Corian is an ideal product for delivering outdoor sculptural designs as it is durable and stable in composition. A fantastic example of this is at Risho University in Japan where Corian Glacier White has been used for outdoor seats and tables. Not only does the Corian look amazing, but it is also an extremely durable, long lasting  and low maintenance option for a very high use space that experiences extreme temperature fluctuations.

Corian is also a great option for outdoor kitchens, which are rising in popularity. Key to this are the appropriate design considerations such as using steel framing and ensuring there is an appropriate air gap around barbecue units which can reach extremely high temperatures. Corian can be used for seating, tabletops, benchtops or even actual sculptures such as 'Stratospheric', a sculpture by Fletcher Vaughan made of Corian Glacier Ice which can be found on the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail in Matakana.

Considerations for Outdoor Use

Colour stability is often a primary concern when evaluating a material for exterior use; however, there are other performance factors that should also be considered. Many colours of Corian solid surface exhibit good colour stability. All colours have low moisture absorption and are resistant to stains, environmental pollutants, detergents, humidity and freeze-thaw conditions. Design flexibility, ease of fabrication, seamless appearance, thermoformability and durability make Corian solid surface a versatile material. Corian installations can be easily cleaned and/or sanded to restore their original appearances. Even graffiti can be removed through standard pressure washing with baking soda-based cleaning agents. All of these performance factors combined make Corian solid surface an excellent choice for exterior applications.

Individual Corian colours change differently upon prolonged exposure to outdoor weather conditions and may exhibit colour shifts which can be renewed with cleaning and/or sanding. This change is more evident in saturated, chromatic and dark colours and least evident in whites, lights and many of the neutral tones. Ultimately, it is up to the end user to determine if these characteristics are acceptable for the desired application. For more information on the weatherability of the various Corian colours please refer to the DuPont Weatherability and Exterior Use of DuPont Corian Solid Surface technical bulletin.