StoneX USA – Sintered Stone Supplier

Sintered stone is a slab made by pressing natural minerals such as clays, feldspar and silica and firing them at very high temperatures, without resin. The result is a dense, non-porous surface that resists heat, stains and UV light, so it works indoors and outdoors. Large-format porcelain slabs are made the same way, and the two names are often used for the same kind of product; porcelain is one type of sintered surface.

Pros and cons

• Heat: no resin, so hot pans will not scorch it (a trivet is still kind to any surface).
• Stains and sealing: non-porous, no sealing needed.
• Sunlight: UV-stable, so it will not yellow outdoors.
• Brittleness: edges and corners can chip under a hard knock, so eased or mitred edges are common.
• Pattern depth: on many slabs the pattern is printed on the surface, so a chip or a profiled edge shows a different colour underneath.

Sintered stone vs quartz vs natural stone

• Quartz is crushed quartz bound with resin: tougher at the edges and easier to fabricate, but keep hot pans and strong sunlight off it.
• Granite and quartzite are natural stone: unique patterns that run through the slab, heat-tolerant, but they need periodic sealing.
• Sintered stone and porcelain combine stone looks with no sealing and outdoor use, at the cost of a more brittle edge.

Where it works best

• Outdoor kitchens and covered patios.
• Full-height backsplashes and wall cladding, using thin slabs with few seams.
• Kitchen islands and countertops, with an edge profile your fabricator recommends.

Fabrication notes

Thin, hard slabs need a fabricator who works with porcelain regularly: the right blades, careful handling and support during installation. Ask how they finish edges and where seams will fall. See our fabricator partner list.

Ready to choose slabs? See what StoneX USA supplies and how to buy, or browse the porcelain slab range.

Frequently asked questions