Kitchen or bathroom countertops can make or break a room. Smooth, shiny counters, without scratches or burns, can make a room look clean, neat, and put together, while countertops with stains, dents, or chips can make even the cleanest, tidiest room look less-than-great.
If you live in an older home with Corian countertops, this problem might sound familiar. Corian is very susceptible to cuts and scorching, and the worn look might keep your kitchen or bathroom from looking its best.
This article is here to help you. We’ll address some common questions about how to revitalize corian countertops and the benefits of hiring a professional company to refinish them.
What are Corian countertops?
Corian countertops are a type of man-made, solid-surface counter. This means that they aren’t real stone, but a mix of resins and minerals. When this type of material was first invented in the late 1960s, manufacturers were trying to create a countertop option that looked similar to stone, but wasn’t porous, like granite or marble. The result was solid-surface Corian.
Why would anyone want to create such a countertop? There are a few reasons. Corian can be a more affordable option than natural stone. But questions of durability and repair are also important. While granite and marble countertops are porous—and therefore prone to cracking and breaking from within—Corian countertops are almost non-porous. They don’t have the same potential for damage and are easy to clean.
Corian countertops are also homogenous, which means that they are made of the same material all the way through, unlike laminate or tile. Picture sanding down a tile—once you get through the glossy coating, the material underneath will be a different color and texture. When you sand down Corian, the material is the same throughout the slab.
My Corian countertops look worn out. Why? Are they just old?
Corian countertops are particularly susceptible to damage from heat and from regular use (especially scratches from knives). Even the most careful homeowner can find that their counter looks worn, flawed, or downright damaged—especially when these countertops are located in highly-trafficked areas, like the kitchen and bathroom.
So do I have to replace the countertops?
The good news is that Corian countertops can be refinished. This spares you the cost involved with replacing them, which can get steep quickly when you consider the labor involved in tearing out the existing counters, buying new materials, and having them installed.
In fact, one of the big selling points of Corian counters is that they can be repaired with relative ease. The fact that they’re homogenous means that when part of it is sanded down, you can get rid of a scratch and leave the surface looking the same as the rest of the counter top.
Great! Are there ideas about how to revitalize Corian countertops on my own?
You might take a few at-home steps to attempt counter repair. Comet cleaning powder and a white Scotch-Brite pad can help lighten the appearance of some scratches. Soft Scrub or Lysol can brighten the surface after using abrasive cleaners.
I’ve tried every cleaning product and nothing helps – what can I do?
If a heavy series of cleanings and some elbow grease can’t budge the flaws in your countertop—or if you have areas that are more seriously damaged—the next step could be using sandpaper on the countertop. DIY kits are available in many home improvement stores.
But you should be wary of using such DIY kits. Sandpaper can leave one area looking different than the others, and can leave you with a bigger job than anticipated when the only way to get a uniform appearance it is to sand down the entire countertop. And even then, the result might be streaky, swirly, or otherwise imperfect and definately look very amateur.
You also have to be able to ventilate your home very well and have access to a respirator mask and goggles to protect your family and yourself from the dust created by sanding the counter. Never mind the cleaning you could end up doing in the surrounding areas without the proper sanding and vacuuming procedures. The risks of kits or sandpaper usually outweigh the benefits—the last thing you want to do is create more work, or, worse, put your family’s health at risk.
Should I hire a professional to refinish the countertop?
If regular cleaning doesn’t work, hiring a professional refinishing company is probably the way to go. The Tub Pros are professionals who have the safety gear and the materials to properly ventilate the space and have tools (like powered sanders with attached vacuuming) that can get the job done more efficiently than a homeowner with a piece of sandpaper and a sanding block.
Besides professional-grade equipment, The Tub Pros refinishing company also have technicians who are skilled and experienced so that you get the best possible result. If you’re wondering how to revitalize Corian countertops, hiring a professional is probably the way to go.
What happens during the refinishing process?
When you hire a professional company, the refinishing process will likely take just a few hours. The space will be set up for ventilation, and then the countertop will be sanded down to remove any scratches or damage—these areas that give your kitchen that worn look will disappear.
After the counter has been sanded, a new topcoat will be applied. This new semi-gloss coating is easy to clean and is made for low-maintenance. Dated colors can also be updated—check out our before and after pictures to see some of our great results with refinishing, new colors, and our faux-granite topcoat.
Where can I find Corian countertop repair near me?
The Tub Pros proudly serves areas in an 80-mile radius of Memphis, TN, including Jackson, TN, Jonesboro, AR, and Little Rock, AR. Our factory-certified technicians are experienced and trained to get the best possible results on your project—whether that’s your Corian countertop or other areas in your house. Our written warranty offers you peace of mind, too.If you’re in our area and wondering where can I find Corian countertop repair near me?, don’t wait! Contact us at 901-871-8827 or use our online form to get started on a quote for your project today.