If you’ve been thinking about investing in new worktops, you may well have been lured in by the appeal of natural or engineered stone. Marble worktops bring a certain grandeur, granite counters offer natural beauty and strength, and quartz worktops deliver excellent consistency and low maintenance. But there’s another option that’s been gaining traction among homeowners recently, and that’s porcelain countertops.
Porcelain might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of worktop materials, but it’s actually surprisingly versatile and easy to customise. Whether you’re after the look of natural stone, concrete, or even wood grain, porcelain can deliver your desired aesthetic while bringing its own unique set of advantages to the table.
In this post, we’ll be exploring all the benefits of porcelain worktops so you can decide whether they’re the right fit for your next project. From durability to design flexibility, there’s plenty to unpack about this increasingly popular surface material.
How are Porcelain Countertops Made in the UK?
Porcelain countertops start out as a carefully crafted blend of natural clay, feldspar, and silica. These raw materials are mixed together and then pressed under enormous pressure while being fired at extreme temperatures, typically around 1,200°C. This intense manufacturing process creates an incredibly dense, non-porous surface that’s both strong and consistent throughout its thickness.
What makes modern porcelain countertops particularly impressive is the advanced printing technology used during production. Digital imaging allows manufacturers to create incredibly realistic textures and patterns that can mimic everything from Carrara marble veining to cosmic granite. This leaves you with a man-made surface that looks remarkably like natural materials while offering optimal performance.
What Projects are Porcelain Worktops Suitable For?
Porcelain worktops are suitable for all different kinds of applications, but they’re particularly well suited to home and garden projects. You’ll find them in…
- Kitchens: Porcelain countertops are an excellent choice for kitchens since they’re able to handle everything from hot plates to food spills with low risk of damage. Their non-porous surface means you won’t have to worry about staining from wine, coffee, or cooking oils, and cleanup is typically straightforward.
- Bathrooms: You can also use porcelain in bathrooms and wet rooms. Since porcelain is resistant to moisture, it’s ideal for vanity tops that are frequently exposed to splashes of water and humidity. You don’t need to seal porcelain like you would with natural stone, which means one less maintenance task on your to-do list.
Quick tip: Why not have a porcelain sink crafted to match your porcelain countertops? This creates a completely seamless surface that’s not only visually pleasing but also eliminates the grout lines or joints where dirt and bacteria might otherwise accumulate.
- Gardens: Porcelain is a fantastic option for outdoor kitchens, BBQ areas, and garden bars due to its UV resistance, meaning it won’t fade in the sun. It can also withstand rain, frost, and fluctuating temperatures without cracking or warping. That means you benefit from an elegant outdoor feature without having to worry about wear and tear.
How Durable Are Porcelain Countertops?
Porcelain countertops are extremely durable thanks to the high-temperature firing process that they undergo. This creates a surface that’s incredibly hard and resistant to scratches, chips, and cracks under normal use.
When compared with other popular surface materials, porcelain fares particularly well. It’s generally considered to be more stain-resistant than natural stone options like marble or granite, which are more porous and require regular sealing.
It’s also less prone to discolouration than quartz surfaces, which can sometimes fade when exposed to lots of sunlight. This makes porcelain ideal for areas with large windows or outdoor applications.
Why Else Are Porcelain Countertops Beneficial to Have in Your Home?
As well as being incredibly long-lasting, porcelain counters offer the following additional advantages:
- Cost-effectiveness: Depending on the type of porcelain you choose, you won’t normally need to pay extra to benefit from porcelain’s fantastic durability. Porcelain comes in at a similar price point to quartz and requires little maintenance, so you won’t have to spend money on sealing or similar treatments.
- Design variety: The range of colours, patterns, and textures available in porcelain is truly expansive. Whether you want something that mimics marble or prefer a solid contemporary colour, there’s likely a porcelain option to match your vision.
- Heat resistance: While you should still use caution with extremely hot items, porcelain can handle heat better than many surface materials without scorching or discolouring. This makes it ideal for kitchen spaces.
- Water resistance: The non-porous nature of porcelain means water simply can’t penetrate the surface, making it naturally resistant to water damage and bacterial growth.
- Low maintenance: Once installed, porcelain countertops require minimal ongoing care. Regular cleaning with standard household cleaners is normally all that’s needed to keep them looking their best.
- Hygienic properties: Finally, the smooth, non-porous surface of porcelain doesn’t harbour bacteria or require special sanitising treatments, making it an excellent choice for food preparation areas.
Invest in Quality Porcelain Counters from Marble Supreme
After premium worktops in Bristol? At Marble Supreme, we work with a number of reputable porcelain manufacturers to ensure our customers have access to the highest quality surfaces available. Our team understands that choosing countertops is a significant decision, both aesthetically and financially, which is why we take the time to help you explore all your options.
We can guide you through the various porcelain collections we carry, helping you to find the style, colour, and finish that best complements your home’s design. Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of marble-look porcelain or prefer something more contemporary, we’ll work with you to ensure your new countertops exceed your expectations for both beauty and performance.
Ready to discover what porcelain countertops can bring to your space? Get in touch with our team to explore the possibilities and find the perfect surface for your next project.