Why you should consider porcelain surfaces for your next outdoor project.

Laminam porcelain door fronts, manufactured by SteedForm for sw-architects.

Porcelain, a product once reserved for bathrooms, has exploded with possibilities in modern design. With a myriad of brands taking to the new-gen material, you can now see porcelain used as anything from wall cladding to door fronts.

When it comes to the great outdoors, porcelain truly shines. With other materials being incapable of performing against the unpredictability of Mother Nature, the demand for porcelain in alfresco kitchens is increasing.

Let’s take a look at what makes porcelain such a great performer against the elements:

Maximum Porcelain in an alfresco kitchen

It’s versatile

Because of it’s lightweight makeup and often 6–12mm thickness, porcelain is suitable for multiple applications. You can have a porcelain outdoor table, alfresco bench top & splash back, external cladding and more.

You can keep a theme

Want to continue your interior design to your exterior? Why not go for a porcelain kitchen splash back that matches your alfresco dining area? Or what about having an outdoor table that matches your outdoor bench top? If you really love the look of a particular stone, then this could be the choice for you.

Laminam porcelain door fronts, manufactured by SteedForm for sw-architects.

UV stable

Made from all-natural materials — simply clay, sand and quartz, which is heated and mixed — Porcelain is UV stable. This means it won’t fade with sun exposure, which often occurs when other engineered stones are exposed to direct sunlight.

Unaffected by hot objects

Porcelain has great heat resistance, being heat and thermal shock resistant. This makes it a great choice to surround BBQ’s and outdoor kitchens.

It is advisable that for safety purposes a heat mat or something comparable is used when placing hot pots and panels directly on the surface.

What do you think? Would you put Porcelain in your outdoor kitchen/alfresco area?