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. 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 very stone-like in texture and appearance. And 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
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
Related Posts:
• Paperstone Recycled Countertops
• Eco-Top Countertops
• Best Eco-Friendly Countertops
• 16 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Countertops
(Top image: Richlite countertops via Spectrum Surfacing
Originally published 2009-05-18 - CB)
10 No-Fail Decor Tricks & Tips for Small Spaces
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
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.
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.
how do the prices of the paper counter top compare to Corian or stone?
Paper that's paper wow I'm impressed
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.
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.
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.
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!