Solid surface offers a countertop that is seamless, non-porous, stain resistant and warm to the touch.
The integral solid surface sink has no silicone seams, is smooth to the touch and most importantly has no place to promote the growth of mold or bacteria.


Solid-surface sinks are made from a man-made resin material. The same material used in solid surface countertops (see our Solid Surface page). When a solid surface sink is "seamed" to a solid surface countertop by an experienced fabricator, the effect is of a monolithic, "seamless" sink/worktop combination with no unsightly, unhygienic "ring" or undermount "lip”. This is known as an integral sink and can be fabricated in the same color or in a contrasting color. Your fabricator can even craft a custom routed drainboard or inlay designs in your sink or countertop.


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Note added at 7 mins (2005-03-21 20:23:22 GMT)
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There is something special about solid surface. In fact, there are many performance characteristics that make solid surface products truly unique. Some performance characteristics that all solid surfaces share are: it’s solid; homogeneous (color and pattern all the way through); machinable; hard; non-porous; stain and chemical-resistant; fire-resistant; reparable; it endures; and it’s esthetically pleasing. It’s a decorative surface that has a smooth feel and seamless beauty that is meant to be seen.

Most solid surface materials combine two main ingredients: a natural mineral (the \"filler\") and a resin (the \"binder”), along with various additives (pigments, UV absorbers, catalyst, stabilizers, etc). These are combined and then cast in curing processes that result in a sheet or a shape. Acrylic and polyester are the two main \"families\" of resins used to make solid surface. A purely acrylic-based resin yields a sheet that is thermoformable--that is, it can be heated and bent to a new shape. To offer continuous improvement, solid surface additives are continually and carefully being tweaked and changed in coordination with enhancements in technology.

The filler of choice in most solid surface is alumina tri-hydrate (ATH). ATH is refined from bauxite ore, a form of clay, so solid surface starts as one of the most abundant and natural minerals on earth. According to ISSFA, “ATH has great physical properties.” ATH gives solid surface excellent chemical and stain resistance; excellent water-resistance; nice translucency; impact-resistance, and it makes solid surface hard enough to give superb wear-resistance but “soft” enough to be machinable. One last almost magical property: not only will it not burn, but because it has “water in hydration”, when attacked by heat ATH actually releases steam. This makes it a natural fire-retardant.”

Most solid surface is made with a special “white” grade of highly refined ATH that offers a high degree of translucency and allows for bright, pure light colors, especially white. The palette of colors and patterns include solids, speckled, and faux-stone patterns. The material can be finished with a matte or high gloss sheen. Due to market demands for dark colored solid surface that didn’t show scratches as much (from the whiteness of the ATH), Avonite created its Class III colors which contain no ATH at all. This was a conscious choice by Avonite that provides a range of dark, extremely rich, deep-looking colors, but loses its fire-resistance and some of its hardness.

APPLICATIONS
“Solid surface countertops, probably solid surface\'s most familiar application, are becoming standard features on many new home projects as consumers discover what a wonderful product it is.” Magnificent new color palettes from the manufacturers as well as outrageous new fabrication techniques from the fabricators mean that solid surface countertops can be as beautiful as any competing surface. Because the material is colored all the way through, the slab can be carved, inlaid, molded, or sandblasted to create a unique custom countertop. It also has a seamless look as the seams are molecularly bonded to create an invisible seam.

Another unique benefit of solid surface countertops is the ability to fuse the countertop and bowl together--creating an integral sink. It’s easy to clean up and work around this area because the countertop and bowl flow into each other without a projecting lip. (For more information see our SINKS Section.) Your fabricator can even craft a custom routed drainboard or inlay designs in your sink or top! Because it is so easy to maintain, you can also install solid surface as a tall backsplash behind your sink, oven, or any other area that will get food and water splatters