Every countertop needs some type of backsplash. Most countertop surfaces can only offer the standard 4" high, loose piece of backsplash with few design options. Solid surface on the other hand, offers an endless range of backsplash design ideas.
Because of the seamless attributes of solid surface, mixing and matching two or three backsplash treatments is simple and cost effective.
Here is a brief review of the variety solid surface brings to the backsplash.
Tile cove.
The picture demonstrates how a tile cove backsplash is fabricated to accept tile or any other vertical wall surface. Typically it is called 3/8" tile cove, meaning the top edge of the tile cove is 3/8" wide. When 1/4" tile is installed on top of it, you are left with a slight reveal. The thickness of the tile determines the width of tile cove ledge.
Using tile cove as a foundation for the tile serves a couple purposes. It makes for a clean and classy, almost seamless transition to your worktop, makes for easier cleaning, and reduces the chance of moisture getting behind the countertop and cabinets.
Cove Backsplash
Cove backsplash has many attributes and flexibility to give you the complete custom built-in look. The backsplash is integrally fused to the worktop forming a smooth, one piece splash and top.
Do you have a curved wall? No problem. Need to go around a few corners? Done. And when you add a scribe strip to the back of a 3" or 4” cove backsplash, with proper templating your cove backsplash can follow any wall irregularities and provides a custom built-in look.
Full Height Backsplash
One of the more exciting backsplash treatments in recent years is full height backsplash. An interesting technique is to use solid surface to simulate tile and grout lines. This is accomplished by using a computer controlled router (CNC). Virtually any design can be routed into solid surface. Below are just a few examples.
You can see how it is possible to get the look of tile and grout lines, but without dirt build-up or the need for sealing. Accents can be added as well to enhance the look. Most of the time when a full height solid surface backsplash is used, it is installed on top of tile cove. When seamed, you have a virtually waterproof and easy to clean worktop area.
This application can also be added to any counter surface from granite to engineered stone, making for some striking contrasts.
Solid surface backsplash adds value to your countertop through appealing designs and ease of living.
If you’re involved in any type of design that includes residential, healthcare or hospitality where water is used, you need a sink. In fact, sinks are so common we might minimize how much they can impact a good design. For the most part, the options you have in selecting a sink depends largely on what sink manufacturers produce.
The advantage of a solid surface sink is that you can design a sink that fits your approach to design. Solid surface fabrication techniques that include thermoforming, mold making, and CNC technology make it possible and affordable to design and fabricate sinks that fit your needs. Let’s examine a few of these thoughts in more detail.
Medical Application
As hospitals declare war on germs, solid surface has played a key role because of its non-porous surface. Surgical rooms need large scrub sinks to wash before surgery. One solution has been to design and fabricate surgeon scrub sinks out of solid surface which allows them to be engineered and fabricated in a practical way.
Notice the surgeon scrub sink you see in the picture. It has removable panels to allow maintenance crews access if work needs to be done. Put the panel back on and you have a workable and design pleasing sink.
Hospitality
Hotels have many rooms and because of the volume of sinks needed, the rooms tend to be generic. There frankly aren’t many options. But, a well thought, original design can make for a great look. Solid surface sinks give designer’s un-limited design possibilities.
Residential
When a homeowner remodels their kitchen they want it to stand out. Having a one of a kind kitchen is very pleasing. A custom solid surface sink can be that final touch in a beautiful kitchen. There are so many design ideas. How about a farmers sink? What about a sink that fits your needs as a cook? Solid surface sinks can also be mounted to other surfaces such as granite and concrete tops.
There is one point that needs to be cleared up concerning solid surface sinks. Many people feel they look dirty or scratch easy. This is simply not true. The dirt and scratches you see can be caused by two things. Your sink wasn’t sanded properly before it was installed or proper maintenance hasn’t been performed. Make sure your fabricator doesn’t minimize the importance of a good sanding job. A good rule of thumb is whatever sanding procedure was used to sand your top should be applied to the sink as well. For maintenance instructions do as your home care kit suggests.
Make a solid decision, think about a solid surface sink!
Solid surface, the next great surface? Hasn’t this product been around for a while? Well, yes it has, 42 years to be exact. Having said that, it is still one of the younger surfaces we have.
Solid surface is one of the few surfaces that transcends all aspects of design. You see it in the traditional countertops, but a new wave of designs and patterns are starting to sweep the industry. Many designers see the surface for all of its value. They take advantage of it’s translucently to create ambient lighting designs.
It can be anything from a surface to reflect light off of to set a mood, to making a traditional lampshade or lamp enclosure. The light illuminating from behind can be subtle yet inspiring, something that can not be duplicated by other surfaces.
Others look at the thermoforming capabilities. Yes, the material can be bent and shaped into a variety of objects from furniture, dishware, cabinets, wall cladding, etc.
Really the only limitation to what is achievable is the imagination of the designer.
A classic example of imagination and thoughtful design using Solid Surface is the Z-Island Kitchen by Zaha Hadid. It consists of two islands, wall cabinets and thermoformed wall cladding that emphasize sound and light technology. Take a look at the picture you see here. I also encourage you to do an Internet search regarding this island to fully appreciate what has been designed.
Now its likely Mrs. Smith on Main Street isn’t going to put this concept into her kitchen this year. But, there are many elements here that we can incorporate into kitchen design now. How about an LED message board on your full back splash? Or how about an island counter top that has a thermoformed dropped apron that reaches to the floor.
Industrial Designers have really taken hold of Solid Surface. They are always looking to leverage material capabilities. A classic example of this was at the ICFF show (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) held in May 2007 in New York City.
Dupont Corian’s booth that was inundated with Designers. Their imaginations were fired with what solid surface could become. Anything from watches to flooring.
I had the opportunity to interview one such designer. Demet Bilici one of the designers commissioned by DuPont’s 40 Years - 40 Designer’s event. Her design was called Desert Core. A few excerpts from the interview:
As a designer what parts of Solid Surface appeal to you?
“First of all, the material (especially Corian) has an emotional impact on the user. It has a silky look but hard when touched and this irony excites me. Also, it is like dough to shape. You are free to give it almost any form. You can thermoform it like plastic and then chip it like stone...”
How about colors, do they have an impact when designing?
“Most materials need to be painted as a final process (for the product to be presented on the market), and there is always a chance that you might not get the true color you wish. So you make many trials... But with solid surfaces, you know your choices from the start. Besides, the wide variety of colors and textures (be it granite or marble, trendy or old-fashioned) provides the designer with a chance to use solid surfaces in many different purposes and areas.”
Where do you see solid surface heading with regards the design world?
“I think the designers are beginning to realize the value solid surfaces bring to their works. At first it was seen as an expensive equivalent to plastics or granite. But slowly it gained its real value. It has a high-class look with regards to plastic, and it is much more easily manufactured with than granite or other stones... So I see solid surface as rising star shining in the design world of tomorrow."
The medical field also has recognized the uses of solid surface as a renewable surface and a partner in the war on germs hospitals face. Because of its non-porous surface germs cannot survive long on it. Making it an ideal surface to use. Not just for a counter top but also as walls, sinks, and cabinets. The same concept can be incorporated into the home environment as well.”
What about you? Are you ready for the next great surface? As a designer are you ready to bring your designs to the next level? As a consumer don’t just fall for a flat design, research the benefits of solid surface.
Solid surface is renewable, has unlimited design potential, is nice to touch and easy to work with.
We hope you have the opportunity
Welcome! Thanks for visiting our new web-site. Looking through the site you'll see what Sterling Surfaces does best. We provide innovative solutions for your solid surface needs, be it education, healthcare, residential, office, retail, and hospitality market segments. We are the web-based solid surface design studio you've been looking for. Looking through our gallery you will see that what ever project your involved with, there's an innovated solution from Sterling Surfaces.
The new website has some pretty cool features. One feature is the use of social network sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. These sites afford us the opportunity to spread the word about solid surface, truly the only surface that has unlimited design potential. Sterling is passionate about the architectural application of solid surface. Please accept our invitation to link up with us in one or more of our social network sites.
Finding architects, designers and millwork shops that feel the same is our goal. We can help you keep in touch with the newest ideas in the solid surface world. In this regard, the RSS feed will be of great interest to you. We plan on adding to our blog page weekly with news, facts, and features of cool and interesting projects involving solid surface. By subscribing to our RSS feed, you will be notified about what's new here at Sterling Surfaces and the solid surface world in general.
We hope the website will be a place you can go to and learn something. We love to help that's why where so excited about our new website and we hope you are as well.
Online sites are important tools for communication, but nothing is better than being able to talk to you directly. So please contact us. We would love to explain in further detail how solid surface can help you design beautiful architectural projects!
