Acrylic Worktops Buying Guide

Acrylic Worktops Features And Benefits

Acrylic worktops are mostly associated with kitchens and bathrooms but the material itself, a resin comprising of plastic, polymers and natural minerals, can be used for a multitude of purposes including wall coverings, wet rooms, shower trays, furniture and splashbacks.

The primary feature of acrylic worktops is the seamless appearance of the finished product and the benefit of this is that any joins required will be invisible, leaving nowhere for water or dirt to accumulate. For this reason you will often see the material in use in hospitals, dentists, vets, anywhere where hygiene is a primary concern as you can see in the image below. We are going to focus on its use in domestic kitchens and bathrooms.

How can I purchase acrylic kitchen worktops?

This type of kitchen worktop is available in two formats, pre-fabricated which include brands like Hanex, Staron, Corian, Tristone and modular from brands such as Minerva, Mistral, Earthstone and Maia. Which type you choose will determine how you purchase it and who will install the worktops in your kitchen or bathroom.

The materials in either type are essentially the same but Hanex, for example, comes in 13mm sheets applied to an MDF subframe, the finished worktop can be any thickness and depth of your choice. This work is undertaken by specialist fabricators who will make a template to work from once the base units of your kitchen have been installed, fabricate the worktops and then return to install them once they have been made. There will be a charge for the template, fabrication and installation of this type of worktop.

Acrylic worktops being fabricated.

Modular acrylic worktop like Minerva are usually 20mm thick and all of this is made up of acrylic. They are sold in standard lengths and depths, the material required will be calculated from your final kitchen plan and the worktops will be fitted by your kitchen installer.

Undermount, onset, butler and mixa sinks can be used with either type of worktop as can upstands, splashbacks and end panels etc and the untrained eye would struggle to tell the difference between the two finished products.

Some colours of acrylic are not suitable for use in kitchens or bathrooms so ensure your kitchen retailer covers this before you make a final decision.

For more information on kitchen and worktop installation visit Kent Home Improvements at http://www.hikent.co.uk/kitchen_worktop_fitter.html