Porcelain benchtops pros and cons
Just like natural stone, porcelain has a wealth of benefits, as well as quite a few cons that could deter desire.
The main advantages of porcelain are its durability and non-porous qualities. Because of the way it is made (fired in a kiln), porcelain is very sturdy and strong, and has high heat resistance. In addition to this, porcelain is naturally non-porous, making it stain resistant and able to block moisture without any sealing required.
And then of course, the cons of porcelain fall mainly under chipping and scratching. Because it is a more fragile material, chipping is quite common. If you have a pattern or design on your porcelain, a chip would expose the non-surfaced porcelain underneath. Chips are quite difficult to fix as well.
Take a look at this table below to consider all the porcelain benchtop pros and cons:
Colour and style options for porcelain benchtops
Porcelain comes in a huge range of colourways and styles depending on what you would like for your kitchen. It can mimic the look of marble with beautifully coloured veins or with patterns that can act as design focal point.
Keep in mind that if chipped, any pattern (including marble looks) will expose the un-surfaced porcelain underneath.
Having a great variety of options is very advantageous for porcelain, but the drawback is potentially damaging your ‘work of art’ while using it.
The price of a porcelain benchtop
Unfortunately, porcelain is quite expensive compared to other options like timber and concrete. This is because of the duration of production and installation.
It costs around the same as a natural stone benchtop (like marble or granite) but can have additional costs for installation. Installing a porcelain bench can require specialist skills and tools as it is fragile and very brittle to handle.
Is a porcelain benchtop cheaper than engineered stone?
A porcelain benchtop is not cheaper than engineered stone. Similar to a natural stone bench price, porcelain is more expensive because of the production and installation process.
Engineered stone was initially created as a more cost-effective option to natural stone, but because of the health problems it procures, it has been banned within Australia (effective as of 1 July 2024).