Published on July 30, 2019 | Last Updated on December 1, 2021

During our remodel process I shared on instagram stories about how we were installing porcelain countertops in our new kitchen, several people wanted to know the reasoning behind our decision so I asked for you guys to send in questions! This is a little overdue but I wanted to live with the countertops for a couple months to see how they held up before recommending them.

To help answer some of the technical questions, I asked Ana, the owner of Stone Covering of Houston to weigh in! We are super happy with how the kitchen turned out and couldn’t recommend Stone Coverings and La Nova enough!

Why did you choose porcelain countertops over granite, quartz or marble?

We made the decision after experiencing the upkeep with the marble countertops in our last house. We both love the big veins and variation in marble but wanted something that would last long term. A lot of people told us not to install marble in the last house but we did it anyways. We learned to live with the spots on the marble but I’m not exaggerating when I say every single drop of water left a mark.

Before we listed our last house, we spent $450 having the marble counters in our small kitchen repaired because the water spots and scratches were so bad after only two years. We are definitely hard on our furniture and belongings but this seemed a little extreme for upkeep.

I know quartz is a popular option but this came down to personal preference. I didn’t see any slabs with veins like the porcelain and marble.

We decided to go with La Nova Tile Calcutta Gold and we used Stone Coverings of Houston for the fabrication and install. We chose a matte finish and I absolutely love the texture. The Stone Coverings team were super knowledgable about porcelain and helped us make the best decision for our home.

What are porcelain countertops anyway?

They’re a part of the engineered stone family. Porcelain is made from kaolinite clay baked in extreme heat (1200 – 1400 °C) to harden it into a dense and highly durable material. Porcelain is even stronger than the hardiest of granite. It surpasses the strength of granite by 30% and does so at a much lower weight. Porcelain’s tough structure also makes it scratch-resistant. You can slice and dice food right on the countertop without worrying about your knives damaging the surface.

How do porcelain countertops handle spilled rose and queso?

Porcelain can handle any food and drink spilled pretty well. Although NO surface is 100% stain-proof porcelain comes close. It is non-porous so liquids do not absorb and the rare stain is usually on the surface and easily cleaned off.

Can I put hot things on my porcelain countertops?

As we mentioned above, porcelain countertops are manufactured at extremely high temperatures so it can take the heat. Hot pots set on the surface won’t scorch or damage, but it is always advised to use trivets for hot cookware.

Upkeep:

For quick clean-ups, soap and water work, although, consistent use of soap will cause a soap scum buildup. Just hot water is better to wipe up spills and messes.

I also swear by the magic eraser! Any time there’s a scuff from metal  dragging along the counters, I use a magic eraser and everything comes off. They look just as good as the day they were installed!

Porcelain is non-porous and hygienic. Nothing can penetrate the surface or cause danger as long as you clean up appropriately. And regular cleaning is really the best defense against bacteria, etc.

Cost Comparison:

The price for porcelain slabs falls within a similar range as granite level 4 and brand name quartz. The cost for fabrication and installation is higher than granite and quartz. From the fabricator standpoint I tell you it takes us double the time to fabricate porcelain. Porcelain needs to be cut at much slower speed and with lots of water also since this is a fairly new product in our market tools and supplies are more expensive than the tools we use for granite and quartz.

The good news about the cost of porcelain counters is that once installed, maintenance costs are extremely low.

Are porcelain countertops child/hubby/wine proof?

Yes they are!!

I have another post coming within the next week with all the before and after photos with the sources!