How to Refinish Corian

Corian is a type of material used predominantly for countertops in the kitchen and bathroom. It's strong and sturdy and able to withstand the wear and tear of dropped items and scrapes from utensils. However, after a while, little scratches and nicks may appear on the Corian countertop surface. The good news is that these imperfections can be removed with a little sanding and buffing because Corian is a solid, nonporous material. You can refinish your Corian countertop and maintain an attractive surface.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ammonia-based household cleaner Cleaning foam sponge with a lightly abrasive scrubbing side Water Hand towel Electric hand-held sander Fine-grit sandpaper (both 800 and 400 grit) Buffing or cloth finishing pads White automotive polishing paste wax

Instructions

1. Clear your Corian countertop of food debris and other items, then spray down the surface with an ammonia-based household cleaner.

2. Use the abrasive side of your sponge to gently scrub the light scratches in the Corian surface.

3. Rinse the sponge in water and use the foam side to wipe away the ammonia-based cleaner. Wipe the counter dry with the hand towel.

4. Inspect the surface of the Corian to see if the light scrubbing action of the abrasive sponge buffed out the scratches. If not, proceed to the next step.

5. Load a piece of 800-grit sandpaper into your hand-held sander, then spray down your countertop with water. A wet sanding action is gentler to the Corian surface.

6. Sand the scratches, using light pressure while following a straight path across them. Periodically spray the area with water, keeping it moist, and alter your sanding course over the scratches 45 to 90 degrees for better coverage.

7. Wipe down the Corian countertop with the hand towel and then check your progress. If the scratches are not eliminated, remove the 800-grit sandpaper from your hand-held sander and replace it with the 400-grit sandpaper. Repeat the sanding process outlined in the step above.

8. Sand the Corian with wider strokes of the hand-held sander once your scratches are almost removed. The wider strokes will help blend in the sanded area with the rest of the countertop surface.

9. Spray the ammonia-based cleaner on the Corian, then wipe down the entire surface with the abrasive side of the sponge before rinsing it in water and wiping clean with the foam side.

10. Dry the Corian countertop with the hand towel and then load a finishing pad onto the hand-held sander.

11. Apply the white automotive polishing paste onto the Corian, following the manufacturer's instructions, and then buff the surface with the hand-held sander to create a fine, even sheen on the Corian countertop.

12. Wipe the paste residue away with the hand towel and enjoy your newly refinished Corian countertop.

Tips & Warnings

• You can routinely use a mildly abrasive liquid cleanser to clean your Corian countertops to buff away minor scratches instead of prolonging the wear and tear of the surface. Corian's manufacturer, Dupont, markets Corian refinishing kits if you do not feel confident using your own sandpaper and other supplies for removing scratches.
• Do not use the Corian surface as a cutting board as this can cause deep scratches that may require the services of a professional refinisher to repair.

References

• Dupont Corian Maintenance Page

Resources

• Corian 101
• General Corian Information