---
title: "Solid Surface Fabrication | Corian-Style Countertops | OpenSpindle"
description: "Get quotes for custom solid surface parts from qualified manufacturing partners. Seamless, thermoformable acrylic surface for countertops, sinks, and cladding. Upload a drawing."
canonical: https://openspindle.com/materials/solid-surface
---

# Get quotes for custom solid surface parts

Solid surface is a non-porous acrylic or polyester composite that fabricates into seamless countertops, sinks, and cladding, and it can be thermoformed into curves and repaired by sanding. Upload your drawing and we'll source competitive quotes from qualified manufacturing partners.

## Solid surface types shops run most

Solid surface is specified by resin type and thickness. These are the choices you will make when you order.

### Acrylic solid surface

The premium type (Corian-style): fully thermoformable into tight curves, seamless, and repairable. The default for high-end counters and sinks.

**Best for:** Countertops, integrated sinks, curved cladding

### Polyester solid surface

A lower-cost resin with brighter color options and good hardness, but more brittle and less thermoformable than acrylic.

**Best for:** Budget counters, vertical surfaces, color-critical work

### Acrylic-polyester blend

A blend that balances cost against thermoformability and durability, common in mid-range product lines.

**Best for:** General countertop and surfacing work

### 6 mm vs 12 mm sheet

Thin 6 mm sheet is used for cladding and vertical surfaces and built up at edges; 12 mm is the standard for horizontal countertops.

**Best for:** 6 mm: walls and cladding. 12 mm: countertops

## Material Properties

Representative values for acrylic solid surface. Exact numbers vary by brand and resin.

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Density | ~1.7 g/cm³ |
| Porosity | Non-porous; no sealing needed, hygienic |
| Max service temp | ~90 °C (195 °F); use trivets for hot pots |
| Thermoformability | Acrylic grades bend into curves when heated |
| Repairability | Scratches and burns sand out; renewable surface |
| Seaming | Chemically bonded into inconspicuous seamless joints |
| Machinability | Excellent; routes and cuts with woodworking tooling |
| Stain resistance | High; non-porous surface resists most staining |

Solid surface is renewable and seamless, its two signature advantages over stone: scratches sand out and joints disappear.

## Stock Forms

- **Sheet & slab** -- Routed, cut, and seamed into counters, sinks, and cladding.

## Processes That Run This Material

- [CNC Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-machining.md) -- Routed cutouts, edge profiles, and inlays with woodworking tooling.
- [Waterjet Cutting](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/waterjet-cutting.md) -- Precise sink and fixture cutouts with clean edges.
- [Laser Cutting](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/laser-cutting.md) -- Detailed cutouts and signage from thin sheet.

## Finishes

Solid surface finish is a surface texture, not a coating, and it can be changed after fabrication.

- **Matte / satin** -- The standard hygienic finish; hides scratches and is easy to maintain and renew.
- **Semi-gloss** -- A brighter surface for a more polished look, which shows wear sooner and is renewable by sanding.
- **High gloss** -- A polished finish for feature surfaces; higher maintenance and best on vertical or low-traffic areas.
- **Seamless bonding** -- Sheets and edge build-ups are chemically bonded and sanded flush into inconspicuous seams.

The finish level can be adjusted on site by sanding, and burns or scratches are repaired the same way. Call out the finish and edge profile on your drawing.

## Applications

- Architecture & construction
- Commercial interiors
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Retail fixtures
- Residential kitchens & baths

Solid surface is used wherever a seamless, hygienic, repairable surface matters.

## How It Compares

How solid surface compares to the stone surfaces fabricators quote.

### [Quartz](https://openspindle.com/materials/quartz.md)

- Quartz is far harder, more scratch- and heat-resistant, and needs no renewing
- Solid surface is seamless, thermoformable, warmer to the touch, and repairable by sanding
- Quartz seams are visible; solid surface joins are invisible

**Verdict:** Choose solid surface for seamless, curved, repairable surfaces and integrated sinks. Choose quartz for maximum hardness and heat resistance.

### [Granite](https://openspindle.com/materials/granite.md)

- Granite is a natural stone: harder, heat-resistant, and unique in pattern, but porous and needing sealing
- Solid surface is non-porous, seamless, and consistent in color, and never needs sealing
- Granite has visible seams and cannot be thermoformed or sanded to renew

**Verdict:** Choose solid surface for seamless, hygienic, consistent surfaces. Choose granite for natural stone character and heat resistance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is solid surface made of?

Solid surface is a composite of acrylic or polyester resin filled with mineral (usually alumina trihydrate) and pigment, cast into sheets. Corian is the best-known brand. It is non-porous all the way through, so it can be sanded, seamed invisibly, and thermoformed, unlike stone or laminate.

### Can solid surface be repaired if scratched or burned?

Yes, that is one of its main advantages. Because the color runs through the full thickness, scratches, burns, and stains sand out and the surface is renewed to look new. This is why it is popular in high-traffic commercial and healthcare settings.

### Is solid surface heat resistant?

Moderately. It tolerates warmth but can scorch or deform under a hot pan (above about 90 C), so trivets are recommended. If a surface must take direct high heat, quartz or granite is a better choice. Any minor heat damage can be sanded out.

### How is solid surface different from quartz?

Solid surface is a softer acrylic composite that is seamless, thermoformable, and repairable but scratches and scorches more easily. Quartz is an engineered stone that is much harder and more heat-resistant but has visible seams and cannot be thermoformed or renewed. Solid surface wins on seamlessness and integrated sinks; quartz wins on durability.

### What files should I send for a solid surface part?

A dimensioned drawing or DXF of the layout with cutouts, plus a STEP model for any thermoformed or 3D geometry. Include the resin type and color, sheet thickness, edge profile, finish level, sink and fixture cutouts, and seam locations so the fabricator can quote accurately.

## Related Materials

- [Quartz](https://openspindle.com/materials/quartz.md)
- [Granite](https://openspindle.com/materials/granite.md)
- [Marble](https://openspindle.com/materials/marble.md)
- [Quartzite](https://openspindle.com/materials/quartzite.md)
- [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md)
- [Polycarbonate](https://openspindle.com/materials/polycarbonate.md)

## Get solid surface quotes

Upload your drawing and we'll source competitive quotes from qualified manufacturing partners that cut, route, thermoform, and seam solid surface.