Basics to Know Before You Buy the Acrylic Solid Surface counter top

For homeowners on a budget who want a quality countertop, solid surface is a perfect midrange material for durability, beauty, and easy maintenance. Homeowners who want to upgrade from laminate—but who still want an affordable countertop—often gravitate to solid surface material.

Solid surface countertops are a synthetic blend of minerals and resins, offering a plethora of colors and patterns to choose from. This versatility, coupled with their non-porous nature, makes them a sought-after choice for many homeowners, particularly for kitchen countertops. A solid surface countertop is an excellent option for those who value both aesthetics and functionality in their home.

Solid Surface Countertop Cost

While solid surface countertops are not the most affordable countertop option, they are much more budget-friendly than luxury materials like granite, marble, and quartz. You can expect to pay between $10 and $80 per square foot for the material. Installed, you're looking at between $50 to $140 per square foot (labor + material). By contrast, granite and marble will cost around $50 to $200 per square foot with installation.

Solid surface countertops are a midrange option that offer a stone-like look without a stone countertop price.

Solid Surface Countertop Installation

Solid surface countertops are mostly installed by professionals, but they can be DIY-installed on a limited basis.

Our instructions presume the following steps have already been completed:

1. Accurate measurements have been taken and provided to the manufacturer. Or you know the exact size of the pieces you will need to cut to build your countertop. Most manufacturers cut the countertops to the homeowner’s specifications.
2. The old countertop has been removed. Or, new cabinets have been installed and leveled.
3. The locations of countertop joints have any additional supports already installed.
4. Cleats, or additional supports, have been mounted in corners or open areas where cabinets are not there to support the countertop.
5. The backsplash has been removed, as in a remodel, and the wall made smooth. Or, any damage to the back wall has been repaired and sanded smooth.

Professional Installation

After the technician measures the top of the base cabinets for a fit, the solid surface slabs are cut down to size. Sink cut-outs and range cut-outs are made with a saw or router. Then, the edges are sanded smooth.

Adjoining solid surface slabs are glued end-to-end. The top is sanded down and honed to the desired finish.