Corian is heat resistant and remains undamaged in temperatures up to 212ºF. However, as with all countertop materials, it is important to minimize direct heat exposure to protect your surface. Using heat pads is recommended.
Corian is very heat resistant, but not heat proof. Sometimes long-term exposure to heat can cause your Corian to crack. One of the common areas this can occur is at the cook-top.
Heat Resistance
This is roughly a tie between the two materials with traditional kitchen use. Corian surface scorching can be sanded out and repolished. Quartz has a higher heat resistance for hot skillets.
DuPont™ Corian® solid surface sheets up to ½ inch (12.3 mm) thick maximum gauge have a Flame Spread Index of 20 and Smoke Developed Index of 10 and are UL Listed under UL File number BTAT.
While Corian® Solid Surface is heat resistant, as with all countertop materials, it is important to minimize direct heat exposure to protect your surface and investment. Important — Do not place hot pots, pans, etc. directly on the countertop surface.
Lightweight and perfect for vertical applications
Thinner porcelain (6mm) provides a significant weight reduction over thicker quartz or granite, which makes it ideal for vertical applications like fireplaces and shower surrrounds.
In terms of durability, Corian tends to be more easily damaged by hot surfaces than natural stone. It's also more prone to scratches than surfaces like quartz and granite.
Granite is so heat resistant that you can place a hot dish directly on it without leaving marks or stains. When it comes to heat-resistant materials, quartz is your second-best bet. You can't easily scorch quartz, but you will want to use a hot pad before placing a dish directly on it, or you could damage the quartz.
Granite. One of the most heat-resistant options for kitchen countertops is granite. This natural stone is formed underground through a natural process incorporating high pressure and temperatures. Typically, the heat generated by cooking will not be high enough to cause damage.
Corian and other solid surface materials are generally warranted for 10 years; but in practice, they can easily last 30 years or more.
Boiling water alone will not damage your Corian® Solid Surface sink. However, it is a recommended practice to run cold water from the faucet while pouring boiling water into the sink. Always use the correct size pan on the burner and place it centrally. An overhanging pan scorches surrounding surfaces.
The type of dust produced by fabricating Corian® surfaces is considered nontoxic and is referred to as nuisance dust. Inhalation of these nontoxic particles can cause irritation to the nose, throat and upper airways.
There are 2 common BBQ styles that can be used with a Corian® benchtop, provided you follow the guidelines for managing excessive heat as outlined below. This “drop in” style of BBQ (fig 2) is the most common type of BBQ being installed into a Corian® benchtop.
No, Corian is nonporous. Unlike natural stone, Corian never needs sealing making it easy to live with and perfect for kitchen countertops, bathroom countertops, vanities, and many other surfaces! Corian is a beautiful, maintenance-free surface that is perfect for your new kitchen remodeling projects.
No. Corian® is colour stable and non-photosensitive. This is because it contains an acrylic binding agent that does not turn yellow. However, some materials that imitate Corian® do turn yellow if exposed to light owing to their different composition.
Natural stone materials like granite, marble and limestone require the application of a sealant to protect the countertop's finish. The heat and moisture from pans or other hot items you place on the countertop will eventually cause the sealant to weaken.
Our professional team at Kitchen Express does not advise placing a hot pot or pan on a granite countertop for several reasons. While granite is a strong and durable material, it is not meant for such hot temperatures such as holding a pot that was previously on a stove or a pan that was cooking in the oven.
While it is unlikely that tea and coffee mugs will burn through your quartz countertop, you do not want to risk it. Using coasters will protect your countertops from any burn and will help maintain them over time.
Cost. Corian costs $70 to $130 per square foot. Granite's pricing varies a lot according to appearance and coloring, but most granite goes for $40 to $150 per square foot.
In fact, the biggest difference between these materials lies in their resistance to heat. While quartz is not completely heat-resistant, it does perform better than Corian—hot pots and pans won't damage the surface of quartz if they're put down for a few seconds.
Caesarstone quartz generally costs more per square foot than Corian. Because quartz countertops are more durable and easier to maintain, however, the cost of ownership is typically less over time. Keep reading to learn more about why many consumers are willing to pay more for Caesarstone quartz.
Corian. This plastic material won't get as hot as other surfaces, but isn't suitable for an outdoor countertop as its colors will quickly appear splotchy when exposed to sunlight and scratches easily. And while it won't burn your hand if left in the sun, hot skillets or other cookware can damage it.
Corian® Solid Surface is a solid, nonporous, homogeneous surfacing material, composed of ~1/3 acrylic resin (also known as polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), and ~2/3 natural minerals.
The Versatility of Corian®
To create those curves, count on versatile Corian® solid surface. Flexible when heated, Corian® can be thermoformed into many shapes or worked like wood to give perfectly rounded edges.