Avonite.org

Avonite

Avonite is a solid surface material that is made for kitchen countertops. That is the main use anyways, there are some smaller products that feature this great material such as address plaques that are made from this solid surface. There are many questions about this material and we hope to answer most, if not all of them for you.

Even though it is a solid surface, we do not recommend that you chop food directly on the surface. It sounds kind of weird, especially since many cutting boards are made of this material. But the fact is, each time you bring the knife down on the surface it will create tiny marks. The more stuff you chop, the more noticeable the marks will be. That's why we suggest you still use a cutting board.

Another potentially damaging practice you will want to avoid is placing hot pans and trays directly on the surface. It is true that the material is more durable than Formica. But these types of practices will slowly wear down the product and cause undesired results. Treat your counters with care and they will last for many years to come.

Let's break down countertop surfaces, because they can be tricky if you don't understand all the jargon. The main categories are; Solid Surface, Rock (like granite or marble), Ceramic, and Formica.

Solid Surface

This is the category that avonite falls in. These are higher quality surfaces for any countertop. These countertops will appear as if they are made of stone, but in fact they are made by mixing acrylic and stone pigments. They are non-porous surfaces, which means that bacteria and other small stuff can't get inside to live. One of the distinct features of solid surface countertops is that you do not need a separate product for your sink. They can be shaped as a flat countertop with a sink.

Solid surface countertops are considered high quality and will give your house nearly the same appeal and value as granite or marble countertops. Of course, you have to take into consideration the other rooms in the house for market value.

Rock

The main materials for countertops in this classification are granite and marble. These are a bit higher in regards to quality when you compare it with solid surface and ceramic countertops. These are typically the most expensive countertops that you can purchase. Each countertop can vary in quality due to the source which it is taken from. These require more maintenance than solid surface counters. One way to have granite or marble countertops at a cheaper price is to buy tiled version. These are cheaper as it will not be one giant slab of rock. But then you have to deal with the grout that connects the tiles. It can be annoying to clean and maintain.

Ceramic

These countertops are made from tile. They are comparable to solid surface counters in value and appeal. Some people consider them inferior because the surface is uneven. This can also create problems cleaning and maintaining your tile countertops.

Formica

This is the average countertop. It's feels kind of like a plastic wood. That's an odd description, but it fits well. These are the lowest quality countertops and the cheapest to purchase and install.