Corian Worktops.

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Hi all,

Just wanting opinions/experiences of Corian worktops from those who have them?

Are they everything they’re cracked up to be? Any horror stories? Have you catastrophically damaged them through quite benign means? Would you get them again?

Have you found Corian to be available much more cheaply through a small local supplier rather than through the likes of Wren/Magnet, etc?

I know they’re expensive, so don’t need to be told that laminate worktops would be cheaper. Don’t think Granite/quartz is really the look that I’m going for. But have considered bespoke Terrazzo or Copper/Brass worktops as well.

Thank you.

I have had mine for 7 years, no damage other than a tiny chip where DS hit it with the ironing board. We do use glass surface savers and don’t put hot pans on it.

Cant speak from experience, only from huge worktop search for our new kitchen!
There are loads of other acrylic- surface worktops available which are more “off the peg” and significantly cheaper. You can order samples of Miai and see how heat/scratch/stain resistant it is.
Corian was patented byDuPont and the patent has since expired, hence the endless array of cheaper acrylic / plastic top. Corian is the only one that will have a curve where worktop meets splashback/up stand. All say they have near-invisible joins though.
A friend has Corian which is about 12 years old now, she’s very careful but it does have some small scratches. They can be polished out .

I inherited mine with the house. I believe they are 20 years old now. Look like new and we aren’t doing anything special to them.

I have white Corian worktops with integrated draining board and sink. I inherited it when we bought our house, I was paranoid about it to begin with, but it's absolutely bomb proof. I do use worktop savers near the hob though. We've been here three years now and I would guess it was installed about five years before that.

I have a darkish blue Corian worktop. I seem to remember that it was the darkest colour they did at the time which was my main complaint. We've had it for 10 years and it looks good as new. We don't put hot pans directly on the worktop but then I'd never do that on any worktop. We don't take any particularly care of it other than that and it's proved pretty indestructible. Our kitchen units are all from IKEA and it definitely gives it a look of a 'designer kitchen' to quote an estate agent who looked at it last month.

If you like Corian it's also worth looking at Dekton, which doesn't get damaged by heat. We got this last year and is definitely the best bit about the kitchen refurb.

I can’t imagine how a copper or brass worktop would work. It would scratch or discolour and might even taint vegetables if used without a board. Maybe okay as a splash back?

Silestone is very good, doesn’t scratch as easily as Corian but it’s more expensive.

I was coming on to say similar, although it was a counter-top beer fridge that DH hit it with!

Ours was already in when we moved in - there’s a barely visible mark where a previous owner put a hot pan down. It’s also a fairly light colour and stains if curry paste gets spilled on it, but it comes off eventually!

They’re designed to patina, or they’re laquered to prevent any further patina than the day it was delivered. I think to have those worktops though you just need to have made peace with a changing surface. The cup rings and verdigris are part of the charm.

And yea, use a chopping board same as you would with any other worktop!