Acrylic stone kitchen worktop. Stylish examples.

The countertop (top) is the most loaded and most often the most expensive place in the kitchen. At the moment, there are many materials that can be applied to the kitchen countertop..

These are materials such as:

Chipboard;
MDF;
from acrylic stone;
quartz;
natural granite;
solid wood;
natural marble;
ceramic tiles and steel.

The main requirements for a kitchen countertop are:

waterproof and moisture resistant;
resistance to mechanical stress;
ease of care;
resistance to aggressive environments (alkali, acids);
life time;
maintainability.

When choosing a countertop, focus on quality

This article tells in detail about one of the best options in terms of price-quality ratio – acrylic stone. It consists of acrylic resin, mineral chips and colored pigments, which are poured into the shape required by the customer, which is why this type of countertop is called “liquid stone”.

Features of acrylic countertops

Acrylic stone countertops are increasingly found in kitchens, the reason for this is the many features of such a product..

The product looks monolithic. The connection is seamless, so it can be of any shape (semicircle, oval, curved transitions).

2. Due to the wide choice of colors and textures from different manufacturers, it will satisfy any design whim. Natural materials, in turn, are very limited in these two parameters..

Acrylic stone countertop is a real find for designers

3. Durable, resistant to aggressive environment, there is no radioactive background.

Acrylic stone countertops are safe to use

4. Does not absorb dirt and other dyes. For example, if you pour red wine on a wooden tabletop, then the trace will be very problematic to remove, on an acrylic tabletop it is enough to wipe it with a cloth.

Acrylic stone countertop does not absorb dirt

5. Easier to transport and install due to relatively low weight.

The table top is easy to install due to its low weight

There is a widespread myth that such a tabletop is monolithic, but this is not the case. By itself, such a tabletop is MDF sheathed with “acrylate”, laminated chipboard.

Moreover, such a top will be cheaper than marble or granite and therefore more optimal for the kitchen..

Acrylic worktop in the kitchen interior

Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic countertops

The advantages of such a countertop are the following factors..

The price is lower than for countertops made of natural stone or agglomerate. Advice! The simpler the kitchen set, the simpler the countertop, this is not the case where the marble top will look good together with the plywood set..

The worktop should be combined with the kitchen set

2. The absence of seams makes cleaning and appearance easier.

Seamless table top makes cleaning easy

3. Huge selection of colors and textures. Note! As practice shows, light countertops made of such material are much more practical than dark ones. The dark ones have more visible scratches and minor damages, and the matte ones are less damaged by scratches..

Light countertop is the most advantageous combination

4. The top is often sold with a built-in sink made of the same material – in the end it looks very neat and stylish.

Light-colored worktop with built-in sink

5. Easily repaired without replacing the entire surface. Scratches are polished, and chips and cracks can be filled with special mixtures.

Cracks and scratches can be easily repaired

6. High impact resistance.

Acrylic top withstands shock well

7. Resistance to alkali and aggressive acids.

If you accidentally spill vinegar, don’t worry. The countertop will not deteriorate

8. The surface has no pores, which means it does not absorb odors, fats, dirt. Mold-free and water-repellent.

Acrylic countertop does not absorb dirt or mold

9. More pleasant and warmer than a countertop made of natural materials.

The acrylic countertop is much warmer than the natural materials countertop

10. Ideal for complex designs.

Acrylic worktop – ideal for complex design solutions

11. Does not fade, does not lose its color.

Acrylic worktop does not lose its appearance for a long time

The disadvantages of such a coating are the following..

Most damaged by scratches, can be wiped and washed only with a smooth sponge.
Hot dishes may melt.
More expensive than simple plastic and wood surfaces.
Difficult to install, mainly produced only by the craftsmen of the manufacturer’s or distributor’s company.
Long term of production – from 3 weeks.

Pros and cons of acrylic countertops

Choosing an acrylic kitchen countertop

Regarding the issue of choosing such a countertop, there are many companies on the market that will claim that this is the best material, but first of all, before buying, they should clarify the following questions.

What is the thickness of the acrylic top layer. Acceptable both in terms of price and further operation is considered to be a thickness of 8 to 12 mm. Why is it important? A surface that is too thin will not have all of the above properties, for example, a deep scratch or cut will quickly open access to the lower substrate, which will further compromise its sanitary and hygienic properties.

Choosing a countertop, do not go wrong with the size. Too thin may not have the desired characteristics

Who is the manufacturer? The following companies do not save on their goods: Corian, Rehau, Hi-Macs, Staron, the rest of the manufacturers were noticed frequent disruptions of technological processes due to which the service life was significantly reduced.

Rehau Acrylic Smithy Top

How much will it cost to grind scratches and fill in small chips and cracks. After each polishing after the next polishing, the worktop is less and less susceptible to damage..

When choosing a countertop, specify how much it will cost to polish

As already mentioned, the material is universal in its shape and it will be difficult to immediately navigate with regard to standard sizes, such countertops in 70% of cases are made to order. But there is a certain framework into which you need to “fit” in the manufacture.

The finished product is 38 mm thick.
The width of the product can be from 40 to 80 cm.Over 80 cm is made in parts due to difficulties in installation and transportation.
The length of one sheet of acrylic stone can be from 2400 to 3000 mm.

Certain standards must be followed in the manufacture of acrylic countertops. When ordering a worktop for your kitchen, try to take them into account

Installation features

Installation is the most responsible in the matter of choosing a countertop for the kitchen, the process is complex and serious. This is related to the following points.

Complexity of designs.
The dimensions of the structure – the larger and more massive, the more difficult.
Number of details. Each detail is adjusted at the factory, during the production process, and at the installation site they are tried on at the bases.

Installation of acrylic stone countertops

The entire final appearance of not only the product, but also the kitchen as a whole will depend on the quality of the installation..

Installation sequence.

All joints are thoroughly degreased with acetone.
Apply glue on a polyester base and glue the parts together.
After 10-15 minutes, the glue dries up and the seams are degreased again with acetone. Thus, removing excess glue and styrene.
Next, the joint is polished..

The entire final appearance of not only the product, but also the kitchen as a whole will depend on the quality of the installation..

After assembling the structure, the worktop must be fixed on the kitchen base, cut through the holes for communications, sockets, hob and sink. Installation of a countertop made of acrylic stone can take from several hours to several days, it all depends on the complexity of the project.

At the end of the installation work, the tabletop must be covered with a protective layer..

Installing a kitchen countertop. Hole cutting

Note! The cost of installation usually costs 10% of the cost of the product, but most companies can do this as a promotion for free..

A feature of the installation of an acrylic tabletop is the following points.

Docking edges are pre-processed on the thinnest professional machine in production conditions. The joints on the surface must be additionally reinforced with special strips made of the same artificial stone from which the structure itself is made.

Worktop processing on the machine

Holes can only be made with a cutter, if you use a different tool, you can get cracks and chips.

Worktop processing. Milling

The place near the stove must be additionally insulated to avoid fire hazardous situations.

To avoid fire situations, there must be thermal insulation near the slab.

As a rule, sinks are offered to be mounted directly at the production site in order to reduce open spaces. Eliminating sinks that are attached to the tabletop.

Remember that it is better to entrust such work to specialists than to try to install everything yourself..

The most important thing is to trust your taste when choosing such an important kitchen element as a countertop. According to many characteristics, acrylic stone is one of the best options for your kitchen..