Engineered Stone vs. Ceramic

If you’re planning the house or apartment of your dreams, or renovating a room in your home, you should carefully consider the materials that will dominate your interior and possibly add warmth and charm to your home. Here we’ll tell you about a few of the benefits of engineered stone and ceramics and discuss which material is better thanks to its wide range of uses and its greater advantages.

Engineered Stone Is Rapidly Increasing in Popularity

Engineered stone has become more and more popular in recent years for use as a wall covering, for flooring, and also for surrounding fireplaces. It is of course used for countertops on bars and islands in the kitchen, but it can also create unusual coffee tables and dining tables as well. Engineered stone has many desirable qualities in addition to its attractive look. It will win you over with its practicality and durability.

The Unbeatable Advantages of Engineered Stone Compared to Ceramic

Engineered stone has many useful properties, with which ceramic simply cannot compete. That’s why so many architects and designers love it and consider it to be one of the materials that contribute the most to the overall look of an interior.

The Wide Choice of Colors of Engineered Stone vs. Ceramic

One of the main things that influences the widespread preference for engineered stone is the range of colors and patterns in which it is offered. Engineered stone is produced in many modern shades and colors, one or more of which will complement any interior. Its designs will give a room a modern look and a touch of unique character. Different engineered stone designs are manufactured with subtle or prominent veining and in several granular textures.

Ceramics can certainly offer you more than a few different colors and patterns, but most of them are only applied to the surface. The design of engineered stone extends throughout the entire thickness of the slab, and is visible even from the side.

White Engineered Stone

Technistone’s color range begins with a classic white, which will never lose its charm. Crystal Absolute White is a solid-color design and with it you can create a clean and elegant look in a room. If like us you prefer stone with veining, one or more of the designs in our Wilsonart Collection will be ideal for you. One example is , which will stand out when paired with golden accessories. We have a number of other white designs, that are sure to win you over. White simply loves to be combined with black or gold metal accessories and glass.

Beige and Brown Tones in Engineered Stone

We move on from pure white designs to modern shades of beige, which have gained a foothold in the market in recent years and are successfully maintaining a place in the top rank of popularity. With the help of TechniStone® engineered stone in Harmonia Navajo from our new collection of designs, you can create luxurious tiles for your bathroom or an impressive kitchen countertop. Beige tones gradually transition into rich browns, like Noble Athos Brown for example, with its thin, fine veins. If your preference is for beige or brown engineered stone, combine it with wood. That’s an irresistible combination.

Dark Shades of Engineered Stone

Our offer of engineered stone ends up with grey and black designs, which make a highly elegant impression with their distinctive, bold styles. For examples, take a look at our new design, Imagine Grey, or an old favorite, Ambiente Light. Black designs that will surely impress you are Starlight Black, which will remind you of a starlit night, and Poetic Black, which will make your kitchen’s bar a luxurious spot for welcoming guests. Browse our offering of darker shades of engineered stone and don’t be afraid to experiment by adding golden accessories and glass to complete your interior.

 

Kitchen in Poetic Black – Design by Urban Interior Markéta Killi, Stonework by LoveStone @lovestonecz

The Timeless Look of Engineered Stone

As far as design goes, our comparison of engineered stone and ceramics leads us to the fact that the beauty of wall coverings, floors, and kitchen countertops made with engineered stone never fades and will always stay fresh in an interior. Engineered stone is produced with an eye to achieving the greatest similarity to natural stone, so it never becomes outmoded or stops providing your interior with a distinctive style.

The Durable Surface of Engineered Stone

The unique quality that makes engineered stone superior to ceramic is definitely its high resistance to mechanical damage. Everyday work in the kitchen, cutting with sharp knives, and dragging heavy pots and pans over the countertop can severely damage ceramics. Those things are no problem with an engineered stone countertop, however. Ceramic surfaces simply cannot rival engineered stone when it comes to resistance to scratching and impacts. Unlike ceramics, engineered stone can remain in perfect condition for decades because of its excellent durability.

As Opposed to Ceramics, Engineered Stone Requires a Minimum of Care

With its impermeable surface, engineered stone has the advantage over ceramics. It is made without any pores at all that would mar its uniform surface and trap dirt. Therefore, it‘s enough to wipe it down with a wet rag and a bit of cleaner like a dish soap. There is no need to treat the surface with chemicals in order to preserve its appearance, no matter how much work gets done on top of it.  Thanks to the durability of engineered stone and its perfectly smooth surface, you’ll have many more hours to spend on your favorite activities.

Thermal Expansion of Ceramics and Engineered Stone

On the other hand, ceramic does have one card to play, its lack of thermal expansion. Unfortunately, engineered stone is vulnerable to extreme changes in temperature that can cause its surface to expand or contract. However, this can be avoided by selecting the right kind of engineered stone and installing it with expansion joints that minimize the effect of thermal expansion.

Uses for Engineered Stone

Thanks to all these advantages, it’s clear why engineered stone has gained so many fans. They appreciate not only its unrivalled performance, but also its modern look. Engineered stone is a timeless classic, which won’t have to be replaced every time the winds of fashion change in the market.

 

Engineered Stone in Noble Areti Bianco, Design by Małgorzata Damm, Poland

Compared to Engineered Stone, Ceramic Can Look Artificial

One of the most important features of any material is the initial impression that its surface makes. In the case of ceramics, unfortunately, that can be slightly disappointing. Tiles and other ceramic surfaces are usually monotonous pieces that all look the same and have a repeating pattern. If you’re after individuality and a modern look, go for engineered stone instead.

The Versatility of Engineered Stone

Engineered stone has a timeless look and a cozy, warm feel that will embrace you every time you come home. It’s just a matter of combining it with the right materials and matching the interior to a palette of warm color tones.

Unlike Ceramics, Engineered Stone Adds a Touch of Luxury to Any Room

If you want a really high-quality material that never gets boring, then engineered stone is the ideal choice for you.

Engineered Stone in the Kitchen

As mentioned above, engineered stone is ideal for use in the kitchen, where it will not only serve you well but also add a fresh, elegant look to the most frequently used room in your house. You can use engineered stone not only for kitchen countertops, but also for kitchen islands that will pull the different elements of a room together and give them a coherent and coordinated look.

Unlike ceramics, you don’t have to worry about the engineered stone you put into your kitchen. Ceramic tends to break and chip with normal kitchen activities. Don’t expect that to happen with engineered stone.

Engineered Stone in the Living Room

Go ahead and put engineered stone on floors. It’s perfect for a busy home that’s always lively. Thanks to its resistance to mechanical damage, it will remain in perfect condition for decades.  Even if a heavy vase falls off your table and breaks, there’s no risk that it will chip or scratch your floor. Moreover, you can surround your fireplace with engineered stone and relax next to it in style.

Are you worried that your interior will look cold? Put a stylish area rug under the sofa and coffee table — you can’t go wrong if you choose the right color and size. You’ll be adding another point of interest to the interior of your home and raising it up a notch in style.

Engineered Stone Tiles

Modern bathrooms with engineered stone in colors from beige to dark grey have become increasingly popular in recent years. This is not only due to their elegant appearance, but also from a practical point of view. In fact, the non-porous surface of engineered stone ensures 100% cleanliness — as opposed to ceramic, an engineered stone surface only needs to be washed down with water. Thanks to its smooth, uniform surface, dirt doesn’t cling to it and no mold can take hold.

dekor tvrzeného kamene Crystal Calacatta Silva, KRINTERIOR

Který materiál je do interiéru vhodnějším kandidátem? Tvrzený kámen nebo keramika?

Výše zmíněné vlastnosti technického kamene a keramiky jsou rozhodující při jejich koupi a následné instalaci do interiéru. Důležitý je nejen vzhled, který vás bude dennodenně provázet po dobu několika let, ale také praktičnost materiálu – nechcete přeci za rok či dva pořizovat novou nákladnou kuchyňskou desku kvůli jejímu poškození. Pokud chcete jít s dobou a vytvořit si nadčasové bydlení, zvažte také designy, ve kterých je technický kámen a keramika vyráběna. Bohužel v případě keramiky jsou ne všechna provedení vzhledná a za pár let mohou působit neaktuálně.