Consumers should consider porcelain countertops as a surfacing alternative. However, since porcelain is a newer surfacing commodity on the market, most homeowners and business owners are unaware of its existence. Porcelain countertops have been used in Europe for a long time, but this style of countertop has only recently gained popularity in the United States. The pattern is likely to continue because this countertop material has many Advantages and Disadvantages of Porcelain Tiles
What is the porcelain made off?
Porcelain is essentially made out of clay, but not just any clay. Porcelain clay, also known as China clay, contains a high percentage of a mineral called kaolinite, silica, feldspar, and other mineral oxides, all of which contribute to the strength toughness of porcelain. This combination is fired at extremely high temperatures in a kiln. As a result, the material is extremely dense and nearly impervious to stains, heat, UV rays, scratching, chips, and cracks. During the manufacturing process, pigmented glazes are applied to the porcelain slab to produce various colors and patterns.
Advantage
Heat Endurance
After experiencing such high fabrication temperatures, it’s no surprise that heat resistance is one of its advantages. And if you put hot pots and pans directly on a porcelain countertop, you should have no trouble handling them.
Hardness and Durability
Porcelain is nearly 30 percent stronger than even the hardest granite. Porcelain is scratch-resistant due to its tough construction. You can also slice and dice food on it without thinking about scratching the surface with your knives. However, you might want to avoid cleaving meat.
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Low Water Absorption
Water is almost impervious to porcelain. Its absorption rate is less than 0.5 percent. But don’t worry about wiping spills off the counter as soon as they happen.
Simple to Maintain
Porcelain is non-porous and stain resistant, in addition to being easy to clean. That’s great news for countertop owners because it means they won’t have to seal their surfaces. Countertops made of high-quality porcelain are scratch-resistant, heat-resistant, and long-lasting.
Resistance to UV Light
One big benefit of porcelain is that it does not discolor when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. What a relief it is to plan your kitchen countertop layout without having to think about where the windows are.
Patterns and Colors
Natural pigments can provide you with a variety of color options, depending on the manufacturer. Patterns and colors may be applied during the fabrication process because porcelain is an engineered stone. You can get a solid-color porcelain countertop or one with a marble-like surface if you want. That way, you get the look of marble at a fraction of the cost.
Your porcelain countertop can be made to look like any material you want, such as marble, wood grain, concrete finishes, or rusted steel, and it will always look natural.
Dimensions and thickness
You would think that a substance as tough as porcelain will have to be extremely dense, but this is not the case. Porcelain is a very light material with a variety of installation options. Furthermore, extra-large porcelain slabs can be made, requiring fewer seams. When you want to build a single slab cover, look for the entire kitchen island. This material is a good option.
Friendly to the Environment
Finally, one of the porcelain’s most appealing features is its green color. It’s a natural product made entirely of raw and clay-based materials, so it’s good to know you’ll be able to recycle it in the future.
Disadvantage
Easy to Crack
Porcelain countertops have only a few drawbacks. One is that it will break if you hit it with a hard object. It’s strong but not overpowering. It’ll be perfect as long as you don’t use a hammer or a meat cleaver on it.
Styles on the Outside
In comparison to other Stones, porcelain has a restricted but uncommon range of countertop edge profile choices. There are various edges available, including round, beveled, straight, cover, and waterfall. You can also have the edges mitered to make a consistent pattern, with a square edge being the most popular choice. A mitered edge is a good option to offer the appearance of a thicker slab since porcelain countertops are thinner than others.
The Price
One of the most important factors to consider is the price. When dealing with high-density materials, the countertop fabrication process is often more difficult. Since the material is so thin, even finding the right fabricator for full-sized slabs is difficult. Porcelain, on the other hand, is less expensive than granite, marble, and quartz. The good news is that once your system is up and running, the maintenance costs will be minimal.
Before buying read the Advantages and Disadvantages of Porcelain Tiles.