Corian Countertops Gain in Popularity

It came as a surprise to me that Du Pont’s Corian countertop material has become so popular in California that this state is a leader in its use.

I was surprised because of the widespread use of ceramic tile countertops in California. Corian was introduced to the West Coast in 1969, according to Du Pont, and sales have nearly doubled in the Southland since 1981.

Because it can be worked like wood, has the look and feel of marble and the solidity of stone, Corian is popular in kitchens, bathrooms and other rooms, according to Larry Geisser of Cleveland Wrecking Co., 3170 E. Washington Blvd. This firm has several kitchen and bath designers on its staff and is doing more and more jobs in Corian, Geisser said.

A kitchen remodeling job performed by Cleveland Wrecking at a house in San Pedro shows the versatility of this countertop material. At the shop, the 15-foot-long surface was fabricated and oak trim that matches the new cabinets was inserted into the front edges of the Corian.

At the house, contractor Sandy Geisser and Cleveland employee Napoleon Escalante performed the final cutting, scribing, seam joining and sanding.

Although the countertop had to be constructed in segments, the final effect is that of a continuous countertop, thanks to careful joining. The cost was about $1,500--more than many tiled counters, but well worth the cost, according to Larry Geisser.

He considers Corian to be the premium countertop material of the future, eventually replacing ceramic tile in many applications.

“Corian is especially popular with customers who specify high-tech and European-style kitchen cabinets because it blends in so well with the design of the cabinets and base units,” he added.

Because it can be shaped and cut with woodworking tools like scroll saws and routers, Corian can be used for custom tub platforms, curved tub and shower enclosures, spa seats and surrounds--just about anything that a designer can imagine.

FREEBIE DEPT.: “How to Install or Repair Drywall in Your Home” is a free brochure aimed at first-time and professional drywall installers. It is published by Red Devil Inc., Department M, 2400 Vauxhall Road, Union, N.J. 07083-1933. You can get a copy by sending a stamped, self-addressed No. 10 envelope to Red Devil. The firm manufactures drywall tools. The brochure covers such subjects as types of drywall, necessary tools, cutting techniques, installing wallboard, mixing the joint compound, the taping process for both inside and outside corners and repairs.

Once the drywall is done, you have to paint it. Elder & Jenks, Dept. R, 148 East 5th St., Bayonne, N.J. 07002, publishes a 10-page booklet on “What Every Painter Should Know About Brushes & Rollers.” The company has been around since 1793 and makes high-quality brushes and rollers. I thought the section on using brushes and rollers was well done, especially since the booklet uses only two pages to cover this topic. The booklet is illustrated and is high on my list of excellent publications for do-it-yourselfers.