If you are building a new home or renovating an older one, you know that there is a wide range of materials available for kitchen countertops. You may have been considering the pros and cons of materials such as:

• Natural granite slab
• Natural marble slab
• Granite tiles
• Engineered stone
• Solid surface
• Concrete
• Wood
• Stainless steel
• Laminate
• Ceramic tile
• Recycled glass
• Terrazzo

However, you may not have heard about the "new kid on the block.” Although it’s not yet widely available in some parts of the continent, GTA homeowners are among the first to be wowed by porcelain slab, an extremely durable and versatile material that’s being hailed as a game-changer.

 

 

A new technology allows the manufacturer of porcelain slab to use the principle of the porcelain tile and take it to a whole new level. Porcelain slab is very strong, yet very thin; it evolved from surfaces intended to be used as exterior cladding. Here are a few of the "pros” of porcelain slab:

• Look. Porcelain slab is extremely attractive, with the potential to be manufactured in thousands of colours and designs. It can be made to look like natural stone, fabric, or customized to any pattern you desire. Your porcelain slab countertop can be as individual as your taste. Due to the way porcelain slabs are manufactured, they don’t oxidize or change colour over time. The material is also available in both honed and polished finishes.  
• Durability. Porcelain has the extreme durability of granite or quartz without the potential for showing signs of wear and tear. It’s not porous, so it’s not the least bit susceptible to stains. It’s so hard that it’s highly resistant to nicks, scratching, or other damage, and it’s also heat-resistant. Some manufacturers claim that porcelain slab is 30% stronger than granite! When you install porcelain slab, you know that your countertop will last the lifetime of your home, or longer.
• Ease of handling and installation. Porcelain slabs are only about ¼” thick, making them light to transport and easier to install than other materials. In fact, porcelain slab is so thin that it can be installed right over an existing countertop material!
• Size. Porcelain slab can also be made in much larger slabs than heavier materials. Most natural stone is only available in slabs of seven to ten feet in length. If your countertops are longer, you will need to have seams, which can be a problem both practically and aesthetically. In many cases, using porcelain slab virtually eliminates the need for seams.
• Affordability. Porcelain slab is comparable in cost to other high-performing countertop materials. Cost varies according to the exact product you choose.

Finding a Supplier

 

Porcelain slab countertops are available in the GTA at better stone suppliers. Visit a stone distributor’s showroom to see this versatile stone and to learn more about its beauty and durability.