Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Mar 30, 2007 1:39 pm Hi
We are currently doing some rennovations and are putting in a new kitchen. We can't decide on the benchtops. We like the look of granite but wanted a similar, cheaper look. I have been doing a little research and have found out about the following products: Corian, ceaserstone and essa stone. Which would be the best option for us. We want something that won't scratch or mark easily. We wanted to get something a little different to laminex. I have noticed that the laminex do a glossy look but noticed on this website that everyone says stay away from it as it tends to mark easily and fade as well. Hope you can help us with our decision. Thanks Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 2Mar 30, 2007 1:51 pm Personally I love the look of Caeserstone, it's scratch resistant etc etc. If you look through the forum though there is a similar conversation going at the moment. Remember none of the above mentioned surfaces including granite like heat....... Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 4Mar 31, 2007 6:29 pm I have corian as a bench top for the new vanity in my bathroom. Haven't used it yet so I can't comment on how it wears, but I do know if you are looking for a cheaper alternative for granite, don't go for corian, it's very expensive. It is however, very easy to fix if it gets scratched etc. If all you can see are obstacles, you have lost sight of the goals Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 5Mar 31, 2007 7:34 pm None of these mentioned will be cheap, Corian, ceaserstone and essa stone.
They will all scratch if put to the test, ceaserstone, IS very popular; they have a good colour selection as well. Corian is the only product that is easily repaired, to me this the perfect product for busy people who entertain a lot! Here are some more man made products to look at…..just to make you more confused These also should be easy to maintain like the Corian. http://www.laminex.com.au/products.aspx http://www.parbury.com.au/silestone/sil ... allery.asp http://www.parbury.com.au/trezzini/trezzini.asp Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 6Apr 13, 2007 3:14 am There are ways to have a granite bench and keep the cost down
1. choose an unlaminated edge(the edge is the same thickness as the slab) 2. choose a simple edge eg. Square polish with pencil round. 3. Keep the benches straight (no curves) 4. Use an ontop mounted sink as opposed to an underslung 5. Choose a cheaper granite. Something to keep in mind is that cheaper doesn't mean poorer quality. Funnily enough the cheaper granites are usually stronger. Being a bit plain visually they're priced lower, but this plainness is a result of a denser grain structure, which is stronger. Another thing to consider when designing your kitchen is the size of the slab that the bench is being cut out of and the wastage that occurs. Engineered stone is a bit easier to explain because of the uniformity of slab size. The most common size is approx 3040 x 1400. If you consider the size of your benches to eliminate wastage then you can keep manufacturing costs down.Sometimes it can be as easy as reducing the size of a bench marginally and this can avoid the need for the manufacturer to go into another slab. And now, onto the bastard cousin of the stone industry....granite transformations. 1. Not granite, an engineered stone 2. consider laminating a product that doesn't swell (stone) to one that does (chipboard) 3. limited edge work 4. looks cheap in my opinon and yet it isn't that cheap. I've done jobs where people have chosen a high range granite over G.T because the price difference isn't that great. Anyway, thats my 2 cents Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 7Apr 16, 2007 10:12 am I rather like Corian - more flexible design options and I really like the seamless joins with the sinks.
Is there any site that gives some rough price comparisons between the different bench surface options ? Edit: here's the Aus supplier site for Corian (which amazingly, only works in IE browsers...) http://www.casf.com.au/ Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 8Apr 17, 2007 9:53 am OK, here's a kitchen surface price guide. But there's no date. Anyone know if this looks like current prices ?
http://www.thisplace.com.au/priceguide/ ... rfaces.htm Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 9Apr 17, 2007 10:45 am Well found Cabinfever. If you click on Price Guide Main Page link you'll find that the page was last updated on 15/11/01, so it's a little old. Also it's a pity that Ceaserstone (and equivalents) are not listed as I suspect that this is the best all-round kitchen surface (durability, appearance and price). Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 10Apr 17, 2007 11:10 am Here's the Ceasarstone Aus site:
http://www.caesarstone.com.au/index.html How does Ceasarstone compare with Corian in terms of price and function ? I like Corian in that it can be seamlessly joined to sinks and shaped ro smooth out corners and edges, which seems a good way to cut down on kitchen cleaning drudgery. Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 11Apr 17, 2007 11:54 am Cabinfever OK, here's a kitchen surface price guide. But there's no date. Anyone know if this looks like current prices ? http://www.thisplace.com.au/priceguide/ ... rfaces.htm Checked the prices and they do look a little out of date, but proportionally, comparing one against the other, it looks about right. If all you can see are obstacles, you have lost sight of the goals Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 12Apr 17, 2007 12:02 pm I prefer Ceaserstone (and equivalents) to Corian for two reasons. Firstly, I believe Ceaserstone is more robust - it can take more heat and it not as easily cut. Secondly, Ceaserstone has a beautiful depth to it. The sample of Corian that I saw was flat and uninspiring. It was white and maybe not representative of what you can get.
On the plus side Corian can be seamlessly joined into any size you like and can be readily repaired by sanding. Still, all things considered, I've still got Ceaserstone in my "best kitchen surface" category. Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 13Apr 19, 2007 10:18 pm Try the 'red wine test' on a light coloured Caesarstone benchtop (leave it overnight) and you will see that Caesarstone is indeed porous (bleach will get the stain out though).
Corian is impervious to stains. Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 14Apr 19, 2007 10:47 pm renomart Corian is impervious to stains. I have Corian (and love it). It is about as stain resistant as you can get. But it can be stained. I bought my wife some lovely lillies once (never again ) and the pollen dropped on the surface and stained it. This is a disperse dye and can stain pretty much anything. With regular cleaning over a couple of weeks the colour gradually disappeared though. Re: Kitchen Bench - Help! 15Apr 20, 2007 6:01 pm Oooo, I refuse to have lilies in the house for exactly that reason!!!!
I can imagine in the dark ages they used this pollen as a permanent dye for things. That’s how bad it is. I don’t care what anyone says about their product…..MOST things are have floors. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Hi - thanks for your reply. Yes I think 'Ill go for whitish with very speckly bits rather than pure white something like this. PS was actually 2008 I built the… 2 11675 Building Standards; Getting It Right! These can be easily filled and repaired and it doesn't cost them much to do. Id get the builder to do this first and if the repair is not suitable then a replacement is… 12 31248 Thanks Ardo, they are sort of semi concealed. I think it is only a few millimetres. I see if they can adjust the hinges. 4 3793 |