Porcelain withstands heat well and is unaffected by direct sunlight, while quartz surfaces can warp or become discolored over time. Both materials are slip-resistant, which makes them good options for flooring. Quartz, however, is best used indoors while many porcelain tiles can be used inside or outdoors.
However, porcelain is cheaper than granite, marble and quartz. And the good news is that once installed, your maintenance cost is very low. As you can see, a high-quality porcelain countertop is a versatile and durable product that gives you high performance and isn't difficult to install.
Both surfaces are relatively resistant to scratching. Although, porcelain can be scratched with ceramic knives, so you may want to avoid using them directly on the surface. Because of the way it's manufactured, quartz will resist chips and cracks better than many other countertop surfaces, including porcelain.
Porcelain is lighter than quartz, but these slabs often crack or break entirely. Quartz countertops' durability trumps when it comes to installation in terms of breakages.
Porcelain, while extremely durable once installed, is very fragile during the fabricating process and can easily be chipped or cracked, which also makes finding an experienced fabricator highly important.”
Porcelain Countertop Price
The average price of porcelain slabs including installation is between $55 to $120 per square foot. Meanwhile, the average price of granite and quartz countertops including installation is around $45 to $200 per square foot and $75 to $150 per square foot, respectively.
Granite is considered among one of the hardest choices in natural stone, with a Moh's hardness rating of about 6-6.5. On the other hand, porcelain made from hard-baked kaolinite clay, ranks at an estimated 7-8, which makes it slightly harder. Both are resistant to cracks, chips, and scratches, as well as heat.
Glazed porcelain tile and stoneware is covered with a layer of liquid glass and then fired in the kiln so the glass is baked into its surface. This provides a very effective barrier from staining. Unfinished porcelain is still relatively stain-resistant, but with regular wear and cleaning, it may begin to look its age.
Cost: It costs more to manufacture porcelain tile. This means a higher price compared to ceramic tile. It's long-term durability, however, offers savings over time.
Quartz takes first place in terms of durability. Made of crushed quartz stone mixed with polymers and resin, this artificially engineered stone countertop is an extremely durable surface that resembles natural stone.
A porcelain countertop can handle hot pans and pots placed on its surface. The porcelain won't smoke, burn, or emit any harmful substance. As mentioned earlier, porcelain is one of the strongest ceramic tiles. The surface strength is achieved through the firing process.
Caring for porcelain countertops takes virtually no extra work and no special cleaning products. It never has to be sealed, and most of the time can even just be cleaned with paper towels and some clear water. For stains that require a bit more attention we recommend a neutral cleaner like Fila Neutral Cleaner.
Porcelain kitchen countertops are extremely hard, durable and stand up to most impacts. In fact, their durability is second to stone alone and, generally, are unaffected by wear and tear. Still, chips and cracks are possible.
Hard, dense, and solid, porcelain is resistant to most heavy stresses and can even be used in commercial environments. Be aware, though, that the hardness of porcelain can make it slightly more brittle than standard tiles, which means they can be more susceptible to cracking.
The main difference between a porcelain and ceramic tile is the rate of water they absorb. Porcelain tiles absorb less than 0.5% of water whilst ceramic and other non-porcelain tiles will absorb more. This is down to the stuff used to make porcelain tiles. The clay is denser and so less porous.
Stoneware Is the Most Durable Dinnerware Material
Although porcelain is actually stronger than stoneware and can be crafted into thinner pieces, stoneware tends to make a more durable choice for dinnerware. Everyday pieces from almost any era are most likely to be stoneware, while fine dining items may be porcelain.
Also, porcelain tile is tougher, more resistant to scratches and stains than other types and more durable too. It can easily endure heavy foot traffic at both residential and commercial locations.
Ceramic and porcelain tile floors can be notoriously slippery. The very feature that makes tile easy to clean—its smooth, non-porous nature—also means that it is slippery underfoot. Add extra tile glazing, water, and dress shoes, and a rush to get to work can mean a trip to the emergency room instead.
Why Are My Porcelain Tiles Cloudy? A cloudy porcelain tile may be caused by damage to the glaze or coating, a build-up of dirt, water spots and streaks, or leftover cleaner. Try spot cleaning a small area and buffing it dry to see whether the cloudiness goes away.
Quartz and granite countertops are priced similarly per square foot, with granite counters having the wider variation in price. Granite can be more expensive than quartz at times, based on the availability of a color and pattern.
Some quartz makers sell exclusively through big-box stores; other slabs are available only through independent kitchen and bath showrooms.
If old countertops are not being covered, then plywood is usually installed over the cabinets before the porcelain countertop is added.
PORCELAIN COUNTER DURABILITY
The typical thickness of porcelain countertops is ¼ inch (6 mm) or ½ inch (12 mm). Also, it can be manufactured in very large slabs that are roughly 126” x 62”. This allows one slab to cover an entire island without the need for seams.
Nonporous: The glaze on porcelain countertops, like any porcelain tile, makes it completely waterproof, and it never needs sealing to maintain this quality.
The biggest difference between quartz and quartzite is that quartz is a man-made material, while quartzite is a natural stone. A quartzite countertop begins as sandstone, which under a natural process of heat and pressure is fused with sparkly quartz crystals to form quartzite.