Solid Surface Myths Busted
Surfaces Reporter|April 2020
Solid Surfaces is a low-maintenance, non-porous and repairable countertop created by pouring stone pieces, acrylic, resin and other chemicals into a mould. It has become a perfect mid-range countertop material. Buyers who are looking for other affordable countertop materials often gravitate toward Solid Surfaces. SURFACES REPORTER (SR) is sharing some of the issues faced while working with Solid Surfaces. We are thankful to the experts from LG, REHAU and NEONNEX who have shared insights in this regard.
Solid Surface Myths Busted

Solid Surfaces have been around for over 50 years and are a mainstay in kitchens and bathrooms. Even though Solid Surfaces get easily cut or scratched by knives and other sharp objects, they are less brittle than stone. The concerns about using Solid Surfaces can be dodged easily with some simple measures.

Concern 1: Solid Surfaces are not suitable for moisture-prone areas as they absorb water.

In spite of being popularised as a ‘non-plus’ material, architects are hesitant to use Solid Surfaces in bathrooms, basin tops or other moisture-prone areas.

Myth Busted:

It is only a misconception that Acrylic Solid Surfaces absorb moisture. In the case of Solid Surfaces, if issues arise in moisture absorption then base material and poor fabrication are most likely to be responsible. Through various tests, it has been established that moisture absorption in Acrylic Solid Surfaces is within the range of 0.01-0.04%. This percentage is very less as compared to natural stone whose moisture absorption is in the range of 1-6%. Ceramic tiles have a water absorption value of more than 0.5%.

Mr. Ajay Khurana, Chairman, REHAU South Asia shares, “Solid Surfaces by REHAU are non-porous hence they can be used comfortably even in wet areas. Especially the elegant and contemporary Solid Surface, REHAU RAUVISIO Mineral offers durable surface solutions for advanced living.”

Concern 2: Solid Surfaces are difficult to maintain. White Solid Surfaces look beautiful but people refrain from using them as they are believed to be more prone to stains & scratches.

Myth Busted:

This story is from the April 2020 edition of Surfaces Reporter.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2020 edition of Surfaces Reporter.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SURFACES REPORTERView All
Hospitals Under Fire - How Ready Are We?
Surfaces Reporter

Hospitals Under Fire - How Ready Are We?

Recently, we have seen many incidents of fire, particularly happening in the hospitals that are already overburdened with a pandemic raging at hand. A fire has no face and no regret while destroying everything that comes in its way. It becomes even more heart-wrenching when patients who cannot save themselves come under its wrath. SURFACES REPORTER spoke to the experts and tried to ascertain, why the fire incidents rose and what should be done so that in case of the third wave the mistakes are not repeated. An indepth report by SURFACES REPORTER (SR).

time-read
8 mins  |
June - July 2021
CANTILEVER HOUSE GHAZIABAD
Surfaces Reporter

CANTILEVER HOUSE GHAZIABAD

Regional Vernacular to Reimagine Contemporary Living, Zero Energy Design (ZED) Lab

time-read
4 mins  |
June - July 2021
NETFLIX UNVEILS ITS FIRST GLOBAL LIVE-ACTION POST-PRODUCTION FACILITY IN MUMBAI IN 2022
Surfaces Reporter

NETFLIX UNVEILS ITS FIRST GLOBAL LIVE-ACTION POST-PRODUCTION FACILITY IN MUMBAI IN 2022

Mumbai is set to be the Global-first for Netflix- the world’s biggest subscription-based streaming service. The video streaming company will be unveiling its first fully-owned post-production facility in Mumbai in 2022 for live-action movies and TV series worldwide. According to the streamer, “the facility will have 40 offline editing rooms designed as a flexible, collaborative and inspiring environment for showrunners, directors, editors and sound designers to create their best work.”

time-read
2 mins  |
June - July 2021
IMPORTANCE OF CREATING SAFE SPACES IN TODAY'S HOMES
Surfaces Reporter

IMPORTANCE OF CREATING SAFE SPACES IN TODAY'S HOMES

Greenply’s Session with Design & Health Experts in association with ABID FOCUS: KOLKATA

time-read
6 mins  |
June - July 2021
SETTING NEW TRENDS IN THE LAMINATE WORLD
Surfaces Reporter

SETTING NEW TRENDS IN THE LAMINATE WORLD

Manilam Decorative Panel is one of India’s fastest-growing manufacturer of Decorative Laminates that offers an exotic range of diverse surface ideas to beautify your interiors and decorate your dream spaces. The brand has been constantly innovating and moving forward to create a niche for itself in the laminate industry, SURFACES REPORTER (SR) recently spoke with the Next Gen Leader, Namrata Agrawal, Director, Manilam Industries Ltd. Here are a few things that you must know about Manilam:

time-read
2 mins  |
June - July 2021
Remember India in all that you do!
Surfaces Reporter

Remember India in all that you do!

As one of India’s leading lifestyle designers of India, Raseel Gujral Ansal is ceaselessly valued for her outstanding ability in leading architecture and interior design over the past 30 years. She is a Doctor of Philosophy in architecture and has a well-celebrated work portfolio in product design, architecture, and interior decoration. She founded her flagship company, Raseel Gujral Ansal Design in 1990 and followed it up with two more fabulous companies, Casa Paradox and Casa Pop, in 1995 and 2014, respectively. Raseel Gujral Ansal carries a mammoth legacy of creative excellence combined with a fearless compulsion to evolve. This mantle has been handed to her by her father, the legendary maestro of all arts, Satish Gujral. A true exemplification of the Renaissance ethos, & the guru-shishya tradition, Raseel was schooled in her creative career within the crucible of the architectural firm led by her father & her brother Mohit Gujral and as in the renaissance has disregarded all compartmentalization between creative fields. Hence, she calls herself the accidental artist/ architect.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June - July 2021
SEGU RESIDENCE, BANGALORE
Surfaces Reporter

SEGU RESIDENCE, BANGALORE

The Segu Residence is a home in Bangalore that belongs to an expatriate family transitioning to the process of acclimatizing to a renewed style of dwelling in urban condominium abodes. Nestled in the heart of South Bangalore, this home is an honest collaboration between the design studio and the homeowners — the client brought hands-on expertise to the forefront with his honed experience in the sphere of project management and execution. The focused brief emphasized the curation of a minimalistic home that is modern and elegant in its demeanor — a coherent brief that enabled the home to become a literal extrapolation of the conceptual sketches that manifested themselves as devices of design.

time-read
5 mins  |
June - July 2021
BUILDING STRUCTURES - CRACKS & SEEPAGES IN CONCRETE
Surfaces Reporter

BUILDING STRUCTURES - CRACKS & SEEPAGES IN CONCRETE

ALSO LAUNCH OF - NUVOCO CONCRETO CWT PLUS

time-read
10 mins  |
June - July 2021
AR CHRISTOPHER BENNINGER CREATES RS 700 CR SASSOON HOSPITAL PLAN | PUNE
Surfaces Reporter

AR CHRISTOPHER BENNINGER CREATES RS 700 CR SASSOON HOSPITAL PLAN | PUNE

Veteran architect Christopher Benninger has created an ambitious Rs 700 Cr plan for the redevelopment of Sassoon Hospital, Pune out of which Rs 100 Cr has already been sanctioned by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for the initial phase. According to the hospital authorities, the Master Plan is created to develop the hospital for the next hundred years. The plan was submitted to the state and the phase-wise development will commence with the construction of hostels for postgraduate doctors and nurses.

time-read
2 mins  |
June - July 2021
A SOLID SURFACES & ALUMINIUM FAÇADE
Surfaces Reporter

A SOLID SURFACES & ALUMINIUM FAÇADE

JK House Delhi by Conarch Architects

time-read
3 mins  |
June - July 2021