Why You Should Consider Porcelain in Your Remodel

When most people think of porcelain, images of durable dinnerware or small square tiles lined up along the backsplash or surrounding the tub come to mind. But the product, which has been around for thousands of years, has come a long way. Durable as well as beautiful, porcelain has become an extremely popular choice and may well be the future of high-end design. 

The unbelievable benefits of porcelain

Porcelain has a number of remarkable properties, including being:

• Heat resistant – Porcelain resists heat, making it a great choice for fireplace surrounds and kitchen counters.  
• Scratch resistant – You can slice food right on a porcelain countertop without worrying about damaging the surface.
• Stain resistant – Porcelain is non-porous and doesn’t require a sealant, making it a smart, low-maintenance choice.
• UV resistant – Porcelain installed in sunny spaces will never fade or discolor.
• Frost tolerant – Porcelain works well outside in cold weather, making it a great choice for applications such as outdoor kitchens and patios.

The versatility of porcelain in the home industry is unmatched

Porcelain comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, as well as finishes from high gloss to satin to matte. In fact, porcelain can replicate any look—marble, wood, metal or patterns—by digitizing the most beautiful photographs and printing them directly on the porcelain, on as large as 5 ft. by 10 ft. slabs.

Porcelain also comes in a variety of sizes and thicknesses, providing for many different applications from fireplace surrounds, flooring, countertops and backsplashes to wall treatments, furniture and more. Whatever a designer or architect can dream up can be accomplished with porcelain. 

Large format porcelain slabs open the door for creative design

Porcelain’s lightweight properties coupled with its size allow for fluidity of design with limited interruption. What was once structurally impossible due to the weight of the natural stone is now inspiring limitless possibilities. Any look can be accomplished, including vein options such as vein flow, vein match and book match; and fewer grout lines result in a luxurious, modern look with very little maintenance.

Best of all, porcelain is an eco-friendly choice

Porcelain is recognized as an environmentally friendly product by the U.S. Green Building Council. It’s a man-made material that promotes sustainability and is not mined from mountains, unlike granite or marble.

The key to using porcelain in home design is finding the right people

Porcelain is a phenomenal product, but a word to the wise: The key to maximizing the design potential of porcelain relies heavily on fabrication and installation. Many designers and contractors have steered clients away from porcelain because of a perceived higher cost. Though experts in their craft with stone, stone machines are not meant for porcelain and can cause cutting and breakage issues, driving up the cost. With the right methods and talented craftsmen, porcelain is a game changer in design because of its versatility and durability in nearly every application.

Roberto Contreras is the CEO of Moderno Porcelain Works, the only North American surfacing company 100% dedicated to the fabrication and installation of large-format porcelain slabs. Visit their new Denver showroom or contact them at modernoworks.com or 1-888-219-6757.