It's a porcelain countertop, regardless of the brand. It's such a great looking product and sounds amazing, but there are far too few installers who have much experience actually installing it and fabricating it. It's all tricky and few know how to do it properly when used as a countertop. As expensive as it is, I'm not a big enough risk taker to take the chance.

Did you go forward with porcelain, Amy? I'm curious too. Seems half the shops I walk into say they'll never sell it again after so many problems; the other half proclaim it the greatest counter material ever! Sure has a beautiful, crisp look when done well. But even though I'm an easy going person (can't imagine getting upset over a small chip), I don't want the whole thing shattering either.

Oh, and the shops that proclaim its wonders? They're selling Sapienstone. Just fyi!

BTW, I just saw that SapienStone is a division of the Italian company Iris Ceramica, whose US headquarters I visited last week! There were so many bright, shiny countertops all over the place, I nearly put on my sunglasses as I walked through the lobby. Looked pretty great from my vantage point. Company employees were nice, too. Not snobby like at Porcelanosa or others.

I was just curious if anyone ended up doing the sapienstone counters? I’m debating between Neolith & Sapienstone as well and it’s hard to find much information from people with actual experience with sapienstone

We haven't install yet, but plan to go with Sapienstone in a couple of months. What sold us was their customer support and ongoing in-person installer verification/training to help minimize issues. When we went to look at physical slabs for comparison, we actually met with a Sapienstone rep at their distributor. She was in the area visiting their distributors and fabricators. We did like some of the Neolith slab colors better, but ultimately we decided to go with the option that provided better manufacturer support to minimize risk. We'll how this all pans out in a couple of months. :)

Amy what color of Sapienstone did you choose? I am looking at Arabescato Visio... havent found anything else that looks like it - just another reason to go with Sapienstone. I also feel encouraged by the specific and strong recommendations that the mfg gave us (ie., "use these installers to make sure you get a good result!") I appreciate that a lot. Cant wait to see your results.

We're planning to go with the Calacatta White with silky finish for most of our counters. We're also considering their wood grain (Rovere Baio with Natural finish) slab vs using smaller wood-like tiles. Their wood grain imitation is the most life-like one that we've seen.

I love the look of the porcelain countertops but am afraid due to the comments about Neolith. I thought Sapienstone was marble, not porcelain? Can't wait to see your new counters and hear about what you think of Sapienstone. Your feedback will be invaluable when selecting our countertop material.

Sapienstone is not marble, although many of the slabs look like marble. It is porcelain. Neolith is porcelain as well as far as I know, although that brand is not at the top of my list simply because I don't care for their color options so I havent researched Neolith as thoroughly.

Cool fact - Sapienstone is being used in Europe (and perhaps now marketed in US??) as an induction cooktop as well - induction devices and controls are placed underneath the slab surface and you can cook "through" the slab to give a completely seamless countertop that has heating/cooling elements inside of it. Anyway... Sapienstone is one "brand" of porcelain. Also check out other brands like Florim, Envi, and Laminam.

Laminam is very highly recommended by my fabricator/installer who has lots of experience with porcelain (although my current top choice is MSI Stile in Arabescato). I am finding personally that the installers/fabricator with the most experience and knowledge seem to be European, and I assume that is because porcelain slab seems to have originated in Italy??? I am continuing my research and trying to make a decision myself on which of these brands and colorway I will choose for my kitchen. Ive locked in an experienced fabricator/installer and now I just have to select my slab and reserve my pieces. They come in dye lots so you should select the number of slabs you need all together so they are of the same dye lot. My countertop, backsplash and island with waterfall will take 3 slabs and there will be seams because my countertops are longer than the slabs. I've had some quotes say I will need 4. My quotes have varied from $10,000-16,000 including cost of slabs, mitering of edges, proper installation, cutouts for sink and gas range, etc.

Back to Neolith and the cracking of porcelain... The product testing of some porcelain (Sapienstone and I think Laminam) has been so thorough that anything that would end up breaking or cracking those would most definitely crack anything else you install like granite or quartz because Porcelain is 30% stronger. Sapientone also contains the pattern through the slab (not just on the surface), can sustain a boiling pot set on the surface (which is why you can cook on it) and you can use the countertop as a cutting board (basically impervious to scratches). For this reason I will likely go with a polished finish rather than matte. I dont plan on chopping everything on the countertop but atleast I know it wont scratch with regular use.

I would encourage you to research more brands of porcelain! Good luck!

Kristin, thank you for your very informative response. I'll do my research on other brands of porcelain and look forward to hearing any more updates or information you get on porcelain counters!

Wondering how everyone’s decisions panned out? Kristin? Ibucelli? I’m especially intrigued by the possibility of cooking on a Sapienstone countertop-but it looks like there is still a drop-in (flush) mount? Had anyone installed this?

We ended up going with Perla Venata Quartzite and it is absolutely beautiful - we love it! Everyone that sees it loves it as well.

The Porcelain looked gorgeous but I think it's too early in the process to use as a kitchen counter. Maybe 5 years from now it will be more familiar so people know how to install and use but I didn't want to risk that investment only to have it chipped or cracked.

Hi kholland63,

Our entire project got postponed, so as we speak we are trying to move forward with meetings w/ our kitchen designer and re-finalizing finishes this month for a Spring 2022 remodel (since everything is also on backorder about 4-9 months - i.e. appliances, flooring, etc).

My porcelain installer has been very attentive, checking in with me regularly to see how things are shaping up. I like him a lot but he is still trying to make the sale (we never put money down on a slab), so I have to keep that in mind. He did mention that prices are up about $6 per square foot from our 2021 quote because of materials.

Since I last posted here I decided that Sapienstone Arebescato had too much cool/blue undertones and I need a slab slightly more warmth so I was looking at MSI Stile Arabescato which has the same "pattern" per se, but more brown-ish tones. So that decision was moved more by the appearance, and not yet by quality. However as Im keeping track of these comment threads I need to make sure as we get ready to sign $$ and reserve slabs that we feel extremely confident with installation and taking a chance on a less common product. I'll be sure to post more as we move forward.

Kristin, make sure you search on these forums (kitchen and building) for issues people have had with MSI. Customer support doesn't seem to be their strong point.

We did end up going with Sapienstone for our kitchen countertop as planned and have been using it for almost two months. We've been loving it so far and no issues yet.

It was a bit nerve wracking watching them install, especially our full slab sized kitchen island. They rolled in the finished slab on heavy duty roller, lifted and gently slid the slab onto the subtop with the help of five large guys. Everything thankfully went quite smoothly.

In chatting with our Sapienstone recommended installer, the key for them to ensure a successful porcelain install is a solid and leveled subtop for your cabinets. Faucet holes & top mount sink holes were all cut on site with circular diamond cutters, while undermount sink holes and the mitered edges were all done in the fabrication shop. They used glue to secure the countertop to the subtop.

Amy Hu- what policy or plan did your installer / fabricator give you in the event of Chips or cracks in the future? Or is that a Sapienstone warranty thing? Just curious.

Our installer didn’t offer any plan/policy post-installation, but they guaranteed 100% satisfaction prior to final payment. Material was purchased separately, so my vendor guaranteed delivery to fabricators. Sapienstone does offer a 10 year limited warranty according to their website.

Amy Hu I really appreciate your sharing your experience here! I ran across some other discussion s that mentioned chipping issues with Sapienstone but I would love to use it in a couple of places if it’s not a problem if installed correctly. The integrated induction cooktops are gorgeous and there’s a European company that makes them with Sapienstone.

Are you still happy with your sapien stone? i am looking at this same one!

Thank you Amy!

Amy, do you mind sharing what kind of sink you used and what the edge looks like around the sink?

I was intrigged by this thread. Amy congrats on your Sapien stone counter. I am sure it looks amazing. My name is Jaret, I am the outside sales cordinator for stoneville. We are the Sapien stone distributor for the state of california. There are many differces between Sapien porcalein slabs and other manufacturers. I can explain but I dont want this message to be to long. If you have any specific questions, I would be happy to answer them.

@Kristin - for the kitchen, I have a Kohler Strive 35” apron front and a Kohler Strive 29” undermount for the island. The apron front used a notched cut in the front, and similar to the island undermount, it has a polished edge around the sink.

Hello all, we expect installation of our porcelain countertops and backsplash / shelf in a month or two as we are starting demo this week. We selected Antolini Tech porcelain in Arabescato. Really the only reason I did not go with sapienstone was the slab was reading a little more blue undertone than I wanted. Otherwise the patterns look very similar. My fabricator also felt that Antolini porcelain was an excellent product and not at all inferior to sapienstone. He also guaranteed 100% customer satisfaction if anything happens during the fabrication or installation process and my kitchen designer corroborated that a previous job his firm had worked on with this installer had an issue but they made it right ASAP. Finally, we’ve been checking in on all the kitchen and bath shows around the world this year (via YouTube) and they seem to be dominated by porcelain. I’m sure quartzite is also still a thing , but I’m feeling encouraged that porcelain is a good choice for us. Fingers crossed and prayers sent up that it all goes well on the install - and holds well for years to come. I’ll post photos before the summer is out.

PS. The Antolini tech porcelain slab we selected

Kristin Clippert we chose the same slab! We prob won't install until August likely September. Would love to see your finished project.

@ Amy Hu thank you for the updates on your Sapienstone countertops. I was wondering the size of your kitchen island? It doesn't look like you had to have a seam.

@LindaBui forgot to post these finished photos from the designer from last fall, we’re very happy with how everything turned out. I hope your is everything you hoped for as well!!!

@

Kristin Clippert your kitchen is gorgeous! How do you like your Thermador ovens?

@JJ Mekai , Our Thermador selections were somewhat shaped by the options in the "one-two-free" promotion. I splurged on the pro rangetop and integrated fridge/freezers, and then went with the basic microwave/wall oven unit (the hood vent/blower and dishwasher were free).

PROS

• The HomeConnect app connects our phones to the dishwasher, fridge, freezer, range hood & oven. I really like the wall oven's many cooking options (so many!), especially the integrated thermometer - but the Home Connect remote features are the best; we can start the oven, set the temp, put a timer on the cooking, etc- all on my phone from anywhere! The micro has some upgraded menu options too but is not connected to the app.

CONS

• Really don't love drop down doors. The standard oven pull-down door isn't a huge problem; a left hand open door (which was an option) would have been a nice upgrade and I sort of wish I had done that. The microwave drop-down door is much more annoying & awkward - hot items are tricky to remove, plus I am short and I cannot reach all the way over the door to clean the back inside wall of the micro. :/ It will also be hard for my aging mom to use.
• I did not realize that the microwave is 950 watts and that this is less powerful than the 2008 JennAir that we demo'd (mustve been 1100+). Frowny face.
• Microwave menu is pretty complicated. Guests have a hard time figuring out how to use it.

Overall it would have been nice to upgrade a couple things on the oven/micro but generally very pleased with all our Thermador appliances.

Kristin Clippert - your kitchen is gorgeous! We are actually considering the exact same slabs vs Neolith one. Wanted to know how the edges have held up in terms of nicks and chips at the edges?

@rajni_singhal

Zero nicks and chips! And Ive clocked it a few times (at the sink edge) when Im washing my cast iron dutch oven or stainless pots and pans. I flinch when it happens, but no problems at all! I think the key, if I had to guess, is a really good fabricator who knows how to cut the pieces just right and build a good frame underneath for the slab & mitered edges. Good luck! Post your finished product when you can!

Rajni…I have installed neolith ultra soft finish Calacatta Royale in my kitchen! The choice fall for Neolith because of that special finishing! It is manufactured in Spain, I visited their location in person! They advised me that polished finish would scratch! Long story short, I would not use porcelain slab for kitchen again! I don’t regret, but for that reason I canceled other porcelain instal for my kitchen island ( Italstone porcelain) and went with real marble! That kitchen island mitered edges with marble are not comparable with porcelain edges! And the depth in real stone cannot replace any porcelain! I already have hit few times some plates by accident against porcelain mitered edge and all is ok! The things with porcelain in Canada, it is still very expensive material + job! My kitchen island with job and marble cost less than if I would have done it with porcelain! I guess the biggest plus for porcelain,you can clean it with any kind of products and it will not stain! I used 12 mm slab! What is interesting that Sapienstone has print all the way through what is a nice plus visually! Important always have support plywood or something under the porcelain install!

Rajni, may I ask what slab you ended up using?

Rajni, may I ask what slab you went with?