Watch the Video on Acrylic Countertops (Samsung Staron)
HOST: Tell us a little bit about the -- these great acrylic countertop surfaces that you guys are bringing out this year at the International Builders' Show.
REP: Yeah, absolutely, Scott. Uh, what we've done -- We're part of the Samsung Company. Samsung -- (HOST: Everybody knows Samsung.) Everybody knows Samsung. Absolutely. And we do produce surfacing materials. And what we've introduced is something that's radically different, we feel. (HOST: Right.) Um, there's a lot of popularity in court surfaces. (HOST: Uh-huh.) And we do manufacture those, as well. But we were looking to develop a product that would bridge the gap between quartz surfaces (HOST: Right.) and solid surfaces. (HOST: Right.) We wanted to create something that looks like quartz, but has all the features and benefits of solid surface. (HOST: Gotcha.) And that's what we've done with our new Tempest and Tempest Stylus line. These are all -- all-acrylic products.
HOST: Well, I'm telling you right now. I'm looking at these. One, they look like your uh --
[NONINTERVIEW DIALOGUE AND FOOTAGE]
HOST: well, I'm looking at these, and they resemble--especially one like this--the quartz products. And you're telling me these are the solid-surface acrylics. They've got some really great color to them.
REP: They absolutely do. And this is really proprietary technology for Samsung and Staron Surfaces. And we've developed some spec -- special chips that are in this material (HOST: Uh-huh.) that are very unique, as you can tell. But the difference is (HOST: That's beautiful.) -- Yeah. There's a lot of translucency and depth (HOST: Yeah.) in the material. And you don't see that in conventional solid-surface materials.
HOST: I agree. And acrylics and--I almost hate to ask this anymore--but the green building -- (REP: Yeah.) -- and acrylics, what's our connection?
REP: Well, there is a connection. In fact, we've actually taken all of our solid-surface products, and we've had them tested through an independent agency known as Green Guard, and all of our Tempest products and all the Staron surfaces, sold surfaces are Green Guard-certified. (HOST: Okay.) And the particular certification that we have is for volatile organic compounds. (HOST: Yes. Yes. Yes.) You know, and you've heard so much that the air quality indoors is perhaps worse than it is outdoors. (HOST: Yes.) And so these -- these do not offgas emissions, and so they do meet Green Guard certification.
HOST: Okay. I'm a builder, and you know, upper-end homes, and I've had a spec home and I'm wanting to upsell someone into this surface. (REP: Sure.) What do I tell them? What do I tell my customers? This is better than granite? Sell me on -- on -- on the acrylic surface.
REP: Yeah, absolutely. Well, you know, and one of the things that's important to us is we're not producing an imitation granite. (HOST: Right.) This is a different type of material altogether. And I think to put it into perspective, it's just not a countertop material for kitchens. (HOST: Right.) This is a material that has places throughout the home, including bathrooms, laundry rooms, pantry rooms, workstations, and so on. (HOST: Wow.) But really what this is--and we call it a healthy kitchen or a healthy surface, because when these materials are installed, it's virtually seamless.
(HOST: Right.) You don't have any seams or groutlines like you would with granite, for example. (HOST: Yes. Definitely.) We could have a fully coved backsplash. We also produce the sinks that are also -- (HOST: And the backsplash is integrated into the counter?) -- Fully integrated into the countertop, as well as -- (HOST: So you lose that crack?) You lose that crack in that seam there. And the same as the sink, Scott. So the seams are integrated, as well. So there's no little crevice. You know that ugly little gap. (HOST: Yeah. [LAUGHS.] I do. I do. I do. It gets dirty.) -- Where all the nasties hang out in there? Well, that's totally gone.
And here's a little sidenote for you and why we like to call this a healthy kitchen. These materials have become the materials of choice in healthcare, for example, on the commercial side. (HOST: Right.) So, designers that do hospital interiors and medical facilities and that sort of thing, solid surfacing is their number-one choice--just for that reason. And I think that transfers over to the home, and I think that's something builders can offer to their clients.
HOST: That's awesome. What's my price range? Am I close to the quartz range or granite range, and do quartz -- ? What's the starting?
REP: The comparison, I would say, would be closer to quartz. (HOST: Okay.) I mean, as you know, there's all kinds of -- there's different qualities in granite. (HOST: Yeah, there's a bottom and top.) Yeah, there's a bottom and top in granite. But the comparison is closest to quartz and is probably very similar. So, you know, to put it in perspective, maybe at a retail level -- Now, for a builder, obviously less. (HOST: Right. Right.) But -- But an individual might buy this material in a range of you know seventy to eight-five dollars a square-foot installed depending on the complexity of the design and all that.
HOST: And maintenance is --
REP: Yeah, maintenance is actually pretty simple. So you get a high-end look, but maintenance is pretty easy. And with these countertops, it's pretty much Windex glass cleaner and a papertowel (HOST: Great.) is pretty much it. Yeah.
HOST: Well, I see this as, you know, from a builder and new construction going, I think I can install this, and there's always those neat little products you find (REP: Yeah.) that I can upsell and give them maintenance. So this is not a maintenance nightmare. It's going to be easier than granite, to be honest with you. And I love the depth.
REP: Yeah, it's tremendous.
HOST: It's very nice. So -- The new -- This builders' show's the first time that you've brought this out. I guess you've had a good reception on this product.
REP: Yep. You know, absolutely. In fact, when the builders are coming through our booth here at the show, they'll gravitate toward this product, and their first reaction is, is Wow, this is quartz.
HOST: Yeah. Yeah, I mean -- Well, especially this piece. That's the first one. (REP: Yes.) You know I was looking at it, and ah, that's quartz. And it's got the depth. But it's got -- Even this piece has a lot of depth.
REP: It has a jewel-like quality. And this piece goes, like I said, in many places around the house--media rooms, an entertainment room -- You could even use it vertically for shower walls.
HOST: Very nice. Well, thank you so much for stopping by. (REP: Alright. Yeah. Good talking to you.) Great product. [END]
Watch the Video on Acrylic Countertops (Samsung Staron)
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