Where can you can find Solid Surface and what can be made from it?
Nicola Barden
Award Winning expert in luxury Solid Surfaces, official partner of Corian, HIMACS, Staron, Hanex & more. Custom worktops, reception desks, vanity units & more for commercial & residential projects | CPD | BITA member
Welcome to All Things Solid Surface
Have you ever noticed a funky, curved, reception desk and thought wow, that’s cool?
It was quite probably made from Solid Surface.
This month, I am digging deeper into the fascinating world of Solid Surface, discussing where you can find this amazingly versatile material, what can actually be made from it, and why it is the natural choice for many projects.
But before I embark on the wide variety of places that you can find Solid Surface, I want to quickly recap on the main attributes of the material that enable it to be used in so many projects worldwide
How do we know something is Solid Surface?
It still surprises me how many people are unaware of the existence of Solid Surface yet walk past it on a huge number of occasions and in a wide variety of places.
Although Solid Surface has been around in the UK since 1979, and is a well established product, I find that it is often confused with other hard surface materials such as quartz, engineered stone, granite, stone and marble.
Although they are not identical to each other, they each look and feel luxurious.
So, how can we tell them all apart?
Solid Surface is a more modern, contemporary looking material. It has a warmer feel to the touch. This material can be worked into larger shapes and sizes, with no obvious joins, than the other materials mentioned. It can be curved and shaped and have sinks and vanity sinks integrated to appear as one homogenous piece.
One important point to make about the use of Solid Surface is that although everything manufactured is hand made and to a bespoke design, because it is a uniform material, it is also totally replicable.
So, if there is a project where a large quantity of a certain shape and size is needed, this can be achieved using Solid Surface.
Where can you find Solid Surface?
When I talk about where Solid Surface may be encountered, I mention some of the high end places it has been used, but the truth of it is that Solid Surface is used literally EVERYWHERE…
If you venture into an airport, or a shopping centre, offices, restaurants, universities, schools, museums, coffee shops, hairdressers, laboratories, or bars etc you are bound to see it, even if you don’t realise.
It is often a favoured choice in commercial and domestic kitchens and also in high end residential developments.
Solid Surface is used extensively in the following areas:
COMMERCIAL
Offices
Office Blocks
Head Office
Warehouse
Factories
Shopping Centres
Retail Units
We have been fortunate to have worked on a number of commercial projects over the years, Solid Surface is the perfect solution due to the ability to manipulate into shapes and sizes that other materials are not capable of achieving with such ease. It can be found in just about any area where a durable, yet beautiful surface solution is desired.
EDUCATION
Schools
Training Centres
Universities
Hall of Residence
Education is an area where Solid Surface works well – as there are many places experience high traffic and is, therefore, used for many applications including reception desks and vanity units for the public areas.
HEALTHCARE, SCIENCE & PHARMACEUTICAL
Hospitals
Care Homes
Health Centres
Laboratories
Pharmaceuticals
Solid Surface works amazingly well in the healthcare industry as it is so easy to keep clean, stain resistant, non porous, germ repellent, durable and perfect for where a sterile environment is needed to be created and maintained.
Laboratories are another area where Solid Surface works perfectly.
Often used as laboratory tops due to the fact they are so durable, hygienic, germ repellent and resistant to most chemicals (excluding acetone and formaldehyde).
HOSPITALITY
Restaurants
Coffee shops
Bars
Nightclubs
Hotels
In hospitality Solid Surface really comes into its own, as it is so easy to clean and maintain, whilst remaining crisp and stylish. There really is something for everyone to enjoy.
Places where you will notice Solid Surface include, but are not limited to:
LEISURE & TOURISM
Heritage
Art & Culture (Museums, Galleries)
Sports venues
Music venues
Theme Parks
Playcentres
Solid Surface is often chosen for use in the leisure and tourism industry, because it can be engraved and manipulated into different shapes and sizes. One project that stands out for us in this particular arena was the Royal Kingdom of Bahrain, which we won because the black solid surface desired we managed to thermoform into a larger curved radius that can be achieved using other materials. Even Royalty loves Solid Surface!
What can be made?
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RESIDENTIAL / PROPERTY
Private homes
Luxury Tower Block Developments
Care Homes
Public Housing
Stately Homes
Luxury Private Residences
We are involved in residential projects on a daily basis, people choose Solid Surface for their homes for a number of reasons, it is aesthetically pleasing, as well as being highly practical and functional
We have been fortunate to have been involved in a huge number of residential projects. As there is such a wide choice of colours and brands available, coupled with the ability to design and manipulate into different shapes and sizes, it has the durability needed which combines with the design aesthetics to produce a luxury product.
TRAVEL
Airports
Train stations
Solid Surface is used very extensively in airports and train stations because of the ability to replicate designs, combined with the ease of maintenance, durability and the fact it can be manufactured into different shapes and sizes.
Over the years Solid Surface has been used in many of the following areas:
PERSONAL CARE
Spas
Hair Salons
Beauty Salons
Solid Surface, being waterproof and easy to clean, is becoming increasingly popular within the beauty industry, as it is an easy solution to keep looking crisp and inviting as well as being tough and durable. It is used extensively for
What else can be made From Solid Surface?
As I have already mentioned, Solid Surface can be used for walling, curved reception desks, teapoints, trough sinks, kitchen counter tops, bar tops, and so much more - the limit of possibilities is literally endless.
Below are photos of some of our most requested / popular products, to give you an idea of the versatility of the material within the same genre – notice how each design is completely unique!
There is no one rule fits all for each type of design – i.e sinks etc.
Because Solid Surface is so versatile, it lends itself to many designs, the limit really is the imagination.
Due to its chemical composition it can be heat treated (three dimensionally thermoformed) to create curves and shapes. The material can be heated to 168 degrees C, one minute per mm sq, which basically makes the material more malleable and able to be manipulated and formed into different shapes and sizes.
This makes it perfect for when a feature design is required, such as the precision fabricated propeller walling shown below, where each piece of walling was thermoformed, geometrically shaped and fabricated to a very specific design, to create this design feature. This photo was from the first building we were involved with at Forbury Place, we also produced a mirror image in another building, to continue the brand identity required.
Forbury Place- designed by Aukette Swanke Architects
It can be used to create enormous reception desks with different colour inlays and curves that other materials cannot achieve, giving the overall appearance of being completely homogenous and one.
We can get creative with it, look at this battle ship shaped desk, with engraving.
Or this train, completely handcrafted from Solid Surface:
Using Solid Surface, products can become more than just functional items, they can become works of art and a feature in themselves.
Solid Surface – The Natural Choice
For many projects Solid Surface can be the natural choice, why?
Because it can be joined together inconspicuously, does not require sealing, can be manipulated into quirky shapes and sizes, is non porous, germ repellent, stain resistant, water proof and easy to keep and maintain.
Projects that need that additional layer of hygiene, or peace of mind that should it be damaged, it can be repaired in situ, such as in kitchens, teapoints and reception areas, lend themselves beautifully to Solid Surface.
In areas where there is a lot of traffic, Solid Surface works well as it is easy to clean, hard wearing and durable. It is also covered by a ten year manufacturers warranty.
It is a stylish product that lends itself to cutting edge and contemporary designs, with a huge selection of brands, including Corian ®, Hi Macs, Staron, Hanex, Durasein, Durat, Tristone, Kerrock etc and colours available to choose from.
If you are looking for something that combines luxury, style, ease of maintenance and durability, then this product is certainly worth considering. It is a worthy companion to all the other high end materials available on the market today.
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Solid Surface is a material, that once you really grasp its proper worth, is actually a formidable addition to any project.
From relatively small beginnings, as a material available only in white and predominantly produced and intended for use as a kitchen work top material to rival granite and stone, Solid Surface has evolved beyond all recognition.
Now, whilst eminently functional, it is also revered as a material which can be used as a feature element in so many projects.
If you want to find out more about what Solid Surface actually is and how it is made, you can read last months’ newsletter here.
I hope the information in this newsletter has proved valuable to you. Next month we will be taking a closer look inside our factory, and walking you through the manufacturing process of a project, from sheet material through the stages of fabrication to the final installation.
If you have enjoyed my content, please do give me a follow or connect with me to see more of my every day posts, subscribe to this newsletter, or maybe sign up for my b-weekly newsletter here, this is the place where I provide hints, tips and news.
I appreciate you reading, see you next time.
Nicola
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Nicola Barden is the Managing Director of her family business, BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd, working with interior fit out companies, architects, project managers, specialist joinery companies. We, at BSF, are always open to chat about what we do and to offer advice and information, as we manufacture high end, bespoke counter surfaces from Solid Surface, a high end man made stone, for both commercial and residential projects, website www.bsfsolidsurfaces.com
Nicola can be contacted on nicola@bsfsolidsurfaces.com or give her, or any of the team a call on 01277 263603 if you want to chat about anything, or nothing in particular.
In her spare time she can be found with her husband, son, two cats and crazy dog. They enjoy going to the the park, the rides, for walks to the woods and anything that allows their energetic son to expend his endless amounts of energy
Helping the food and drink industry with their marketing with stunning photography. Follow me at #HungryForYourFood for tips and advice
2ySo many uses and they look amazing. I love to photograph beautiful interiors like the ones you are producing.
Experienced B2B Sales and Business Development Professional
2yThanks for this, very instructive!
Managing Director at O'Neil Property Solutions
2yLoving the consistency Nicola Barden Solid Surface Specialist ,looking forward to seeing what new information you got lined up for us. Great job.
Partnerships, Sales, Brand Strategy and Operations Director, easyStorage, Black Sheep Coffee
2yI did not know much about solid surfaces till I began reading your posts, Nicola Barden Solid Surface Specialist. Very informative. Well done.