Some of the most used rooms in our homes are the
kitchens, which are also often very visible. This makes it even more important
to choose surfaces that work well in our kitchens. Durability, how easy it is
to keep up, and how nice it looks are all important, but if several materials
on the market fit these criteria, how do you know which one is best for you?
These are comparing and contrast quartz and porcelain countertops to see which one is better for the kitchen.
What's porcelain?
Porcelain is a type of ceramic that is made by heating
things very hot in a kiln. Even though porcelain can have different parts,
kaolinite, a mineral made of clay, is often an important one. Kaolinite is a
type of silicate that gives porcelain the ability to be shaped. Petunes, which
is also called pottery stone, is another traditional ingredient that makes porcelain
hard and clear.
Porcelain's traits and best uses
Porcelain can be hard, last a long time, resist heat, and
keep its color. Porcelain can be used for kitchen countertops, but it has some
flaws, like patterns that don't go deep enough. This means that if a porcelain
counter is scratched, the pattern will be broken, showing that it is only on
the surface. When compared to granite, marble, or quartz, which look like
they're made of thicker slabs, porcelain countertops tend to be quite
thin.
When made into tiles for walls and floors, porcelain
shines. These things are true about porcelain tiles:
- Easy to clean. Porcelain tiles can be cleaned with
common household cleaners and don't need to be buffed or polished to keep
their finish.
- The colors of ceramic tiles, like porcelain, don't
fade with time or from long exposure to direct sunlight. Porcelain is also
slip-resistant, which makes it a good choice for flooring in areas with a
lot of spills and foot traffic.
What is Quartz?
While quartz surfaces do contain quartz minerals, it is
essentially man-made surface material. Quartz countertops are made of crushed
natural stones, waste from factories like glass and mirrors, and the glues and
polymers that hold everything together.
Quartz's traits and best uses
Quartz is dense, durable, scratch-resistant and
non-porous. It doesn't have pores, so it never needs to be sealed and is
naturally resistant to bacteria, water, and stains. Quartz countertops can also
handle acidic spills better than natural stone surfaces like marble, as long as
they are cleaned up quickly. However, they can't handle heat as well as natural
stone surfaces.
Quartz is a popular material for kitchen countertops
because it has the following qualities:
- It's easy to clean: Most of the time, all you need is
a soft cloth and mild soap. Quartz also doesn't need to be sealed like
many surfaces made of natural stone do.
- Durability: Quartz is dense and hard, and it doesn't
scratch. This makes it a good alternative to popular countertop materials
like granite.
- Aesthetics: Quartz can be made to look like natural
stones, so it's a cheap way to get the elegant, high-end look of stones
like marble.
Porcelain vs. Quartz
Let's look at how porcelain and quartz are alike and
different in many ways.
1. The way it looks
What is it made out of? These countertops are made of
feldspar, mineral oxides, silica, and kaolinite. Porcelain, which is also
called "China Clay," comes in many colors, but the most popular ones
are grey, white, black, and brown.
Dust and small pieces of quartz are stuck together with
resin to make quartz countertops. Instead of being smooth like porcelain, some of
these countertops have a speckled or mottled look because tiny stones are
suspended in resin.
2. Finish
There is only one finish for porcelain countertops.
Matte and glaze are the two most common ways to finish something. This is
because the finish is put on while the stone is being made, while other stones
get their finish from being sealed.
Quartz countertops can have a polished, leathered, or
honed finish. The polished finish is very shiny, while the honed finish is
smooth and matte. Lastly, the surface of a leathered quartz countertop has a
light sheen.
3. Durability
Just like porcelain, quartz is almost indestructible.
Porcelain is 30% more durable than granite when it comes to countertops. But
they are usually thinner and may break when they are put in.
Quartz countertops are heavier than porcelain ones. But
such large slabs can be fragile when being put in place. When it comes to
broken pieces during installation, quartz countertops are very durable. Even
though they are heavier, they can be bought in slabs and are less fussy.
4. Resistance to heat
The way they handle the heat is the biggest difference
between quartz and porcelain countertops. Porcelain can take a lot of
heat and doesn't change at all in the sun.
Quartz doesn't stand up as well to heat. Even though
putting a hot pan on a quartz surface won't damage it right away, quartz can
change color or shape over time. Use a trivet as you would with any other
countertop to keep it from cracking or getting stained.
5. Can't Stand Being Scratched
Because the surface of porcelain countertops is
dense and hard, the blunt force can scratch, crack, or chip them. When
porcelain slabs break, they leave jagged and sharp edges that need to be fixed
by a professional to bring back the shine and luster of the surface.
On the other hand, a quartz countertop is much less
likely to get scratched. Still, it's not completely scratch-proof. Even though
it's hard to scratch, if you try hard enough, you will make some scratches.
Overall, quartz countertops can stand up to wear and tear and don't get
scratched very often.
6. Edges
Quartz countertops give you more choices than porcelain
counters. Because porcelain is thinner than quartz, there aren't as many ways
to edge it. Most countertops have square or mired edges to make them look like
they are thicker. This limits your design options, though.
On the other hand, you can choose from ogee, straight,
beveled and full bullnose edges for a quartz countertop. Its different edges go
well with different kitchen styles, from traditional to transitional to modern.
7. Maintenance
When it comes to cleaning, quartz and porcelain counters
are not too different from each other. It's enough to clean it once a week with
a damp microfiber towel and liquid detergent. After you clean your countertops,
make sure to wipe them dry and stay away from things like bleach.
Both of the counters don't need to be sealed. This also
helps keep the costs of other natural stone countertops, like granite and
marble, down. Quartz countertops are easier to take care of than porcelain
counters.
8. Installation
When it comes to installing porcelain countertops vs.
quartz counters, the fact that porcelain counters can be put on top of existing
countertops without having to move the existing countertop surface may be the
best thing about porcelain counters.
Quartz counters are big and heavy. So, they can only be
put on cabinets, and any countertops that are already there will have to be
taken off. In some cases, new cabinets also have to be put in place to hold up
the heavy slabs.
Conclusion
Quartz and porcelain are both great choices for tiling and wall coverings inside, but if you want a material that can be used outside as well, many porcelain tiles can handle the weather well. Quartz is a strong, long-lasting material that can work well for kitchen countertops. If you are worried about heat and direct sunlight, however, porcelain might be a better choice.
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