Davidrol -- that's an interesting suggestion. Am I understanding correctly that you'd take a whole section parallel to the sink and just make that whole section slope down toward the sink's edge? Like a beach I suppose? You wouldn't happen to have photos of such a thing, would you? Boxerpups? (the photo expert) Anyone with experience of this? Thanks! Another thing that sounds good about this is you could maybe make a small lip at the edge of this beach that would contain the water? And although I really haven't the first knowledge of how countertops are made or sanded, it sounds as if it might be easy-ish to do, not requiring special routers and all?

Similar experience to Debbie's. After nearly 25 years, Corian countertops here still look & function as new. My husband likes to slice & chop in one area directly on the counter. After a few years of that daily ritual, that section shows very faint marks in bright light. He buffs it out when I get around to fussing - easier than using & washing a cutting board every day to him. Really like being able to put burning hot pans on the counter with no worries. The white seamless sinks are Corian - a breeze to clean, quiet, same as the counters. The island's electric slide in range is an older glass top model with interchangeable modular sections. The burners are solid cast iron & get plenty hot, but likely less high heat output capacity than your gas Thermador. The repairman may be right about your cracking from heat. Might contact Thermador to see what they recommend as an insulator between the cooktop & counter. Perhaps the solid surface makers could also help with recommendations.

I was told that Corian was more expensive; however, in my neighborhood labor is the driving factor and all the prices came out within $10 of each other. Knowing what I know now, the only thing that I would do differently is to purchase a Corian that does not have a grain to it (I have witch hazel). When there is no grain there are no problems if you need a repair and the seams don't show. No repairs needed yet. So far it has been completely trouble-free and so much quieter, warmer and easier to maintain than the dark granite that I have on either side of the stove. I bought used kitchen cabinets and those cabinets surrounding the stove came with their granite intact. If your stove is on a different wall, I would consider a different surface by the stove as other people (darling husband for instance) have a tendency to pull hot pans right off the stove on to the countertop by the stove and I understand that Corian (all quartz and some granites) do(es) not hold up to heat. I would absolutely install Corian again.

Thanks, Joseph. Could I use Corian without a built up edge? I think I mentioned my cabinets are frameless, if that makes any difference. Is there any difference in solid surface brand prices? The kitchen designer I visited yesterday uses a distributor/fabricator that can get any brand, but she only wanted to show me Corian.