Totalook: interview with the designer
Which stone is the best for a Kitchen Countertop: discover quartzite and stoneware
In recent years, the details of our living spaces have become increasingly important in defining a home's personality. From the bathroom faucet to the kitchen countertop, all the way to the aesthetics of the stove, there are no details that can be overlooked.
For this reason, Emilgroup doesn't want to leave anything to chance. In this article, we will guide you through one of the most important choices. How to add class and style to your apartment: here's how to choose the best suitable kitchen countertop for your needs.
Which Material Is Best for a Kitchen Countertop?
Many materials can be chosen to obtain a nice kitchen countertop, starting from elegant and natural marble, to give a classic touch to the environment, up to granite, very resistant and an excellent choice against scratches and the wear of time. However, moving towards newer options, we will find several alternatives capable of competing with more traditional materials. The most frequent question right now is, in fact, which one between porcelain stoneware and quartz is better for kitchen countertops?
While quartz is still a very popular choice, although it possesses characteristics not entirely suitable for the needs of a kitchen countertop intended for frequent use, today the kitchen countertop market has expanded to new materials such as laminate, Corian, cement resin, new and resistant types of glass, but above all, porcelain stoneware.
It is precisely the latter that has been considered one of the best materials for building your kitchen countertop in recent times. With excellent impact resistance and very easy to clean and sanitize, it corresponds to a perfect alternative to more expensive marble, granite, or quartz, with similar characteristics but lower performance.
Is quartz better than a ceramic top?
Choosing the materials to build our kitchen is never an easy task. However, there are some fundamental characteristics to avoid making mistakes. It is essential to keep in mind the qualities of the products we are choosing, to focus on our needs. When it comes to kitchen countertops, it is crucial to opt for materials that are easy to clean, with minimal porosity, that do not deteriorate over time, and with an appealing aesthetic that suits our taste.
Quartz kitchen countertops are composed of fragments of this mineral combined with resins and pigments that influence their coloration. It is a natural material with excellent technical characteristics; however, being a compound of various ingredients, its quality can vary significantly. The higher the amount of quartz in the mixture, the better the quality of the compound, and vice versa.
Porcelain stoneware kitchen countertops, unlike the previous quartz surfaces, are composed of finely ground sand, clay, and other natural materials. The product is then pressed and fired at very high temperatures, ensuring unparalleled characteristics. Thanks to its composition and manufacturing process, porcelain stoneware is resistant to abrasion and chemical agents, has very low porosity, and excels in resisting thermal shocks. Its liquid absorption coefficient is generally less than 0.5%, making it a much less absorbent material compared to natural alternatives like quartz, and, in all respects, a better choice for durable and high-performance kitchen surfaces, both in domestic and professional settings.
Moreover, by providing a wide range of aesthetic options, if one desires a kitchen inspired by natural materials, why not choose from our latest collections, such as a line dedicated to the most sought-after marbles in the world or a style characterized by the timeless charm of sandstone.
Is quartz more durable than porcelain stoneware?
The thought of being able to purchase durable materials that withstand the test of time, capable of not altering over the years, is now a reality thanks to porcelain stoneware. It can withstand extreme temperatures while maintaining its appearance unchanged.
Quartz, on the other hand, acts as a thermosensitive stone, changing color upon contact with high temperatures. This characteristic, due to the presence of resins in the compound, makes quartz much less durable than porcelain stoneware. The latter, with its rich array of colors and different effects to choose from, not only retains its color over the years but remains identical to the first day of installation, without lightening, darkening, or yellowing, lasting over time with minimal care needs.
What is the most expensive option between quartzite and porcelain stoneware?
In the past materials like quartzite, marble, and granite were popular in the homes of the upper class, becoming symbols of class and luxury due to their high prices.
Today, the situation has changed slightly, and there is no longer such a wide gap between different materials, although some slight differences in cost are still evident.
Is quartz more expensive than porcelain stoneware, then? Well, if quartz ranges from 300 to 900 euros per linear meter (with possible additional processing costs), porcelain stoneware provides a more economical and functional alternative.
Why choose porcelain stoneware for your kitchen countertop
Considering what we have seen earlier, then, the question arises spontaneously: is there a better countertop than quartz?
Porcelain stoneware, as mentioned, has numerous characteristics that make it the best choice for an excellent kitchen countertop.
Large slabs made of this material are the ideal solution to achieve hygienic, durable surfaces suitable for every style and taste, creating environments with a strong aesthetic impact and unparalleled technical performance. One of the most interesting features of large formats, often chosen to unify kitchen countertops, is their ability to minimize joints, making it the easiest surface to clean in situations where hygiene is of paramount importance. Porcelain stoneware is waterproof, scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and resistant to sudden temperature changes, capable of withstanding even the most aggressive corrosive cleaning products for the home.
Furthermore, a valid reason to choose a porcelain stoneware kitchen countertop is its ability to accommodate a cooktop made of the same material, making it invisible. In our article on invisible cooktops, you can discover more about this cutting-edge technique ready to revolutionize not only the kitchen countertop market but also that of cooktops, which can now be customized with the aesthetics that suit us best and harmonize with our kitchen.
But the astounding features of this material don't stop here! Thanks to its incredible resistance, the porcelain stoneware kitchen countertop can be used as a workspace for any type of preparation, without the need for potholders or cutting boards that would only further clutter the dishwasher.
Finally, it's important to remember that, to live our best lives, our kitchen must reflect our lifestyle: being eco-friendly is no longer just a trend but a necessary feature for a world that looks to the future. Materials like porcelain stoneware meet the need for sustainable design and eco-friendly solutions for a good life, together.
Considering this, we hope that the answer to the question “is porcelain stoneware or quartz better for kitchen countertops?” is clearer!
23 November 2023
Magazine
From our blog