Porcelain Countertops

Kitchen countertops are essential elements of design for all homes. After all, a kitchen is the central hub of every home, right? Selecting the perfect countertop surface can become a tremendous chore. Porcelain countertops are becoming a top choice among homeowners and interior designers. Their popularity is growing fast. Porcelain is engineered to provide beautiful looks and endurance for indoor and outdoor applications.

What is Porcelain?

Porcelain is mainly made from clay, kaolinite, and silica. Other materials can be used to a lesser extent. This mixture gets treated to an extremely high temperature in a kiln to form porcelain slabs. The result is a strong, durable material perfect for kitchen and bathroom applications.

Pros and Cons of Porcelain Countertops

Porcelain is a top contender when it comes to countertop materials. Porcelain countertops have many advantages that can rival natural stone countertops. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of porcelain countertops.

Pros:

• Beauty: Porcelain countertops are available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Since they are engineered stones, any color or pattern can be imprinted. You can even make them look like marble, quartzite, or concrete.

• Durability: Porcelain is specifically made to be hard and durable. In terms of strength, porcelain is stronger than granite. The pigmented glazes applied during manufacturing make porcelain surfaces have a non-porous surface. The high temperature makes porcelain have a high density, so damaging the surface of your countertops will be quite hard. This high-temperature process also makes porcelain countertops heat-resistant. Placing hot pots or pans won’t damage your porcelain countertops. However, we recommend using pads or trivets with each countertop material.

• Low Maintenance: The non-porous surface of porcelain countertops makes them extremely stain resistant. Since your countertops are scratch resistant, you cannot damage the surface, which will become a permanent stain in the future. Natural stone surfaces require sealing and resealing. Porcelain countertops don’t require sealing, along with scratch and stain resistance; they are a very low-maintenance material.

• Bigger Slabs: Since porcelain is a manufactured material, it can be manufactured up to 10ft slabs. This means you don’t have to worry about seams in your countertops.

• Versatility: Porcelain countertops are manufactured using the highest quality digital printing technology, so they can virtually have any color or pattern. That makes porcelain countertops quite versatile. You can use them in any style of kitchen, whether modern or traditional. Porcelain countertops are also available in polished and unpolished finishes to fit your design choices. They can even be installed on your existing countertop if you renew your kitchen.

• Eco-Friendly: Porcelain is one of the most eco-friendly materials for countertops. The manufacturing process doesn’t include any sort of dangerous materials. Porcelain can be recycled or left to biodegrade without causing any harm to nature.

• Hygienic: Porcelain is probably the most hygienic material for countertops. The porcelain’s non-porous surface doesn’t allow dust mites, bacteria, fungi, or mold to grow there. Porcelain is inherently inorganic and will never emit VOCs.

Cons:

• Printed Looks: The beauty of porcelain countertops go only skin deep. Since the colors and patterns are printed on the surface, in the unlikely event of a chip or scratch, the interior color of your countertop will be visible.

• Corners Can Chip: Porcelain is strong and durable but not indestructible. Blunt forces around the edges of your countertops can cause damage, resulting in chipping.

• Requires Professionals: Porcelain countertop installations aren’t DIY projects. Porcelain surfaces require professional installation. Since porcelain tiles are extremely thin, installation can become quite challenging to avoid cracking or breaking.

• Limited Edge Styles: Because of their thin nature, there are limited edge styles for porcelain countertops. Since the patterns are only skin deep, rounded, or various other edge styles will show the color inside your countertops.