I was curiuos as to what type of counter tops you guys are using in your buses.
Thanks
Mike
corian tops in both mine
dave
Retro 50s formica
We went with PolyStone only because I got a buy at the Scottsdale Air Park ,Meganite was a good option too.Wilsonart has a lot of options and they will sell direct to you with the installation manual.
The draw back to Corian like we used in the Eagle they do not sell to the public it is bought through a dealer and they charge the hell out of you to fabricate and install it lol I remember I paid $800 just for the sink
I have to vote for granite, slate or marble. I'm in the process of re-doing...everything. When I get to the kitchen, I'll use some kind of natural stone :)
Hello: My wife said let's start inexpensive, we can always upgrade, so we ordered standard Formica round over (her choice matched sink) from Menards. 1- 5-1/2' piece (stove area) and 1- 6' piece (sink area) total around $100. I'm sure when she finds "the one" we'll be changing over. Good Luck Gerry H
We currently have Corian, but are looking at upgrading to a combination of either granite, tile, and/or stainless steel. I've seen some really nice custom SS kitchen upgrades.
Formica here, 38 years and still there, some scratches & knife marks and continues to serve us well...
Corian here, The nice thing about it is if it gets scratched up you can rebuff and make it look like new again. Jason
Nuther vote for Corian
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Formica from Lowell's. Stone and Corian are really good looking but very expensive and heavy. I looked at Corian but when they said $1000.00 for a 6' counter and then extra for the two small pieces on either side of my stove I said thank you but now way. My counters, new stainless sink, new faucet and all the tile back splash cost me around $500. Your budget will determine what you go with.
Granite with full backsplash and undermount sink.A little more but well worth the price.
Wifey and I decided to go with granite with a under mount sink,wow, nothing out there adds a little bling like granite, go for it!
Mike, the Habitat for Humanity in the Phoenix area have tons of natural stone and Corian counter tops that you can make work with little effort.
You know the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley people remodel their kitchens every few years because they get tired of looking at the same kitchen lol then they eat out everyday
Cliff, I need to move out there near you and open up shop if them change that quick LOL, Around here people keep them till they are falling off the wall. Jason
Quote from: rip on January 20, 2017, 04:42:02 AMGranite with full backsplash and undermount sink.A little more but well worth the price.
I sorta made up my mind that I wouldn't regret the Corian. It's OK, but to tell you the truth, I'm sorry that I didn't go with the granite or quartz. I'm trying to watch pennies but I'm only going to do this once and I want to do it really well.
Quote from: jmblake on January 20, 2017, 08:41:41 AM
Cliff, I need to move out there near you and open up shop if them change that quick LOL, Around here people keep them till they are falling off the wall. Jason
It is fact Jason you can drive down the streets in the 85253 or 85255 Zip code and there will be complete kitchens or bathroom fixtures setting at curbside to be picked up.That bunch when they remodel a house they leave a 4x8 ft wall and build around that lol
Cliff, Around here I often get more people looking for old one's we take out than people wanting new ones :o, But if I was doing another bus I would go granite or quartz, The nice thing about the solid surface I can do it in house and save $$ Jason
Silestone from Home Depot. We have it in our kitchen and swear by it. No sealing ever needed, spilled some blueberry on the counter top and left it overnight. Came off easily with some non scratching Comet in the morning.
Silestone has a Peterbilt straight truck display that goes around the country. No problems with cracking. Good Luck, TomC
PS-Corian looks shabby in a just a few years-unless you polish it often-all of which is not necessary with Silestone.
Lot of manufactures of the Quartz counter tops,I don't see any difference between the Silestone than the other brands we have the CaesarStone in our kitchen
Yea, Everybody is in the Quartz business now, lots of choice's and $ ranges, I do think the quartz would be a better choice over granite for in the bus that flexes since the quartz is man made and can flex a little without cracking unlike granite there's no flex just breakage >:( we have bent a quartz back splash about a 1/4" in 12' and it didn't break. Jason
most quartz is 93 % stone with 7 % epoxy type glue to hold it together and as a sealer . only down side is most look like crappy Formica
other then the weight of granite I like the way every piece is different with awesome grain running through it
we have granite floors in the rv now and it has lasted 17 years with no problems ( other then the cost to drive the heavy pig )
I would use granite if I were to redo it but the org . corian colour and the fact that it is all over the coach looks good and there is no wear on any of it and if there was it is a 10 min . fix to rebuff it . the other side with any stone counter tops is that yes if it breaks you have a broken rock ( very hard to repair it ) but in the kitchen business quarts is king right now
but you can install formica 180 fx with a vintage edge ( looks almost like granite ) and now they take a pic . of real granite to make it so it looks real close to the real thing for Pennies on the $
http://www.homedepot.com/p/48-in-x-96-in-180fx-Laminate-Sheet-in-Calacatta-Marble-Etchings-034601246408000/202910963?gclid=CMOGq8n60dECFdgGgQodPSAKWA&gclsrc=aw.ds (http://www.homedepot.com/p/48-in-x-96-in-180fx-Laminate-Sheet-in-Calacatta-Marble-Etchings-034601246408000/202910963?gclid=CMOGq8n60dECFdgGgQodPSAKWA&gclsrc=aw.ds)
with this edge but get rip of the old crappy back splash
http://www.formatop.com/countertop-models/vintage-model/ (http://www.formatop.com/countertop-models/vintage-model/)
dave
Following the last post, I used Wilsonart 4551-01 laminate with oak ends that I easily made my counter tops with. Most people walking into the bus think it is real granite. Still looks great after 14 years. 50 bucks for a big sheet.
http://www.cabinetparts.com/p/wilsonart-countertop-laminate-products-laminate-sheets-W45511075X12 (http://www.cabinetparts.com/p/wilsonart-countertop-laminate-products-laminate-sheets-W45511075X12)
--Geoff
I agree with Dave about the quartz looking like a patterned laminate but they are coming out with veining in the quartz
https://www.cambriausa.com/Designs/inspiration-gallery/ (https://www.cambriausa.com/Designs/inspiration-gallery/)
When it comes to laminate my go to choice is Wilsonart brand and with the new edging options you don't have the old black line of the backer showing on the edge's and you can make custom tops that look like a solid piece of stone. I have displays in my showroom with Wilsonart laminate that almost everyone thinks is granite until they touch it.
http://www.wilsonart.com/laminate/wilsonart-hd (http://www.wilsonart.com/laminate/wilsonart-hd)
http://www.wilsonart.com/laminate-edge-options (http://www.wilsonart.com/laminate-edge-options)
Jason
We used Formica Solid Surface. Same as Corian just Formicas brand. We just really liked one of the colors Formica had that Corian did not carry.
We also got a solid surface sink. Its nice because its one smooth surface from the countertops right into the sink with zero seems.
I strongly reccomend not using a solid surface sink though. I did not realize how pourus the surface is. And now 4 years later there are quite a few stains that are tough to get out without sanding it down.
Here are some pics -
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.herdofturtles.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F02%2F20140214_191933.jpg&hash=1aa5ddb7e3e9596a5a15859e6d2fa1f8bd11f64f)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.herdofturtles.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F02%2FIMG_20140214_192246_resized.jpg&hash=a29d332270bca106403848ec3b5f5173056f32c6)
-Sean
As an experienced woodworker I would like to convert my Formica countertops to Corian or Solid Surface. However I have been frustrated in trying to buy it since I am not a trained/registered installer. Has anyone bought direct from the overstock site "solid surface.com"? Moreover, has anyone gone to their AZ or south FL locations to look at/purchase? Has anyone bought on-line and had their goods freighted in?
Are there other sources for the hobbyist?
Thanks in advance for the feedback!
Mike in GA
A couple of years ago I bought 4 sheets 3x10 of Corian from Northwest RV Surplus he had stacks of it I paid him $75.00 a sheet,I bought mine to build a shower stall
The only real downside of quartz or granite is the weight for a bus. If you live near a Menards they often sell their quartz countertops for $30 a square foot if you like one of the basic three colors. I will put the Menards quart countertops in my house some day. Total cost will be under $1,500. A bit more if I hire a contractor to help install.
unless you have a kitchen showroom or a fabricating shop they all are no good to talk to or deal with , but if you know anyone in the kitchen business it was very easy to be a dealer and for the fabrication it was a joke as 1 day course and then they will sell you as much as you want . if you can find any you can use 2 part epoxy to glue it together . use lots of clamps
there must be lots of old stock out there as we only did 1 corian job in the last 2 years ? as compared to 100's of granite or quarts jobs and I do kitchens , baths first . I only do counter tops as a convenience for other kitchens . got to love home depot , lowes and ikea for not knowing how to do a counter top .
you can look at other brands as they are very close to the same but different . here are some of them , I would call some of them in your area to see if they will sell you some OLD STOCK .
the cost of corian is more $ then granite in my area ??? and if the stubborn dump a$s 's would lower the price they might get back some of the market share they had years ago
http://www.countertopguides.com/guides/comparing-the-top-solid-surface-countertop-manufacturers.html (http://www.countertopguides.com/guides/comparing-the-top-solid-surface-countertop-manufacturers.html)
or bite the bullet and have 1 fabricated for you a a large cost but at that point I would do granite or quarts
my thoughts on counter tops
dave
I went with Corian on the Eagle because my wife wanted the lighting to show up through the counter top it was neat at night time
Quote from: luvrbus on January 22, 2017, 09:54:03 AM
I went with Corian on the Eagle because my wife wanted the lighting to show up through the counter top it was neat at night time
Now you got me thinking....mmmm
I'm in the process of a remodel. I'm almost done with my first try on making cabinets. Here are a couple pictures. https://goo.gl/photos/U5dBrP7JvCnCKnEr7 (https://goo.gl/photos/U5dBrP7JvCnCKnEr7)
I'll be going with corian....or a corian like material for the kitchen and dinette table. Under mount stainless steel sink. I'll be ordering it from here --> http://solidsurface.com/ (http://solidsurface.com/)
Brett,
Please post here when appropriate your experience in dealing long-distance with the solid surface.com folks, especially the freight aspect.
Good luck!
Mike in GA
Will do. So far the customer service has been good. Also, if you can have it delivered to a business or it's zoned commercial, there won't be an extra delivery charge. I just ordered. All said and done. $640
Qty Product Code - Product Name Price
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 S0752-030-D203 - White Fleece, DuPont Simplicity 299.00
(30"x142"x0.5", 13203)
1 P0006-5PK-011 - 5-Pack Integra 7.4/18 Bell End Applica 9.00
(11-LN, 5)
1 SS18-BD200-FLG - SS18-BD200 Professional 250ml Driples 79.00
(FLG)
2 AIA-0047 - Integra Adhesives 96.00
(Bright White)
1 P0018-030 - Finishing Kit 5" (Small Pack) Matte to Sem 59.00
(030)
1 FRT-COMM - Freight - Commercial Delivery 0.00
1 DISCOUNT - Discount -1.99
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total: 540.01
Tax: 0.00
Shipping & Handling: 100.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL: 640.01
nice prices ! its to bad you can't rent the gun from someone , but is nice to have 1 if you ever want to do it again
dave
True. As long as you have the time to do it, this is how I have always looked at these projects.... In the end, even if the cost is close to the same, I gain the knowledge and the tools to do it again or use the tools for other projects.
in the old days when corian was the thing to have we used the 2 part epoxy type glue by way of measuring it out and mixing it by hand . but they changed and you had to buy a gun and the tips and the cartridges ( at a much higher cost ) but then again it was a lot easier and faster . my 2 guns sit on a shelf at work just waiting for the next job if that ever comes along
good luck with the job and you should be happy with the result
dave
Quote from: Mike in GA on January 24, 2017, 08:42:15 AM
Brett,
Please post here when appropriate your experience in dealing long-distance with the solid surface.com folks, especially the freight aspect.
Good luck!
Mike in GA
My 144" piece came today. It was packaged very nicely. From customer service to the delivery I can now say that I would definitely do it again. Picture of the crate. https://goo.gl/photos/wvxJ1dPqQNLpPhWHA
Brett,
I really appreciate your follow-up on the shipping, etc.
I have to agree with you, I am impressed.
Question: Did you have it shipped to your address or to a freight depot?
Mike in GA
Business address. My brother has a plumbing business.
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White painted OSB. I can always upgrade later!
12 feet long??? Take care making your cuts. Has anyone had Lowe's or HD come, measure, and install Formica or Corian in their coach?