Porcelain Worktops

What are the Pros & Cons of Porcelain Worktops?

If you are renovating your kitchen, you might have heard about the increasing popularity of  porcelain worktops.

In our article, we’ll discuss all the porcelain worktops pros & cons, to help shed light on the features that make them stand out and what to keep in mind before purchasing.

Pros of Porcelain Worktops

Looks for Days

To many, one of the defining features of a porcelain worktop is its ability to seamlessly complement nearly any interior design style. 

Their glossy, modern finishes exude elegance and sophistication, adding a dash of luxury to your kitchen or bathroom, and they’re available in a plethora of colours and patterns. The surge in popularity of porcelain worktops has led to popular brands extending their existing range and bringing many more modern designs to the market, meaning there is no shortage of options for the homeowner.

But, porcelain is also known for the incredible personalisation potential it offers. By tweaking its mineral composition, one can customise to your heart’s content, while achieving an array of unique colours, tones, and finishes. Manufacturers have the flexibility to use glazes for added flexibility as well.

Made to Last

The tough composition of porcelain worktops makes them highly resistant to scratches, chips, and stains and, with proper care, they can last for anywhere from 20 to 30 years. This is because its production process, which involves firing a mixture of china stone and kaolin at high temperatures, delivers increased robustness, as well as a more diverse colour palette. 

Surprisingly, despite containing impurities like silica and mineral oxides, they actually enhance the robustness and visual richness of the finished porcelain products instead of compromising their quality. 

Low Maintenance

Porcelain worktops are virtually maintenance-free, making them a dream for any countertop owner. Their non-porous surfaces are resistant to UV light, heat, bacteria and liquids, which prevents wear and tear as well as the absorption of stains.  In other words, there’s no need for sealing like some other materials.

They’re easy to clean too. Believe it or not, a good old-fashioned wipe-down with a mild detergent and water will usually do the trick. For tougher stains, try a non-abrasive cleaning pad and avoid harsh chemicals or corrosive cleaners far and wide, as they could damage the surface.

Easy Installation

These versatile countertops usually vary between ¼ to ½ inch in thickness, making them lighter in weight than their counterparts, and, consequently, easier to set up. 

Plus, they can often be installed directly over one’s old laminate or plywood counters, which means you could save on labour, time and money and have a swift renovation. 

Suitable for Outdoors

If you are planning to create an outdoor kitchen, you may be wondering what countertop you will best survive the elements. Porcelain worktops are UV resistant and do not fade from sunlight exposure making them excellent for external worktops. Additionally, they are made to endure cold weather temperatures and won’t crack or damage from a harsh winter.

Resistant to High Temperatures

Porcelain countertops have high heat resistance capabilities. In fact porcelain worktops generally resist temperatures as high as 650° C to 1100° C /  1,200° F to 2,000° F.  This makes them an excellent low fuss option in the kitchen as you won’t be worrying about accidentally placing hot trays and pans straight from the oven on your worktop and creating damage. 

Cons of Porcelain Worktops

Can be Pricey

Naturally, the cost will always be a significant factor in one’s choice of worktop and while porcelain kitchen worktops can sometimes be pricey, it usually hinges on variables like brand, size and colour. 

Finding skilled fabricators for full-sized slabs, in particular, can also be challenging thanks to the material’s thinness. Nevertheless, porcelain generally proves to be more cost-effective than granite, marble, and quartz in the long run, since maintenance is minimal.

Limited Edge Styles

One downside with porcelain countertops is their distinctive yet restricted range of edge style options. Familiar favourites like bevelled, rounded, or intricate edging and unobtainable, the visual elements, like pattern and design, tend to be confined to the surface. 

As a result, many go for eased (square), apron (2-3 inches thick), or mitred (waterfall) edge styles, which can create the appearance of a thicker slab. Still, those eyeing specific countertop edges like the bullnose, ogee, or chiselled variations, might do well to opt for natural stone instead.

Of course, to homeowners who care more about the surface appearance, this won’t be much of an issue.

Hard to Fix

Durable as the material is, porcelain’s rigid and brittle surface makes it susceptible to damage from forceful impacts and it can crack under severe pressure. Heavy-handed accidental drops could lead to cracks or chips and, sadly, repairing porcelain chips is seldom feasible, in contrast to other materials like quartz and granite. 

Fortunately, this is unlikely to happen, especially if the worktop is installed properly.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. We hope our Porcelain Worktops Pros & Cons article has helped make your kitchen worktops decision a little easier. As with most things, ultimately, the decision one makes should align with your budget, goals and lifestyle considerations. 

For instance, porcelain worktops might not be the ideal choice in colder climates, since their surface has a natural chilliness, making them less comfortable for activities like rolling out pastry dough. Still, by weighing the pros and cons, we can safely say that despite some drawbacks, more often than not, the benefits of porcelain far outweigh its shortcomings in the long term. 

Top-tier porcelain countertops are guaranteed to offer longevity, along with straightforward installations. Meanwhile, their elegance, resilience against daily use and aesthetic variety make them an ideal decor choice, which makes them a firm contender for the most stylish and practical kitchen worktop overall.

Your One-Stop Porcelain Worktop Shop

At Paramount Stone Specialists, we pride ourselves on the dexterity of our stonemasons and delivering the utmost quality at competitive prices while delivering exceptional service, for 25 years and counting. 

If you still have questions about worktop materials, we’d love to give you a complimentary consultation and expert recommendations based on your queries. 

We utilise cutting-edge stone machinery and technology to guarantee stunning end products every time and believe our growing bespoke selection of exquisite porcelain worktops is exemplary of this.

Have a look at our porcelain colour collection here.

For additional information, feel free to connect with our approachable in-house team by calling 01482 585600 or emailing at info@paramountstone.co.uk.