PORCELAIN

Porcelain is much stronger than granite and is almost as hard as quartz. A high-quality porcelain countertop is a versatile and durable product that gives high performance is stylish, resistant to daily wear and tear, and comes in various colors and patterns.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PORCELAIN

Porcelain is a vitrified pottery material that is stylish, resistant to daily wear and tear and comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

Porcelain is an engineered stone with patterns and colors added during the fabrication process. Porcelain countertops can be made to look like the material of your choice from solid colors to marble, wood grain, concrete finishes or rusted steel, and it will still appear quite natural. Porcelain is made from heating a mix of powdered china stone and white china clay, also known as kaolin, at about 1450°C. The high temperature causes the china stone to vitrify into a dense, highly durable material, while the object retains its shape thanks to the kaolin. Impurities such as silica, mineral oxides, and feldspars exist in the clay, but rather than detracting from the porcelain’s quality, they add to its strength and color.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Quartz is a crystalline form of silicone diode and the second most common mineral found on this planet. It is typically found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, colored by impurities found within it, such as in amethyst, citrine, and cairngorm. Quartz is both plentiful and durable, used in production in diverse ways from electronics to building materials.

Quartz countertops are easy to care for, and because the surface is non-porous, they are hard to stain. Use mild dish soap and water for everyday cleaning and stay away from harsh, abrasive cleansers, and cleansers that contain bleach. You can gently scrape hardened material off with a plastic putty knife.

Quartz countertops which are sold under brand names such as Hanstone™, Silestone®,  Ceaserstone® and Cambria® are man-made stone surfaces. Quartz products offer consistency in patterns and colors that natural stone cannot. Quartz surfaces do not offer the uniqueness and varied random patterns of natural granite and marble.”

Not necessarily. Depending on the level of granite or marble and the particular company or pattern of quartz; granite can be a significantly more cost effective material. However, if you are considering a top end granite/marble, or an exotic stone; quartz is most likely going to be a more affordable way to go. Some factors that change the cost of granite are the extraction of the stone, and the shipping of the material which consumes a lot of time, money and energy. Factors that change the price of quartz are company, pattern or color of material, demand, labor rates, thickness and edge treatment, among others.

Under normal use it is very unlikely that your quartz countertop will ever chip. Edges are usually more susceptible to chipping than the middle of the surface, and if hit with enough force, chipping can occur. These occurrences are generally not covered by any manufacturing warranty, but would usually be repairable, depending on the size and scope of the chip or damage.

Quartz can be affected by extreme heat, so manufacturers recommend using cutting boards, trivets and hot pads while preparing meals. Quartz is very durable, but remember that any material can be damaged if not cared for properly.

The hard surface of Quartz is non-porous and very resistant to staining, even better than marble. Quartz counters can resist oil, coffee, wine, juice and most other common kitchen spills. It is not 100% stain resistant though and is susceptible to stains from solvents, sodium hydroxide, and permanent markers.

Quartz is among the most durable counter surfaces you can purchase, and they are scratch resistant under normal usage. It is not indestructible, as any surface can be damaged with extreme abuse, however quartz is durable and withstands well in normal usage. To keep its shine and luster, a cutting board is recommended when using knives.

NEED TO KNOW MORE?

Get in touch with one of our stone experts to have all your questions about this material answered.

MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS

ABRASION RESISTANCE

High

Porcelain is stronger than the hardiest granite – almost 30% stronger. Porcelain’s tough structure also makes it scratch resistant. You can even slice and dice food right on your countertops without worrying about your knives damaging the surface.

ABSORPTION/STAINING

Minimal

Porcelain is virtually impervious to water with an absorption rate of less than 0.5%. Besides being easy to keep clean, porcelain is also non-porous and stain resistant. That’s music to a countertop owner’s ears because it means no sealing is required.

ACID SENSITIVITY

Low

Porcelain countertops are non-porous, and do not acid etch. They do not absorb liquids and will not stain from oil, pigmented liquids and household acids such as lemon, wine, vinegar etc. In fact, you can mix food directly on them after good cleaning.

HEAT RESISTANCE

High

After enduring such high fabrication temperatures, it makes sense that one advantage of porcelain is its heat resistance. You should have no problem handling hot pots and pans even when you place them directly on a porcelain countertop.

What Our Customers Say

Delta Granite and Marble were willing to meet with you in person and they answered every question that I had about the service and the work that needed to get done.

Bill G., San Antonio , TX

I’ve had a really great experience with Delta Granite and Marble, Inc. They have a real good sales staff. Monica cares about the clients and they have decent selections. Frank does the scheduling and installation and I know she is juggling a million things but she is very good about knowing what your business is about and she is good about follow ups and call backs. The guys call when they are on their way so that you can make sure to meet them there and they ask questions when something doesn’t feel or look right instead of making assumptions. Those things are huge for me as a supervisor. So, they are a pleasure to work with and the guys in the crew and the office staff all do an exceptional job. Also, whoever does the actual cutting of the product you can tell that they take their time to do it the best possible way so that you get the best product you can. All those things I appreciate.

Danny K., Boerne, TX

Delta Granite and Marble did all of the counter tops in my house, which included two bathrooms, kitchen, and a bar area. The kitchen also had a large island so it was a significant amount of product, about $11,000 worth of counter tops. We really enjoyed working with the sales rep, Rick: he was very willing to revise pricing, change products and find us the best value. The thing I was most impressed with was the measurements. They laser measured everything and everything fit perfectly, David the install guy was great and we were absolutely happy with the end result. They are a very professional organization. In fact, I will be giving them business again on a commercial property I am working on.

Curtis S., San Antonio, TX