Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Porcelain
Renovating your kitchen countertops can upgrade your home’s overall theme and design greatly. And while there are numerous material choices for countertops, one of the most popular options is porcelain. When you look around modern homes, hotels, shops, and restaurants today, you will likely find a porcelain countertop. This is why for this article, we’ve rounded up the advantages and disadvantages of porcelain.
Due to the fact that porcelain and ceramic tiles are often used interchangeably, you may not be too familiar with what porcelain tile exactly is. Porcelain tiles are high-quality engineered tiles made from kaolinite clay, which is a refined and dense clay with traces of feldspar, mineral oxides, and silica. The clay is baked at high temperatures of about 1200 to 1400°C. The result is stronger, more robust, aesthetically appealing, and non-porous tile that can be used for both exterior and interior spaces. Porcelain tiles also come in a variety of stylish designs, which is why many people decide to go with the product.
It’s clear that porcelain tiles offer numerous benefits over other traditional tiling options. To help you determine if this type of tile is ideal for your home, we’ve listed down the advantages and disadvantages of porcelain.
Advantages Of Porcelain
Extremely Durable
Porcelain is an extremely strong stone. In fact, it is harder than granite. Granite is known as one of the hardest natural stones with a hardness rating of 6 to 6.5. On the other hand, porcelain has a 7 to 8 hardness rating because it is made from baked kaolinite clay. If you are looking for a durable tiling material for your kitchen countertops, porcelain tiles may be right for you.
The robust and dense structure of porcelain makes it scratch and abrasion-resistant. Take SapienStone porcelain tiles for example. Where wood and laminate lined countertops would be damaged from every use, Sapienstone porcelain countertops would be able to withstand wear and tear. You could slice, dice, and chop any ingredient directly on top of the porcelain countertop without damaging it.
Porcelain is known to last for decades, which is why it is the top material choice for many properties.
Heat-Resistant
Given that the kaolinite clay used for forming porcelain is baked in extreme temperatures, you can expect that this highly-engineered stone has heat-resistant properties. You can take an iron cast pan and place it on top of a porcelain countertop and it would withstand the heat.
Take Sapienstone porcelain tiles for example. These tiles are designed to withstand damage from hot coffee, pans, and even fire accidents. SapienStone tiles can also be used for outdoor surfaces as direct sunlight does not alter their quality.
Non-Porous and Stain-Resistant
The water absorption rate of porcelain is less than 0.5 percent. Passing the stringent ASTM C373 material test for water absorption, it is basically impervious to water. If you use a porcelain tile like the SapienStone for your kitchen countertops, you would not have any problems with facilitating the growth of molds and bacteria on your cooking surfaces.
Let’s say you accidentally spill liquids on your porcelain countertop, you also don’t have to worry about cleaning up. Simply wipe the liquid and it would be spotless. Porcelain does not need to receive any special sealant finishing because it is stain-resistant. SapienStone tiles, for example, are designed to be resistant to spills from liquids, chemicals, and even acids like vinegar and lemon. Those looking for an easy-to-clean surface material would do well with installing porcelain tiles.
Ideal For High Traffic Area Use
Given their non-porous, stain-resistant, and easy-to-clean properties, porcelain tiles are ideal for high-traffic areas such as home kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and living rooms. If you invite plenty of guests on a regular basis or you have pets, your porcelain tiles will hold up well against their foot traffic and nail clawing, if ever. Installing porcelain tiles at home means saving yourself from spending hours on maintenance tasks.
Versatile Designs Are Available
One of the biggest advantages of using porcelain stone is that it comes in a variety of designs. Rest assured there would be a porcelain style that suits your taste.
For one, porcelain stone can be made to resemble marble, granite, limestone, and other natural stone looks. Many people prefer natural stone looks for their home surfaces because they look unmistakably luxurious. If authentic natural stone tiles are not within your budget, you can choose to go for a porcelain tile.
Eco-Friendly
One of the most overlooked advantages of using porcelain is the fact that they are eco-friendly. Given the growing concern over climate change and its impact on people’s health, livelihoods, and the planet as a whole, everyone is now being called upon to lower their environmental footprint. If you want to do your role in saving the planet, choosing porcelain tiles is the way to go.
Porcelain is manufactured in a way that does not give off harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are emitted as gasses and into the air, causing negative long-term health and ozone impacts. SapienStone porcelain tiles, for example, are only made with natural mineral colors and clay. They are also recyclable.
Disadvantages Of Porcelain
Hard To Install
Given that porcelain is denser, it can be more difficult to install. The properties that make porcelain wear-resistant and more robust, also make it harder to cut. For this reason, it would be best to trust only the professionals when it comes to installing a porcelain tile in your home.
Can Be Costly
Porcelain is also known to be slightly more costly than other stone alternatives. But given its extreme durability, stylish designs, and low maintenance, most people find porcelain tiles more than worth their price. Installing porcelain tiles is seen as a good investment in the long run. If you are looking for the best value for your money, porcelain still remains one of the best material choices to date.
Key Takeaway
In this article, we’ve listed down the advantages and disadvantages of porcelain. It’s clear that the advantages of porcelain outweigh its disadvantages. Install a porcelain tile for your home today and reap all these benefits today!
For more information about porcelain countertop tiles in the Philippines straight out of Italy, contact Globalhome by clicking here. Globalhome is the exclusive distributor of premium tiles in the Philippines, including SapienStone tiles.