Porcelain Slabs in Milwaukee, WI
Porcelain slabs are fired at very high temperature from refined clay and minerals, then finished with a printed and glazed surface. The result is the most weather- and stain-resistant surface we carry, in large-format sheets that suit walls and cladding as well as countertops.
StoneX USA stocks porcelain in high-gloss and matte finishes at the West Allis slab gallery (1735 S 106th St, West Allis, WI 53214). Because porcelain is UV-stable it is our usual recommendation for outdoor kitchens and fireplace surrounds.
Porcelain colors in stock
17 porcelain colors are published in our catalog. Click a color to see its specifications, finish and full-slab photo. Stock moves — call us to confirm current availability.
Why porcelain?
Porcelain is non-porous, needs no sealing, will not fade in sunlight and resists heat better than any other surface we stock. It is also the thinnest and lightest option, which makes it practical for wall cladding and for refacing over existing surfaces.
Slab specifications
| Material | Porcelain |
|---|---|
| Colors in this catalog | 17 |
| Format | Full slabs (not tile, not remnants) |
| Slab thickness | 2 cm |
| Finishes stocked | Leathered |
| Color families | Black |
| Where to see them | StoneX USA slab gallery, 1735 S 106th St, West Allis, WI 53214 |
| Who we sell to | Fabricators, builders, remodelers and homeowners |
| Service area | Milwaukee, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Waukesha, Brookfield, New Berlin, Greenfield, Mequon and the wider southeastern Wisconsin area |
Comparing materials
Not sure this is the right material for your project? Compare it against the other slab materials we stock:
Frequently asked questions
Can porcelain be used outdoors?
Yes. Porcelain is UV-stable and freeze-thaw resistant, which makes it the strongest choice we carry for outdoor kitchens, grill surrounds and exterior cladding in Wisconsin winters.
Does porcelain chip?
Edges need care during fabrication and installation, so porcelain should be cut by a fabricator experienced with large-format slabs. Once installed, the fired surface is extremely hard.
Is the pattern only on the surface?
On most porcelain the decoration is printed and glazed on the face. Full-body porcelain, where the pattern runs through the slab, is available in some series — ask us for the current stock.
Does porcelain need sealing?
No. Porcelain is effectively non-porous, so no sealer is required.
What can porcelain be used for besides countertops?
Wall cladding, shower walls, fireplace surrounds, flooring and outdoor kitchens. The large-format sheets mean far fewer grout lines than tile.
See the slabs in person
Our slab gallery is at 1735 S 106th St, West Allis, WI 53214, about ten minutes from downtown Milwaukee. We are open Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. Call 414-998-0404 or contact us to check current stock, and see our live inventory before you visit.
How to Choose Porcelain Slabs
Porcelain buys differently from natural stone: patterns are printed and engineered, so
consistency between slabs is high — what varies is format, thickness and
finish. Large-format sheets (up to full slab size) mean fewer seams on countertops and
almost none on wall cladding. Thinner 6–12 mm panels suit vertical surfaces and
refacing; thicker slabs handle countertops. Matte and satin finishes hide wear on work surfaces,
while polished porcelain gives a marble-look shine that never needs sealing. Browse current
options in our live inventory or see full sheets at the
West Allis gallery.
If the marble look is the goal, compare porcelain versions of classic stones — Calacatta,
Statuario, Taj Mahal — against their natural counterparts side by side; the porcelain reads
remarkably close and behaves very differently in use.
Porcelain Care in Two Minutes
This is porcelain’s quiet superpower: it is effectively non-porous, so it never needs sealing,
and almost any non-abrasive household cleaner is safe. Wine, citrus and oil wipe off without
staining. The comparison with natural stone routines is in our
cleaning & sealing guide.
Where Porcelain Works Best
Outdoor kitchens are the headline use — porcelain is UV-stable and freeze-thaw
resistant, so colors do not fade on a patio. Indoors it shines as full-height backsplashes,
shower and feature walls, fireplace surrounds and low-maintenance countertops. For a full
material comparison, start with our
granite vs quartz guide
and browse the quartzite and marble collections
to see the natural alternatives.
Porcelain Slabs: The Newest Surface, and What It Changes
Porcelain slabs are made from refined clay and minerals fired at extremely high temperature until vitrified — effectively glass-hard, fully non-porous all the way through. Unlike stone, the pattern is printed and glazed on the surface, which is why porcelain can convincingly reproduce marble, concrete, wood or rusted metal in a slab that is only 6–12 mm thick.
Those two facts — extreme hardness and thinness — drive everything else. Porcelain is UV-stable and freeze-thaw safe, so it is a genuine outdoor material for Wisconsin patios and grill surrounds. It is scratch and heat resistant beyond any other surface we stock. It comes in large format panels that reduce or eliminate seams on islands and feature walls. And because it is thin and light, it can be installed over existing surfaces during a remodel.
The Trade-Offs Worth Knowing Before You Specify
Porcelain demands more of the fabricator than any other slab — specialised tooling, careful handling of large thin panels, and precise cutouts, because the material is hard but not forgiving of point stress. Not every shop takes porcelain work; our fabricator partner directory is the practical starting point. The other consideration is edges: since the pattern lives on the surface, edge treatment is a design decision (mitred edges preserve the look).
Porcelain earns its place where stone struggles: outdoor kitchens, high-traffic commercial surfaces, large-format feature walls and clients who want zero maintenance. Compare with granite for outdoor use and quartzite for natural stone character, or see current stock in the live inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can porcelain slabs be used outdoors?
Yes. Porcelain is UV-stable and freeze-thaw safe, making it one of the few surfaces truly suited to Wisconsin patios, outdoor kitchens and grill surrounds.
Does porcelain need sealing?
No. It is vitrified and non-porous all the way through, so it never needs a sealer and does not stain.
Why is porcelain harder to fabricate?
It is extremely hard but thin, so it requires specialised tooling, careful handling of large panels and precise cutouts. Not every shop takes porcelain work.
Is the pattern only on the surface?
On most porcelain slabs, yes - the design is printed and glazed on the face, which is why edge treatment is a design decision and mitred edges are common.
Porcelain Countertops in the Milwaukee Metro
Porcelain is the one slab material that genuinely handles Wisconsin outdoor kitchens - UV-stable, freeze-thaw safe and effectively maintenance-free. StoneX USA stocks porcelain as full slabs at 1735 S 106th St, West Allis — about 10 minutes from downtown Milwaukee, 10 from Wauwatosa, 15 from Brookfield and New Berlin, 20 from Waukesha and Oak Creek, 30 from Racine and 40 from Kenosha.
What that means practically: you can see the actual slab that will become your counter instead of choosing from a 4-inch sample. Shortlist colours on the live inventory, then walk the racks at the West Allis gallery and tag the exact piece. A vetted fabricator partner near you — we list shops across Wisconsin and northern Illinois — collects it, templates and installs.
City guides for buyers outside Milwaukee: Waukesha · Brookfield · Kenosha. Buying for a shop or project? See wholesale slab supply.
Sintered stone and porcelain
Porcelain Slabs, Tile and Flooring
Does StoneX USA sell tile?
Not tile in the conventional sense — StoneX USA is a slab supplier. What comes closest is large-format porcelain, which is the same material as porcelain tile but supplied as full slabs rather than small tiles; a single slab can cover a wall or a floor with far fewer joints. For flooring specifically we also carry SPC vinyl plank. If you need small-format ceramic or porcelain tile, a tile retailer will serve you better than we will, and saying so costs us nothing.
What is the difference between porcelain slabs and porcelain tile?
The material is the same; the format is not. Porcelain tile arrives in small pieces and is set with grout joints across the surface. A porcelain slab arrives as one large sheet — up to roughly 3200 by 1600 mm depending on the range — so a countertop, backsplash or shower wall can be done with almost no joints. Slabs are also available in thinner gauges, which is why they work as cladding where stone would be too heavy.
Can porcelain slabs be used on floors and walls?
Yes. Porcelain is UV stable and does not need sealing, so it works outdoors as well as in, and it is used for floors, wall cladding, shower surrounds and outdoor kitchens as well as countertops. The practical constraint is fabrication: large-format porcelain needs specific tooling and handling, so it is worth confirming your fabricator works with it before you specify it.
Looking for floors rather than surfaces? See SPC vinyl plank flooring. For the full porcelain range in stock, check live inventory.
