Impermeability: Unlike tile and quartz, which come as close to being non-porous as any countertop material,  solid surface’s non-porous surface keeps bacteria away, promoting a cleaner and more sanitary countertop.

Homogeneous: Unlike laminate or ceramic tile, solid surface  material  is consistent all the way through, from top to bottom. As a result, it visually fares better after impact than a multi-layered product like laminate.

Easy to Repair: No surface is completely impervious to scratches, but solid surface ranks between laminate and stone surfaces for scratch resistance. Any damages can be refinished or repaired by a qualified fabricator.

Wear: Homeowners who have solid surface countertops should be sure to use cutting boards, as solid surface can be scratched by repeated use of knives and sharp utensils. Dark colors/designs WILL show wear faster, but can generally be refinished in place.

Heat Deformation: Solid surface can hold up against boiling water’s temperature of 212 F and the occasional cookie sheet. It is recommended that a trivet (or the like) be used under crock pots and electric frying pans as they generally have minimal insulation on their bottoms.  

While praised by professional cooks, the stainless steel counters of restaurant kitchens are highly valued  but are not often cost-effective or practical in residential kitchens. Solid surface is affordable by a majority of homeowners.

Others such as wood and ceramic tile have limitations. Wood is porous, hard to clean, and can develop a slimy feel. Ceramic tile is hard and non-porous. When installed in numbers, grouted tile seams make food preparation more difficult. Solid surface is smooth all the way across with it’s inconspicuous seams.

Expensive and prone to cracking, even the popular granite and marble options are far from perfect. Solid surface rarely experiences the same through-body cracks that sometimes affect natural stone.

Laminate surfaces such as Formica are a sandwich of paper or fabric impregnated with resin, all of that glued onto particleboard. Laminate easily chips and its appearance lacks depth.

Polyester-based solid surface counters can be cheaper but are considered inferior to newer acrylic-based counters.  LG HiMacs and Staron, are 100 percent acrylic. Other products, like Formica Solid Surfacing and Mystera Surfaces, might be either acrylic or polyester.

Polyesters tend to impart more vibrant colors than acrylics but can be brittle and can shatter. Acrylics lend themselves to new design challenges like thermoforming.

Polyester solid surfaces are high-gloss yet are fairly brittle whereas acrylic solid surfaces have more of a flat, matte texture and is relatively durable. Because acrylic solid surfaces are less brittle and less susceptible to chipping and cracking during fabrication, manufactures, contractors and customers are starting to prefer acrylics over polysester. 

Easy to fabricate and care for, solid-surface countertops are still an excellent choice for many applications – more durable and attractive than most laminates and considerably less expensive than natural or composite stone. Solid surface countertops are about 33% binding resins and 66% minerals. Those minerals are a bauxite derivative, aluminium trihydrate (ATH). ATH is a kind of fine, white powder that helps solid surface maintain its smooth consistency.

Contrast this with quartz counters, which are about 10 percent resins and the rest minerals. Some product lines have proven to include marble, granite, Industrial Waste and even ground up mirrors and glass.