If you work on hospitality fit outs, you know the surfaces take more punishment than almost anywhere else.
We have been working on solid surface hospitality projects for a long time. Bob Bob Cité, OXO Tower, the Royal Kingdom of Bahrain, The Whitehouse. Here is what we actually see being specified, and why Solid Surface keeps getting chosen.
Bar tops take more abuse than almost any other surface in a commercial space. They are exposed to heat from glass washers, constant spills and standing water, and daily cleaning with strong chemicals. Despite all of that, they still need to look just as good as they did when they were first installed.
This is where Solid Surface has a real advantage. There are no joints to trap dirt, no edges that can lift over time and no grout lines to discolour. Fabricated properly, a bar top can curve around corners, drop to a lower service level and continue up the back wall as one continuous surface.
The OXO Tower is a good example of how well this works. Every element required precision thermoforming to achieve the curves the design called for.
The Royal Kingdom of Bahrain project also shows what is possible when a design pushes the limits. The specification called for black Solid Surface formed to a larger curved radius than most fabricators could achieve. To make it happen, we invested in a custom made 50 tonne water cooled press.
The vanity unit is one of the first things guests notice in a hotel bathroom. It needs to withstand daily use and still meet the standard guests expect.
That’s where Solid Surface comes into its own. The basin and worktop are fabricated as one continuous piece, creating a clean, consistent finish that can be repeated across hundreds of rooms.
For hotel groups and large developments, consistency is just as important. Every vanity unit can be manufactured to the same specification, making it easier to achieve the same finish across every room.
A hotel or restaurant reception desk is the first surface many guests touch. It is often the first impression of the space.
Solid Surface makes it possible to create large, seamless reception desks with curved shapes and integrated details that would be difficult to achieve with other materials. The same applies to feature walling, where large panels can be fabricated with a clean, consistent finish and very few visible joints.
Corian Solid Surface thermoformed desk
For projects with sustainability targets, there are recycled content Solid Surface options available. At Bob Bob Cité the table tops, bars, waiter stations and counter tops were all fabricated in Durat. It provided the recycled content the project was looking for without changing the design or finish.
Yes. A scratch on a bar top or a chip on a vanity unit can be difficult to repair in many materials. Solid Surface can usually be sanded and refinished on site, often without taking the area out of use for more than a few hours.
For busy hospitality venues, that means less disruption and a surface that can be restored rather than replaced.
The earlier, the better. One of the most common things we see is Solid Surface being considered after the design has already been fixed. By then, the options are more limited. Curved forms, integrated basins and seamless walling are all possible, but they need to be planned from the start.
If you’re working on a hospitality project and Solid Surface is being considered, it’s worth having the conversation early. We can advise on materials, colours and fabrication before the design is finalised. Explore the full colour range using our Colour Selector or get in touch to discuss your project.
Yes. The non porous seamless surface handles heat, moisture and daily cleaning well. Thermoforming allows curved and shaped bar tops that follow the design intent exactly, and the surface can be refinished on site if damaged. Find out more about our commercial bar top projects.
Yes. Every unit is fabricated to the same specification with integrated basins at consistent dimensions. Colour and finish are replicable across large volumes without batch variation. Compare finishes using our Colour Selector.
Thermoforming heats Solid Surface sheet material so it can be shaped over a former to achieve curves, bends and shaped profiles. In hospitality it allows bar fronts, reception desks and feature surfaces to be produced with flowing curved forms rather than angular joints. See thermoforming in action across our portfolio.
Solid Surface is non porous and chemically stable. It tolerates the cleaning products used in commercial and hospitality environments, including stronger solutions used between services, without surface degradation over time. Read more about Solid Surface in commercial spaces.
In most cases yes. Scratches, chips and surface marks can be sanded and refinished on site by a skilled fabricator, often without removing the surface or closing the space. Get in touch to discuss a repair or restoration.
If you've ever worked in a commercial kitchen, you know the worktops take an absolute battering. Hot pans, constant prep work, endless cleaning cycles – and that's just one lunchtimeSo when it comes to choosing surfaces for professional kitchens, this isn't about what looks nice in a showroom. It's about what'll still be standing (and hygienic) after years of service.
Solid Surface gets talked about a lot, but most people only really know it once they’ve worked with it. If you’re new to it, or you’ve only seen it in passing on a project, here’s a straightforward look at what sets it apart from other materials, nothing over the top, just the practical differences that matter day to day.
Can Solid Surface be used outside? The honest answer for outdoor kitchens and al fresco spaces
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