Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops

Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops

I did a lot of research on countertop material. I wanted something that was going to be durable and low maintenance. Years ago, someone gave me a Corian cutting board and I loved the material.

Cobalt Corian Sample - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Cobalt Corian Sample

When I visited the Schumacher Homes Design Studio and saw that Cobalt Corian was one of their options it was a real factor in choosing them as our builder.

Choosing Countertop Materials >

The island that is standard in the Cross Creek house plans is all counter height.

I wanted part of it to be bar height. That blocks some of the kitchen from the living room and front door.

Schumacher Homes Kitchen 40 ½” Height Bar
Schumacher Homes Kitchen 40 ½” Height Bar

The model has something similar. This wasn’t a problem. It didn’t even cost a whole lot more.

Schumacher Homes Cross Creek Kitchen Edited Plan
Schumacher Homes Cross Creek Kitchen Edited Plan with Bar

The plans were not very specific and the carpenters framed it wrong a couple of times. The third time I started to explain how it was wrong, the bar was supposed to be closer to the sink. It was supposed to be smaller. Only two stools should fit under it. Then I looked at what they had done and decided this will work. It’s bigger. A lot bigger. I could open a saloon.   We don’t have a kitchen island. More of a kitchen small continent. We will call it Australia.

The contractor had a little difficulty finding Corian installers. I don’t know why. It can’t be that rare. They sell it at Lowes. They offered me lots of other options. They offered a discount. But this was very important to me. I had already considered everything else they were offering and Corian, for me, is just a very much better choice.

Finally, they found an installer out of Columbia, South Carolina. They came out to measure and created a plan and a pattern.

The model for the island - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
The model for the island

The island is very complex, so they glued these small pieces of wood together to create a pattern.

The countertop plan - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
The countertop plan

The material was on back order, so we had quite a wait. But, once they had the Corian, they had everything put together and were here ahead of schedule.

I got to the house Friday and they were working.

Wood supports for counter - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Wood supports for counter

First they cut little pieces of wood and placed them on top of the cabinets. That is so the bullnose that comes down doesn’t block the cabinet doors.

A pipe cutter easily trims the wood that supports the counter - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
A pipe cutter easily trims the wood that supports the counter

He used a pipe cutter to quickly cut the little pieces to length.

Cutting the dishwasher support board - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Cutting the dishwasher support board

They cut a piece of plywood for over the space the dishwasher will go for the dishwasher to screw into.

Silicone - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Silicone

They put blobs of silicone.

Hot glue - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Hot glue

Then he squeezed on some hot glue. The hot glue makes it hold immediately. The silicone bonds for a long time.

The pattern for the island countertop - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
The pattern for the island countertop

Then they brought the model in.

Notching for the thicker seam reinforcement - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Notching for the thicker seam reinforcement

The island is wider than a single piece of Corian, so they had to join it. The joint is reinforced, so they cut out for the thickness of the seam reinforcement.

The cut-out for the seam reinforcement - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
The cut-out for the seam reinforcement

The seam is right over the dishwasher, so they had to take the board back out. Hope that does not create a problem later…

Carrying in the counter - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Carrying in the counter

They carried the island counter in. It was heavy, but they said it is nothing compared to granite.

See the seam reinforcement? - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
See the seam reinforcement?

See the reinforced seam where the two pieces of Corian are joined?

Sliding the counter in place - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Sliding the counter in place

They lifted it into place. It fit perfectly.

Silicone to secure it in place - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Silicone to secure it in place

Then they tilted the counter up to squeeze some silicone on to secure it.

Beautiful! - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Beautiful!

I love it!

The sink is finished so smoothly, it feels like part of the counter.

We decided on a single deep sink, Corian Simplicity 881P. It is 9 1/4″ deep. I only hand-wash things too big for the dishwasher. This sink is super deep. I can fit in even my biggest pot.

Here is the research, if you are figuring it out yourself.

Corian Double Sinks

Precision     9412     8 3/8″ deep
Smooth 850 9 1/2″ deep

Corian Single Sinks

Neat 959P 8 1/4″ deep
Bold 9980 8 3/8″ deep
Simplicity     881P     9 1/4″ deep
Smooth 850P 10″ deep
Bold 690 11″ deep

I had wanted the sink to be the same color as the counter, but that is special order in large quantities only. I am content.

The counter tops - Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
The counter tops

Next, they put in the counter on the other side of the kitchen. They were already cut and finished completely. It has bullnose on the outsides, but is square and smooth on the sides that will touch the stove.

Trimming the backsplash - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Trimming the backsplash

The backsplash came in pieces. They trimmed them and siliconed them in place.

Now for the bar. The bar is supported by a piece of wood. That way they don’t have to have any brackets or corbels to knock your knees against like the one in the model has.

They measured and nudged until the wood was approximately in the right place.

Measuring to be sure the bar is the same all the way around - Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Measuring to be sure the bar is the same all the way around

Then they put the bar on. They measured and nudged and measured and nudged until it was perfectly centered every which way.

They marked the wood where it met the wall that holds the bar up, just in case it shifted when they lifted the Corian back off.

Fastening a board to the bar to support the Corian - Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Fastening a board to the bar to support the Corian

They took the Corian back off. Then they drove a lot of screws in to fasten the wood to the wall.

Blobs of silicone - Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Blobs of silicone

They squeezed on more silicone.

Placing the bar - Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Placing the bar

And they lifted the bar in place. They measured again. Perfect! I love it!

Cutting the hole for the faucet - Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Cutting the hole for the faucet

Last, they drilled the hole for the kitchen faucet. I want to add a sprayer later. They say the material is relatively easy to drill through with normal tools.

Solid Surfaces, Inc. Countertops & Designs 8019 Sumter Hwy Columbia, SC 800-326-0684 - Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
Solid Surfaces, Inc. Countertops & Designs
8019 Sumter Hwy, Columbia, SC
800-326-0684

This is who did the work:

Solid Surfaces, Inc. Countertops & Designs
8019 Sumter Hwy, Columbia, SC
800-326-0684

I cannot recommend them highly enough. They did an absolutely perfect job!
And they made a cutting board for me out of the piece they cut out for the sink!

The bar is nice and deep! - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
The bar is nice and deep!

So, here is the kitchen done. The bar is nice and deep. And I love the color!

From the dining room side - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
From the dining room side

This is from the dining room. I wanted it to be counter height on this side. It makes it easier to clear the table.

This side is by the dining room - the counter is low to make it easy to clear the table - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
This side is by the dining room – the counter is low to make it easy to clear the table

This is where the dishwasher will go. Convenient from the table.

The island and bar - all finished! - Cobalt Blue Corian Countertops in the Kitchen - Schumacher Homes Cross Creek – Project Small House
The island and bar – all finished!

Here it is all finished!