Solid Surface compared to marble, granite, and quartz

Solid Surface is often compared, and confused with, other materials in the luxury worktop market.

This is because they are all amazing products, different from each other, but fabulous in their own right, with pros and cons for any project.

In this newsletter, I am going to concentrate on the three main alternatives to Solid Surface, granite, marble, and quartz (engineered stone).

When working on a project, whether it is a new build development, home refurbishment, rollout of retail units, or office refit, there will be choices and decisions to be made about the furniture, fixtures, and fittings.

Without further ado, let's talk about...

?Granite

1. Granite is a completely unique, natural, beautiful, luxurious material, which is also mined from the earth
2. The granite colours cannot always be guaranteed as they are completely natural, no two stones are identical, and are, therefore, very unique.
3. Granite is fairly non-porous, but it is still advisable to seal against chemical or damage
4. It is a heavy product, so care needs to be taken when installing
5. Granite cannot be joined together seamlessly
6. Matching sinks can be provided

Marble

1. Marble is a completely luxurious, natural, beautiful material, which has entirely unique colours, as it is sourced directly from the earth
2. It is heat-resistant and long-lasting
3. It looks and feels luxurious
4. It is very heavy
5. It is recommended to seal marble, although it is best to speak to a professional about this
6. Marble cannot be joined together seamlessly
7. Matching sinks can be provided
8. It is a porous material that does require sealing

Quartz

1. Quartz is a man-made material manufactured from crushed stone and resin
2. It is very durable, rarely chipping and is scratch resistant, but it is not advisable to cut on it.
3. There is a wide range of colours available
4. It is easy to clean and maintain, making it very hygienic
5. It is heavy
6. Can be repaired if damaged but may prove costly
7. Can be cracked
8. Well-known brands of Quartz include Silestone and Caesarstone.
9. Matching sinks can be provided

Solid Surface

1. Solid Surface is a hard-as-stone, completely man-made product, manufactured using a by-product of aluminium mining known as ATH combined with acrylic.
2. There is a wide range of brands available in Solid Surface - Corian, Hi Macs, Staron, Hanex, Durasein
3. The material, as it is man-made, provides a more uniform, solid look, throughout.
4. It can be seamlessly joined together so that it appears as one homogenous piece, "L" shapes and "U" shapes appear as one.
5. There are a range of sinks available that can be integrated seamlessly into the worktop.
6. Solid Surface is non-porous, germ-repellent and stain resistant, so there is nowhere to harbour any horrible bacteria, germs or dirt.
7. It can be manipulated and formed into different shapes and sizes, which is something other material cannot achieve.
8. It is not a load-bearing material and does require substrate support, however, once this is provided it is very strong.
9. It is very durable and can be renewed and repaired on site.
10. Solid Surface is stain resistant.
11. Can be used outside as it will not degrade/ delaminate etc, and some colours are UV stable.

Please see below a slideshow of how Solid Surface can be used in

high-end residential projects

There is so much to choose from when working on an interior fit-out project, so it is critical that you have done your homework and understand what you are investing in.

We have also produced a handy kitchen worktop comparison guide, which you can download here.

We believe that understanding what is involved, with whatever material is selected, is one of the most important parts of making buying decisions, so hopefully, this has educated and informed you and is of use.

If you would like to talk to me about your Solid Surface worktop choice, please do give me a ring at 01277 263603, or drop me an email to?[email protected], or check out our website?www.bsfsolidsurfaces.com

Look forward to chatting soon

All the best Nicola x

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Nicola Barden is the Managing Director of her family business, BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd , offering high-end, custom-made, bespoke counter surfaces from Solid Surface, a luxurious, man-made stone material, used for both commercial and residential projects, their website is?www.bsfsolidsurfaces.com

She can be contacted at?[email protected]?or give her a call at 01277 263603 if you want to chat about anything or nothing in particular.

In her spare time, she can be found with her husband, son, three madcap cats and one crazy dog. They enjoy going to the zoo, the park, the rides and anything that allows their energetic son to expend his endless amounts of energy!