Porcelain verses Quartz:
Quartz and Porcelain are the fasted growing categories of kitchen work tops in the UK. Both are considered perfect kitchen worktop surfaces manufactured with high quality raw materials and innovative process resulting in exceptional durability due to their non- porous nature. Although both options are durable, Porcelain offers a bit more convenience in the kitchen.
The right stone work surface is a premium investment, a robust authority that will see it last a lifetime, elevating the kitchen space with timeless sophistication. Counter tops are considered the workforce of any kitchen.
The material chosen is key for determining the overall kitchen aesthetic, but critically, the quality of the work surface material will affect the surface durability as well as whether it retains its long term beauty. When deciding on Porcelain verses Quartz countertops you have consider your budget, functionality and aesthetics.
Porcelain and Quartz are both gorgeous, long lasting options that are hard to beat and both feature robust durability.
To get a better feel for these two surfaces, it helps to understand the key strengths and weakness of both. It’s not just the style that makes an impact but the durability and of course the price.
Quartz worktop will be easier on the budget compared to Porcelain; the reason being the easier fabrication and installation compared to Porcelain.
Porcelain – New aesthetic that is redefining kitchen countertops with richer colours, bolder designs, larger patterns and wonderful tactile textures.
Porcelain is sometimes described in the market as ceramic, compact or ultra-compact surfaces. Sintered stone has better resistance to stains, impacts, heat and chemicals compared to Quartz.
Porcelain is manufactured using recent technological advancements which mimic the process that form natural stones. The blend of ceramic clays, other natural materials and mineral colourings which are pressed after which the design is printed before the slabs are fired.
Porcelain is highly resistant to heat and is totally unimpacted by sunlight; its durability is unparalleled and generally not affected by deterioration. However, cracks and chips can occur with misuse. The key difference of Porcelain from Quartz is its superior durability and boasts incredible heat resistance quality. Quite frankly, its super convenient to put hot pans directly on the worktop as well as chop without a chopping board without burning it or damaging it.
Porcelain is lighter than Quartz; the countertops are either high matt or high gloss finish. Porcelain is 30% stronger than Quartz.
Porcelain offers a massive variety of styles to upscale nearly every design aesthetic, from an elegant surface that looks like marble or a rugged appearance of concrete, something industrial or simple solid colours.
Porcelain can elevate your design to a whole new level of sophistication to further customise the look and feel of your space.
Quartz – Man made countertops consist of engineered stone; a blend of quartz minerals and other natural materials with polymers and pigments. These are then moulded, compressed and heated into slabs.
Quartz is thicker and more heavy duty than porcelain. The threshold for scratches of quartz countertops is far higher than porcelain; it is not impossible to damage the countertops but they can take heavy use with little sign of wear. The heat resistance of quartz is not as strong as Porcelain due to the resin in it, it can burn and over time can become discoloured. That being said, no material you choose for a counter is perfect, and almost everything is prone to scratching and cracking. For some this high level of heat resistance is not necessary as a trivet
Quartz is also widely embraced as a premier worktop and offers an immense range and options to choose from.
Both Porcelain and Quartz are considered as perfect kitchen worktop surfaces based on the materials as well as the use of expertise in craftsmen crafting and installing them.
