Introduction
When it comes to choosing the right material for your kitchen worktops, two popular options often come up: porcelain and quartz. They are all fashionable, strong and practical, but they have their strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we fell it appropriate to discuss porcelain and quartz worktops in hope of helping you make the right choice for your kitchen.
What is Porcelain?
Porcelain is a kind of ceramic material made from clay, kaolin and other natural raw materials and sintered by high temperature. This gives a hard surface which is also non-porous since the polymer chains are intermingled and trapped firmly by the drying process. It can be used for flooring, bathroom tiles, and hat earlier it has started becoming more and more incorporate in kitchen worktops because of its endurance and attractive look.
What is Quartz?
Glass on the other hand is an inorganic material made up of sand silicon dioxide between 90-95% processed quartz crystals and other additives. Production of quartz worktops involves placing the compound in slabs and they are cemented and hardened. Of course, this makes quartz an engineered stone to be able to offer designers a chance to choose the color, pattern, texture of the Newest kitchens.
Durability: Porcelain vs. Quartz
Porcelain: Porcelain has become highly demanded as a worktop material by many people due to its high and lasting hardness. It is heat, scratch, stain and impact resistant. Porcelain is also very heat resistant meaning you do not have to worry of placing hot pans right on the surface. It is also resistant to scratching as compared to other more marble or granite materials.
Quartz: Also, Quartz worktops are very strong surfaces to have worktops all over your home base. They are not prone to scratching and staining which creates them easy to retain especially for a kitchen that experiences a lot of business. But we have to know that quartz is not as heat resistant as porcelain so it is recommended not to put very hot objects directly on table top.
Maintenance: Porcelain vs. Quartz
Porcelain: That is why porcelain is so easy to clean and maintain – it’s non-porous. Grease from coffee, wine, or engine oil can be wiped using a damp cloth and do not give that grease mark on the material. It does not require sealing as granite or marble do; it is not absorbent and is bacteria resistant; perfect for your kitchen.
Quartz: Quartz worktops can also be termed as low maintenance worktops mainly due to their non porous nature. But since quartz is made from resin, it is advisable not to use chemicals or rough cleaners they will scratch the surface.
Aesthetics: Porcelain vs. Quartz
Porcelain: Porcelain worktops have a smooth, seamless look, with many different options for the finished surface. They are fairly flexible in their appearance and can be used to resemble stone, marble or wood among many options. Thanks to the technological opportunities, the printing on porcelain can be as detailed and complex as necessary for the most modern and fashionable kitchen design.
Quartz: The Quartz is also very flexible in relation to the design. Tile can be found in several types of its models, colours, patterns, and textures, it is also usually necessitating features of mimicking real stones with granite and marble for example. Quartz is ideal for use in kitchens because the pattern and the colour are consistent giving a harmonized appearance for the home.
Cost Comparison: Porcelain vs. Quartz
Porcelain: Porcelain is not expensive unlike quartz and the material is usually cheaper. The price depends on the brand, thickness, and design but as with any other paved surface, porcelain will set you back less than quartz, another upper-end material.
Quartz: Another fact is that quartz is relatively more costly than porcelain. The cost of quartz worktops may vary depending on the type of brand, option and cost of installation. Again quartz may give a better durability together with superior finish but may be expensive.
Environmental Considerations
Porcelain: One of the main advantages of porcelain is that it is totally environmentally friendly since it is produced from natural minerals which can be found in the world. It also lasts for a longer period and therefore it will be replaced several times less than other products. Also, porcelain can be recycled, therefore it can be used by those who are fond of environmental friendly products.
Quartz: While quartz is composed of natural materials, using resin as well as other materials, the production process includes synthetic materials. This makes it less environment friendly compared to porcelain. Nevertheless, there are distinctive brands that use recycle materials while producing quartz surface.
Conclusion:
In any case porcelain and quartz stone are ideal for worktops in kitchens and the choice depends on the individual. Which material you should choose – porcelain is perfect for contemporary appearance without any requirement for maintenance together with high heat resistance. On the flip side if you are in a position where you can spend more and you require a vast array of design options that are more extravagant then there is probably no other better option than this.
This should help you in choosing the home of your desire depending with the amount of cash you have , the looks you want and the amount of time you are able and willing to spend maintaining the home . Regardless of which bottom material you will decide on, both will feature an aggressive, attractive and practical plane for the kitchen.
