Solid surface is a man-made material usually composed of marble dust, bauxite, acrylic resins and pigments. It is most frequently used for seamless installations in various interior applications. Solid surface is priced to compete with natural stone or quartz surfacing. It is available in many colours and patterns. The material can be formed to shape, which makes it appealing to commercial and industrial designers.

Solid surface is a non-porous low-maintenance surface. It can mimic the appearance of stone, wood and other naturally occurring materials, and can be joined invisibly by a trained craftsman. Typically manufactured in sheet form for fabrication into desired finished applications, solid surface can also be cast into a variety of shapes. Solid surface sheet can be heated and bent into three-dimensional shapes using a process called thermoforming, which adds to the versatility of the product. Solid surface is available in hundreds of colours and visual textures, ranging from solid colours to marbleized, granite effect or wood grain. Cultured marble, cultured granite, and cultured onyx describe solid surfaces coloured to resemble natural stone. Colour and design flexibility are key factors when choosing engineered composites over natural stone.

A major appeal of solid surface is its seamless nature. Engineered composites have a gel coat surface finish which makes them impervious to bacteria, staining and most of the problems inherent in natural stone. Solid surface sinks can be joined to the countertop surface with no gaps, which eliminates areas for water to collect and bacteria to grow. Integral backsplashes can also be created that follow the contours of the wall “seamlessly” and without gaps.

Should the material become scratched or broken, solid surface in most cases can be repaired quickly by a trained fabricator. Because the surface is solid throughout, a countertop that has undergone years of wear and tear can be refinished. The installed product is available in a variety of finishes, ranging from matte to high-gloss, Neonnex® Solid Surfaces recommends a matte or satin finish for ease of maintenance.

Certain high-heat applications (anything above 400° F /200° C) are discouraged, due to the danger of cracking. Because scratches in solid surface appear white to the human eye, most dark colours are not recommended for high use areas.

An emerging market for solid surface is in commercial and industrial settings, where its non-porous characteristics, combined with durability, renew-ability and form-ability make it the material of choice for many designers and architects. Also appealing, is the wide range of colours and textures, as well as the ability to custom-colour the material for large projects. Hospitals, in particular, employ large amounts of solid surface for sinks, showers, nursing stations and wall cladding, because its seamless properties eliminate gaps and crevices that harmful bacteria.