Porcelain Countertops
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One overlooked tile option is porcelain tiles. Porcelain tiles are a big step-up from clay tiles. They are most comparable to solid-color glass-tiles. Here is some of the reason why porcelain is a great option for kitchen and bathroom countertops.
High hardness
Porcelain is so hard you can cut directly on surface. You probably don?t own any kitchen tools that would be harder than a porcelain tile so you don?t have to worry about scratching them. It is also super durable. In the kitchen pictured, the countertops are about 8 years old and there is not a single scratch. You can use the most abrasive cleaners on porcelain and they won?t hurt the surface.
Easy Cleanup
Porcelain has a surface finish close to glass. Because the surface is dense and non-porous, there is less chance of germs and bacteria living on the surface. It also makes clean-up easier. Most foods don?t stick well to porcelain and even when they dry on, you can scrap the surface clean with a razor blade. Don?t try that on any other countertop surface.
Temperature Resistance
Porcelain is highly resistant to temperature. The tiles are baked at around 2000 degrees F. Once again, there is no way you can find anything in a conventional kitchen hot enough to damage a porcelain tile.
Chemical Resistance Porcelain has a chemical resistance similar to glass. There is no way that you will find any chemical in a conventional kitchen that could damage this material. Concrete is highly affected by acids and granite can change color if exposed to corrosive liquids. Compared to any other countertop material, porcelain is practically bullet proof.
Easy Installation
Porcelain tiles can be cut with a standard tile-saw. They are no more difficult to install than glazed clay-tiles. Porcelain tiles are solid color so the installation is simplified since there will be no raw uncolored edges.. The same tile can be used for horizontal, vertical and edge surfaces. The material can also be cut on angle for more complex installations.
Low Cost
Porcelain tiles cost as little as $5.00 per square foot. They come in standard-size tiles including 12 x 12. They install with standard mortar and grouting is simple due to the smooth top surface.
There are also some downsides to porcelain countertop. Since tile countertops are not a solid slab, you will have grout lines and they are tough to clean. Porcelain is also brittle like glass so a really big impact could crack them. Countertop are rarely exposed to large enough impacts to damage a properly installed countertop. This is not the case when porcelain is installed on the floor. If can easily be cracked if it is not installed on hard backer board.
So if you are considering a custom tile countertop, you may want to look into porcelain at your local tile store.
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