*
DEPENDING ON THE SALESMAN I hear different reports.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Fine Homebuilding's editorial director has some fun news to share.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Tony,
Corian is a polymer, it's man-made, and comes in a variety of colors. Granite is a stone, it's natural, and it comes in a variety of colors.
Is there anything else you would like to know? If you have any other equally pointed, specific questions, fire away. We're always happy to help...
*Comedians!Tony, I take it you mean advantages and disadvantages concerning the two.Both of these products are way too expensive for me but I did consider them at one point.What I learned is that Corian is more maintenance free, easier to repair, and doesn't stain.They tell me granite stains if your not carefull, it weighs a ton, and is a lot more expensive.This is what I heard from my neck of the woods (Quebec,Canada).Comments anyone?Gaby
*Up under the "Fine Homebuilding online" and "Breaktime discussion" banners is a line starting with "New User". On the right end of this line is a marvelous little feature called "search". If you will click on this and enter "corian" you will find that Corian vs marble, Corian vs Wilsonart, Corian vs soapstone, Corian vs Granite and Corian vs almost everything but Godzilla has been discussed at length. Perhaps there are Breaktimers who would care to add more, but there is a wealth of very good if occasionally conflicting advice in the archives on such things as which is easiest to repair, which needs least upkeep, which dulls knives, which is the most expensive, etc. Happy hunting...
*Tony,There have been several recent discussions, some more germaine than others: Wood countertops for kitchen - viable alternative? Kitchen tile countertops Granite or Corian for island countertop Trolling for kitchen counter ideas Corian vs. Wilsonart SSVNote that the Kitchen tile countertops thread is from the Fine Cooking board, so you get some thoughts from peoplei usingthe counter. Rich Beckman
*uh huh, caught you again Rich.
*Wha!? No, you got it all wrong, jim. It wasn't me I swear! Besides, you weren't supposed to be here!!!Awww, nuts!Rich Beckman
*Forgive me for the way this sounds, but the real difference between the two is that corian, although the cost is essentially the same, is considered a tackier material than granite. Among high end materials, natural is always preferred to man-made. But, to add another kink, granite is viewed as passe by designers, kind of the 90's version of avocado green appliances. So if you're going for the big bucks countertop, and you are, open up to some other possibilities rather than spend big for a counter that's going to be old news before you start.SHG
*
what maintnance is needed for granite, excluding sealing.How often is sealing performed?Is the glare from the glossy shean a problem with lighting? I have installed both.It seems that there are alot more design details that can be achieved from a finish carpenter with corian.Custom baths seem to always turn up a few details in progress.Has anyone had trouble with color variations in granite?Which one is more durable?
*
Tony,
Sealing for granite? Depends on the matrix/color and how attentive you are to acidic materials.
Glare from granite? Last thanksgiving, we had a turkey and a duck complain about the glare. I just dismissed it as these fowls trying to delay the inevitable.
Color Variations in granite? Always, always have your clients "handpick" their slabs. Have you ever been to an importer or stocking /fabricator dealer of slab stone? You would understand why it SHOULD cost more.
Corian and most solid surface material emulates real stone. Now why is that?
Natural granite is virtually impervious to heat, gives an inner sense of luxury and stability, does cost more because it takes a totally different set of tools, is easier to maintain, is not a "plastic", and last but not least, makes you "feel good" over the years with the choice you made. That is if you are not concerned with changing your counter finishings as often as some change their underwear.
Just my opinion. I have both.
*"...90's version of avocado green appliances...". I love that!That is indeed a very interesting way of looking at it. Oddly, polished, gleaming granite holds very little appeal to me. Take it down to a matte or honed finish, and it looks a bit more attractive. To me, gloss is a bit faux.Tony, all surfaces need maintenance. Stone is the most resilient, and thus can be worked into hot, cold, wet and dry areas of the kitchen. One main operational drawback regarding stone is that it's tough on china, crystal, glassware, etc. Thus, I prefer stone near wet, hot and cold, but prefer wood near the DW or below my cabinets that store our breakables. Even wood has limitations when put near the hot, humid environment of a steam-venting DW. Give me a few (one main, one "aux") chunks of end-grain maple butcher block for non-meat/poultry prep, and there's your do anything kitchen. I prefer pull-out poly cuting boards for non-veggie prep work.In my kitchens, I prefer pots, pans, hot and cold stuff are always on stone. Fragile glasses, dishes, etc are on wood. It all depends on how your kitchen work areas are designed.Incorporate cutting boards of end-grain butcher block for veggie prep. Edge-grain wood is NOT meant for cutting. It is NOT butcher block. End grain can take the abuse of a sharp edge. Edge grain will ultimately splinter and eventually look cheap.Corian will scratch, dent, melt, should not be used as a cutting board, but can be sanded/repaired. It's good around wet.Choices? I'd take granite over corain. I prefer other stones to granite, but if I have to choose granite I don't want gloss. I don't want fancy veining. I don't want bizarre (Oops, I meant "unique") coloration. Give me something subtle and tasteful that'll stand the test of time.Concerning your Q over lighting glare, that can either be addressed by going to a non-gloss finish, or by careful selection in both the type and location of your lighting fixtures to avoid reflective angles that lead to blinding glare.Jeff brought up an excellent point regarding slab selection. Customers can go through a showroom and get ideas on stone they may want in their kitchen, but don't then go and order x feet of style z stone. Always, always, and I mean always, have the customer personally choose their slab at the stoneyard of the fabrication shop. It'll potentially save you from a multi-thousand dollar headache.Good luck, and good night...
*Tony,Tastes great, less filling.It comes to a matter of prespective. Both materials have good and bas points as has been pointed out. Natural materials are beautiful if chosen properly. But they can stain, scratch, chip and crack. Corian is a more versitile material for everyday use. It too can be damaged but can be easily repaired. Integral sinks are sanitary and leak proof. Corian looks good with the modern painted (espically white) cabinets. Nothing will accent a set of wood cabinets like some uba tuba (A type of dark granite). Feel your clients out and give them the arguments on each side.Rick Tuk
*SHG, If granite is passe, what is "in" in big buck countertops?Jerry
*The kitchen I'm workin' on now has a few different tops. The sink area is marble. When I started the job she said she wanted to reuse that section and I thought "OK, it's your kitchen" but it has grown on me. I was just today thinkin' how elegant it looks. The one I really like is the 8x3' island with gas cooktop. It is an old lane from a bowling alley. About 3" thick. Beautiful. They have been living there 20 years and she's kind of particular about health isues. I think these tops must be acceptable healthwise, or she would have something else.
*Jerry, Stranger than truth...in some cases, concrete has spec'd out higher than granite. It's a mad, mad, mad, mad, world.
*Mad, mad, mad... is right. I guess I need to see a really well done concrete top in person to appreciate it. Otherwise, I just don't see it as a preference to granite or wood or slate or even marble.Jerry
*Jerry,There's two ways to answer that question. There's the hottest fashion du jour, and materials that are recognized as high end but have longevity. If the customer wants granite, then granite it is. But when it's up to me for spec, I always go for longevity. I want it to be there for the long hall.Today's "looks" include concrete, stainless steel in the non-stone mode. But for stone, it's honed granite, soapstone, limestone (a really poor choice if you ask me). I like honed stone a lot, and I am a big fan of soapstone. Both have staying power. I avoid anything with overwhelming grain patterns or loud colors. By using honed, it looks like it's been there forever and will be there forever. It will still look good after use, and sometimes get better with age.Now polished granite looks just right in a contemporary kitchen, with shiney cabinets etc. Of course, we all know what contemporaries look like 10 years down the road. I don't touch these, but that's my choice.SHG
*legs,Was this the lady that wanted you to cut the countertop? Sounds like one of those ongoing projects.Rick Tuk
*Yup. Had our first sit down meeting New years Day and have been working on that job since early March. She and I are kind of like an old married couple now, we know each others boundries and where the buttons are. Great job. I've really stretched my abilities and had a lot of fun. The funny thing is, I still don't know if they are going to finish the job or not.
*
DEPENDING ON THE SALESMAN I hear different reports.