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If you’ve found yourself wondering this at least once, you’re in the right place: in this article we want to talk to you about polished porcelain stoneware, a more and more popular choice for people who want a floor covering that resembles marble in absolutely every respect but also provides the resistance and care benefits typical of porcelain stoneware.
The bright finish is achieved by means of a polishing process that will give all your floors a mirror-like sheen!
At the same time, you won’t have to worry about wear and tear, because polished porcelain stoneware is ideal for all indoor locations, since it combines shine and convenience to make every interior unique.
Below we’ll take a detailed look at what polished porcelain stoneware is, its applications, its pros and cons, the methods by which it’s processed and care and cleaning advice.
What is polished porcelain stoneware?
When we talk about the polishing of porcelain stoneware we’re referring to a specific type of process, very similar to the polishing of marbles and granites, which produces an extremely smooth surface with a crystalline finish. The resulting shine gives every interior an elegant appearance and an added brightness, bestowing an extra touch of sophistication on surfaces.
Natural stoneware has a matt surface, but in the polishing process the material’s surface layer is removed using abrasives until the floor resembles a mirror, offering a much smoother, shinier result.
Polished porcelain stoneware: pros and cons
The well known benefits of porcelain stoneware also extend to its polished variant. Its excellent resistance to wear, impacts and chemicals combine perfectly with its amazing elegance and shine.
Polished porcelain stoneware’s ability to reflect the light creates an unprecedented brightness in interiors, making rooms appear larger and more attractive, a very useful benefit for the optimal interior design of a small bathroom.
This material is also extremely beneficial in terms of hygiene: porcelain stoneware can be cleaned effectively with just ordinary detergents, while its smooth, non-porous surface is an excellent deterrent against the proliferation of mould and bacteria.
In fact, there are no particular contraindications to the use of porcelain stoneware. If it’s chosen as a covering for the floor or countertop of a kitchen, precautions have to be adopted to prevent scratching and staining, which will naturally be more visible on its glossy surfaces.
Comparison with other materials
Polished porcelain stoneware is a material with vast potential, in many cases an excellent solution for the interior design of public or commercial locations. However, when making a choice it’s normal to try to compare it as accurately as possible with other types of materials, to get a clear view of each option’s pros and cons.
Compared to natural porcelain stoneware, which has a rougher, duller surface, polished porcelain stoneware has a more sophisticated surface finish and it will add more brightness to your interiors.
We’ve already partly covered the key points of the comparison with marble. In any case, we need only consider that marble is a natural material that’s highly prized for its unique veining, but it’s less resistant than polished porcelain stoneware and more vulnerable to stains and scratches. What’s more, modern digital printing techniques can accurately reproduce the typical shade variations of marble on porcelain stoneware, with realistic, strikingly elegant results.
Care and cleaning
Use of polished porcelain stoneware is strongly recommended in places like kitchens and bathrooms, where routine cleaning is generally more intensive. Whether it’s the kitchen countertop or the bathroom floor or tiles, cleaning a polished porcelain stoneware floor and keeping it shiny at all times is generally easy.
It’s important to follow a few simple guidelines to conserve its shine and ensure its durability over time. For daily cleaning, use a vacuum cleaner and wipe with a cloth wet with warm water. Try to use neutral detergents and avoid aggressive alternatives, which might damage the surface, and remember always to rinse thoroughly so no residues are left on the surface.
Polished porcelain stoneware application examples
Polished porcelain stoneware is an excellent choice for anyone seeking an elegant, hard-wearing, low-maintenance floor. This type of floor covering provides a bright, glossy surface that brings out the best in every interior with its ability to reflect the light and create luminous, attractive spaces.
Its versatility is one of the reasons why this type of stoneware is particularly popular: indoors, it’s ideal for lounges, kitchens and bathrooms, where its glossy finish can be a real game-changer. In commercial locations, its durability and easy care make it perfect for locations with heavy traffic, such as shops, offices and hotels. When it comes to design, with its infinite combinations of colours and effects you’ll be able to give every space the right blend of modernity and tradition, minimalism and sophistication.
If you’re seeking a more modern interior design style you can opt for neutral colours like white, beige and grey. Our Marbleplay collection will contribute shades and decorative solutions of great beauty to your spaces thanks to its exquisite marble effect.
There’s greater variety, extended with shades of green, blue and black, in the Allmarble collection, where the warm, enticing tones are combined with refined, luxurious hues for a style that’s unique and original every time.
The ethereal loveliness of marble and its veining is also perfectly replicated by the slabs in the Grande Marble Look collection, which include the most classical inspirations alongside unusual patterns and interpretations, the basis for sophisticated, light-filled, relaxing interiors.
To be sure of excellent results every time, explore the vast range of polished porcelain stoneware Marazzi offers and find the type of porcelain stoneware best suited to your projects.