Specifying solid surface in today’s commercial construction doesn’t have to be difficult. Many architects/designers will rely on products they have used in the past. These specifiers are the conservative group and usually have been in their career for many years. More and more of today’s architects/designers are willing to use new products, green products and even experimental products. Both groups are now starting to understand that solid surface can be used for much more than just countertops. Solid surface is being used for everything from staircases/hand railings to outdoor seating. It doesn’t matter which group specifiers are in, they are all worried about one thing: price.
Problems can cost time and material. There are many problems that you can run into if you have never specified a solid surface color, pattern, shape, size or material. Problems that you may run into with patterns are seaming. Solid surfaces come in sheets. If the dimensions of your project are larger than the sheet, you will have a seam. If there is a pattern in the solid surface you have specified, there is a good chance you will see the seam. Solid colors in solid surface typically show no seam. A problem that you may encounter with shape is knowing which fabricator has the experience to thermoform and CNC the desired shapes for your project. Problems that you may experience with different types of solid surface materials are the restraints of the chemical makeup. Acrylics are great for back-lighted projects and are bad if it is extruded and has to be joined. No specifier wants to take on a project where the design calls for an eyesore of a seam which will be the first thing noticed. No specifier would want to take on a project where the size and dimensions have weight that cannot be managed.
At ASST we have 20 years of experience working with solid surfaces. We know just how tight a radius can be with different materials. We know how to hide the seam of a patterned material. We know that the weight for materials made of acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate is approximately 4.5 pounds per square foot at ½” thickness (yes, that is important). At ASST, we know how to be specific with solid surface and we can help specify projects.
If you want to be specific about your next solid surface project, let ASST help you with your specifications. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
A considerable part of fabricating with solid surface is adhering separate pieces together. The solid surface fabrication joint requires a strong bond while maintaining aesthetics. This is accomplished by using the right solid surface adhesive that is matched to the surface color. The solid surface adhesive can be stronger than the material itself and with color matching, it is possible for the joint to subsist unnoticed.
Solid surfaces such as Corian©, Avonite©, Krion©, LG HI-MACS©, etcetera require adhesive to be joined together. Incorrectly joined solid surface can be unappealing and even dangerous. In most cases, designers and architects do not want seams that are visible for their projects. In all cases designers, architects and contractors want solid surfaces that will not come apart. Imagine someone leaning against a solid surface top and it coming apart. No one wants a product that could injure a customer.
Each manufacturer of solid surface makes adhesive that is color matching and ASST uses the correct color matching adhesive for each project. ASST has 20 years of solid surface fabrication experience. We know what adhesives to use, the correct amount to use and the correct way to finish the adhesive.
If you want your next project to stick in the minds of your customers, let ASST help you out. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
How do you design and shape solid surface projects? The technique of thermoforming is used to mold and shape different solid surface materials. This allows flat sheets of synthetic solid surface material to be transformed into almost any shape. By using heat and pressure the synthetic material is shaped into different three dimensional, rounded designs. The material is heated until it is pliable, placed over a mold and vacuum formed by removing the air between the material and a high temperature silicon membrane. Once the material has cooled it is trimmed to exact specifications using our 5 axis CNC.
Not all surfaces can be molded and turned into three dimensional shapes but most synthetic solid surfaces can. This process cannot be used on other solid surface materials like quartz and granite. Companies that choose synthetic solid surfaces have a broader range of artistic ability when it comes to solid surface projects. Thermoforming is a tricky trade and creating the right balance of heat and bend is crucial to this process. The different chemical makeup of synthetic solid surfaces requires different temperatures. There are also limitations of the bend radius with different materials. No one enjoys telling a customer that the project has to be redesigned because the material specified cannot be formed into the desired shape.
ASST has thermoformed most synthetic solid surfaces and we know the requirements for each. With the high level of technology in our fabrication facility, there are no limitations to the design of synthetic solid surfaces. ASST can bend synthetic surfaces any which way to bring your 2D project plans into to the 3D world.
Let ASST bend over backwards for you on your next project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
How do you get the ‘WOW’ factor across in your next solid surface project? Backlighting. Solid surface designs can be extraordinary and lighting them up can make them stand out from the rest. Backlighting acts like the cherry on top to the solid surface sundae and is a perfect finishing touch. The right type of lighting will make the architecture attract attention, illuminate details, and add dimension to the project.
Composition and depth of the solid surface can get lost in dark locations. Some of the leading solid surfaces on the market today have an element of translucency. The last thing anyone would want would be for that trait of translucency to go unnoticed. Don’t let your solid surface project fade into the background. Make it the centerpiece by lighting it up.
At ASST we create the most breathtaking and eye catching designs of Corian®, 3Form®, Krion®, LG HiMacs®, Avonite®, as well as other solid surface materials. Our creations come in different textures, colors, transparencies, and backlighting will make them stand out even more. Lighting fixtures can range from LED panels to light tape. Either way, lighting behind an ASST solid surface will make your project radiate in its space. ASST can design and incorporate backlighting into the solid surface project plan to make sure that it is unique and enhances the solid surface.
Let ASST guide you through the dark on your next solid surface backlighting project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
This unique Dupont Corian solid surface staircase was fabricated and installed for Nestle Corporation. The possibilities of solid surface are endless. At ASST we are going Beyond The Surface Level.
What is a flush mounted sink? A sink whereas the edge is flush with the top. There are different ways to mount a sink. Sinks can be top mounted, under mounted, or flush mounted. A sink that is glued or braced to the top of the counter creating an overlap is top mounted. This type of sink can be simply dropped in, glued and caulked. It can also be dropped in, fastened with hardware underneath and caulked. Under mounted sinks are glued under the counter or mounted with hardware. Flush mounted sinks are also glued under the counter. The counter is then cut down to fit the dimensions of the sink.
In all commercial environments reducing the risk of bacterial infection is essential. Mitigating the risk of bacterial infection is most essential in healthcare, education and laboratory environments. Since up to 80 percent of a bacterial cell’s weight is water, a sink is an ideal place for bacteria to propagate. Traditional top mount or bottom mount sinks leave a lip. This lip combined with moisture is a perfect environment for bacteria to lurk. Designing and building sink tops and bowls that promote bacterial growth can be a liability for the customer.
Flush mounted sinks are seamless, reducing the risk of bacterial growth, and aesthetically pleasing. The sink and top act as one continuous surface. This seamless design allows for a chic look and a healthy environment. ASST fabricates and installs these solid surface flush mounted sinks for commercial environments.
Call us today for your next commercial solid surface flush mounted sink project! Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
This Corian solid surface bench was designed by MIO Culture and fabricated by ASST. It is located in downtown Philadelphia.
At ASST we are going Beyond the Surface Level.
We all know solid surface is both durable and repairable. Do we know what this man-made surfacing material is made of? Solid surface was invented in 1967 and patented in 1968 by DuPont. They formally introduced the Corian® brand to the public in 1971 at a trade show in Houston. It was first promoted as a kitchen and bath countertop material. Solid surface is made of a blend of acrylic, epoxy or polyester resins and alumina trihydrate (ATH). This mixture is poured onto a moving belt and cured in an oven. Both pigment and aggregate add-ins can be mixed into the sheet to create an infinite variety of color and textural effects.
With the expiration of DuPont’s patent, a plethora of new manufacturers have introduced competing brands. This has pushed the evolution of solid surface beyond countertops to more vertical and complex architectural applications. All solid surfaces are cast polymers. Some utilize special formulations to create enhanced transparency or artistic effects to differentiate their products in the marketplace. Brand confusion has many design professionals being uncertain of performance characteristics for various brands in the marketplace. This uncertainty can reduce innovation and expansion into additional architectural applications.
In response, ASST has primarily focused on propelling fabrication technology. We believe providing design professionals with unbiased valuable case study information regarding our experiences to be valuable to the design community. We work in concert with ALL brands to provide fabrication solutions to assist with project challenges other fabricators avoid.
First impressions always count! Be sure to call us for your next solid surface project! Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Solid surface thermoforming technologies allow for a myriad of complex forms to be created such as a topographic map. The linchpin to creating extreme contours is 5 axis CNC machining. 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks ® can be utilized to model practically any surface texture. Designers are continuing to push the boundaries with innovative surfaces that enhance interior architectural space.
Many times design professionals submit drawings for bid to General Contractors without specifying an appropriate wall cladding product in the architectural specification. Designers run the risk of installing contoured vertical wall surfaces made from molded gypsum plaster or thin plastic. The costs required for maintenance of these ineffective wall cladding systems required an entire new approach.
In response, we focused our business around thermoforming from the beginning. ASST has created a truly “niche” business, catering to advanced fabrication solutions for commercial construction. We created SCULPTCOR ® textured wall cladding to provide a durable solution unlike anything on the market today. Manufactured with 100% solid surface acrylic, this is an anti-bacterial wall cladding that is made to last. ASST’s proprietary mounting system allows for field adjustment and individual panel removal for maintenance. It is ASST’s legacy to continue assisting design professionals with thermoforming project challenges other fabricators avoid. Be sure to contact us with your next solid surface project!
First impressions always count! Be sure to call us for your next SCULPTCOR project! Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
This desk is being fabricated using a laminate base, Corian solid surface top, aluminum stand offs with 3Form decorative blinds.
At ASST we are Going Beyond the Surface Level.
