If you didn’t know better, you might think you were looking at polished granite or marble countertops throughout many selected Holiday Rambler model coaches. But actually, Corian is a man-made product that is manufactured by DuPont and is available in a broad selection of colors and three different finishes. Corian is among the most popular countertop materials employed in the construction of fine custom homes, so it’s no wonder that it is also one of the components used in some of America’s premiere motorcoaches.

Among the reasons Corian is so popular is that it is eminently versatile. From the standpoint of the coach builder, this solid-surface material is easy enough to work with so it can be shaped to fit not only the broad expanse of a kitchen countertop or the walls of a shower but also the small and narrow surfaces of a nightstand or a window sill. In the process of manufacturing a kitchen or bathroom countertop, sinks can be seamlessly formed in place, eliminating joints that can leak or places where foul substances might find a home. And from the standpoint of an owner, Corian offers the powerful triple benefit of being beautiful, durable and easy to clean.

Even with all these advantages, it’s important to recognize that this is still a material that requires some routine maintenance. If it suffers damage from abuse, the surface may even need an occasional repair. The good news is that the day-to-day care and maintenance is easy, and any necessary repairs are relatively simple for a coach owner to perform.

Corian is available in three different surface finishes; matte/satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Depending upon the surface finish you have, the recommended maintenance and repair procedures will vary.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

The most general form of maintenance is cleaning the surface. Most of the time, a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth will suffice. Casual grime and light stains can normally be removed simply by washing with soapy water or an ammonia-based cleaner. If you want to remove water spots, wipe the surface with a damp cloth and then dry with a soft towel.

Day-to-day care of the matte/satin finish can be done by giving the surface a once-over with a Scotch-Brite® pad alone. To enhance the shine of a semigloss finish, use a non-abrasive polish such as Hope’s Countertop Polish. An application of countertop wax will also do wonders for the high-gloss surface finish.

For cleaning difficult stains, there is a separate process for each of the different finishes. But for any of the cleaning routines we’re about to describe, use no more force than the minimum necessary to remove the stain. Too much elbow grease can mar the surface, which might then require moving on to the abuse repair process. The best method is to use light scrubbing action at first, then inspect to see if the stain is gone. If it isn’t, and there is no evidence that the surface is being scratched or otherwise harmed, feel free to exert a bit more energy during round two.

For stain removal from the matte/satin surface finish, it is recommended to use an abrasive cleanser and a green Scotch-Brite pad blended with only a reasonable amount of scrubbing effort. If the surface is the semigloss variety, remove stubborn stains by using Soft Scrub® or diluted bleach and a white Scotch-Brite pad. If the stain is on a high-gloss surface finish, follow the same procedure as outlined for the semigloss surface, but use a sponge instead of a Scotch-Brite pad, or you may use white polishing compound.

Notice that the more polished the Corian surface, the gentler you must be, and the milder the cleaning agent you will use. For example, green Scotch-Brite pads are more aggressive than white ones, and a sponge is least aggressive of all. A white polishing compound is easier on the surface material than an abrasive cleanser.

From time to time, you may want to engage in some serious disinfecting of the countertop, sinks or shower. This can be accomplished by wiping the surface with a solution of diluted household bleach, mixing one part water to one part bleach. A follow-up rinse will eliminate any bleach odor and leave the surface clean.

DEALING WITH CUTS AND SCRATCHES

Even though Corian is a very hard material, and you may come to think of it as impervious to serious injury, it is possible to inflict cuts and scratches on the surface. Fortunately, the manufacturer has devised recommended methods for removing these blemishes. When following these recommendations, remember our previous admonition to go easy at first, to see if a light application will solve the problem before pressing on to more aggressive work. Constantly monitor your progress, and don’t carry the process any farther than necessary.

To remove scratches or cuts from the matte/satin surface finish, use a sanding block and 180 or 220-grit fine sandpaper. Lightly sand until the cut is gone. Then use an abrasive cleanser and a green Scotch-Brite pad to restore the finish to its original appearance.

If you’re dealing with the semigloss surface finish, gently sand with 400-grit sandpaper. Note that 400-grit is far less aggressive than the 180 or 220-grit stuff. After the scratch or cut has been sanded away, apply a non-abrasive cleanser and use a white Scotch-Brite pad to restore the semigloss finish.

For working on the high-gloss surface finish, carefully sand with 400-grit paper on a sanding block. When the scratch or cut has nearly been eliminated, wipe the surface with a damp cloth to remove the dust left from sanding, then switch to 600-grit sandpaper and continue working until the blemish is gone. Finish by buffing the surface with white polishing compound and a low-speed (1,500 to 2,000 rpm) polisher equipped with a wool pad. The final phase is to apply a countertop wax.

The important thing to remember is that different finishes require slightly different care, and before you take any action on a massive scale, make sure that you are not damaging the Corian. Following these steps and with regular care, this beautiful material should stay that way for the life of your coach.

Rich Johnson is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He has 25 years experience as a professional editor with several automotive and RV publications including TrailerLife and MotorHome.