Solid-surface material and granite are both premium countertop materials that will return excellent value to the homeowners for years, plus each has good resale value. Corian is weaker than Granite and Quartz, making is more susceptible to scratches, heat marks/scorching, and chemical damage by strong cleaners. Corian is a solid-surface countertop material introduced by DuPont in 1967 that quickly became a welcome alternative to the ubiquitous plastic laminate countertops of the 1970s. Granite, of course, is the most popular of natural stones. Corian by Dupont is a man-made, solid surface countertop material. Many types of granite are blends of different colors. But be aware that granite tile or modular granite does not have nearly as much prestige as solid slabs. There’s also installation to consider, and the cost often varies from region to region. Corian will scratch and does have a plastic type look. With some colors, the seam will be virtually invisible but with others, it’s fairly obvious where the seam is. They don’t add to it or remove anything from it, making it as pure a stone as it comes. Granite Home > Project Planning > Countertop Comparisons > Corian vs. Granite vs. Corian: Which Countertop Should You Choose? The surface is sanded and polished smooth, and cutouts for sinks and other fixtures are cut, usually with a woodworking router. The winner for affordability – Corian. One advantage to Corian and other solid-surface materials is that pieces can be glued together with a solvent so that the seams are entirely invisible. Bright blue, yellow, and red granites are available, if you are willing to pay a premium price to have a countertop slab fabricated. - go to homepage, 10 Ways To Make Granite Countertops More Affordable, everything you need to know about caring for granite. Corian claims this is an inherent characteristic of the material, while Silestone refer to the addition of silver ions in the material as part of its bacteriostatic formula. Granite needs occasional sealing, while Corian doesn’t require sealing. These are not the same as slab granite, which is solid stone without additional materials. This smoother, more homogenous appearance can be an advantage where you don't want the countertops to be a primary design features—such as when you want gorgeous cabinetry to be the main feature of a kitchen. When not in the office, Samantha really enjoys gourmet cooking and traveling with her pup. Many homeowners who have decided to put their house on the market will, more often than not, count on a kitchen with a granite countertop to give them a higher return on their investment. ft. on average (range is $35 - … Solid-surface materials are softer than granite and thus more difficult to crack, and the material has no vulnerability to etching from acidic materials. Develop and improve products. Corian countertops are not very heat resistant and can only handle temperatures up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit before sustaining damage. Corian was the original solid surface brand name. A simple soapy water solution is best for cleaning a granite countertop. For many homeowners, the choice narrows down to a solid surface countertop material (such as Dupont's Corian brand) or natural granite countertops. And many of today's engineered stone countertops have almost the same real estate value as granite. The installer generally computes this by adding the cost of the materials ($40 to $100 per square foot for the granite slab), plus a labor cost of $35 to $85 per hour. Since the color and pattern are continuous throughout the material, you can give your Corian® countertop a sanding facelift every 10 to 15 years, as needed. You’ll pay much more if you want a higher-quality, solid slab granite countertop. But Corian and other solid-surface materials are still regarded as superior to the other two most popular countertop materials—laminates and ceramic tile. You’ve selected a new stove, beautiful cabinetry and countertops that are … Related: Granite Countertops vs Quartz Countertops . Granite countertops have seams if you need more than one slab to cover the length of your cabinets or if you have a long kitchen island. Corian, for example, is available in more than 40 different styles, ranging from pale white to deep black, with yellow, brown, reddish, pink, and green tones. The installation of granite countertops, on the other hand, is best left to professionals. Spilling acidic materials like vinegar and lemon juice may also stain it, which is why it has to be resealed every 6 to 12 months to protect it from stains. The Pros & Cons Of Both Granite and Quartz Counters, 10 Facts About Quartz Countertops You Need To Know Now, Concrete Countertops: The Pros, Cons, and Everything In Between. Granite used to be the most expensive but prices have declined in recent years while quartz prices have increased. Corian can be scorched by hot pans, thus requiring the use of hot pads, trivets, or cutting boards to protect it from extreme heat. Solid-surface countertops are notably less expensive than granite. Pros: Corian is man-made and created by combining minerals and acrylics. It’s also available in a wide variety of colors, and even textures and patterns that make it look like it’s made from stone or wood. Winner—Both. These countertops shine as designed elements, drawing attention to themselves. Use precise geolocation data. You need to seal it as often as twice yearly, otherwise, it will stain. You’ll also pay much more for repair costs for granite. Corian and other solid-surface materials are quite easy to clean with soapy water or an ammonia-based detergent solution. Granite is your best from a durability and cost stand point. It contains polymers and consists of about 33% acrylic resin. Corian countertop. Corian countertop will have seams if your countertop is large or has an irregular shape. Pros and Cons of Kitchen Countertop Materials, Best for Care and Cleaning: Solid-Surface Material, Best for Durability and Maintenance: Solid-Surface Material, Best for Installation: Solid-Surface Material, Quartz vs. Create a personalised ads profile. Both come in a wide variety of colors. Corian vs Granite Summary. Granite is hard to scratch, can handle extremely high temperatures, needs to be maintained with a yearly sealant application, and can stain if you’re not diligent about cleaning up spills. Budget-friendly Kitchen Countertops. Slab granite typically is not associated with specific brand names, while engineered stone is often sold under brand names such as Cambria, Silestone, and Caesarstone. There’s also installation to consider, and the cost often varies from region to region. Samantha Jones is the content specialist at Superior Stone and Cabinet, the to-go source for custom and wholesale cabinets in sunny Phoenix, AZ. More notably, all of that color can do an annoyingly good job of hiding crumbs and smears on the countertop surface; often a granite top looks perfectly clean when it's anything but. Some homeowners prefer the look of natural granite as being decidedly better than solid-surface material—at least when the materials are viewed on their own. Read on to find out which countertops are the cheapest and which are the most expensive. It is a man-made product composed of 33 percent binding resins and 66 percent minerals. The polished slabs are sold and shipped to various fabricators, who customize countertops and other building products from the stone. Being a pioneer among solid surface countertop materials, Corian is highly-recognizable as a brand. Even if you have narrowed down your choices to, say, granite vs Corian, DuPont’s flagship solid surface countertop material, you still have to weigh a lot of factors before deciding which one to get. ft. on average (range is $35 - $200) Corian costs $45 - $65/sq. Corian vs. Granite countertops come in many different colors and styles, depending on where the stone was quarried. Total “Wins”: Corian® = 4, Granite = 1, Both = 3. Unlike granite, Corian doesn’t need sealing. Corian offers more accessories such as integrated sinks and coved backsplashes. These are among the most expensive countertops you can buy, and they send a strong signal of luxury. Corian countertops are created by cutting slabs of the necessary size, then forming built-up edges and joining seams with special solvent glues that melt the material together to form virtually invisible joints.