OVERVIEW on Kitchen Countertops:
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen countertops is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen counter materials. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.
Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen countertop material make sure to think through its integration with your kitchen cabinets, appliances, and the backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinet. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant.
DETAILS on Corian Countertop Installation:
For any successful project, a logical work sequence is critical. On countertop projects, begin with the cabinets, removing the old countertop material and inspecting the base cabinets to make sure they are sturdy and flat across the tops. If not, adjust and shim the cabinets until they are flat (and preferably level).
Well-constructed, properly installed cabinets should bear the weight of a solid-surface countertop. But because the material will flex slightly, you may want to attach additional support cleats to the cabinet tops, particularly in areas where the countertop will be unsupported — above a dishwasher opening, for example.
If you're installing an undermount sink (a great option with solid-surface countertops) fasten support cleats for the sink across the tops of the sink-base cabinet make sure all cabinets are sturdy, aligned and flat across the top.
If the cabinet layout includes an island or peninsula with more than a few inches of countertop overhang, attach 3/4-in.-thick plywood to the cabinet tops prior to installing the countertop. The plywood should be sized so the front edge of the countertop fits neatly over the edge of the plywood. The bottom face of the plywood should be flush with the bottom of the countertop edging. For added reinforcement, attach corbels to the cabinet frames.
Each sheet of solid-surface material should be fitted, cut to length and scribed (if necessary) before you continue with the adjoining sheet. Start the installation project with a section containing a seam support strip on one end. Lay the first sheet of solid-surface material in position and fit it against the wall, scribing (inset in photo) and contouring the back edge with a belt sander if necessary. Mark a cutting line on one end for trimming. (Note: Drawing the lines on masking tape makes for more accurate cutting.)
Make cutouts for the sink and cooktop after cutting the section to length and scribing the back edge. Clamp the sink cutout template (supplied with the kit) to the countertop section so the template is aligned with the centerline of the sink location. Cut through the material along the template lines with a router and straight bit. Cooktop cutouts should be reinforced from below at the corners.
Once you have cut all of the solid-surface sections to size, begin seaming them with epoxy and bonding them to the cabinet tops with silicone.
Position the solid surface sheets on the base cabinets. With a helper, tip each sheet back and up so you can apply a bead of silicone caulk to the cabinet tops where they fit against the countertop. Lower the sheet.
Clean the mating surfaces and edges with denatured alcohol; then apply a heavy layer of tinted epoxy to the strip. The epoxy and specialty caulk gun are supplied with the kit. Hot-glue a pair of clamping points (solid-surface scraps) near the mating ends of the sheets being seamed. Use clamps to draw the sections together.
Do not wipe off epoxy squeezeout — you will remove important hardeners from the epoxy, which will slow curing time and weaken the bond. Instead, sand it off after it dries. Use alcohol to dissolve the hot glue so you can remove the clamping points.
Exposed countertop ends will need to be filled. Special filler strips are supplied with the kit, glued in place with the same two-part epoxy filler used to seam the countertops together.
Sand the seams smooth after the epoxy cures, using power sanders and a succession of finer sandpapers (100-, then 150-, then 220-grit).
Also sand the entire countertop, ending with 220-grit paper,. For a high gloss surface, buff the countertop with a polishing bonnet attachment for an orbital sander or synthetic scouring pads and vegetable oil. After all of the sections are in place, install the backsplash, sink and faucet and hook up the range or cooktop.
If you have installed an undermount sink, drill holes in the countertop for faucet and sprayer (and optional dishwasher air gap or soap dispenser). An ordinary hole saw attachment and drill will make clean, smooth holes.
Secure the backsplash strips to the wall with silicone-caulk adhesive. If the wall profile is irregular, hold the backsplash in position by wedging wood strips between it and the upper cabinets.
Complete the faucet, sink and stove installations, sealing around the rim of the sink with silicone caulk as necessary.
Save a few scrap pieces of solid-surface material in case you need to make repairs in the future. Solid-surface repairers use special tools to cut out damaged areas and fill them with plugs cut from the extra material.
GREEN Considerations:
Environmental awareness is driving research towards eco-friendly products, which are not only more friendly for the environment, but also stronger and more durable in terms of materials.
When installing kitchen countertops look for adhesives and compounds that are toxic free and take care to dispose of any waste in the most environmentally friendly manner. Naturally, try to reduce, or encourage your installer to reduce, the total amount of waste materials.
