Ceramic table top: properties, thickness and care

A ceramic table top is sintered at extremely high temperature: hard, virtually non-porous and resistant to heat, scratches and stains. It is 12 or 20 mm thick and comes in 29 colours. The drawback: ceramic is heavy and sensitive to a hard knock on the edge.

Quick guide

Want a top with as little care as possible: choose ceramic.
Need the top to work outdoors too: choose ceramic, which is frost-resistant and UV-resistant.
Want natural stone with its own pattern: look at granite. Want warmth and grain: choose oak or walnut.

What a ceramic table top is

Ceramic is made from mineral raw materials sintered at extremely high temperature into one dense slab. The result absorbs less than 0.1% water. What does not soak in leaves no stain.

Properties of ceramic, and what they mean for you

Heat-resistant: a warm dish leaves no ring or burn mark. Put a pan straight from the hob on a trivet.
Scratch-resistant: cutlery, plates and keys leave no marks in normal use.
Stain-resistant: red wine, coffee and turmeric wipe off with a damp cloth.
UV-resistant: the colour does not change in the sun, indoors by the window or outside on the terrace.
Frost-resistant: tested to EN ISO 10545-12, so the top can stay outdoors all year.

Thickness and colour

A ceramic table top is 12 mm or 20 mm thick. The thin top looks slim and light; the thicker one has a sturdier profile.

There are 29 colours, from light marble look to dark stone look. A colour on screen is never exactly what you see at home, so order material samples.

Caring for a ceramic table top

Daily: a damp cloth, with a mild cleaning agent if needed.
Grease or limescale: a pH-neutral cleaner, then dry with a dry cloth to avoid streaks.
Periodically: nothing. Ceramic needs no sealing, oiling or lacquering.

Drawbacks of a ceramic table top

Heavy: you do not move a ceramic table on a whim.
The edge: a hard point load on the edge or corner can chip it.
Cool and hard: the top feels cooler than wood and tableware sounds louder. Placemats help.

What you use a ceramic table top for

Dining table: the piece of furniture used hardest every day. See the ceramic dining tables.
Garden table: the same colour as indoors, out on the terrace. See the ceramic garden tables.
Coffee table: rings from cups and glasses do not soak in. See the made-to-measure coffee tables.
Loose top: already have a base? Order just the top from the ceramic table tops.

Under a ceramic top you choose steel in 10 standard colours or brushed stainless steel 304; the choice is aesthetic. The steel base is welded in the workshop in Maasbree, the Netherlands.

Ceramic compared with other materials

Versus marble: a marble look in ceramic gives the appearance of marble, but it is virtually non-porous and stain-resistant.
Versus wood: ceramic needs no care and can stand outdoors; oak and walnut cannot. Wood feels warmer and gains character.
Versus granite: ceramic is thinner (12 or 20 mm against 30 mm) and needs no sealing. Granite is natural stone with its own pattern, but it is not heat-resistant. See ceramic or granite.

Frequently asked questions

How thick is a ceramic table top?

12 mm or 20 mm.

How do you care for a ceramic table top?

With a damp cloth and, if needed, a pH-neutral cleaner. No sealing or oiling needed.

What are the drawbacks of a ceramic table top?

It is heavy and sensitive to hard point loads on the edge. It also feels cooler than wood.

Can a ceramic table top stay outdoors?

Yes. Ceramic is frost-resistant (EN ISO 10545-12) and does not fade in sunlight.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery within 4 weeks, or at a lower rate within 8 weeks. Collection from Maasbree is also possible. You get a 2-year guarantee on construction and finish.