago and enquired at a local supplier. I was looking for a large off-cut or similar. They would make a worktop for me if I supplied dimensions but claimed they didn't have ready made lengths/sheets, they seemed to be suggesting that it was all specially made to order.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Gonna show my ignorance here - but what exactly is Corian? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I mean what sort of material(s) is it made from that seems to make it so expensive.

Seen it mentioned loads of times and often wondered.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you will find it is a resin substance, small particles bonded together by resin....generally used in kitchen worktops at about £350 per linear metre.

Paul.
 
Corian is DuPonts's trade name, there are other better similar products around but the big problem with Corian is that it stains if you get bleach or other similar cleaning product on it and it scratches very easily.
If you are happy to be careful with it it looks great if you are not then steer clear.
Written by one who used to install this in dental practices!!

Bye
 
Corian is a manmade substitute for granite work surfaces and much more expensive (and heavy too).

Your local MFI will be able to show you some
 
Have a look at B&Q/Homebase.....Decorative Fire surround Panels.....approx 5mm thick, choice of finishes (reversable) heat resistant and come in 4'X3' sheets about £15.00, slow cut with metal jigsaw blade...HTH
 
Corian..

.. is white van man's chance to get one over on the ruling classes

"It ain't no D I Y matewial Guv. Far too technical for that. needs a trained technician, that does. GIZ a grand!

Very over-rated "fashion" item although one or two production yacht builders are fitting a token amount just to look "in". It marks easily though & DON'T use Jif (Cif) on it. A friend of mine who is an estate developer has given up on it after too many complaints from people trying to live normal lives around it. Won't have it in his own house!

BTW, one stylish builder at LIBS was showing a boat with 60s-70s "Pale Blue" washbasins (sunk into Corian!) in it's heads. Did you see?

Steve Cronin
 
Re: Corian..

oh! like this one

corian.jpg
 
That\'s it.....

...isn't it DREADFUL! Look at the glare off of it - you can nearly see the working marks.

Do you work for Trading Standards or something? I bet you see some stuff in the course of a day's work!

Steve Cronin
 
Re: That\'s it.....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Steve Cronin
 
[ QUOTE ]
Gonna show my ignorance here - but what exactly is Corian? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I mean what sort of material(s) is it made from that seems to make it so expensive.

Seen it mentioned loads of times and often wondered.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for all the info chaps. Sounds like the stuff's a rich mans folly! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Hi Jerry. Don't know about 'folly'. I have heard that manufacturers can get good prices for volume. My Nauticat galley is fully-equipped with it and it has had a great deal of use since we moved on board in August 2004 and have lived on board ever since. We use normal cleaning materials, occasionally a hot pot or pan gets put straight onto it and we don't treat it particularly with kid gloves. It still looks fine - the only small blemish had been done before we bought the boat.

Corian (or our Corian) has a sort of granular finish, like a natural stone. It is clearly part of the material, not a surface finish. I have seen surfaces on which the finish is wearing off - presumably a cheaper product? Ours is clearly moulded to shape and the Nauticat 42 is not a volume production boat so I don't know whether it is suitable for DIY but then again, maybe you just sketch a design and send off the order?

From the DuPont Corian website....

Invented and produced by DuPont, Corian® is a solid surface offering superior design possibilities and excellent long-term performance, used both in the home and in many different commercial environments, from hotels to healthcare, retail to marine.
With its balance of beauty and performance, Corian® lends itself to imaginative uses, innovative designs and enduring applications.
If you can imagine it, you can probably create it with Corian®. Available in over 100 colours, Corian® can be carved, routed or worked like wood, moulded, thermoformed or inlayed… the design options are almost limitless.
Totally solid, with no visible seams, Corian® can be used to create large, architectural pieces.
Corian® combines well with other materials such as tile, stainless steel, wood, granite and glass.
Corian® is just as appropriate for vertical applications as it is for horizontal surfaces. Or for furniture. Or lighting. The list of possibilities continues to evolve and expand.
 
I discovered Corian a year or three back when I saw a display kitchen in John Lewis.

The conversation went like this:

Me: How much is that preformed worktop? (it was about 3m long)
Salesman: £3,700
Me (shocked into candour): I could buy a boat for that!

A position I still maintain.

Chris
 
I was doing the same job and bought an offcut of Corian for about £80. Its about 2 feet square and 1/2" thick and looks nice.

However, in the end I did not use it preferring laminate instead! The main problem being the weight of the Corian.

The Corian is still sitting in my garage. You can have it for nothing if you are willing to pay the cost of carriage.
 
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