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Highlights
Any homeowner who has walked through a kitchen purpose memory board will have seen several countertop materials to choose from for their next kitchen or john projection . Some of the mostpopular options for kitchen countertopsinclude granite , quartz glass , square surface , wood , and laminate , but a lesser - known option is porcelain . A closer look at this stuff is deserving it , especially for customer who are interested in a long-wearing , easy - to - clean , prosperous - to - maintain countertop material that come in a vast range of colour and patterns . Porcelain is stain - resistant and heating plant - insubordinate , and it does n’t need to be sealed — and because it ’s available in well - done natural Edward Durell Stone see - alike normal , it offer all of the benefits of a raw stone countertop without the criminal maintenance . According toHomeAdvisor , porcelain countertops be an average of $ 2,900 , with a typical monetary value mountain chain from $ 1,500 to $ 3,800 , making them relatively affordable as well .
But is porcelain good for countertop ? Are porcelain countertop durable ? And is n’t it a fragile material ? Porcelain teacup may seem that way of life , but given the phone number of old-hat and vintage porcelain loving cup still in enjoyment , it ca n’t be that frail ! Porcelain is made by bonding natural livid kaolin clay with minerals such as feldspar , mica , and other naturally occur reinforcement , then dried and cured by displace it at passing high temperatures for a long period of time . The result is a voiceless cloth that can be forge into tile or slab with a heaviness that holds up extremely well once it ’s mount to a solid surface ( usually plyboard or an exist countertop ) . The material does n’t sting when a red-hot pot is placed on it , and if it ’s glazed , it becomes nonporous , so grease are n’t an issue . Porcelain is almost insufferable to scratch unless someone uses a ceramic tongue directly on the surface with some force . It can chip off or crack , but once installed , it can take quite a substantial encroachment . So yes , porcelain is excellent for countertops , and no , it ’s not that fragile . There are , however , some considerations that will affect how much porcelain countertop price , and understanding those factor can help homeowners determine a sensible budget for this project .
Factors in Calculating Porcelain Countertops Cost
How are the costs of a porcelain countertop determined ? As with all countertop , size of it is the first thoughtfulness , and the finish selection and the costs of induction are important considerations as well .
Countertop Size
Everything about the cost of a porcelain countertop hinges on the sizing of the surface area to be covered . The material cost and project are based on the square footage , as are the costs of finishing and edging . The average cost per square ft is between $ 50 and $ 70 , including materials and DoL .
Countertop Type
Porcelain countertops can be make from one or more large slab of porcelain bonded to a whole subsurface such as plywood or an old countertop , or they can be crafted from a series of smaller tile arranged in lentisk ( a rosin used as an adhesive for roofing tile ) and grouted into place . The type of countertop will find out the installation eccentric and materials as well as the cost of the porcelain itself .
Edge Type
In terms of decor and style , border finishing is the one area where porcelain roofing tile is moderately special . Because a glazed porcelain is shiny only on the outside , and because the figure is only on the surface , the edge shapes are set to those shapes that do n’t grind down beyond the finish . All porcelain countertop boundary must be created during fabrication , so measure also postulate to be very exact . A basic square edge or an eased edge ( a square with a slightly rounded top border ) wo n’t add anything to the cost of the countertop . A beveled edge or a bullnose sharpness , on the other hand , will sum about $ 10 to $ 12 per satisfying human foot , because those anatomy want additional workmanship . A built edge , which involves building up the sharpness to make it look thick-skulled than the typically thin edge of the slab , will summate between $ 15 and $ 25 per satisfying fundament because of the additional workmanship that is necessary to create the flavor while sustain a logical finishing .
Finish Type
Porcelain comes in two finishes . Most people think of the refined finish when they intend of porcelain : the shiny , imperviable control surface of clean tile sparkling in the Light Within . This finish is the final result of a glaze that is go off into the porcelain and then refine to a effulgence . It ’s uncommitted in both tile and slab form and costs an average of $ 8 to $ 11 per square foot . graceless porcelain has a matt finish and is as durable and resistant to oestrus , though it is very slightly more prone to spotting , as it is n’t as nonporous as a polished finish . It is , however , more repellent to chipping , and if it does chip , the chip is less obvious , as the cloth is the same finish throughout . graceless porcelain costs an norm of $ 9 to $ 12 per square foot .
Installation Location
For a long clip , the only positioning where porcelain was generally used as a countertop fabric ( whether slab or roofing tile ) was in the bathroom . The relief of installation and cleaning made porcelain an obvious alternative . Porcelain slabs were about ¾ inch thick , which mean they were exceptionally sullen and difficult to transport ; small , bathroom - size counters were easier to conduct with , and tile were often being used in bathrooms , prepare coordination easy . Now , slabs are much thinner and lighter ( if more frail ) to enchant , and they are available in lengths of up to 10 feet , so instead of porcelain privy countertops , porcelain kitchen countertops and islands are premier locations for installation . Porcelain is also a peachy option for outdoor kitchen installation . Costs are based on the size and type first , but each installation location has unlike challenges , so costs may vary based on the ease of access to the positioning and the surface onto which the porcelain being installed .
Labor
In general , trade union movement monetary value for set up countertops range from $ 10 to $ 20 per square animal foot . But more traditional countertop material such as solid surface and stone are duncical , sturdier textile that are easier to work with . Porcelain slabs are extremely undestroyable once they ’re instal , but prior to and during installing , they are tenuous and more or less brittle , so they require especial handling and installation proficiency that may cost a minuscule more . It ’s critically significant for a homeowner to rule a contractile organ who is experienced in working with porcelain slabs ; this may require the client to pick out a contractor who is n’t the lowest appraisal . Porcelain roofing tile countertop want mastic and grout and careful hand body of work , which also may be a bit more expensive .
Additional Costs and Considerations
There are several other elements that will affect the monetary value of a porcelain countertop installation . While these are not primary price and may practice to every installation , they can have a significant force on the total budget , so it ’s important for a homeowner to see them when planning a porcelain countertop labor .
Prefabricated vs. Custom Porcelain Countertops
The vast majority of porcelain countertop are impost jobs . Because the edges need to be manufactured into the countertop , and the cuts need to be so precise , most slab counter are cut to measure . Porcelain roofing tile are by nature impost as well . There are , however , some prefab porcelain composition , but the installation often becomes more complex and end up make unnecessary very picayune .
Porcelain vs. Other Countertop Materials
Porcelain countertops ’ price per square foot is one of the lowest among the various types of countertop materials . While the cost can run toward the top of the kitchen range for impost finishing study , in general it ’s one of the most economical choices a client can make , especially because there are few to no maintenance costs after installment . Thecost of countertopsfor other materials are typically much high . The follow mesa testify the cost per square foot for a variety of vulgar countertop materials .
Permits
If a homeowner is supplant an existing countertop with a porcelain counter of just the same property , it ’s potential that a permission will be unnecessary . If , however , plumbery is move or electrical is being installed , a permit is likely a must . Experienced contractor in the area will know the dissimilar towns ’ and metropolis ’ regulations regarding permits , but to forestall frustration later , it ’s also a good idea for the homeowner to jibe with the local municipality severally and check that all permits have been appropriately extract . If want , permits may cost between $ 50 and $ 500 .
Old Countertop Removal
Depending on the countertops that are currently in place , old countertop remotion may or may not be a factor . Porcelain slab is thin enough to install on top of most existing countertop without a problem . However , if the layout of the kitchen is change or the survive heel counter is in poor shape , the counter will need to be slay at a cost of about $ 50 to $ 300 . The installer will then add a bed of plywood on top of the console for extra support and instal the porcelain counter on top .
Cutouts
Kitchen countertops command cutout for the sink , faucet , and potentially an inset cooktop . Some prefabricated counters come with the cutout already complete ; for homeowners choosing that type of countertop , it ’s essential to verify that the cutouts will work with the arrangement of the survive plumbing . Other installations will require customs duty cutouts , and all custom countertops will require custom cutouts . Porcelain is somewhat brickle prior to installation , which defecate these cutouts a delicate procedure . Therefore , they cost between $ 100 and $ 200 each depending on the complexity of the cutout and proximity to the edge of the material ( creating this proximity is riskier and requires more skill , hence the monetary value ) .
Sink and Cooktop Installation
Sinks and undermount cooktops involve to be instal with a moment more care , as the thin profoundness of a porcelain slab as opposed to the depth of other countertop materials can demand adjustments to the meridian of the countertop or the installation method for the sink or cooktop . In addition , these installations might require electric or plumbery oeuvre , which can be an norm of $ 50 to $ 100 per hour .
Types of Porcelain Countertops
Many people are n’t aware that countertops can be made from porcelain . cogitate back , though , to a time when tiled countertop were all the fury might jog the memory — those porcelain - tiled countertops pop off out of style years ago because of the difficulty of clean the wide grout lines . Modern porcelain offer two different method of installation , both more kitchen - well-disposed than older styles .
Slab
Modern porcelain slabs are a huge improvement over the heavy , hard - to - work with ¾-inch slabs they used to be . Averaging between ¼ and ½ in thick , porcelain slab can be manufacture in duration of more than 10 feet . They can be matte or polished porcelain countertop , solid or pattern , square - edged or beveled , and while the travel between the fabrication land site and the home , and the journey from the truck to installation , can be a little challenging , they are incredibly durable once they ’re set up . Porcelain slabs ’ prices average out between $ 8 and $ 12 per square foot .
Tile
Today’stile countertopsare designed to be instal with few crease and with grout line that are nearly unseeable . Available in small mosaic styles in tiles from 12 to 24 column inch , there is a nearly eternal combination of porcelain countertop colors , pattern , and styles for householder to choose from . Some porcelain tiles are crafted by artisans for a unfeignedly usage tone . customer comparingporcelain vs. ceramic tilewill discover that the two are closely touch on , but porcelain lean to be more perdurable and thus a well fit for a countertop material . The average price of textile for a porcelain roofing tile countertop ranges from $ 3 to $ 20 per straight foot .
Benefits of Choosing Porcelain Countertops
Europeans have used porcelain slab countertop for years , but they ’re a comparatively recent addition to the countertop options in the United States . Porcelain countertop are produce promptly in popularity for a number of good reasons , include their military posture , attractive coming into court , and down in the mouth upkeep .
Durability
Most people are appalled to learn that porcelain is 30 percent stronger than granite . It does n’t seem like it could be true , especially for anyone who has ever shattered a porcelain cup or plate on a granite countertop , but porcelain ’s composition take slabs very consistent , exceptionally hard , and very strong . The soldering of kaolin stiff with mineral that are sack together under utmost heat bring about a material that is difficult to damage .
Versatility
For homeowners hope to match the backsplash to the countertop , it ’s easy to install a thin porcelain slab along the backsplash with minimal seams . This is possible with other materials , as well , but what if the client wants to cover the sides of an island with a matching fabric ? That would be a hard job with most countertop materials , but the thin porcelain flat solid can easily be cut to fit islands , locker end , or even rampart panels . The thin , light nature of the cloth makes it comfortable to shape and mount to nearly any surface where the client want a coordinate spirit .
Sustainability
Porcelain is made from lifelike clay , not from polymer and plastics , and it ’s not harvested from fair game using lumbering machinery , so it ’s comparably environmentally friendly to start out with . All porcelain can be recycled into other products when it comes metre to change the kitchen ’s look , so customers doing a remodel can feel comfortable knowing they are n’t place a big clump of nonbiodegradable material to a landfill .
Heat, Stain, and Scratch Resistance
In order for manufacturers to create porcelain countertops , the stuff must be fired at extremely high temperatures , which stand for that a pot accidentally set down on the countertop is unlikely to go away a burn chump . Glazed porcelain is nearly unimaginable to tarnish , as the glaze is also sack into place and upshot in a nonporous surface : There ’s nowhere for that tomato sauce to ooze in and go out a stain . It ’s also very difficult to scratch , as the fired surface is extremely hard . The only genuine scratch danger for porcelain is a sharp ceramic knife , because the abrasiveness of the blade can shoot through the glazed porcelain .
Easy Installation and Maintenance
While they do n’t have to be , porcelain slab countertops can be installed directly over existing countertop that are in good term . The fragile dimension of the slab , usually between ¼ and ½ inch , is light - weight than natural Harlan Stone and is comfortable to maneuver for installing . The stuff can then be sequester to the existing countertop without importantly modify the altitude of the employment surface , saving time and expense . Porcelain is also available in large slab sizing , so an oversized island or magnanimous - format porcelain countertop can be covered with few to no seams . Fewer grout line equal easier killing .
Customization Options
Unglazed , fired porcelain countertop result in a beautiful and uniformly coloured flatness finis ( which is great in the case of a crack or buffalo chip because they blend in more well ) . Glazing a porcelain slab opens up a near endless set of choice and colors : solids , patterns , imitation - marble , faux - granite , and other Harlan F. Stone replicas . Glaze also add refulgency and foreshorten the porousness of the slab , protect the porcelain from brand . Customers can also pick out porcelain tiles to create a pattern or mosaic way of countertop , though that choice requires grout , which can demand much more maintenance .
Porcelain Countertops Installation: DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
There are some countertop stuff that can be an easy DIY project : a prefabricated laminate countertop slice from a home improvement shop that just fits the dimensions of the kitchen , or perhaps a bumbler block that can be easy attached to the cabinets using the hardware that is already in place . Countertops are one of those task that are important to get precisely good , because gap in the backsplash or sump cutouts can harbor bacteria , moisture , and mold , none of which are ideal in a food preparation blank . In plus , sink and plumbing system cutout that are n’t perfectly place and sealed can lead to hidden leak that make urine damage . The measurement call for to be precise , and the installer needs to understand that some components switch and move and therefore accommodate those shifts in the measurements . If the fabric a DIY householder is working with is wanton to deal and the homeowner is skilled , porcelain countertop installation can be a DIY undertaking .
Porcelain slab are not easy to make do . They are extremely sturdy and stable once they ’re in place , but transporting , moving , thinning , and attaching them — in other words , doing anything with them before they ’re installed — are precarious , as the amiss swelling or bit could shatter the slab . A porcelain slab is between ¼ and ½ column inch heavyset , so they ’re unwieldy to deport and leisurely to give way . This is genuinely a situation where engage one of thebest countertop installerswill likely save the homeowner money : The countertop is more likely to be instal without equipment casualty ( or if there is price , it ’s on the contractile organ ) , and it ’s more potential to fit attractively and last longer as a result .
How to Save Money on Porcelain Countertops Cost
In general , you ’re already saving money by choosing to go with porcelain : While it ’s not the least expensive pick , customers can get the high - end look and feel of instinctive Harlan Fiske Stone without springing for the real thing , and they ’ll save on maintenance and repair costs , too . When work on a major home plate project , though , householder are always propose to look for an opportunity to redeem when possible , and there are some options to make the cost of a porcelain countertop lower , include the following .
Questions to Ask About Porcelain Countertops Installation
Many homeowners have n’t had a porcelain countertop instal , so while some questions apply to any installation , there are extra issuing refer specifically to porcelain fabrication that merit further consideration . Because porcelain has recently become more popular , it ’s authoritative that the homeowner make indisputable they select an installer with experience who is willing to acknowledge that there are extra concerns when sliding a porcelain counter into berth .
FAQs
There are a host of alternative when it comes to choosing countertop , and so there are many factors for homeowners to consider when make a decision . Knowing the answers to some coarse motion can make approaching the whole projection a trivial easier ; homeowners will want to review the following before they get start .
Q. What are the disadvantages of porcelain countertops?
While the list of porcelain countertops pros and cons leans heavily toward the pro , there are some authoritative con to think . First , it ’s of import to recall that porcelain is invent : It is n’t natural stone , and so the design is on the airfoil , not throughout . This limits the boundary - end up options , because the installer ca n’t plainly spreadeagle or trim a shape into the boundary of the material . It can also be a problem if the porcelain french-fried potatoes — while the color should continue consistent , any practice or intention wo n’t guide through the chip . secondly , while most knives wo n’t damage porcelain , ceramic knives can scratch up or damage the surface , so while it ’s best to use a cutting board in any suit , it ’s imperative to avoid cutting straight off on a porcelain surface with ceramic knives . lastly , porcelain is n’t yet a mainstream option for countertop , so homeowners may have some difficulty finding a fabricator to grow the countertop topically .
Q. Is porcelain better than quartz?
“ dear than ” count on the pauperism of the user . Quartz countertop are rude pit and are consistent throughout the slab , so they can be hone , mould , and smooth if they chip . Quartz countertop costabout $ 15 more per square foot than porcelain , and quartz glass is prostrate to staining and discoloration when exposed to liquidity , acids , or warmth . Porcelain counters are less expensive and far less potential to stain or discolor . Unless the look of instinctive stone is particularly important , porcelain parry may be the better option .
Q. How long does it take to install a porcelain countertop?
Generally speaking , installation assume between 1 and 3 day : The onetime countertop must be removed so measured measurements can be strike , and then the counter needs to be customized with the appropriate shaping and cutout before the porcelain can be installed . Some jobs may take longer than others if it ’s discovered that the buffet on which the new materials will be locate need prop up or rebuilding , but a bare replacement without across-the-board detailing could be fill out in a day .
Q. Is porcelain cheaper than granite?
It is , provide that a qualified installer is pronto available . Porcelain is a relatively new addition to countertop option in the United States , so while the materials and installment are loosely less expensive than with granite ( $ 25 to $ 65 per square metrical foot compare to thecost of granite countertopsat $ 40 to $ 100 per straight foot ) , finding a good installer for porcelain could be unmanageable , and transfer expense may add to the overall cost .
Q. Do porcelain countertops chip easily?
Unlike a fine porcelain teacupful , porcelain countertops are made from a thick , tough slab of porcelain , so while they certainly can chip , it accept quite an impact for that to happen . In fact , rude stone can chip far more well than porcelain . Unfortunately , when porcelain countertop do chip , it ’s quite difficult to animate them invisibly , so if the countertop is damage , the option will be between live with a visible chip or substitute a section of the countertop .
Q. How thick is a porcelain slab?
The word “ slab ” calls to take care a chunk of cloth that is hefty and thick , and compared to some other ware made from porcelain , a countertop slab might be perceived that way . In contrast to other countertop prevarication materials , however , porcelain slab are downright delicate until they are instal , ranging from about ¼ to ½ in .
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