Pros And Cons Of Porcelain Countertops

You already know the obvious materials used for countertops in the kitchen and bathroom like granite, marble, concrete, ceramic, and quartz countertops. But there is also another type of countertop material known as porcelain. Here is everything you need to know about porcelain countertops.

What Is Porcelain Made Of?

Porcelain countertops are quite the new addition in the world of countertop materials, but porcelain is slowly setting its foot down and gaining popularity. Before diving into the pros and cons of porcelain countertops, you need to know its composition and what it’s made of. Porcelain is made out of a combination of clay, feldspar and a mineral known as kaolinite. These minerals, when combined, make up porcelain. Sometimes, there is also mica in the porcelain and it gives the rock a lustrous sheen and beautiful color. The composition of porcelain makes it super strong and durable and it is comparable in strength with granite and quartz.

Now that we have the composition of porcelain out of the way, let’s talk about the pros and cons.

Pros Of Porcelain Countertops

Here are some amazing things about porcelain countertops which will get you tempted to buy them immediately.

They Are Stain Resistant

Everyone loves a good old countertop that is stain resistant. Porcelain countertops are non-porous so they don’t absorb any liquid and they hardly ever stain the surface. You don’t need to worry about always cleaning non-porous countertops so that stains don’t form. Although the color is light, stains hardly ever show on porcelain countertops.

They Are Durable

The strength and durability of porcelain countertops comes from the combination of clay and kaolinite. They are a power combination for making the ultimate strength countertops. Porcelain is a very durable material and they hardly ever crack or chip. They are also resistant to ultraviolet lights and scratches. You will be amazed by their strength and quality.

They Are Heat And Scratch Resistant

Since porcelain is quite durable because of its amazing combination, they are also heat and scratch resistant. A stainless-steel knife will barely even scratch the surface of porcelain. It is also heat resistant, since clay and kaolinite are insulators of heat and don’t allow heat to pass through them, so you don’t have to worry about your countertops getting ruined because of the heat.

Cons Of Porcelain Countertops

Here are some not so great things about porcelain countertops.

The Patterns Can Rub Off

The ultimate downside to porcelain countertops is that the designs and patterns on the surface of the countertop are all printed on generically. It is not something natural and this is why it can be rubbed off. If you use a thinning agent, the printing ink will dissolve and it will diffuse the design all over, making it disappear. There is no natural design on porcelain. It is quite a plain material but if you need some sort of design on it then you can only get on the surface and not rock deep.

They Are Not Very Common

As mentioned above, porcelain is a fairly new material and it is not very commonly available. This can be a problem if you are somewhere where porcelain countertops are in sparse quantities. It gives you less control over the variety and you have to make do with what the retailer has to offer.

They Can Be Scratched With Ceramic Utensils

You might be surprised to know that porcelain can be scratched as well, but with a ceramic knife. Ceramic and porcelain are very similar in composition and both can ruin each other. It’s best not to use ceramic knives and utensils on top of the surface of porcelain because it will cause the surface to scratch once scratches are formed, it can be very hard to cover and porcelain shows a lot of damage on the surface.

Conclusion

Porcelain countertops are an amazing addition to your kitchen or bathroom. They look and feel luxurious and they have a lot of color variety. You have yourself another countertop material to consider when you are going through different options. Go to reliable countertop replacement companies Rockville for selecting high quality kitchen countertop materials.