We were all set to go with a Corian counter top with undermount sink in our bathrooms (new home construction). My builder just got new products and they had a surface that looked just like corian but it is called LG Hi-Macs acrylic solid surface. Does anyone know anything about this? It costs the same as the Corian. We like one of the colors they offer.

I am looking to replace my 18-year-old counter top, which we got for free: white tile. My husband is in the business, granite, Silestone, Corian,Zodiac, etc. etc. he gets at a great price. So, of course, I want wood. Not going to happen. Also, I know that wood would have to be babied and I know I'll get lazy, or out-of-my-mind busy with Christmas dinner and place something scorching hot down on the counter and that's the end of that. I know myself. The white tile has served me well, you can put anything on it and it's fine. You just have to keep on cleaning the grout - it was a lot of upkeep and I'm glad to be replacing it. However, I swore I would never get granite, because I tend to not like to do what everyone else is doing. Well, wood is out, (darn!). I have natural cherry cabinets, still gorgeous, not replacing them. I saw a display kitchen with natural cherry cabinets and colonial gold granite and fell in love. I love the natural movement of the stone, I love the sparkle embedded in the stone, I love the relatively low-maintenance of the stone, and I love that it's a natural material. Ask yourself: what am I like in the kitchen - will I be careful? Do I want to fuss with keeping something continually clean? (i.e. white tile with grout - yikes!) We all have to make compromises to accommodate our manners in the kitchen. You want to get something that you'll love for years to come. You certainly don't want to have to babysit your counter tops! Take your time - do your research, make a decision that's a balance between beauty and brains! Good luck! Enjoy the journey!

I had an estimate from HD for quartz and Corian. The Quartz (LG or Silestone) was a little cheaper even if I added the cost of the sink. Is the estimate based on paying for a whole slab? i am still working on my decision but know I want a white marble look. Besides HD I found a place that sells some quartz by the sq foot. A remnant might work for us too as long as it is the right look. Do you think you'd be happy with the remnant? Unless a big difference in price or way out of your budget, I'd try to find something you will really be happy with.

Whether any surface scratches depends on how you use it! I've lived with laminate and Corian, and that's what I've learned. I've lived with laminate with and without scratches, it's all in how you care for it. And, we bought our current house with Corian that was already at least 5 years old. Is it scratched? In places, yes. But because of the pattern, we can't see them unless we look at it just so, with the light just so. (I naively thought the U countertop didn't have seams until I "met" Joseph here. I examined, saw them, and now I know where they are, and I still can't see them unless I look for them. )