Porcelain slabs are attractive, easy to clean and are good for both indoor and outdoor use, making them an excellent material to use during home renovations.
In recent years, porcelain slabs have grown in popularity in the U.S. due their multiple benefits. Most often made in factories in Spain, Italy and Tennessee, porcelain slabs are man-made and usually from the clay kaolinite. The clay is covered with a pigment gaze and then fired at a very high heat, giving it a consistent color. Porcelain slabs can take on the appearance of marble, wood or even granite, based on how the slabs are made.
StonePeak Ceramics Inc.
Porcelain slabs are also typically large—around 10 feet by five feet—making them perfect to use for countertops, wall panels, backsplashes and even for flooring. If you’re interested in using porcelain slabs for your custom home build or during a renovation project, before you decide, consider the following pros and cons:
The pros of porcelain slabs
A hygienic option with easy cleanup. Porcelain is both dense and non-porous and, unlike natural stone, it doesn’t require a sealer to protect the surface. It will naturally resist the buildup of bacteria and stains, making it a good surface for food preparation in the kitchen. It can be a good option, especially, for families with small kids. Cleanup is also simple given porcelain’s smooth surface. Warm water and some soap usually do the job, though common cleaning products, and even harsher chemicals like bleach, can also be used on porcelain and they will not damage the surface of the material. With a porcelain slab, you also have no grout lines, which helps with hygiene since grout is porous and can also collect bacteria and dirt.
They’re versatile. Porcelain slabs are thinner and lighter than other materials like marble or granite, and they work well for many areas in a custom home, including backsplashes and kitchen and bathroom counters. They’re also UV resistant and frost tolerant, so they can be used outdoors too, and they won’t fade in the sun. They can be made in various thicknesses and they can take the heat. Porcelain is cooked at 1,000 degrees or more, so placing hot items on a porcelain counter is less of a problem than with other materials.
Porcelain slabs are attractive and sustainable. Porcelain has a pleasing aesthetic, it can look natural and it comes in a wide variety of appealing colors and designs. Because it’s made from clay, porcelain is also sustainable. It’s a material that can be recycled and reused during future home renovation projects.
DelConca Pocelain Tiles
The cons of porcelain slabs
They can be more expensive. The cost of porcelain slabs is similar to that of quartz, but it can also be a bit higher since porcelain is more fragile and more difficult to make. Porcelain can also be more expensive to use in a renovation project because it takes more skill and expertise to both make and install it. Porcelain slab countertops, for example, can range in price from around $60 to $100 a square foot.
BV Tile & Stone
Porcelain slabs are more fragile. Since porcelain slabs are slimmer than other materials, they’re somewhat fragile, and chipping or cracking, especially when it comes to corners, can sometimes be an issue. Porcelain slab countertops have to be installed with mitered edges. That’s when pieces are cut at 45 degree angles and then placed together. It’s more expensive to make mitered edges, so that’s another factor than can add to the higher cost of porcelain slabs. Mitered edges also are not watertight.
Handling and installation requires an experienced fabricator. Since porcelain slabs are thin, special training and tools are needed to transport, handle and install them. It’s important to work with someone who has the proper training and plenty of experience placing and installing porcelain slabs so you can avoid chipping or otherwise compromising the material.
Joshua Shane interior & specialty finish contractor
At Arieli, we’re experienced in working with contractors who have expertise in porcelain slabs, and we see them as a great option to add to the mix of materials for a custom home or renovation.
We prefer quartz or natural stone for working surfaces like kitchen countertops or an island in a closet where you pack your suitcases since those materials have more durable edges. But we love to use thin porcelain slabs on interior home walls, a fireplace wall or shower walls, and they can add an appealing, easy-to-care-for design element to your home.
Contact us to learn more about our process and the variety of materials and design elements available for your custom home project or renovation.
