It's common for homeowners to start their kitchen renovation with a mind to lay down natural stone tiles. However, many find porcelain tiles pulling them away from their first choice, and here are just three major reasons why.
1. Maintenance and Longevity
Porcelains tiles are man-made, which means that they lack any of the natural flaws that plague genuine stone. Each tile will be made from fine porcelain clays that are fired at very high temperatures. As a result, your tiles will be harder and denser than natural stone, so chips and scratches are far less likely.
Unlike natural stone, porcelain tiles are also entirely non-porous. Natural stones contain many little channels that can be invaded by staining compounds and bacteria. This can be somewhat mitigated by regular sealing, but it's far easier to simply opt for porcelain, which is almost impossible to stain. Staining is always going to be a major concern in the kitchen, so it's best to go for porcelain.
2. Design Versatility
One of the problems with using natural stone is that you depend on natural processes for the colour and veining. You might not be able to get the exact shade that you want, and it's common for more interesting stones to be more expensive since they might need to be quarried abroad and then shipped to Australia.
In contrast, porcelain tiles can be made in a vast array of colours and patterns. You can pick porcelain tiles that are virtually identical in appearance to natural stone, or you can go the other way and pick out a bolder colour that could never be produced naturally. You'll even find that porcelain tiles tend to come in larger sizes.
3. Cost
At the end of the day, cost is always going to be an important factor to consider, and it's when looking at costs that most homeowners find themselves turning away from natural stone, which is one of the most expensive materials available for home flooring.
This is partly because the raw materials are a look more expensive, especially when you're looking at granite or marble. However, you'll also need to keep the cost of installation in mind. Natural stone requires thicker adhesives since its surface will have natural irregularities, and it needs to be installed by experienced, and therefore expensive, hands since stone can warp if laid incorrectly. You should still hire a professional to lay down your porcelain tiles, but the process shouldn't take nearly as much time or demand nearly as much money.
If you'd like more information about these and other materials to consider for your kitchen renovation, contact contracting companies like Bowtie Joinery.
Share27 June 2017
Remodeling your home can be stressful, but it can and should be exciting and fun as well. The right remodeling contractor helps significantly to reduce the stress in your project and boost the fun factor. However, to find the right remodeling contractor, you need to ask the right questions. Hi, my name is Mark, and I love old homes. As a result, I end up loving remodeling. I have bought and remodeled five homes so far, and if you are thinking about diving into this type of project I want to help. This blog will cover everything, from questions to ask contractors, to tips on doing somethings on your own. Enjoy and thank you for reading.