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WebSolid Surface Countertops like Corian®, Would You Consider Installing
We are putting the finishing touches on a step-by-step installation guide for solid surface countertops for the DIY homeowner. Would you consider installing this material yourself or would you think it’s better left to the professional? If you are concerned about installation problems, ask us so we can better address those in the article. If I can afford a nicer countertop material by doing the install myself, I will take the money saved on installation and use it to buy a more expensive material. But what are your thoughts?
I will say this. Cutting the material was much easier than I expected, and I was using the same set up I use for everyday cutting. Let us know what your thoughts are.
I am to work with solid surfases,anything to save money. I have confidence in myself. I try to do everthing in and my home with great success. Also with the help of Extreme How To i am glade your here.
I would do this kind of a job in a heartbeat if I had the information on what type of cutters to use, how to finish the edges and what the proper way to seam it would be. If you are covering those kinds of issues then I’m on board. Like everything else the right tool for the job and the right information and it’s a done deal. Thanks for putting this together.
I would think that it would be easier than a laminate counter and quicker. From what I have seen in Corian installations, the “Skill requirement” is less than what Corian touts.
I have wanted to try my skills at installing corian for some time but have found it impossible to purchase unless you have been certified by the manufacturer. Could you include how to purchase in your article?
Thanks, Chevis
Chevis,
http://solidsurface.com/ is a supplier of Corian and other brands of Solid Surface Countertop material.
Hal Jones
EHT Online
Marc,
The tools required are basic. A router and a 1/2″ twin fluted bit for finishing edges. A profile bit for your edges. You will need an assortment of clamps for gluing. A circular saw and a straight edge are needed to make cuts. Other than that I recommend sawhorses so you can make your cuts in an open area away from where you are doing the installation. The epoxy guns are available online and should be bought when you buy the material to get epoxy that matches your countertop material. A jig saw for rounded cuts and an orbital sander is also nice to have. I used a hot glue gun for gluing blocks to the material used for clamping the seams together. My initial impression is that the material is easy to work with.
Hal
EHT Online
Greetings, I’ve been researching installing solid surface counter tops myself. It seems tooling cost is
a big hurdle. The seaming tools are $240 each and one needs two of them. Hot gluing blocks to the
counter top for clamping points is interesting. Just how much clamping pressure can one use without popping the block off? Also just how much marking does hot glue leave on the counter top? Is the seam in the corner 90 degrees or does one do a 45 somewhat like a miter? A butt joint seams much easier to do. How does one get that smooth seam around an undercounter mounted sink? Anyone know of a good instructional dvd for this type of work? The wife and I have built 2 houses, did the plumbing, electrical and I’ve installed my own central AC system. That saved us 7 grand. I’ve built our own cabinets also.
Jerry, the blocks provide a clamping surface and truthfully not much pressure is required. The blocks are attached to the underside of the countertop, so cleanup won’t really be an issue. I had the same questions when I first did one of these, so I know where you are coming from. Marks can easily be sanded out. Shaping the solid surface material was much easier than I expected. The corner seams on an L shaped counter will have a radius. I didn’t miter since I wanted the seams to be away from the corner. Here is my article on seaming, http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60956
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