How to Drill Holes in Corian Counter Tops

Introduction:

Corian is a plastic resin product commonly used for kitchen and bathroom vanity countertops. It has become very popular in the housing construction industry in recent years because of its durability and its sanitary non-porous surface. Unfortunately drilling in Corian counter tops can be problematic. Although most kitchen counter tops and bathroom sink vanities have predrilled holes it is not always the case with a Corian top.  This is because of the large number of faucet configurations on the market today.

Drilling holes in Corian counter tops is a moderately difficult DIY task for most homeowners. When drilling the holes caution must be taken not to mar the surface when drilling and getting the hole in the correct location.

How to drill holes in Corian counter tops:

1.    Lay the countertop/sink across a solid pair of sawhorses.

2.    Apply masking tape to the countertop in the location of the faucet holes. The purpose of the tape is to provide protection to the countertop and to give you a better surface to mark the location with a pencil.

3.    Turn the countertop over. 

4.    Measure the shortest distance from the back of the integral sink to the rear of the countertop.

5.    Turn the counter top over again and mark the countertop back and transfer this measurement to the front of the sink. If the countertop has a backsplash be sure to subtract its thickness or you will locate the holes too close to the sink hole. Locate the center of the faucet holes which should be at least 1 inch back from this mark. Center the mark by measuring the width of the countertop and dividing by 2.

6.  Most bathroom sinks require three holes, two for the supply lines and a center one for the pop-up control rod. The center hole should be exactly between the outer two. Double check your measurements by placing the faucet over the marks.

 Drilling the hole:

1.    The hole can only be drilled with a router, hole-saw or a spiral drill bit.

2.    Drill the holes in two steps. First drill a locator hole through the countertop at each of the three marks. This hole should be just slightly smaller than the size of the pilot bit of your hole-saw.

3.    Use these holes as guides to enlarge the holes to the correct size. Do not drill an over sized hole.

4.    Use a moderately low speed only applying enough power to keep the holes saw cutting at an even rate. If the saw bogs down increase the speed a little.

5.    Sand the holes for a smooth surface.

6.    Install the faucets and you are done.

Drilling holes in Corian counter tops is not difficult but it must be done carefully to prevent damaging the material and getting the holes in the right location.

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