quick question

[Dusty]

Hey guys,
You know that plastic like material the use to make sinks and bathroom counters with? What's it called.

[Bodger]

Hey guys,
You know that plastic like material the use to make sinks and bathroom counters with? What's it called.

....plastic? :grin::grin:

[Eieio]

Formica? is the most common name. Laminate countertop

[Dusty]

....plastic? :grin::grin:

Your such a great help------smart a$$

[Dusty]

Formica? is the most common name. Laminate countertop

No. It's a plastic like substance. Usually about 1/2" thick. It was real popular in bathrooms.

[neolitic]

No. It's a plastic like substance. Usually about 1/2" thick. It was real popular in bathrooms.

Corian?
Solid surface is the general term.

[Dusty]

Corian?
Solid surface is the general term.

No, no. Think '80's style. I know you have all torn this stuff out. This product often yellows over time.

[neolitic]

From that time period...
Formica, Corian, and cultured marble
is all I've got for you. :surrender:

[Bodger]

No. It's a plastic like substance. Usually about 1/2" thick. It was real popular in bathrooms.

Could it be Acrylic you mean?

[Eieio]

From that time period...
Formica, Corian, and cultured marble
is all I've got for you. :surrender:

Could it be Acrylic you mean?


I am disappointed I figured one of you old dudes would know the answer to this :grin:

[Blue]

Culltured marble is the old school sink and vanity all premolded. Still used exstensively today as a cost saving alternative.

[Dusty]

Acrylic. I think that is it. Did it often yellow and crack?

Could they have made cultured marble out of the same material?

[Eieio]

Acrylic. I think that is it. Did it often yellow and crack?

Could they have made cultured marble out of the same material?


Cultured marble looks like granite in appearance it would not be mistaken for plastic.

I would go with acrylic. but what you are describing still sounds like formica to me which looks like acrylic

[Bodger]

Cultured marble looks like granite in appearance it would not be mistaken for plastic.

I would go with acrylic. but what you are describing still sounds like formica to me which looks like acrylic

Was Formica solid surface though? I thought it was always laminated over a wood or composite substrate.

[Dusty]

I believe formica is actually a name brand often used to describe laminate which they manufacture.
Acrylic it is.

[Eieio]

Was Formica solid surface though? I thought it was always laminated over a wood or composite substrate.

They make a high end Formica top that unless you get up on it looks like a solid surface.

From 2 feet away even a train eye would be fool the stuff is that good.

[naptownCr]

I think Dusty has it right
There were some Corian knock off products earrly on that yellowed and were generally a plain white. Cultured marble had an acrylic coating on it and tended to crack and discolor particularly around the drain. Spider web cracks is what it looked like. These were usually around 3/4" thick.
The formica Product mentioned in the above post is called color core and is a high end laminate product that the color went all the way through. It was still a thin sheet laminate that was applied over a backing substrate

[KitchenSync]

Old dude'll answer here: it's called cultured marble. It has some element of marble dust along with binders and resins. I couldn't stand being around the stuff when they started cutting into it.

It was really popular in the late '70s/early '80s. Extreme hot water caused them to crack at the drain and the acrylic overlay (*nods to Bodger*) wore off quickly. You had to apply a Gel Gloss to them. Once the top coat was gone, they stained like crazy.

They still sell them. I think they've improved the binders and resins and figured out a way to stop the cracking at the drain, but having said all that, I haven't spec'd them in years.

[naptownCr]

I have no idea how this ended up here