Quartz

Use it on: kitchen and bathroom countertops and walls.

Only diamonds are harder than quartz in its pure form, which makes quartz an excellent choice for surfaces that will undergo wear and tear. Quartz is also found in great abundance in the earth, making it an affordable alternative. Quartz surfaces can be manufactured using different amounts of the mineral. Countertops, for instance, can be manufactured with nearly 100 percent quartz or as little as 50 percent. However, to be called a “quartz” countertop, a surface must be produced with at least 93 percent of the material. Otherwise, the material is known as a composite. Usually, pigments, resins and bonding agents make up the supplemental material added to quartz to achieve varying levels of countertop hardness. Popular quartz composite countertop brands include Cambria®, Silestone® and DuPont Zodiaq®.

DuPont Corian®

Use it on: kitchen and bathroom countertops, wall panels, stairways and creative structural applications.

Corian is a synthetic, acrylic polymer based countertop material. Corian usually displays a solid, consistent color that gives it the ability to be resurfaced if scratched. Though Corian is traditionally used in countertop applications, the material’s makeup also allows it to be heated and formed into unique shapes. Thus, it’s a great surface for those who are looking for creative furniture, stairwell and other structural applications. Corian can also be inlaid or backlit, adding to the possibilities. For more information, visit www2.dupont.com.

Alkemi®

Use it on: kitchen countertops, tabletops and bathroom surfaces.

Made of curved shavings of scrap aluminum embedded in resin, Alkemi takes the cake for one of the most interesting-looking products to emerge onto the surface materials market. Alkemi can be polished for a glossy look or honed for an informal finish. Find more information at renewedmaterials.com/products/about_alkemi.html.

IceStone®

IceStone in sage pearl.

Use it on: kitchen countertops, tabletops and bathroom surfaces.

IceStone® is made of recycled glass mixed with concrete. IceStone can be made in a variety of colors and is VOC-free. IceStone does not fade with sun exposure and maintenance of the product is similar to that of natural stone. Find out more at icestone.biz.

EnviroGLAS®

Use it on: bathroom and kitchen countertops, flooring and outdoor applications.

EnviroGLAS® comprises a group of products made from recycled glass, tubs, toilets and other materials embedded in resin and fabricated to form countertops, flooring, floor tiles—even mulchlike filler for landscaping applications. Find out more at enviroglasproducts.com.

3Form®

Use it on: a myriad of surfaces, including cabinetry faces, countertops and furniture.

3Form is the name of a group of resin-based materials. 3Form’s Chroma® line features a translucent surface saturated with solid color. The group’s Varia® eco-resin line presses found materials such as grass, sticks or reeds in between translucent resin panels. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Visit 3form.com <http://www.3form.com/>  to learn more about 3Form’s surface varieties, get application suggestions and find out where products are available locally.