Faience or porcelain: which is better for home use

Does porcelain really last longer than faience? Is it true that porcelain is more expensive than faience? Below are the main differences between these materials, their advantages and limitations.

Porcelain and faience are the most popular types of ceramics used for producing:

• kitchen, tea and tableware;

• sanitary ware: toilets and washbasins;

• artistic and decorative products: souvenirs, figurines and vases;

• electrical and radio components;

• electrical insulators.

As can be seen, the field of application of porcelain and faience is very diverse. But for some products it is more rational to use porcelain, while for others faience is sufficient. This is explained by the properties they have.

Porcelain is stronger, more resistant to chemicals and temperature, and has high mechanical and electrical-insulating properties. The absence of hygroscopicity and water permeability makes porcelain an excellent material for producing sanitary equipment and dishes. High aesthetic properties also make it possible to create decorative interior products of special elegance and beauty. Despite all this, porcelain is expensive. That is why many people prefer a worthy alternative to porcelain: faience.

Faience looks very similar to porcelain, so these materials are often confused. When choosing, it is important to look at porosity, glaze quality, product purpose and care requirements.

Faience is not as strong, has a porous structure and a much higher water absorption rate. That is why, at the production stage, it is covered with a special glaze so that products made from this material have high consumer properties. Glazed faience does not absorb odors, dyes or moisture. Because of its lower cost, it is actively used for household goods. When choosing a faience product, it is important to pay attention to the manufacturer, especially when choosing sanitary ware. Faience sanitary ware from manufacturers with a good reputation will serve just as well as porcelain sanitary ware.

A distinguishing feature of porcelain is the absence of pores. Faience, however, is a porous material, and when cracks form, bacteria enter these pores. Therefore, cracked faience dishes are not recommended for use.

It cannot be said that porcelain is definitely better than faience. If you need to save money, you can choose faience products, but they will require more careful care. If the budget allows you to buy porcelain products, they usually last longer than faience ones.