What are solid surface countertops?

Before you settle on solid surface countertop material, there are some things that every buyer should know:

What they’re made of. 

Solid surface countertops are made of dense acrylic, polyester, or a combo of both. In a solid surface countertop you’ll find mineral particles, bonding resin, and pigments. 

If you’re in the market for a matte appearance, you should go with an acrylic-based solid surface material. These are known for their durability, and it’s easier to create seamless countertops with an acrylic base because the bonding materials stick to acrylic better than they stick to polyester. 

Polyester-based solid surface countertops tend to be more affordable than acrylic-based, but also more brittle. They are glossier in appearance, and are known for their vibrant colors. 

You can also choose to combine the two for a solid surface design that is both acrylic- and polyester-based – a combination offered by many manufacturers. 

They’re nonporous and easy to clean.  

Solid surface is a nonporous material, which means that they’re easy to keep clean. For this reason, they’re popular in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. These countertops do not need to be sealed like natural stone does, either, which is a perk for people who don’t enjoy countertop upkeep. 

They can be damaged by extreme heat.  

Extreme heat does not bode well with solid surface countertops because of the acrylic and/or polyester it contains. These countertops can withstand heat to about 212 degrees Fahrenheit (the temperature of boiling water), but they are vulnerable to being scorched by the bottom of a hot pan. These scorch marks are easy to fix, but should be avoided if you can help it. 

They’re easy to repair.  

Solid surface countertops scratch much more easily than other materials, but they’re also much easier to fix. You don’t need a professional in order to patch up the surface, you can do it yourself using an orbital sander and fine-grain sandpaper.