Corian

A composite of mineral and acrylic, worked like a single solid block.

Corian is made from a blend of natural minerals, principally alumina trihydrate derived from bauxite, bound in an acrylic resin. The two are combined with pigments and cast into sheets, typically supplied at 6mm, 12mm and 19mm thicknesses. The mineral content gives the material its density and its warm, slightly matte appearance; the acrylic binder is what allows it to be thermoformed.

Heated in a controlled oven to around 150 degrees Celsius, a sheet becomes pliable and can be draped over a mould to form curves, coves and three-dimensional shapes, then holds that form permanently once cool. This is the property that sets it apart from stone and most engineered surfaces. Edges can be built up by laminating layers together, so a thin sheet can present as a thick, solid profile without added weight in the field.

The colour palette is extensive, running from clean whites and soft neutrals through greys and deep charcoals to stone-effect and lightly veined patterns. Several lighter colours are translucent enough to transmit light, which is the basis for backlit panels. Surface finish can be adjusted at the fabrication stage, from a soft matte to a higher sheen, by the grade of abrasive used in the final sanding.

The seamless quality makes Corian the natural choice wherever a continuous, hygienic surface is wanted, from integrated bathroom basins to long reception desks. Thermoforming opens up applications that stone cannot reach: curved counters, coved wall returns and sculpted furniture. Its even colour and the option of light transmission make it equally suited to refined residential interiors and to hospitality, healthcare and retail settings.

• Worktops with no visible joints across long runs
• Vanity tops with seamlessly integrated basins
• Curved and thermoformed surfaces and furniture
• Reception, bar and lobby desk fronts
• Backlit translucent panels and feature walls
• Healthcare and laboratory surfaces requiring hygiene
• Joinery and cladding with continuous surface runs

Because Corian is non-porous, it does not absorb liquids and offers no foothold for bacteria or mould, which is why it is widely used in clinical and food-preparation settings. Most marks wipe away with soap and water. The more useful property over a long life is repairability: scratches, scorch marks and dulling can be sanded out by hand, returning the surface to its original finish without replacing any material. A worktop that has served for years can be brought back to look new.

• Non-porous and resistant to staining and moisture
• Seams bonded and sanded to read as continuous
• Renewable in place: scratches and burns sand out
• Warmer and quieter to the touch than stone
• Best protected from direct heat with a trivet
• Lighter than equivalent stone, easing fixing

Drawn, formed and joined to your scheme.

We work with Corian where a design depends on continuity. Our workshop network develops each piece from the drawing, planning where any joins fall, how edges are built up, and how curves are moulded so the finished surface behaves as one element. Basins, drainer grooves, upstands and splashbacks can be integrated into a single fabrication rather than added as separate parts.

For translucent applications, our makers select the lighter colours that carry light and detail the panel and its lighting together, so the glow is even and the fixings stay hidden. Colour and finish are agreed against samples early, since the matte-to-sheen level and the depth of any veining read differently in situ than on a chart. We can also pair Corian with timber, metal or stone where a scheme asks for it, using the solid surface for the elements that need to be seamless and hygienic.

In most colours, yes. Sheets are bonded with a matched adhesive and sanded flush, so a long run reads as a single surface. The effect is most complete in plainer colours; heavily veined patterns can show a faint line where the pattern meets, which we plan around when setting out the work.

Corian is softer, so it scratches more easily than quartz, but unlike quartz those marks can be sanded out in place. It is warmer to the touch, lighter, can be thermoformed into curves, and accepts seamless integrated basins. Stone offers greater scratch and heat resistance and a natural depth of figure. The choice depends on whether seamlessness and repairability or hardness and natural character matter more to the scheme.

Yes. It is a long-standing choice for kitchens, valued for the seamless integration of sinks and drainers and for being renewable over time. The one care point is heat: hot pans should sit on a trivet rather than directly on the surface.

For UK based designers you can request samples from CDUK, the exclusive distributor in the UK and Ireland: