The Corian in my hall/guest bathroom is almost 30 years old. Still looks great.

I have a Corian topped dining table that's been used morning, noon and night for 20+ years. I don't think I wood table would have been as easy to maintain with kids, grand kids, relatives and friends using it constantly as they have.

I have a corian white countertop in master bathroom with kohler undermount sinks. For what you pay, not a huge fan. They do scratch and I did have a stain issue. My kitchen and bath both have quartz which I am much happier with. We got a quartz remnant for the bathroom and it was actually cheaper than cultured marble. Shop around... My house is very neat and I am very careful.

badgergal, your Corian is in great shape! I have never heard of a table with it. Very unique!

Carol, I am not sure what you mean by shop around. If you mean other materials, I really can't find anything else I am interested in. Except maybe walnut, but that's out. There are too many potential problems with quartz, granite, quartzite, etc.

Hmm.Sorry missed that you have decided on Corian. My countertop is 12 years old and has scratches. Also I had a bottle with a price tag sit on the counter and I could never get the ink out completely, even with Bar keepers friend. That being said my corian is a matte finish, not sure if that matters. By the way, I just replaced a 20 year old cultured marble top which frankly never had an issue, it was just out of date. From what I read quartz is more durable than corian.

Carol, I have not decided 100% on Corian, but am leaning very heavily towards it. If someone can show me something that will stand up to everyday living as well, I will consider it.

I know we all hear how well Quartz holds up, and it's a given that some are very pretty. I did consider it. But after searching on here I found several complaints. A lot of chipping going on, and unhappy owners who keep saying,"I was told Quartz was tough/I thought Quartz would hold up better than this/if I'd known it was going to be like this I would have gotten something else. That was enough for me. I don't want to fear my kitchen counter. I want it to take whatever comes at it. So from what I have read, Quartz is not more durable than Corian.

If I could find a bullet proof (truly) white Granite I would consider it. I haven't found such a thing.

This was ironically kind of funny, but not really funny. This was the next thread I clicked on after posting in here to you Carol. This poor gal is having trouble and she has just had the counter laid. Has to get a new one.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/should-i-stick-with-this-product-or-not-silestone-counter-issues-dsvw-vd~4890396?n=10

This is my point. These pretty, fancy, stylish counters are just that, but they come with a whole host of problems. I don't need problems, I have enough of those on my life.

"From what I read quartz is more durable than corian."

As usual, the truthful answer is "It depends." Engineered stone is more scratch resistant than solid surface, but if you do scratch it, and you will eventually, the scratches are much more difficult, nearly impossible in some cases, to cost effectively remove. Solid surface is easily refinished to new.

Trapped soap and hard water can annihilate stone and estone. Corian laughs at each. If heat damages your stone or quartz badly enough, you're replacing it. If you've got a cutting board, I'm saving your Corian.

"If you've got a cutting board, I'm saving your Corian."

Great point, Joseph. I could be wrong, but, I don't recall my fabricator advising to keep me my sink cutouts in case they were needed for future repairs; I think they were just presented as fancy, matching cutting boards (and heavy ones, at that!), and, wouldn't you know, I ended up donating them a few months before I learned the real importance of them (from you, of course, on here.) I keep meaning to stop by the thrift store, operated by the charity to which they were donated, to see if they're still there...

Trapped soap and hard water can annihilate stone and estone

One big reason I should go with solid surface. The water is so hard here, it practically comes out in chunks. :/

By the way, I just replaced a 20 year old cultured marble top which frankly never had an issue, it was just out of date.

For those who've had both, how would you compare cultured marble, which was popular in the 60s-70s, and Corian?

@beth09 so this is for kitchen? As I mentioned Corian does scratch easy. Other material? I went with quartz and am extremely happy. In the kitchen I used LG Minuet. No scratching. And no stains. I think ultimately you have to make a decision that works for you. I picked quartz after stalking posts on this site and gardenweb for years. I didn’t want to worry about sealing. Ps I picked a blanco sink for same reason. Love it. Good luck.

I've had both, and I do think the Corian would scratch easier, although we haven't scratched it yet. However the coating on cultured marble is a coating and I don't think that can be repaired like Corian. My SO worked in commercial design for a while (institutional and university dining facilities) and their firm would Only use Corian, not other acrylic solid surface materials. Apparently they got less callbacks with Corian. That's just one anecdotal opinion.

palimpsest, interesting. I did a search on the net recently (vs. GW) about solid surface, and read MANY posts about the counter cracking, among other things. They were all LG Hi-mac. Now, maybe it's just fabricator error, or the product, or both. With Corian having less complaints, Joseph's explanation about fabricators may be the reason. But whatever the reasons, I'm pretty sure I'm going with Corian. (If I go SS)

"For those who've had both, how would you compare cultured marble, which was popular in the 60s-70s, and Corian?"

They are not comparable. Cultured marble is the least expensive thing a builder can put in a home and still get a Certificate of Occupancy. With few exceptions, it is unrepairable. When you're through the gel coat, you're toast.

I first installed Corian counter tops in my kitchen about 30+ years ago. At that time, I could not afford the integrated Corian sinks that I wanted and went with a white, cast iron sink. About 10 years later, I replaced the counter top in my bathroom with white Corian and an integrated Corian oval sink. (Similar to badgergal's photo.) When I replaced that about 15 years later, the white Corian counter and sink were like new. I still have the kitchen Corian counter top and it, too, is like new, after 30+ years.

Personally, I never cared for the integrated bathroom sink almost from day one of the installation. (The previous sink was porcelain.) Seemed too plasticky and commercial/institutional. If I were to do Corian today (and am leaning towards it in my new build, at least in the kitchen) I'd use cast iron or stainless steel for the kitchen sink and a porcelain under mount in the bathroom. But, that's just me.

For anyone liking the look of white Corian, I can highly recommend it from the durability point of view. Staining is not an issue.

DuPont, Corian's manufacturer, is celebrating Corian's 50th year this year with press releases and other activities. You don't have a product lasting 50 years in this fickle fashion business unless it delivers consistently in looks and performance.

wish, what color white did you get? Also, what finish did you get in the kitchen? I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that I will have to pick the lesser of two evils if I go with SS. My glossier samples I can scratch with my fingernail :/, and the matte finish shows water spots more easily. Think I would deal better with the spots...

And the integrated sink is not for me either personally. I am planning on getting a Blanco silgranite sink.

Also wanted to add - I travel frequently throughout the US and airport restrooms often use a solid surface, Corian-like material on counters, integrated sinks, wall surfaces, etc. (Can't say which are Corian and which are another brand.) In such a high-use area, they invariably all look like new - no staining that I've ever seen. The granite counter top in my health club's locker room sink area lasted about a month before water staining became very obvious.

beth09:

Magic Countertop will eliminate water spots on virtually all surfaces.

You can have a seamed undermount quartz sink too. No crud lip anywhere.

Joseph, thanks for the MC recommendation. Part of it is just that I am not used to a light solid color. Right now I have that old, "butcher block" laminate, and very little shows on it. So I am in for an adjustment period as far as random water drips go. So far I can wipe them away pretty easily with a wet rag, say after it sat from evening til morning. But that product could definitely come in handy on ones that go undetected longer/over time (hard water). Thanks. :)

I know you are fond of the sink brand you linked. Would you mind sharing why you prefer that over say, the silgranite? Would be interested in your thoughts.

I do a lot of sink replacements so I see a lot of sinks. I get excited when I open a Staron box because I know the sink will be beautiful. (Same with a C-Tech in stainless steel.) For instance, the drain opening is completely rounded and smooth as a baby's butt. No cracks will ever start there. The cheaper sinks don't do that level of finish and the ignorant don't know the difference.

Avonite specifies Staron sinks for their warranty replacements. What does that tell you?

Silegranite makes a fine sink. I've seen some that were 20 years old that looked new. It's a Corian sink with quartz filler instead of ATH. Harder to scratch, but if you do, virtually unrepairable.

beth09 - It was so long ago, don't remember. Here's the before picture. For the kitchen, I got a pebble gray color. Again, don't remember the official name. Also below is the area around my kitchen sink.
I'll try to upload the pictures later. All I got is the spinning circle for 15 minutes.

I've been getting the spinning circle for pics too.

No more spinning circles. Here are the pics. You can't really see into the sink, but it was the same as the counter top - no stains.

Area around the sink - looks like new after 30+ years.

Thanks for the pics wish, that is quite a testimony! :)

Cultured marble can be resurfaced one time. I like it in bright white for fully custom bathtubs.

I would never put it in a kitchen.

"Cultured marble can be resurfaced one time."

It depends.

I just installed white Corian, with an integrated sink, in a Florida bathroom renovation. With the matte black faucet, it looks very handsome. I've had no issues with staining or scratching. Corian today is nothing like the Corian of decades past, from a visual standpoint. Designers of some very high-end new condos are using it in both kitchens and baths (NYC) so I guess the material has come back into fashion among the style set. I bought a remnant from the fabricator so the price was great, as Corian is no longer a budget material, if it ever was.

eks, which white did you get? And your combo does sound sharp looking!

I was browsing through Houzz kitchen pics a few days ago and came across a truly gorgeous kitchen. Read the write up and the counter was Corian. :)

ekscrunchy, if you had not bought a remnant, could you say approximately what the sink would have cost?

I've had Glacier White Corian countertops in my kitchen now since early 1985. Nineteen years after I had them installed, I decided I wanted a big, single integrated Corian sink. I had the cut-out from the old sink. The fabricator took it, glued it back in, and then recut the top and installed the sink. Yes, he DID have to remove the countertop to do this - not difficult. It looks fabulous - best sink I've EVER had! A year ago, I redid my kitchen - new cabinets. The fabricator came and removed my countertops. When the cabinets were in, he came back and cut down one so the refrigerator could go there, and put in a new 5' run where the refrigerator and a 24" butcher block countertop had been. You would never know which is new and which is now nearly 33 years old!

Corian is a solid, non-porous surface. It is used extensively in hospitals - even in operating rooms, due to this quality - no bacteria other than on the surface, which can easily be removed.

Corian and solid surface got a bad name about 20 years ago due to lousy fabricators and solid surface materials that were made of polyester, not acrylic. They basically gave up on the home market in the US, but were still used in VERY high end houses in the UK. It is moldable when heated so design options are amazing. Corian in the US, concentrated on commercial and hospital sales.

This year, their 50th anniversary, they have decided to re-enter the residential market. They have some amazing new colors and patterns and now offer the opportunity to have Corian custom colored to match anything (fabric, tile, paint - you name it).

The only downside I've ever seen with Corian is that dark colors scratch white and show. Yes, the countertops can be resurfaced but how often does anyone want to do this? It's too bad as their black can look very much like soapstone with the disadvantages of this material.

Go on YouTube and put Corian in the "Search" field. You will get a whole bunch of short videos comparing strength and stability of Corian to granite and other surfaces.

It's a fabulous product that is virtually indestructible unless one truly abuses it.

"The only downside I've ever seen with Corian is that dark colors scratch white and show."

I'm looking at darker Corian or other solid surface colors for new counter tops - is this true? and if so how deep would those scratches have to be - using it like a cutting board; or just incidental scratchings from ceramic mugs, or platters on it?

Any suggestions for colors to avoid this issue?

Thanks all for your help.

The lighter the solid surface color, the least likely scratches will show. Solid colors seem to show more scratches than those with particulates or movement. Corian Nocturne (solid black) makes a fine display shelf, but is a poor choice for a working countertop.

This customer got new tops today, literally. Her old ones left in my vacuum bag. With its repairability, ease of refinishing (new tops for $400.00), non staining and non etching, I'll be glad to see solid surface go another 50 years.

Hm. Sounds like if we replace our ancient countertops (laminate, quite possibly from 1950) with Corian now, we could reuse the counters when we redo the cabinets later on as long as we keep the scraps? We’d probably get a new sink at the same time as a new counter so we’d be keeping the sink with new cabinets. I don’t anticipate the layout changing TOO much when we redo the cabinets, but I’m not 100% we won’t move the sink eventually.

Corian and other solid surfaces are undoubtedly the most recyclable of any countertop. Save your scraps, please.

Excellent. We’re trying to hold off and have it all done at once, but the counters get the most wear and tear and we hate the sink. So it’s quite possible we’ll decide the annoyance is worth it to have the counters done first.

Sorry I missed those questions above. I got Glacier White but there is supposedly now an even whiter white. I think I will use GW Corian again for the laster bathroom, but with a pair of undermount white sinks. I don't know how much I saved with the remnant, though.

My other choice is white glass, very big in NYC area but almost unheard of in Florida. It is quite inexpensive, more so than Corian, but I have heard that unless a fabricator has experience with this material, it can crack during fabrication. PLEASE, if anyone has experience with this, let me know. I have it in my NYC bathroom but that gets very little. It looks perfect after 12 years, but I am afraid of problems with fabrication and then I am out the $$. Also, it is not easy to find down here. Here is a photo of my bathroom with glass, up north:

This is my guest bath with White Glacier Corian countertop with integrated sink. Corian was a remnant.

Very much enjoyed this thread, thank you!

Joseph Corlett, with all your knowledge of these various surfaces what products did you choose for your own kitchen and baths?

I've nearly had them all except stainless steel and granite. I'm a solid surface guy.

Nothing to do with Corian, but why don't people close the toilet lid before taking pictures! I even see this on the Internet when they are trying to sell their house.

BTW, I do have Corian counters with an integrated sink in my kitchen. It doesn't stain but does show tiny scratches. I still like it.

Am planning a bathroom makeover that will include replacing a small vanity top made of cultured marble.

Does Corian offer integrated sinks in a different color than the vanity top? I know Swanstone does, but their color choices are very limited. For the counter I like Corian's Gray Onyx and Silver Birch and would love to do a white sink.

Yup!

You can integrate a white bowl with a colored top, but it will be custom, not out-of-the-box from DuPont.

That's ok. I really would like to avoid having to order this online, but not having luck finding a local dealer.

If the color on Corian is all the way through where do the white scratches come from on dark Corian? I would think a scratch would show when the light hits it, but why the white in the scratch?

It's the ATH filler in the acrylic that shows the scratch. DuPont apparently has a new formula for Nocturne (solid black), the most notorious scratch-shower.