Re: Kitchen Counter tops, Corian or Granite?
Granite does need to be sealed at least once a year. The lighter colors, or colors with more "veins" are more susceptible to staining than the darker, more solid colors. It is almost impossible to scratch or chip, and takes heat well. A stain, though, is forever.
Corian, or any of a hundred variants, is mostly acrylic, base on oil, and who's price lately shows it. It is 100% non-porous, and can not stain. It can scratch and burn, rather easily, but all "accidents" with corian can be sanded out. There are no seams either, anywhere, whereas with granite, there will almost always be a seam. Its very important you know WHO is fabricating and installing your product, not just the box store you buy it from. With granite and corian, the fabrication/install is EVERYTHING.I can not stress that enough.
Because granite is porous, it can not be used in commercial counters anywhere. Corian is widely used in commercial environments because of its non porosity.Quartz counters, which is a man engineered stone, is non porous, and does not need to be sealed. Names such as "Silestone, Caesarstone, Cambria" are Quartz counters.
Granite and quartz will almost always be shiny, corian is at its best when Matte finish.
