Paper Countertops: Looks and Feels Like Stone ...but easier to DIY!

Paper Countertops: Looks and Feels Like Stone
...but easier to DIY!

Solid surface countertops, regardless of the material, are going to last longer since you can have them refinished. Recycled paper countertops are a solid surface material that we've featured before, but now there are more options than ever...

"Easier than Stone to DIY" might seem obvious, but these paper counters have other benefits as well:

Dense and durable nonporous construction
Stain resistant
Heat resistant
Able to accommodate longer spans without additional support
Easily tooled and can be cut, or routed for crisp, defined edge profiles
Not easily damaged
Much lighter than natural stone

The durable surface is created by saturating panels made from post-consumer waste paper with resin, and then heating and compressing the material into a material that is stone-like in texture and appearance.

EcoTop, by Klip Biotechnologies, is made slightly differently, and is actually a blend of bamboo fibers, recycled demolition wood fibers and recycled paper held together with a VOC-free water-based resin.

Here are a few companies, whose photos are featured here, that make recycled paper countertops.

• Paperstone
• Shetkastone
• Richlite
• EcoTop

Via FineHomeBuilding

Comments (8)

I have a Richlite counter, and I love it. It does get marked up a bit with scratches, etc. Mine is black, so maybe the other colors don't show these as much. But, I love this countertop. I had wanted slate or soapstone, and decided against it because of the cost. The Richlite was 45.00 sf installed. I can even sand it lightly to remove scratches, just like wood. Coat it with a light layer of mineral oil or beeswax and oil and it looks great.

posted by Retrogrouch on May 20th 2009 at 11:20am
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Actually, Paperstone can be harder to DIY than regular stone, because it's so hard. One of the advantages of Eco-Top over Paperstone (they were both developed by Joel Kilppert) is that it's easier to work with and any contractor familiar with Corian can install it. Not sure about Richlite or Shetkastone though.

posted by creativeneurosis on May 21st 2009 at 12:56pm
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how do the prices of the paper counter top compare to Corian or stone?

posted by Eliza on May 21st 2009 at 2:04pm
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Paper that's paper wow I'm impressed

posted by absOsteele on May 21st 2009 at 8:01pm
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I have Richlite (Sage color) in my kitchen and do love it. I do have to oil it a bit more often than I would like, especially around the sink area. But after applying mineral oil, it always looks beautiful, like the day it was installed. We get many compliments on it and people can't believe that it's paper.

posted by ginafly on May 22nd 2009 at 12:19pm
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and oh, yes, I would very much NOT recommend DIY with Richlite...there are actually like two certified installers in my state and even one of those guys screwed up the installation the first time (which makes it not so eco if you have to redo the whole thing). It is very difficult to cut and you have to really measure carefully, especially with an older house like ours, where nothing is perpendicular or parallel to anything else.

posted by ginafly on May 22nd 2009 at 12:21pm
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I'm contemplating a kitchen remodel and ordered a sample set of Richlite.

Pros are eco-friendly and pretty colors
Cons are expensive ($65/sq. ft. for 5/8" thick, $50/sq. ft. for 1/2") and you cannot put a hot pot from the stove on it. The colors are all dark.

posted by linbo on May 23rd 2009 at 9:21am
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I've worked with EcoTop on several projects now, both residentially and commercially... the stuff rocks! It basically has gotten rid of the negative aspects of Richlite and PaperStone, ie staining, scratching, only dark colors.

Great product!

posted by metrohippie on May 24th 2009 at 9:19pm
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