Acrylic Kitchens: Pros, Cons, and Care Tips

Acrylic kitchens are appreciated by consumers for a wide range of colors, a shiny and radiant surface and a very attractive appearance. It is believed that they appeared in Italy, but today they are becoming increasingly popular among the inhabitants of our country. Materials so habitual for kitchen sets as plastic and even wood go into the background.

Some people think that acrylic is plastic, but this is not entirely true. Rather, it can be called a thermoplastic polymer. The main feature of this material is a pronounced gloss.

If you look at acrylic on its own, it is transparent. However, manufacturers add dyes to it, getting a wide range of shades. Currently, it is increasingly being used in the furniture industry when creating kitchen sets.

The process of its manufacture is as follows. The basis is an MDF board, which is coated with polymethyl acrylate. This gives the material strength and makes its technical characteristics higher. Since the plate is not able to deform when exposed to any external factors such as heating and humidity, acrylic will not peel off after a while.

Acrylic has many positive characteristics. It is weatherproof and absolutely not afraid of corrosion.Apply this material in mechanical engineering, aviation and medicine. At first it was exclusively liquid, but over time, its condition changed, granular and leafy versions appeared. The properties of acrylic can be called unique, due to which it has recently been widely used in the furniture industry.

Like any material, it has its advantages and disadvantages. To start, let's dwell on the merits.

Acrylic is wear resistant. It is very durable and able to withstand various mechanical influences. Not afraid of material and sharp objects, strong pressure and even bumps. An indisputable advantage is the possibility of its secondary processing.

The material is weather resistant. He is not afraid of temperature extremes and heat up to +160 degrees. Humidity is also not dangerous for him, like steam and ultraviolet. All this allows acrylic kitchens to look bright and presentable even after a long period.

Care of the coating will not be particularly difficult. Acrylic surfaces should be wiped with special sprays and a soft cloth. Antistatistical properties protect them from trapping dust, grease and dirt. The main point is only its processing to preserve gloss, but it is carried out once every 6 months.

Features of production make it possible to produce acrylic kitchens in a wide range of colors. One color has up to 20 shades. You can also pick up any pattern, 3D image or ornament. Since the coating is reflective, it visually expands the space of the kitchen, making it lighter and more airy.

Another important point is environmental friendliness. It should be noted that in this characteristic, plastic loses significantly to acrylic, as it has the ability to release toxic substances that are not the best way to affect the health of households who spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Acrylic is free of carcinogens, it does not contain tar and harmful substances, so it can be safely called an environmentally friendly material.

However, arguing about the merits, We must not lose sight of the disadvantages of this product.. First of all, the relatively high cost of acrylic headsets refers to them. This is due to the fact that the work on the production of material is carried out according to a unique technology and on special equipment. However, even under this condition, the long-term operation of the product allows you to recoup the initial costs.

The second point is that the furniture can quickly become dirty. Since the surface is glossy, fingerprints, stains and splashes are very well manifested on it. To maintain an attractive appearance of the kitchen at a decent level, you will need to constantly care for the headset and wipe it. Therefore, it is recommended to choose acrylic options for people who do not spend too much time cooking.

Finally, strong shine can be not only a plus, but also a minus. Undoubtedly, the radiance looks very beautiful, but over time it can begin to bore. Mirror shine is especially negative for babies and people aged whose psyche is not sufficiently resistant to such effects.

There are 3 types of cladding. These are postforming, hem and aluminum frame.

Regarding postforming, it can only be used if it is an acrylic film. To begin with, the leaves are rounded, after which the film is superimposed on the base, capturing 2 edges.A PVC film will also be required, with the help of which the edge is sealed both from above and from below. This will help to reduce the number of joints, which will lead to the fact that the color of the material both inside and outside will be the same.

Edge differs in that when processing the ends, both acrylic film and PVC are used. As for the coating, it can be both on the one hand, and on two.

Aluminum frame suggests that panels made of acrylic will fit in an aluminum frame. This is one of the most reliable options, since its shape is not lost, and the appearance is always on top. The width of the frame can be any, it depends on the need to use thick or thin panels. Care in this case plays an important role, since it is necessary to protect the material from the effects of aggressive cleaning compounds, otherwise it may darken over time.

Acrylic furniture looks very impressive in appearance, and its surface is somewhat similar to enamel. However, the question often arises: what material is better? Let's try to consider the features of plastic, acrylic and enamel facades in comparison.

In terms of cost, acrylic is in the middle price range. Plastic is cheaper, but enamel, on the contrary, is much more expensive. In each of the cases, the facade can be either glossy or matte. Acrylic kitchens are presented in a wide variety of colors, but it should be noted that enamel choices are even wider.

Plastic, as a cheaper material, is afraid of exposure to high temperatures. Enamel is susceptible to ultraviolet rays and loses color over time. Acrylic is the most stable in these indicators. It tolerates moisture well, is not afraid of any mechanical damage, is environmentally friendly.

Acrylic kitchens allow the owner of the room to choose a design, using their imagination to the maximum. You can use white, black, bright or more calm color, impose drawings and three-dimensional images on the facades, experiment with the form.

Such furniture will fit perfectly into the interior, made in the style of high-tech. She will make the room more stylish, if necessary - strict, give originality and gloss. The same can be said of minimalism. If the kitchen is small, you can use white gloss to give it a visual volume. The connoisseur of a cozy atmosphere will like modern style.

Original kitchen sets made in two colors. You can use bright inserts that will give the atmosphere brightness and unusualness.

For all their appealing appeal, acrylic kitchen sets require careful care. This is due to the fact that the surface is glossy and bright, respectively, when in contact with something quickly gets dirty. It will need to be polished almost every day.

If the hostess likes to spend time in the kitchen and invent new complex dishes, she should consider other options for arranging this room. However, in the case when design and beauty are important, rather than functionality, acrylic furniture will be an ideal option.

So that the surface of the headset does not fade over time, you can not treat it with aggressive detergent compositions.

Users recommend wiping acrylic surfaces daily after the cooking process ends.If for some time the kitchen is not used for cooking, it will remain clean. The fact is that the coatings are very smooth, respectively, the dust on them is not retained.

Once every six months, it is required to process the headsets with a special tool. It is designed to remove minor defects from the surface. In addition, it must be borne in mind that initially and during the installation period the headsets are covered with a protective film. Once the installation is completed, it is recommended to remove it. After this, you need to consider that the surface will become susceptible to various factors, including high humidity, namely it makes the facades more solid. After removing the film, rub the headset with a damp and slightly soapy cloth.

For these purposes, you can use special compounds sold in stores. Manufacturers claim that in addition to the fact that acrylic hardens under their influence, these products also have a protective function. For example, oily spots will not appear so much on the surface, it will become less scratched.

You can see the modern acrylic kitchen in the next video.