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Avonite Surfaces & Countertops in West Michigan
 Since 1983, Avonite has been a pioneer in solid surfacing, known for our unbridled passion and spirited innovations.
Over the years Avonite has introduced new products including realistic textures, recycled products, and rich collections inspired by glass, concrete, precious metals, and other natural materials as time passed, Avonite surfaces has become international favorites in leading hotels, resorts, specialty restaurants, and unique corporate environments. Today, Avonite is equally well known for distinctly personal residential projects.
FINISH GUIDE
Avonite Surfaces offers a wide range of unique products that are used in many different applications. Some of these products may not be suitable for high traffic applications due to their unique characteristics, dark hues and saturated color. Additionally, determining the best finish for the product and application will transform any design into an elegant masterpiece of beauty.
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Choosing the Right Finish
The most popular finishes available for solid surface are matte, satin, and gloss. Matte finish is easy to maintain and has no sheen. Satin finish is achieved by sanding the product during installation with finer grits and gray ScotchBrite. It also is easy to maintain and has a low to medium luster. Gloss finish is achieved by polishing the surface after sanding. The result is a high sheen that reveals vibrancy and depth of color. If a dark color is being used in a high trafficked area, gloss finish should not be used.
It is important to discuss finishes with your customer and to manage their expectations. Different finishes often have different costs, while samples are also produced with different finishes to demonstrate the options for customers. Choosing the right finish requires consideration of not only color and texture but also the usage expected for each application.
The light and neutral Casablanca will not easily show signs of everyday wear but the Good Earth Red may show early signs of wear simply because of its color. This scenario would be true regardless of the finish chosen. A polished Casablanca countertop can go years without showing any wear.
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Finishing Dark Colors
All dark colors should have a minimum Satin finish. Matte finishes on dark colors can appear chalky while easily showing everyday wear. Manufacturers put a minimum satin finish on the samples in their sample boxes because all of the colors look much better and cleaner.
Maintenance
Different color types and finishes require different methods to maintain their finish and beauty. Regardless of which finish was originally chosen, similar finishing steps must be applied to restore the surface to its original finish. Because of the specialty equipment used to achieve a Gloss finish, end users should acquire this equipment training to maintain the high sheen finish or contract their installer to refinish their surfaces periodically (every 4-5 years depending on the application). In most cases, countertops that are used and cleaned everyday develop their own level of patina or coating. Matte surfaces become more reflective with use. It is generally agreed that the Satin finish offers end users the best look with the minimum maintenance.
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AVONITE CARE & MAINTENANCE
Matte Finish
Cleaning:
A sponge, soap and water will clean most stains. For more stubborn stains use a green Scotch Brite pad and an abrasive cleanser. Periodically go over the entire matte surface with a dry green Scotch Brite pad to return the original finish.
Scratches:
To remove scratches, start sanding with 240 grit paper and then clean with an abrasive cleanser and a green Scotch Brite pad.
Avonite Sinks:
Use the Matte Finish cleaning and scratch removal procedures above. To keep sink color bright, clean occasionally with liquid bleach and water. Fill the sink 1/4 full with water, add 1 to 2 cups of bleach, wipe the sides of the sink and let stand for 15 minutes. Then drain the sink and rinse.
Satin Finish
Cleaning:
Soap and water will clean most stains. For stubborn stains use a white Scotch Brite pad and a non-abrasive cleanser, such as Soft Scrub.
Scratches:
To remove scratches, start by sanding with 400 grit paper followed by 600 grit paper. Then clean the area with Soft Scrub and a white Scotch Brite pad. You may choose to spray a light coat of Protect All to enhance the luster.
High Gloss
Cleaning:
Soap and water will remove most stains. Use a polishing compound like 3M Perfect-It and a soft cloth to remove more stubborn stains.
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Scratches:
To remove scratches from a high gloss finish, start sanding with 400 grit paper. The surface must then be machine polished back to its original finish. Advise customer to contact the AVONITE Surfaces Fabricator if they do not own or have access to this equipment.
Helpful Hints
• Always use a hot pad or trivet under hot pots or heat producing appliances.
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Always use a cutting board.
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Never stand on your counters.
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Avoid harsh chemicals such as drain cleaners and paint removers.
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For high gloss counters place felt protectors on the bottom of pottery or other hard objects.
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Avoid sliding hard objects across these glossy surfaces.
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Always run cool water when pouring boiling water into Avonite Surfaces sinks. |
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