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I am buildng a new house and am debating whether to get Corian countertops or Wilsonart SSV. Corian is at least $2k more expensive. Both appear to have similar surface qualities in terms of durability and maintenance and the warranties are similar (10 years). Also, both offer integrated sinks and similar edge profiling.
Anybody have any experience with Wilsonart SSV or Corian to help me make an informed decision?
Thanks
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We have used SSV in 2 model homes and in our own home. We love it. We have been in our home for 3 years and the tops look as good today as they did when we moved in. The material is a thin layer of Gibraltar. (Wilsonarts version of Corian) It is laminated over partical board. The surface performs equal to any "solid surface countertop". The only issue is to make sure that the seams at the splash are properly sealed to avoid a problem with the underlayment swelling.
The color and edge selection is a bit more limited than with the true "solid surface". However you can use the Gibraltar edges in combination with the SSV.
Good Luck Norman
*Deweydog- I talked to my corian man here in Charleston about this several monthe ago. (He also does fountainhead and Gibralter). He quit putting the thin stuff in almost a year ago. Said if he were to keep doing it he would have to set up a warrenty division just for that. Had a lot of problems over dishwashers.Rick TukP.S. You may have started another tastes great less filling argument here. So lets keep it nice guys.
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Deweydog:
We have also had some problems with the particleboard swelling above dishwashers as was always the case with plastic laminate counters. Now we always put a backer sheet of laminate over the dishwasher area and also on any extended overhangs of islands and peninsulas. NO PROBLEMS ANYNORE.
Norman, recently Gibralter has added more colors in SSV, in fact all 32 colors are now being produced.
Johnson
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Frankly, I've steered clear of the SSV products cause I have my doubts (no proof, but doubts). These were reinforced by one distributor warning me away from the veneer product for that manufacturer (he knows I'm picky), and then I had a sales guy for a new brand on the market in the shop last week. Knowledgeable guy, has an interest in a fabrication shop; we talked about sinks, edges, tools, vanity tops as selling tools for work down the road, ways to make it affordable, etc. The only mention of SSV was one chip in he sample box. If the salesmen aren't selling this stuff...?
On the Corian vs. thing; Corian is an acrylic, and very nice to work with (nicer than polyester); but there are other acrylics out there, at a lower cost. Sort of like Autocad; do you by into the 'premium' thing. Pionite is made in the same plant as Corion (I don't know how different the specs are). Avonite and Swanstone are made on the same line and nly branded at the end of the process line.
*Fellows i need more on this and not some sales talk please doing my kitchen over also and need to know the pros and cons more. January of the year 2000 new kitchen goes in.. And already getting a little ify of what to use.. Plans are in the way of the counter tops. (Don't want or need something that will fall apart later) Money is riding on this
*Seems to me you got two nays and a yea in your replies. Corion also has a SSV product; are you comparing 1/2" Corion vs Wilsonart SSV? The big question is, will YOUR fabricator stand behind the SSV? He's working with it, and he is the guy who is going to get the call if there is trouble. Personally, at this point I don't offer it, but I'm not a full time fabricator. I'm more comfortable with the 1/2 ".There is a website and an org for solid surface; http://www.issfa.com ; can't comment on it, as I haven't been able to access the website since I was given the address.
*Thank You Mr. Wilson If you fine anymore on this please let me know ...Johnnyjet
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Johny,
I posted the original message and have done some homework on this subject. I ultimately chose to go with the Corian because of its stability over time. Moisture can be a problem with SSV if it is not installed properly and I just did not want to worry about it. I think the surfaces themselves will hold up similarly, but do you really want to worry about warranty repair for your countertop if it becomes necessary? One other thing, Corian has many more colors and my wife had her heart set on Kilimanjaro. Good Luck!
*Whew! Wish I had read this post a while ago. This Friday I will be picking up my Wilsonart SSV countertops from a local fabricator who says he has lots of tops intalled with no problems. One cracked early on when the edges of the cutout for the sink was not radiused. He seems very confident in the product and I was also swayed by the cost savings. (seems so expensive for the full-blown thickness) The dishwasher moisture concern seems valid as well for laminates. I will seal with polyurethane or something before istalling the tops. He has also cautioned me about reflective tape at my cooktop. Contact me if your interested in my installation.
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I am buildng a new house and am debating whether to get Corian countertops or Wilsonart SSV. Corian is at least $2k more expensive. Both appear to have similar surface qualities in terms of durability and maintenance and the warranties are similar (10 years). Also, both offer integrated sinks and similar edge profiling.
Anybody have any experience with Wilsonart SSV or Corian to help me make an informed decision?
Thanks