Counter tops Corian vs Silestone

[mrsstats]

Looking to install new counter tops. Do not want granite as my house is just a small converted bungalow. Want something with low maintenance that will hold up well. Any experience with either one?

 

[JELBoggio]

We put Silestone in our kitchen 4 years ago. It has held up well, looks great and everyone thinks it's Granite. It doesn't shine as nice as the Granite would, but one plus of Silestone is that it doesn't stain and you don't have to reseal (like they recommend with Granite). You can put a hot pan directly on the counter and the counter is fine.

I would use Silestone again in a heartbeat. I don't know much about Corian, so I wouldn't be able to directly compare the two.

 

[AZKathy]

We have corian in our kitchen. It looks great, but it does scratch easy, nothing big, but superficial scratching that you can visualize with light. I know there is a way to buff it out, but I am still finding out the correct item to use to buff out the scratches. I had heard that baking soda works, but it did not for me.

 

[browniemtb]

Between Granite, Corian and Silestone there are advantages and disadvantages to all three, including price. I sell these products and have a staff that works with these questions everyday. Silestone is what I call a hybrid...its a cross between crorian and granite...basically crushed quartz. Silestone, Zodiac and others are trying get the consumer who loves granite but may be worried about that hot pan or the kids mixing kool aide and a stain forming. Granite offers a more natural look where the patterns of the rock come into play..that is something Silestone can not do. All three are great choices with Silestone on the high end of the pricing spectrum....in our area granite is actually the low cost top you can do besides a laminate.
Good Luck
Brownie

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I priced Silestone when I priced granite. It was more expensive.

I have actually found a local guy who fabricates granite on the side...his price this week came in at about $1000 less than Home Depot on granite.

 

[daemom]

We recently put Silestone in our house and we LOVE it! I was seriously considering Corian, but didn't like the look of the samples they used to show what it looked like when scratches had been repaired. My SIL had Corian in one of her houses and while she was using her crock pot, the countertop underneath it CRACKED! That was what ultimately made me run from Corain. I know it could be repaired, but I didn't want to go that route. Many people love Corian and my SIL's experience may have been a one in a million as I've never heard of this happening to anyone else. When I passed the story along to the Corian sales people, they would always respond, "you can always get it repaired". Good luck with your decision--I know it's a toughie!!

 

[missypie]

We used a similar product made by Wilsonart (Wilsonart Gibraltar). We got it at Home Depot. Five years after installation it's still beautiful. I heard that a few years ago, Corian's patent expired; thus, the competitors (Silestone and Wilsonart) have jumped into the market and their products typically cost less.

 

[Christine]

I'd go with the Silestone. I think it's the best!! I don't have it but I was pricing them all out before and that is my preference.

Also, depending on where you live really depends on the difference in pricing between Silestone and Granite. Here in Northern Virginia, Granite and Silestone are the same price. Corian is cheaper.

 

[rt2dz]

I don't have too much to add, but corian is out. Kitchens with corian are considered outdated. It's Silestone, Granite, or concrete (although some problems with concrete are popping up). I know trends move in different time frames around the country, so corian might be ok where you're at now, but in 5 years it probably won't be. You might want to consider that if you are planning on moving with the next 10-15 years.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I priced Silestone when I priced granite. It was more expensive.

I have actually found a local guy who fabricates granite on the side...his price this week came in at about $1000 less than Home Depot on granite.

Do you have to do anything special to granite to maintain it? My mother just ordered granite countertops. It was a small fortune.

 

[Christine]

Do you have to do anything special to granite to maintain it? My mother just ordered granite countertops. It was a small fortune.

You have to seal it once a year. It's not difficult. There is a sealer you buy and, I believe, you just sort of wipe it on.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

My two cents...we put in soapstone. Beautiful, organic, very durable (completely non-porous!)...we love the look. We were recreating an old style kitchen and shiny granite was not going to fit the bill. It's worth looking into, though not cheap...www.vermontsoapstone.com. I highly recommend it!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

You have to seal it once a year. It's not difficult. There is a sealer you buy and, I believe, you just sort of wipe it on.

You're correct. In the case of mine, you spray it on and then wipe it off. If you can use Windex, you can seal granite.

Not all granites stain either, nor need to be sealed as often. I can also place a pan directly from the oven/stove top on my counters.

Here in Houston, granite is hot.

 

[floridafam]

We looked at counters today and the sales person was really against granite.

I do a lot of baking and she said I shouldn't roll out cookies or pie crusts on granite-because the oils will get into the counter top. She also said the same thing about chicken juice if I was going to be cooking with chicken.

Is this true????

 

[Parkhopper]

We have Silestone and LOVE it. My parents got Corian several years ago and theirs has cracked and been repaired twice. Theirs also really looks scratched up!

Suzi

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

We looked at counters today and the sales person was really against granite.

I do a lot of baking and she said I shouldn't roll out cookies or pie crusts on granite-because the oils will get into the counter top. She also said the same thing about chicken juice if I was going to be cooking with chicken.

Is this true????

There are a lot of untrue rumors about granite, but this is a first for me!

I cook directly on top of my granite all the time. Heck, I can't remember the last time I even used my cutting board!

Google "granite and bacteria" and you're going to get a lot of info.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

My two cents...we put in soapstone. Beautiful, organic, very durable (completely non-porous!)...we love the look. We were recreating an old style kitchen and shiny granite was not going to fit the bill. It's worth looking into, though not cheap...www.vermontsoapstone.com. I highly recommend it!

That is one type of surface that is very rarely seen here in Texas. I think it'll eventually work its way down here though. To achieve the same look, people hone their granite here.

 

[Mercy]

For our kitchen remodel we priced Silestone and Zodiac quartz and found them to be more expensive than granite. We have a very modest townhouse and put granite counters in... looks great and I love it! We are probably the only one's in our neighborhood with granite counters, but I really don't care about that... I got what I wanted.

I personally don't care for the look of Corian.