Porcelain Slabs: Toronto’s Next Design Trend
You may have heard of porcelain tiles,
but do you know about porcelain slab? Although porcelain has been around since
the Shang Dynasty in the mid 16th century BC, it’s only been in the
past few years that humans have been able to create large thin sheets of the
material. Now that technology has advanced enough to allow this to happen,
porcelain slabs may become the next big Toronto design trend.
What’s So Great About Porcelain Slab?
Porcelain slab combines many of
the desirable characteristics of other countertop materials: it’s as heat
resistant and scratch resistant as granite and non-porous, like quartz. But
it’s the material’s potential for design that has people buzzing about it. Here
are some of the reasons why porcelain slab may be right for you:
- Thin.
There are many contemporary looks that become possible with this
thin, tough substance.
- Colours.
Porcelain can be made in any colour desired. Because it is
manufactured by the same companies that make porcelain tiles, tiles and slabs
can be matched exactly, and rooms can be designed using both forms.
- Seamless.
Because the material is so strong and thin, large sheets can be
manufactured. This means that your counter will have fewer seams – and many
smaller areas such as islands may be completely seamless.
- Patterns.
Porcelain slab is already made with various types of patterns,
including faux marble, wood, fabric and more. Further innovations will allow
clients to upload their own designs, which can then be repeated across the
surface of the slab.
- Integrated
sinks. Although some other materials allow for integrated sinks,
porcelain slab is the only one that will be able to incorporate any colours and
patterns right into the surface of the sink.
- More
to come. At design shows, some companies are demonstrating new ways to
use porcelain slab. One company presented a kitchen counter with built-in
induction burners, for instance. Another will introduce a hybrid material
including porcelain slab, glass and quartz.
Unparalleled Choice
The 21st century is an
era of choice for homeowners. You may choose a kitchen countertop made with any
number of materials, such as:
- Laminate
- Solid Surface
- Wood
- Stainless Steel
- Cement
- Recycled Paper
- Glass
- Engineered Stone
- Marble Slab
- Granite Slab
- Tile
- Glass
- Porcelain slab
Learning about the advantages and
disadvantages of each of these materials can help you decide which is best for
your family, lifestyle and sense of design.
If you’d like to explore various
materials further, it’s a good idea to visit the showroom of a fine stone
importer. Although these companies may specialize in selling slabs of marble
and granite, it’s likely that they also carry other products such as porcelain
slab. There are a handful of stone importer-distributors in the Greater Toronto
Area that deal in porcelain slab, and it’s useful to talk to the experts and
actually see the slabs.
Find the right material for your
kitchen countertop, and add beauty and value to your home!