Are you building a new home or renovating your current kitchen? If you are, you’ll want to know about the rising popularity of high quality porcelain slabs, the countertop material that’s being touted as a game-changer in the world of Toronto interior design. You may have already investigated the pros and cons of various other countertop materials such as natural marble slab, natural granite slab, granite tiles, porcelain tiles, wood, stainless steel, concrete, recycled glass, solid surface, engineered stone, and laminate, but you may not have heard of porcelain slab. In many places, this new material is not yet available, but fortunately a few of Toronto’s better stone suppliers are now carrying it.

 

Trends in countertop material change from year to year. In the 1960s and 70s, laminate was ubiquitous. Later, it fell from favour as more durable products rose in popularity. Today granite slabs top the list of favourite countertop materials. Natural stone has a timeless appeal, and it always will. But for those who are looking for an alternative to fine stone, porcelain slab may be the answer.

 

 

Durability, aesthetic appeal, and price are the main criteria that most homeowners use when choosing countertops. Evaluating natural stone using these standards, porcelain slab gets very high marks.

1. Durability. Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating kaolin clay at very high temperatures (2,200 and 2,600 °F). It was developed in China during the Han dynasty (196 BC – 220 AD). Porcelain tiles have been used in interior decoration for centuries, but the technology to create large thin sheets of porcelain has only recently been developed. Some manufacturers estimate that porcelain slab is 30% stronger than granite, which is one of the hardest materials on Earth. Porcelain slab is heat-resistant; like natural stone, you can place a hot pan on the surface without worrying that it will damage it. Porcelain slab is also scratch-resistant; normal household wear and tear will not harm it. In addition to these benefits, colour and design won’t fade or discolour.
2. Design versatility. Interior designers love working with porcelain slab for a number of reasons. First, the possibilities for colour and pattern are endless. The slabs can be manufactured in any colour and with any repeating pattern. A consumer can even email an original design and a pattern can be created from it. Since most manufacturers also make porcelain tile, tiles that precisely match a countertop can be used to create interesting effects. In addition, porcelain slab can integrate sinks right into the surface – and sinks can continue the same colour and pattern as the countertop. Even stove burners can be integrated into the surface, with Spanish manufacturers getting ready to market porcelain slab containing induction burners placed wherever the consumer would like them without interrupting visual flow. Porcelain slab is tough enough to be used outdoors, which means that designers can use the material to bridge indoor-outdoor spaces. Lastly, the material can been finished with either polished or honed finish.
3. Cost. Porcelain countertops are comparable in cost to medium-to-high-end materials such as granite, engineered stone, or solid surface.

High quality porcelain slabs are available from better fine stone specialists in the Greater Toronto Area. Visit a stone supplier today and learn more about this amazing countertop material!